The president of Suburban Franchise Systems, Kevin Lewis, has been elected chairman of the AH&LA Extended Stay Lodging Council (ESLC) for a two-year term. Lewis succeeds Jim Anhut, SVP brand management for Staybridge Suites, who had served as the committee chair since 1999. Steve Hymans, VP brand marketing for Hawthorn Suites, will serve as vice chairman. "We couldn't have picked a better leader," said former ESLC Chairman Jim Anhut. "Kevin is passionate about the extended stay segment and I am confident he will maintain the momentum the organization has built over the past four years." The extended stay lodging segment continues to perform better than the hotel industry in general, which has helped the ESLC raise the segment's visibility. In continuing with the ESLC's strategic initiatives, Lewis will focus on improving consumer awareness of the segment as well as increasing its visibility within the financial community. In targeting consumers, the first new initiative Lewis will lead is lobbying the American Automobile Association (AAA) regarding a quality ranking for extended stay hotels. "Extended stay hotels are often penalized because the offering is different than a standard hotel. For example, extended stay often offers limited office hours or sheet changes once a week," said Lewis. "It is important that we educate the association and encourage the creation of a separate set of standards for this segment of the industry." Lewis will lead the focus on the financial community through the encouragement of strong representation and involvement by committee members at investment conferences during the coming year. Lewis also plans to grow the ESLC's membership to ensure all segments of the community are represented. "We have a great group that consists of more than 40 franchisees, operators, vendors, consultants and key executives," said Lewis. "During the next year, our goal is to ensure all major extended-stay brands are involved and to reach out to new sectors or those with little representation, including REITs and operators." Sponsored by The Highland Group, Suburban, InterContinental Hotels Group and AH&LA, the ESLC was established in 1997 to serve as a resource for gathering and disseminating information pertaining to the needs, interests, and concerns of the extended stay segment. American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) is a 93-year-old federation of state lodging associations throughout the United States with some 11,000 property members nationwide, representing more than 1.5 million guest rooms. AH&LA provides its members with assistance in operations, education, and communications, and lobbies on Capitol Hill to provide a business climate in which the industry can continue to prosper. To learn more, visit www.ahma.com. Contact: Suburban Franchise Systems, Inc. 1000 Circle 75 Parkway, Suite 700 Atlanta, GA 30339
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