ALIS AWARDS

The Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), honors the executives and companies responsible for the most influential hotel industry deals with the prestigious ALIS Awards. The winners were announced during the ALIS conference, January 26-28, 2026. Nominees for the awards will be evaluated based on outstanding business performance in various industry sectors.

Development of the Year Award

The ALIS Development of the Year Award recognizes a newly built, redeveloped, or repositioned (after significant product renovations and/or enhancements) hotel that opened, reopened, or completed their repositioning in the Americas region between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025. Categories include:

  • Full Service

  • Select/Limited Service

Development of the Year 2024 Committee

Committee Chair: JP Ford, Lodging Econometrics

Raj Chandnani

John S. Fareed, Horwath HTL

Bruce Ford, Lodging Econometrics

Daniel Lesser, LW Hospitality Advisors

Francis J. Nardozza, REH Capital Partners, LLC

Kirsten Smiley, HVS

Single Asset Transaction of the Year

The ALIS Single Asset Transaction of the Year Award recognizes a hotel or resort in which more than a 50 percent ownership stake has been acquired (transaction closed) in the Americas region between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025. Categories include:

  • US$25M & Under

  • Over US$25M

Single Asset Transaction of the Year 2024 Committee

Committee Chair: John R. Karver, Karv Corp

Pete Dannemiller, Hodges Ward Elliott

Kevin Davis, JLL

Patrick Deming, Eastdil Secured

Greg LaBerge, Marcus & Millichap

Mark Owens, Colliers

Bob Webster, CBRE

Merger & Acquisition of the Year

The ALIS Merger & Acquisition of the Year Award recognizes an acquisition of a controlling stake in a portfolio of hotels, company, or brand ownership entity in the Americas region between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025.

Merger & Acquisition of the Year 2024 Committee

Committee Chair: Phillip Summers, Lazard

Michael Bluhm, Jefferies

Meagan Brandiff, Wells Fargo

Zachary Eckler, Goldman, Sachs & Co

Sean Gormley, Morgan Stanley

Larry Kwon, Moelis & Company

Jack A. Shaffer Financial Advisor of the Year

Closing deals is ultimately not about the numbers, but about people and trust. The Jack A. Shaffer Financial Advisor of the Year Award is not about who has done the biggest and sexiest transaction. This Award will be about the process of getting the buyer and the seller together through relationships. This Award will be presented to the Advisor who exhibits enthusiasm, drive, and style in the pursuit of putting the buyer and seller together for a transaction that was beneficial to both parties.

Jack A. Shaffer Financial Advisor of the Year 2024 Committee

Committee Chair: Thomas J. Corcoran Jr., TCOR Hotel Partners

Anthony Capuano, Marriott International

Kevin J. Jacobs, Hilton

Michael Mohapp, KSL Capital Partners

Gilda Perez-Alvarado, Accor

Julienne Smith, IHG Hotels & Resorts

Lifetime Achievement Award

Ed Fuller, former long-time global Marriott executive, was presented with the ALIS Lifetime Achievement Award during the 24th annual the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) on January 28-30, 2025, in Los Angeles. This prominent award is presented to an individual who has made significant contributions to the hospitality industry through their actions, deeds, and great accomplishments.

  • 2025: Edwin D. Fuller

    2024: David Kong

    2023: Philip F. Anschutz

    2022: Michael Shannon

    2021: Kathleen Taylor

    2020: Robert L. Johnson

    2019: Stewart Bainum, Jr.

    2018: Thomas J. Pritzker

    2017: Thomas J. Corcoran, Jr.

    2016: HP Rama

    2015: Bob Hazard

    2014: Jack DeBoer

    2013: Michael A. Level

    2012: Marilyn Carlson Nelson

    2011: John C. Portman, Jr.

    2010: Randell A. Smith

    2009: Horst Schulze

    2008: Stephen F. Bollenbach

    2007: John Q. Hammons

    2006: Michael Eisner

    2005: Isadore Sharp

    2004: Sam Barshop

    2003: Bill Marriott

    2002: Mike Rose

ISHC Pioneer Award

The ISHC Pioneer Award was established in 1996 to recognize one individual each year who has made an outstanding contribution, achievement and/or improvement in the hospitality industry. Winners are selected on a basis of three criteria: Active involvement in the hospitality industry; Contribution to the industry; and Personal/organizational attributes and qualities adhering to professional standards recognized and respected by industry peers. The Pioneer Award 2025 recipient was Benjamin Weprin, CEO & Founder, AJ Capital Partners.

  • Tracy Prigmore (2024)

    Alejandro Zozaya (2023)

    Peggy Berg (2022)

    Marilyn Carlson Nelson (2020)

    Jack DeBoer (2019)

    Wing T. Chao (2018)

    Ian Schrager (2017)

    Lyndall DeMarco (2016)

    Stephen Kaufer (2015)

    Michael Bedner (2014)

    Steve Rushmore (2013)

    Chip Conley (2012)

    Kathleen Taylor (2011)

    Leland C. Pillsbury (2010)

    J.W. Marriott (2009)

    Jean Gabriel Peres (2008)

    Stanley Selengut (2008)

    Jean-Claude Baumgarten (2007)

    James E. Burba (2007)

    Stelios Haji-Ioannou (2006)

    H.P. Rama (2006)

    Costakis Loizou (2005)

    Barry Sternlicht (2005)

    Christel DeHaan (2004)

    Regis Bulot (2004)

    Bill Kimpton (2002)

    Jonathan M. Tisch (2001)

    Michael A. Leven (2000)

    Jack Vaughn (1999)

    George Johnson (1998)

    Randell A. Smith (1997)

Arne Sorenson Social Impact Leadership Award

The Arne Sorenson Social Impact Leadership Award is given to an industry professional who demonstrates extraordinary efforts to advance positive societal change and make the lodging industry, and the world, more hospitable.

• Jen Collins, Co-Founder & President and Lauren McCann, Co-Founder & CEO of Procure Impact was named the fourth annual recipients of the Arne Sorenson Social Impact Leadership Award at ALIS in 2025.

Awards Criteria

  • Individual(s) (CEO or senior level employee) the hospitality industry

  • Individual must:

    1. display a distinct, inclusive leadership style

    2. have a proven impact on humanity at large

    3. be valued and respected by peers

    4. use their platform to drive social change by being an advocate

    5. live by the values they promote

  • Submission must include:

    1. recommendation letters (250 words) from at least one colleague from the nominee’s company and two industry peers

    2. employment and leadership history (Nominee must have held a leadership position for at least five years in the hospitality industry)

    3. proven metrics for successful progress in an area requiring change and improvement

    4. a detailed list of social and corporate contributions

    5. a head shot of nominee

    6. any applicable media clips, videos or sound bites

    7. a sizzle reel of company leadership to be featured during award presentation