July 14, 2010 - For the past 10 years, The Lodging Conference, held each September in Phoenix, has presented �The Above and Beyond Award� to a hotel industry executive who has made a valuable contribution to his or her community and/or to society at  large.  This year's honoree is industry veteran Jack DeBoer, Chairman of Consolidated  Holdings, Inc. and current Chairman of Value Place.  The 79-year-old - known  in the hospitality industry as the originator of extended-stay lodging and founder of Residence Inn, Summerfield Suites, Candlewood Suites and Value Place - began  his career selling real estate during the summer while in high school in Kalamazoo,  Michigan.

He later teamed up with his father to build homes in Southern Michigan.  In  1966, DeBoer began building apartments and by 1973 his company had built more  than 16,000 apartments in 30 cities across 25 states.  National Real Estate Investor  recognized DeBoer as the �second-largest multi-family developer in the United  States.�  DeBoer made his foray into the lodging business, starting Residence  Inn in 1975.  After Residence Inn was sold to Marriott in 1987, DeBoer - who  has never worked for anyone - and his wife, Marilyn (the couple has been married  for 57 years) - left on a four-month  trip throughout the world in his Gulfstream  II.  Always in the minority because they are white, Christians and free, they  visited 39 countries.  Among the stops the DeBoers made was Burma.  It was, as  it is today, an oppressed and difficult country where 50 percent of the deaths  are children under 5 years old.  They are dying from dysentery and malaria, diseases  which we Americans can cure at the local Walgreens.  The DeBoers were in country  when the riots of 1988 began, but they were able to leave safely.

The conditions inspired the DeBoers, through their DeBoer Family Foundation, to join forces with World Vision, the world's largest humanitarian organization, to help the Burmese children.  No global non-governmental organizations  (NGO's) were operating in the country and the goal was to prove to other NGOs that you can work in Burma and make a difference for the people.  Now, 20 years later, 50 NGOs work in country and World Vision has 700 employees - up from 5 at the  beginning.  The work of World Vision has affected the lives of more than 2.5  million Burmese.  �World Vision has been an extraordinary partner in proving  that it is possible to make a difference for people living hand-to-mouth and  without hope,� DeBoer said.

�One of the joys of having success, if not the major joy of watching Value Place succeed, is to be able transfer that success to people throughout the world who have no hope unless you show up,� DeBoer said.  �We are committed to working  through effective organizations to make a difference for the children.  That  is what drives me to make money, so that we can give it away.�

Harry Javer, Conference Bureau President and co-founder of The Lodging Conference  is �thrilled to present this award to Mr. DeBoer,� Not only will Jack be present  to accept the award, but he will also give a keynote address�, �There are a lot  of great awards given in this industry for complex transactions and developments,  but this award is about giving back to the community, and Jack DeBoer has certainly done that and more.  Past winners of The Above and Beyond Award have included:  Archie Bennett, Steven Belmonte, John Russell, Toma Brashear, Michael Level  and John Q. Hammons.

The 16th Annual Lodging Conference is being held at The Arizona Biltmore Resort  from September 21st - 24th. The Above and Beyond award will presented on Wednesday,  September 22nd. For more information, go to www.LodgingConference.com or call Sierra Yaun at 800-252-3540.