CHICAGO HOTEL BUSINESS. has learned that the American Hotel & Lodging Foundation (AH&LF) the charitable affiliate of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) has approved a special allied members initiative to benefit the group s New Century Fund campaign.
The initiative hopes to draw more allied members to participate in the fund. A source indicated strategies were being hammered out for release during AH&LA s annual conference held here through Friday, April 6 at the Chicago Hilton & Towers.
In the seven months since its launch, the New Century Fund has raised $8.17 million, including five gifts of $1 million each. Starwood Hotels & Resorts became the fifth such donor earlier in the week at the start of the conference. Others in the million-dollar category, known as the Pinnacle Society, include Cendant Corp., Hilton Hotels, Carlson Hospitality Worldwide and Hilton Hotels.
The source indicated other significant amounts also are currently pledged by additional donors, but couldn t give exact figures pending finalization of the commitments.
“AH&LF already has an allied members fund which supports scholarship and research initiatives, both of which are major beneficiaries of the New Century Fund,” said the source, noting such members include Angelica Image Appeal, Smith Travel Research, Hotel Dynamics and USA Today. (4/5/01) Stefani C. O Connor