SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Jim Abrams, President and CEO of the California Hotel & Lodging Association (CH&LA) was inducted into the CH&LA Hall of Fame last night in San Jose at the DoubleTree Hotel. The Hall of Fame award is CH&LA�s most prestigious honor, presented to California hoteliers or industry executives recognized for outstanding contributions of leadership, service, and professionalism to the California lodging industry and the community at large. 

Jim Abrams was the 22nd recipient of the CH&LA Hall of Fame award. As President & CEO of CH&LA, Jim was honored for his dedication and 37 year service to the California lodging industry. Jim has had many accomplishments during his career including being the primary author and co-sponsor of the California Tourism Marketing Act, landmark legislation that created a self-assessment for businesses that benefit from travel and tourism and established the non-profit, public benefit corporation, the California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC), to oversee the promotion of California as a premier travel destination. In addition, Jim produced the award-winning We Welcome Service Animals awareness campaign, a nationally distributed industry program to educate the industry about service animals and also authored the definitive legal lodging industry reference, Laws Pertaining to the California Innkeeper. 

Jim has a long history of volunteer activity that benefited the California lodging industry, including many national roles involving the American Hotel & Lodging Association and is considered an industry expert regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act. As President & CEO of CH&LA, he developed the organization into the largest state lodging association in the nation and the voice of the California lodging industry. 

This year�s Hall of Fame event was a fundraiser for the CH&LA Education Foundation and raised over $100,000 in contributions and from an online auction of donated travel packages in Jim�s honor. �Jim is a champion of the California lodging industry,� stated Luis Barrios, Chairperson of the CH&LA Education Foundation Board of Directors. �It�s an honor to bestow this award on Jim, who has given his entire career to the lodging industry.� 

About CH&LA 
The California Hotel & Lodging Association (CH&LA) is the largest state lodging industry association in the nation and a Partner State Association of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Its 1,800 members, which comprise approximately 175,000 guest rooms, include all segments of the lodging industry including the California Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns - California�s largest association of professional innkeepers and certified bed and breakfast inns. CH&LA is the leading resource for communicating and protecting the rights and interests of the California lodging industry. CH&LA was established in 1893. CH&LA is on the web at www.calodging.com. 

California Hotel & Lodging Association
Lynn Mohrfeld, 916-444-5780
[email protected]