During the January 26, 2010 awards luncheon at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), two of hospitality’s most significant deals, as well as an investment executive, were honored with prestigious ALIS awards.

The Hunt Construction Built 1,001-room Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort and 498-room Waldorf=Astoria Orlando won the Development of the Year award. Developed with an approximate cost of $550 million by KUD International, LLC and Brooksville Development Corporation, the facility sets new standards in the Orlando hospitality scene.

Finalists included the 210‐room Hotel Indigo San Diego – Gaslamp Quarter – San Diego, California, developed at a hard construction cost of approximately $40 million by Phelps Development; and the 235‐room and 123 residences W Hotel – Boston, Massachusetts, developed at a cost of $235 million (includes hotel, residential, parking, land, and all associated costs) by Sawyer Enterprises.

Serving the hospitality industry for a century, AH&LA is the sole national association representing all sectors and stakeholders in the lodging industry, including individual hotel property members, hotel companies, student and faculty members, and industry suppliers. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AH&LA provides members with national advocacy on Capitol Hill, public relations and image management, education, research and information, and other value‐added services to provide bottom line savings and ensure a positive business climate for the lodging industry. Partner state associations provide local representation and additional cost‐saving benefits to members.

AH&LEF is the charitable fund‐raising and endowed fund‐management subsidiary of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Founded in 1953, AH&LEF is the premier organization for scholarships, professional certification, and instructional material as well as funding for hospitality industry research.