Hospitality Association Links

American Hotel & Lodging Association(AH&LA), Serving the hospitality industry for more than a century, AH&LA is the sole national association representing all sectors and stakeholders in the lodging industry, including individual hotel property members, hotel companies, student and faculty members, and industry suppliers. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AH&LA provides members with national advocacy on Capitol Hill, public relations and image management, education, research and information, and other value-added services to provide bottom line savings and ensure a positive business climate for the lodging industry.

National Restaurant Association (NRA) The National Restaurant Association (NRA) is the largest food service trade association in the world*—supporting nearly 500,000 restaurant businesses. In partnership with our state restaurant associations (SRA), we have more than 750 staffers working to empower all restaurant owners and operators to achieve more than they thought possible.

National Society of Minorities in Hospitality The National Restaurant Association (NRA) is the largest food service trade association in the world*—supporting nearly 500,000 restaurant businesses. In partnership with our state restaurant associations (SRA), we have more than 750 staffers working to empower all restaurant owners and operators to achieve more than they thought possible

Virginia Hospitality & Tourism Association The Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association (VHTA) is the unified voice for the restaurant, lodging, travel and hospitality suppliers associations. The association creates value for members by promoting the legislative interests of the industry, providing cooperative marketing, educational opportunities and protecting free enterprise

Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers (CHART), a non-profit professional association founded in 1970, is the leading resource for the development and advancement of hospitality training professionals. With more than 700 members from more than 400 multi-unit restaurant and hotel companies, CHART represents a workforce of almost five million. CHART includes all facets of hospitality training, learning and performance professionals; from entry level to senior executive. CHART’s mission is to develop hospitality training professionals to advance industry training practices and improve operational results by providing access to education, tools and resources.

Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) is THE voice of owners in the hospitality industry. Founded in 1989, AAHOA is now one of the fastest-growing organizations in the industry, with more than 11,000 members owning more than 20,000 hotels that total $128 billion in property value. AAHOA members employ 578,600 full- and part-time workers with a $9.4 billion payroll. AAHOA Officers include Chairman Mehul Patel, CHA, CHO; Vice Chairman Pratik Patel, CHA, CHO, MBA, MSIS; Treasurer Jay "Jimmy" Patel, CHO; Secretary Bharat "Bruce" Patel, CHO; and President Fred Schwartz, each of whom works closely with a 33-member Board of Directors to provide direction for the association. AAHOA is dedicated to promoting and protecting the interests of its members by inspiring excellence through programs and initiatives in advocacy, industry leadership, professional development, and community involvement.

The Network of the Hospitality Industry (NEWH) NEWH is the premier networking resource for the hospitality industry, providing scholarships, education, leadership development, recognition of excellence, and business development opportunities. It's about Scholarship, Education, and Business Networking.

Meeting Professionals International (MPI) MPI—founded in 1972—believes that meeting and event planners serve a critical role in the success of business, and is committed to giving its members the very best in professional development, business opportunities and a vibrant industry community.

Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) HSMAI is a global organization of sales, marketing, and revenue management professionals representing all segments of the hospitality industry. With a strong focus on education, HSMAI has become the industry champion in identifying and communicating trends in the hospitality industry while operating as a leading voice for both hospitality and sales, marketing, and revenue management disciplines, as well as connecting its members with customers. Founded in the United States in 1927, HSMAI is an individual membership organization comprised of nearly 7,000 members from 35 countries and chapters worldwide. The HSMAI Foundation was established in 1983 to serve as the research and educational arm of HSMAI.

National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners (NCBMP) The National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners (NCBMP), founded in 1983, is a non-profit organization dedicated primarily to the training needs of African American meeting planners. The organization is committed to the improvement of the meetings, conferences, exhibitions, and convocations they manage. Members of NCBMP include meeting planners from numerous business, civil rights, church and fraternal organizations. Associate membership is available to individuals who represent hotels, convention bureaus, city government officers, airlines and other suppliers who offer services to the meeting and convention community.

Nightclub & Bar (NCB) Nightclub & Bar is the go-to resource for the on-premise professional. Mirroring the fast-paced, trend-setting nature of the drinks business, Nightclub & Bar provides the specific tools bar pros need to grow their businesses, compete and succeed in this competitive industry. For more than 29 years, Nightclub & Bar has been engaging beverage decision makers, influencers and innovators in high-volume venues — and helping them grow! Recently, Nightclub & Bar completed their highly anticipated digital transformation, creating the largest digital platform in the industry. 

