SEATTLE � May 18, 2010 � The Seattle Hotel Association (SHA) announces a new president and vice president to oversee efforts of the non-profit organization that promotes the economic well-being of Seattle�s hospitality industry. Howard Cohen, a SHA board officer since 2004 and vice president and general manager of Clise Properties � Hotel Division, will take his new position as the 2010-2011 board president. David Watkins, general manager at the Inn at the Market, will be SHA vice president. Don Dennis, general manager of Hotel Deca and David Sullivan, general manager of the Pan Pacific Hotel, will remain as treasurer and as secretary, respectively.

SHA also appoints two new members: Shannon Sheron, general manager, The Red Lion Hotel on Fifth Avenue, and Jenne Neptune, general manager, Alexis Hotel Seattle. 
 
�Tourism matters greatly in Seattle and as a group we�re poised to leverage our strengths and create an impact on the community,� said Howard Cohen. 
 
This year, Cohen and the SHA board will be responsible for engaging member hotels in the following:

• Highlighting the important contributions of the hotel industry and its employees to local economies 
• Creating a sense of community among member hotels
• Creating a safe and clean city environment for residents, workers and tourists alike through philanthropic endeavors

Cohen has been in leadership roles at Seattle�s Clise Properties � Hotel Division since 2002. Prior to that, he held positions throughout Washington, including Sunstone Hotels and Red Lion Hotels & Inns. Over the past 30 years Cohen has dedicated his expertise in the hospitality and lodging industry. In addition to serving on the board of SHA, Cohen has also served on the board of directors of the Washington State Hotel & Lodging Association and is a current board secretary of the HERE Local 8 Union Pension and Health & Welfare Trusts.

2010-2011 Officers

President: Howard Cohen � Clise Properties - Hotel Division, vice president/general manager
Vice President: David Watkins � Inn at the Market, general manager
Treasurer: Don Dennis - Hotel Deca, general manager
Secretary: David Sullivan - Pan Pacific Hotel, general manager

2010-2011 Board Members

Dennis Clark - The Fairmont Olympic Hotel
Gregory Duff - Cairncross & Hempelmann, SHA Counsel
Paul Ishii - Mayflower Park Hotel
Elisabeth James - Westin Seattle
Jenne Neptune � Alexis Hotel Seattle
Julia Schroeder - Hotel Ändra
Shannon Sheron - The Red Lion Hotel on Fifth Avenue
Bill Weise - Silver Cloud Seattle Stadium

The Seattle Hotel Association (SHA) is a non-profit, voluntary organization comprising of 55 member hotels located in the City of Seattle. SHA works to generally promote the economic well being of the hospitality industry in Seattle. In order to further this goal, the association partners with Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Downtown Seattle Association, the Washington State Hotel and Lodging Association and the Washington Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus. SHA supports strategies to encourage the economic well being of Seattle job creation in the tourism and other industries and a safe and clean city environment for residents, workers and tourists alike. The Seattle Hotel Association can be found online at  www.seattlehotelassociation.org.