Walter Barela Joins American Hotel & Lodging Association Board of Directors

Board Comprised of Accomplished Leaders from Every Segment of Hotel Industry

Albuquerque, NM (December 8, 2020) – Building on record levels of membership and engagement, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) today announced that Walter Barela, Principal of Albuquerque , NM based Peak Hospitality has joined the Board of Directors.

AHLA’s Board represents leaders from all sectors of the lodging industry, including brands, owners and real estate investment trusts (REITs), management companies, independents, and state associations. Walter Barela will be part of vital discussions concerning a broad range of industry- and association-related issues. AHLA ended 2019 representing a record 3.2 million U.S. hotel rooms and now counts the 10 largest hotel companies as members.

“Having the opportunity to serve on the board of the preeminent association in our industry is an honor particularly during this challenging time the travel industry is facing in the upcoming year,” said Walter Barela. “New Mexico relies heavily on tourism so I will be working to help bring visibility to our state as we continue the great tradition established by this respected organization.”

“I am pleased to welcome Walter to the AHLA Board,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA. “We are grateful to members such as Walter who volunteer their time and energy to ensure that AHLA is successful and represents the hotel industry with one unified voice both in and outside Washington, D.C.

“As we enter this pivotal election year, it’s more important than ever that our industry comes together to underscore our role in building strong communities in every Congressional district. There’s no doubt that Walter’s leadership and experience will serve our industry well as move our policy agenda forward,” said Rogers.

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The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is the sole national association representing all segments of the U.S. lodging industry and contributes nearly $660 billion to U.S. GDP. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AHLA focuses on strategic advocacy, communications support and workforce development programs to move the industry forward. Every day, America’s hotels make dreams come