Summary:
- Hilton’s Saxena reappointed as chair of the AHLA Foundation for a second term.
- Hyatt’s Bottarini and PM Hotel’s Bojanowski named vice chair and treasurer.
- Marriott’s Gandhi also joins the foundation’s board.
Anu Saxena, Hilton Supply Management president, will serve a second term as chair of the AHLA Foundation. Apoorva Gandhi, Marriott International SVP for community engagement and business councils, also joined the board.
Joan Bottarini, Hyatt Worldwide Holdings CFO, and Joseph Bojanowski, PM Hotel Group president and CEO, will serve as vice chair and secretary-treasurer of the AHLA Foundation’s 2026 Board, respectively, the foundation said in a statement. The foundation supports workforce development and initiatives that strengthen the hospitality industry and its communities.
“The AHLA Foundation plays a critical role in developing the next generation of hospitality professionals and supporting our industry’s workforce,” said Saxena. “I’m honored to continue serving as chair and to work alongside our trustees and Foundation team to expand our impact and create more opportunities for hospitality leaders across the country.”
Saxena earned a place on the 2025 Asian Hospitality Power List of the 51 Most Successful Women of Color for her impact on the industry.
Kevin Carey, AHLA Foundation president and CEO, said Anu's leadership has advanced the Foundation's mission and that she will continue to guide its work in 2026.
“The Foundation's work to develop talent and create career opportunities is more important than ever as our industry continues to grow and evolve,” he said.
Founded in 1953, the foundation supports the hotel industry's workforce through programs including scholarships, professional development resources, No Room for Trafficking and FORWARD, the statement said. It works across all industry segments—brands, owners, operators, managers, employees, suppliers, and nonprofit partners—to ensure a skilled workforce for quality service.
Other trustee members include Barry Bloom, Xenia Hotels & Resorts president and COO, and Sarah Dinger, My Place Hotels EVP for franchise operations.
In December, the Foundation testified before the Congressional Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events, highlighting the lodging industry's anti-human trafficking efforts ahead of major global events in the U.S.
