Maryland Hotel Lodging Association Hosts 2023 Legislative Preview & Member Appreciation Breakfast; Two Platinum Partners Announced for 2023

Linthicum, Md. (January 18, 2022) – On January 12, 2023, members of the Maryland Hotel Lodging Association (MHLA) – including General Managers, industry associates, and partners from Maryland’s statewide lodging industry – gathered at the BWI Airport Marriott Hotel for the MHLA Legislative Preview & Member Appreciation Breakfast. The inaugural event was presented by the Advocacy Event sponsor Marriott International and the Breakfast Sponsor, Ecolab.

Following the breakfast, MHLA’s Chair, Mike Henningsen spoke to the group and took the time to reflect on the value of the continued support of the association’s lodging members, allied and partner level members.  The addition of a new Platinum Partner level was introduced, and two partners who made significant contributions to the Association in 2022 were announced in this category: Ecolab and the Maryland Office of Tourism. Blake Nichols from Ecolab and Liz Fitzsimmons from the Maryland Office of Tourism gave brief remarks about their support and each received a certificate of appreciation.

Ecolab

Maryland Office of Tourism

Pictured with Michael Henningsen, MHLA Chair and Amy Rohrer, MHLA President & CEO:
(Left photo) Blake Nichols & Josh Marshall from Ecolab, 2023 Platinum Partner of MHLA
(Right photo) Liz Fitzsimmons, Maryland Office of Tourism, 2023 Platinum Partner of MHLA

MHLA President and CEO, Amy Rohrer then took the stage to also thank members and to introduce the members of MHLA’s 2023 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 new regulations impacting hotels are proposed and potentially passed into law. The MHLA Government Affairs Committee is co-chaired by Beth Brainard, General Manager, Canopy Baltimore Harbor Point and Jim Starke, VP of Hotel Operations, Best Western Plus BWI Airport-Arundel Mills.   
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As the Maryland General Assembly opened its 2023 session on January 9, 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.

Pictured with Michael Henningsen, MHLA Chair and Amy Rohrer, MHLA President & CEO:
Frank Boston, Ari Plaut & Kyle Tildon, Boston Plaut: Attorneys at Law, MHLA Lobbyists

​MHLA lodging members can support the Government Affairs Committee by participating in weekly meetings, responding to “Calls to Action”, volunteering to testify as a subject matter expert, or sharing any connection with local representatives which may help facilitate dialogues on important issues. To learn more, please contact MHLA at mhla@mdlodging.org.