International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional (CHRIE) In recent years, International CHRIE's focus has expanded and its mission statement has evolved, making it a marketplace for facilitating exchanges of information, ideas, research, products and services related to education, training and resource development for the hospitality and tourism industry (food, lodging, recreation and travel services). Serving as the hospitality and tourism education network, we strive to unite educators, industry executives and associations.

National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers (NABHOOD) In 1998 Andy Ingraham, founder of The Multicultural Tourism Summit & president of Horizons Marketing Group, along with Solomon Herbert, Publisher of Black Meetings & Tourism Magazine, brought together a small a group of African American tourism professionals assembled at the Multicultural Tourism Summit & Trade Show at the Fort Lauderdale Marina Marriott in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with the idea of forming an association to help develop and increase the number of African American owned hotels.  The group further decided that the industry did not have a good record for including African Americans and other minorities in many of the top executive positions nor was there a lot of business being done with minority vendors.  It was agreed that the association would work toward educating the industry on how they can improve the current situation and at the same time, use the resources of the association to help the industry.  At that time, there were no major franchised African American hotels of any consequence in the U.S

Petersburg Area Regional Tourism (PART) The Petersburg Area has a firm place in our nation’s history books. From the founding of the City of Henricus in 1611 in Chesterfield County to Revolutionary and Civil War battles fought in Petersburg, the area was destined to become a place of importance in Virginia and American history. Situated along the James River and at the confluence of the James and Appomattox rivers, the Petersburg Area played a significant role in our nation’s early days and continues to be a region of great historic, commercial and economic importance. 

High Impact Technology Exchange Conference (HITEC) Hospitality Financial & Technology Professionals is headquartered in Austin, Texas USA and with an office in Maastricht, The Netherlands. HFTP is the global professional association for financial and technology personnel working in hotels, clubs, and other hospitality-related businesses. Founded in 1952, HFTP provides first-class educational events, networking, certifications and resources to over 4,400 members worldwide. 

National Association for Catering and Events (NACE) The National Association for Catering and Events (NACE), the oldest and largest catering association in the world, encompasses all aspects of the catering and events industry. Dedicated to promoting career success for its members and the professionalism of the industry, NACE offers educational programs, professional certification, chapter initiatives, networking opportunities, recognition and awards programs, a job bank, community service projects and the industry’s most prestigious annual conference. In helping its members enhance their business and careers, NACE helps the industry reach its highest potential.

International Food Service Executives Association (IFSEA) The International Food Service Executives Association (IFSEA) is a professional association with members from the food service and hospitality profession.  Established in 1901, IFSEA is the industry’s oldest association.  Its mission is to enhance the careers of its members through food service certification, education seminars, networking, student mentorships and community service.  Activities include an annual conference, culinary competitions, awards and scholarships.  IFSEA has been a proud partner of the U.S. Military for more than 50 years.  The association assists the joint services of the Army, Navy and Military Sealift Command by providing evaluations of military food service programs, education seminars, culinary competitions and the Army Philip A. Connelly Awards, Navy Captain Edward F. Ney Awards and MSC Captain David M. Cook Awards

HBCU Consortium The mission of the HBCU Consortium is to assist in the development and training of our future generation of innovators. The focus of the training will be on young minds in underserved communities, at the middle-school and high-school levels. The purpose is to train these students to have the minds of innovators and to rekindle a thirst for innovation in their hearts and minds.  The thirst that has contributed to our country's current international status as a world leader. The purpose is also to assist in making sure that our country does not allow great minds in underserved communities to go untapped, which is the reason for the coining of the phrase - "Mining Minds Of Innovation". This initiative will assist the United States in becoming more competitive in today's international economy in light of the booming populations in Asia having large pools of potential innovators who will compete on an international level.

PCMA educates, inspires, and listens, creating meaningful experiences where passion, purpose and commerce come together. We are the world’s largest community for Business Events Strategists, providing senior-level education, networking, and market intelligence for the global business events industry. Headquartered in Chicago, IL PCMA has 17 North American Chapters, regional communities in APAC, EMEA and LATAM, and members in 59 countries.

SHFM connects members with the most influential leaders in Workplace Hospitality and Amenities in the Foodservice industry. Our members are leaders in Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies from across the country. Members represent all facets of the industry including companies that are household names, all the major foodservice contract management companies, and the suppliers to this prominent and unique segment of the industry.