"Kirby has been and continues to be a long-time leader in the economy segment of the lodging industry," said Greg Plank, President of Atlanta based Country Hearth Inns and chairman of the AH&MA's Economy Lodging Council. "In addition to being a reputable steward of various hotel investments for his clients, he is known to always be willing to share his industry knowledge by speaking at various hotel industry events and writing monthly for various industry trade and profesional publications."
Payne, who began his hotel career in 1972, founded American Hospitality Management Company in 1988. The growing Minneapolis based company operates economy lodging and full service hotels and consults to the industry throughout the US and has an ownership interest in several hotels. Payne is Past President of the Minnesota Hotel & Lodging Association (MH&LA), Chairman of the AH&MA International Council of Hotel-Motel Companies; a member of the Audit, Certification and Credentials Committee; a trustee on the board of the Educational Institute (EI) of the AH&MA; and a commissioner on the EI's Certification Commission. In addition, he is a former member of the Economy Lodging Council's executive committee.
The AH&MA
founded in 1910, is a federation of state
lodging associations throughout the United States,
with some 11,000 members worldwide, representing more than 1.4 million
rooms. The AH&MA provides operations,
technical, educational, marketing, and communications
services plus governmental affairs representation to the lodging industry.
It is affiliated with the MH&LA with over 850 members comprised of
hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts and their suppliers. MH&LA
provides services at the state level similar to those of the AH&MA.