Baltimore, Md. (January 17, 2024) – On January 12, 2024, members of the Maryland Hotel Lodging Association (MHLA) – including General Managers, industry associates, and partners from Maryland’s statewide lodging industry – gathered at the Baltimore Sheraton Inner Harbor hotel for the MHLA Annual Meeting & Member Appreciation Breakfast. The Breakfast was sponsored by Baywood Hotels. 

Following the breakfast, MHLA’s Immediate Past Chair, Michael Henningsen called the meeting to order and spoke to the group. He took the time to reflect on the value of the continued support of the association’s lodging members, allied and partner level members.  The 2024 Ambassador of the Year, Sandip Patel, Crossroads Hospitality was recognized for his contributions in support of MHLA’s recruitment efforts throughout 2023.  

The 2024 Board of Directors was announced, and the slate was approved during the meeting. Click here for the full list of the MHLA Board of Directors.
 
Michael Henningsen officially passed the gavel to the new MHLA Chair, Linda Westgate, Southern Management Companies. Linda and MHLA President & CEO Amy Rohrer then took the time to thank Michael for his many years of service to MHLA as Chair and as a Board Member. 
 
"The Association is bigger than any one person, but it is amazing the difference one person can make.  Mike Henningsen is a highly effective leader who has made a significant impact at MHLA during his tenure both as a Board Member since 2006 and as Chair over the last three years.  While Mike is leaving big shoes to fill, Linda Westgate is highly qualified to lead the organization and continue building on past success.  I look forward to working with Linda, Mike and the entire MHLA Board in ongoing advocacy for Maryland’s lodging industry. " Amy Rohrer, MHLA President & CEO

The Platinum Partners for 2024 were introduced, and two partners who made significant contributions to the Association in 2023 were announced in this category: Ecolab and the Maryland Office of Tourism. Joshua Marshall from Ecolab and Liz Fitzsimmons from the Maryland Office of Tourism gave brief remarks about their support, and each received a certificate of appreciation. Sunlight Energy was also recognized for being in the midst of upgrading to become a Platinum Partner this year.

MHLA President and CEO, Amy Rohrer then took the stage to also thank members and to introduce the members of MHLA’s 2024 Government Affairs Committee. Consisting of a diverse group of representatives from hotels across the state, the committee meets weekly during the 90-day Maryland General Assembly Session, to monitor legislation and actively advance and protect the interests of MHLA members as bills are proposed and potentially passed into law. The MHLA Government Affairs Committee is co-chaired by Chuck Chandler, General Manager, Residence Inn Fulton at Maple Lawn and Jim Starke, VP of Hotel Operations, Best Western Plus BWI Airport-Arundel Mills.   

​As the Maryland General Assembly opened its 2024 session on January 8, MHLA lobbyists Frank Boston and Ari Plaut from Boston Plaut: Attorneys at Law joined to discuss the upcoming Maryland General Assembly session and gave a sneak peek of what they will be monitoring in Annapolis this year that could impact hotels.

​Guest Speaker Chip Rogers, American Hotel Lodging Association (AHLA), President & CEO took the stage to share a Federal Update with the group and allowed time for a question-and-answer session following his overview. He spoke on numerous topics that impact the hotel industry in Maryland and across the country. Chip's presentation is available upon request.

To learn more, please contact MHLA at [email protected].

MHLA is looking forward to a great year in 2024.  We would like to thank all of the members and sponsors, listed below, who showed their support for the Association at this year’s Annual Meeting. Click here to view photos from the event. 

​​Thank you Sponsors! Click here to see the list of sponsors for this event. 

The Maryland Hotel Lodging Association (MHLA) is proud to name its 2024 Ambassador of the Year: Sandip Patel, CEO, Crossroads Hospitality. The announcement was made during MHLA’s Annual Meeting & Member Appreciation Breakfast, held January 12, 2024, at the Baltimore Sheraton Inner Harbor hotel.  The Ambassador of the Year award recognizes a member who has successfully recruited new members as a Board or Committee Member and contributed to the success of the Association during the past year.

MHLA also announced its 2024 Board of Directors and Executive Committee Members, after a vote of approval by members during the Annual Meeting.

Five Executive Committee Members were elected for a one-year term:

• Chair: Linda Westgate, Southern Management Companies
• Vice Chair:  Donnie Sutton, General Manager, Marriott BWI Airport
• Secretary: Doug Klein, General Manager, Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel
• Treasurer: Jim Starke, VP of Hotel Operations, Best Western Plus BWI Airport / Arundel Mills
• Immediate Past Chair: Michael Henningsen, Executive Vice President of Operations, Plamondon Hospitality Partners
  
  

Four new members have been welcomed to the Board as Directors for the remainder of the current 2022-24 two-year term:

• Yolande Lacan, General Manager, Homewood Suites Columbia
• Sandeep Thakrar, President, Neema Hospitality

• Darryl McCallum, Partner, Shawe Rosenthal LLP (Allied Director)
• Joshua Marshall, Senior Corporate Account Manager, Ecolab (Allied Director)
  
  

The following members will continue in service as Directors for the 2022-24 two-year term:

• Katarina Burns, General Manager, Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ
• Skip Cerf, General Manager, Sheraton Baltimore North
• Chuck Chandler, General Manager, Residence Inn Fulton/Maple Lawn
• Mark Elman, General Manager, Hilton Ocean City Oceanfront Suites
• Rodney Gooden, General Manger, Westin Annapolis Hotel
• Len Goodman, General Manager, Courtyard Baltimore Hunt Valley
• Kathy Konopik, Vice President of Operations, HotelPro (Allied Director)
• Ian Harvey, Residence Inn Baltimore at Johns Hopkins Campus
• Peter Mangione, General Manager, Turf Valley Resort
• Dan McKeon, Area General Manager, Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
• Patrick Miner, General Manager, Courtyard Baltimore Downtown Inner Harbor

• Sandip Patel, CEO, Crossroads Hospitality
• Tracey Pool, General Manager, Hyatt Regency Baltimore
• Ben Seidel, President & CEO, Real Hospitality Group
• Junaid Siddiqi, CEO, Presidential Hotel Advisors

 
Two representatives, invited by the Board Chair to serve, will also continue in their service:

• Education Representative: Donnisha Grant, Instructional Specialist, Anne Arundel Community College – Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism Institute
• Maryland Destination Marketing Organization Representative: Amanda Hof, Executive Director, Visit Howard County

 
“Congratulations to both new and returning Board Members,” said MHLA President & CEO Amy Rohrer.  “These esteemed leaders serving on the MHLA Board of Directors will help take the Association to new heights in 2024 and I look forward to working with them in the years ahead.”