THE AMERICAN HOTEL & Lodging Association Foundation recently raised more than $1 million at its annual Night of a Thousand Stars gala, gathering more than 400 industry leaders at the Beverly Hilton. Proceeds will fund workforce development for hotel employees.
This year’s event highlighted the industry’s commitment to Los Angeles’ recovery, with donations to the Red Cross and LA Fire Department Foundation following recent wildfires, the AHLA Foundation said in a statement.
AHLA and the foundation also pledged $10,000 for disaster relief and will match up to $25,000 in member donations.
“Night of a Thousand Stars is a tribute to the talent driving hospitality forward and fueling a stronger future for our industry,” said Anna Blue, AHLA Foundation’s president. “Through the foundation’s workforce development programs, we are not just opening doors but creating pathways for individuals to build meaningful, life-changing careers in this industry.”
Each year, Night of a Thousand Stars honors industry excellence with five awards: young professionals, student achievement, women empowering women, and the lodging employee of the year, the statement said.
Rosanna Maietta, AHLA’s president and CEO, said the event is an opportunity to celebrate the people who make hospitality what it is.
“One of the things I’ve always loved about this industry is the way it loves its people,” she said. “Their stories are powerful. They are the heart of our industry and the reason the AHLA Foundation’s work is so important to advancing careers.”
AHLA’s 2025 Stars of the Industry winners:
- North Star: Lodging Employee of the Year – Melvin De La Cruz, assistant to director of HR, The Park Vista, a DoubleTree by Hilton
- ForWard: Paving the Way Award – Whitney Bergmann, general manager, Best Western Plus Grant Creek Inn
- Stevan Porter Emerging Hospitality Leader – Nicole Harker, front office manager, Amara Resort & Spa
- Scholar of the Year – Devin Grady, student, Anne Arundel Community College; accountant, Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center
- Hotel Hero – Jessica Dunnihoo, executive housekeeper, Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa & Convention Center
The event was supported by presenting sponsors including Encore, Guest Supply, Hilton and Hilton Supply Management, along with industry leaders. Jon Bortz, president and CEO of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, and his wife Ellen Bortz began the giving with a $100,000 donation.
In November, the AHLA Foundation awarded $944,000 in scholarships to 369 students enrolled in hospitality programs across 88 colleges nationwide. To date, the Foundation has disbursed over $16 million in scholarships, supporting thousands of future industry leaders.
