SHEILA JOHNSON, FOUNDER and CEO of Salamander Collection, will receive the 2024 Peggy Berg Castell Award at The Lodging Conference 2024 in Phoenix on Oct. 8. The award, presented by the AHLA Foundation’s ForWard initiative, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing women in hospitality.
Johnson, who has developed properties in the U.S. and Jamaica, is active in professional sports, the arts and humanitarian causes.
Johnson’s Salamander Collection is the largest Black-owned luxury hotel company in the U.S. and ranks among the largest minority- and women-owned businesses in Washington, AHLA Foundation said in a statement.
“It is hard to imagine an industry leader who embodies the principles of the Peggy Berg Castell Award more than Sheila Johnson,” said Anna Blue, AHLA Foundation’s president. “She has been an inspiration in so many areas throughout her career and continues to set standards for excellence in the hotel industry.”
The foundation said an independent group of industry leaders and stakeholders selected Johnson as the fifth recipient of the annual award. Recipients are principled leaders who champion inclusion in the hotel industry, creating new paths for women to advance. Julienne Smith, chief development officer for the Americas at IHG Hotels & Resorts, received the 2023 Peggy Berg Castell Award.
“I am honored to be a recipient of the Peggy Berg Castell Award and to be recognized in our industry as a champion for women,” Johnson said. “I share this award with my entire team of dedicated professionals who also share my values.”
Johnson serves on the executive committee of the American Hotel & Lodging Association and the Forbes Travel Guide Strategy Committee. She previously served on the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, appointed by the Secretary of Commerce.
Johnson is also a cofounder of Black Entertainment Television.
Blue will present the award to Johnson on Oct. 8, followed by a fireside chat highlighting her achievements and ongoing influence on the next generation of hospitality leaders.
The honor, previously known as the Castell Award, was renamed last year to pay tribute to Castell Project founder Peggy Berg. The Castell Project, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing women leaders in hospitality, merged with the AHLA Foundation’s ForWard initiative in 2023.
