AHLA Foundation Raises +$1,000,000 At Annual Gala

LOS ANGELES, CA — AHLA Foundation raised more than $1,000,000 at its annual Night of a Thousand Stars fundraising gala last night, bringing together more than 400 industry leaders at the Beverly Hilton to celebrate excellence in hospitality. Proceeds of the gala will support workforce development initiatives for hotel industry employees.

The event took on special significance this year as the industry demonstrated its commitment to the recovery and resilience of Los Angeles in the wake of recent wildfires with donations to the Red Cross and LA Fire Department Foundation. AHLA and the AHLA Foundation pledged $10,000 to support disaster relief efforts and will match up to $25,000 donated by AHLA members.

Each year, Night of a Thousand Stars recognizes outstanding achievements across the industry with five prestigious awards to recognize hospitality professionals under 30 years old; hospitality student excellence; women creating paths for other women in the industry to succeed; and the lodging employee of the year.

Night of a Thousand Stars is a shining tribute to the exceptional talent that drives hospitality forward, while fueling a stronger future for our industry, said Anna Blue, President of the AHLA Foundation. Through the Foundation’s transformative workforce development programs, we are not just opening doors but creating pathways for individuals to build meaningful, life-changing careers in this extraordinary industry.

One of the things I’ve always loved about this industry is the way it loves its people. Night of a Thousand Stars is an opportunity for our industry to celebrate the incredible people who make hospitality all it is, said Rosanna Maietta, President and CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA). Their stories are so powerful. They are the heart of our industry and the reason the work the AHLA Foundation does is so important to advancing the careers of so many.

AHLA’s 2025 Stars of the Industry winners

North Star: Lodging Employee of the Year Award

• Melvin De La Cruz, Assistant to Director of HR, The Park Vista a DoubleTree by Hilton

AHLA Foundation ForWard: Paving the Way Award

• Whitney Bergmann, General Manager, Best Western Plus Grant Creek Inn

Stevan Porter Emerging Hospitality Leader of the Year Award

• Nicole Harker, Front Office Manager, Amara Resort & Spa

Hotel Hero

• Jessica Dunnihoo, Executive Housekeeper, Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa & Convention Center

AHLA Foundation Scholar of the Year Award

• Devin Grady, Student, Anne Arundel Community College and Accountant, Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center

The event’s success was made possible through the generous support of presenting sponsors Encore, Guest Supply, Hilton, Hilton Supply Management and contributions from hospitality leaders and professionals across the industry. Giving at the gala was initiated by a $100,000 donation from Jon Bortz, President and CEO of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, and his wife Ellen Bortz.

For more information about the AHLA Foundation and its initiatives, visit www.ahlafoundation.org. To donate to organizations providing emergency assistance in Los Angeles, visit https://www.ahla.com/relief.

About AHLA Foundation

The AHLA Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, works to support the hotel and lodging industry’s greatest asset – our people. By connecting employees, employers, and their communities, we seek to continuously nurture a culture of professional growth and belonging. When the people who work in our industry thrive, the industry thrives along with them. The Foundation is funded by grants and charitable contributions from generous individuals and organizations who want to support individuals seeking opportunities to thrive in the hotel and lodging industry. Learn more at www.ahlafoundation.org.