Philadelphia, Pa., April 5, 2002 - During its board of director�s meeting at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, members of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) voted to consolidate the organization�s two affiliates - the American Hotel & Lodging Foundation (AH&LF) and the Educational Institute (EI) of AH&LA - to form the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF). The election confirmed the association�s desire to streamline and combine its various functions to reduce the overall operating costs. 

During the association�s November 2001 Fall Conference, AH&LA officers and other key members proposed the merger after evaluating each of the entities� separate services and structuring - wanting to provide greater efficiency and stronger benefits to members. 
                      
�The restructuring gives us a clearer vision of the services we are providing to our membership base. As we go forward, we will continue to evaluate their value to insure that we are meeting the needs of our members,� said AH&LA President and CEO Joseph A. McInerney, CHA. 
                       
�This rebuilding at the trade association level will hopefully set the tone for the future of the entire lodging industry as it tries to find its footing again.� 

A separate board of directors for AH&LEF is currently being formed, which will establish 15 new volunteer positions. Presently filling three of the seats are former AH&LA Immediate Past Chairman John Russell, former AH&LF Chairman Steve Belmonte, and former EI Chairman Anthony Farris, who will each assume two-year roles as chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary/treasurer, respectively. McInerney is charged with heading the new entity along with former EI president and CEO Anthony G. Marshall, Ph.D., CHA, CHE, who will act as president and COO. 
                       
The operating function of AH&LEF will be headquartered in the Washington, D.C., offices of AH&LA. The other locations - Orlando, Fla. and Lansing, Mich. - will continue to operate under the moniker EI as well as offer educational and training materials to members of the hotel community. 

Additionally, a new logo has been developed to visually signify the change. Official usage of AH&LEF and its insignia will gradually commence during the upcoming months. 

In April 2001, to reflect AH&LA�s new name from the American Hotel & Motel Association (AH&MA), the two affiliates also changed their titles from the American Hotel Foundation and the Educational Institute of AH&MA.