2026 General Manager Awards, powered by AHLA

The GM Awards are the industry’s most prestigious national awards program exclusively honoring GMs and their properties. Winners will be announced at The Hospitality Show on November 2-4 in Miami Beach, FL. 

Each winner will be featured in an exclusive profile video produced by AHLA’s videographer and receive complimentary registration to both the GM Summit and The Hospitality Show, a travel stipend, and recognition onstage among their industry peers and throughout The Hospitality Show. Additionally, AHLA will provide dedicated media assets for winners' companies to utilize across their own marketing and communication platforms. 

General Managers of the Year

Recognizes outstanding General Managers across five distinct property categories who demonstrate exceptional leadership, operational excellence, and guest satisfaction while driving strong team culture and property performance. 

  • General Manager of the Year: Independent Properties – Independently operated properties not affiliated with a chain, including all non-branded hotels and select brands that are membership-based. 
  • General Manager of the Year: Extended Stay Properties – Properties offering long-term accommodation for guests, typically quoting weekly rates. 
  • General Manager of the Year: Full-Service Properties (excluding Resort Properties) – Properties providing multiple onsite amenities and services, including full-service restaurants, laundry, security, shuttles, spa, fitness facilities, room service, and concierge. 
  • General Manager of the Year: Select-Service Properties (not Extended Stay Properties) – Properties with room-only operations (i.e. no food and beverage service) or offering a bedroom for the night, but very few other services and amenities.
  • General Manager of the Year: Resort Properties – Full-service resort property, often of historical or geographical significance, serving as a destination for leisure and recreation through amenities, such as golf, tennis, skiing, equestrian sports, and water activities, that are primarily owner operated or controlled by the property for their guests.

General Manager Lifetime Achievement Award

Honors a General Manager whose career reflects exceptional leadership, lasting influence, and a lifelong commitment to excellence in hospitality. More than a successful hotel leader, this individual has served as a mentor, role model, and visionary whose impact extends beyond their property into the industry and community. Their legacy is defined by the people they inspired, the standards they elevated, and the enduring difference they made throughout their career. (Note: Requires a letter of recommendation from at least one peer.) 

NEW: General Manager Rising Star Award

Recognizes a new General Manager who, within their first 24 months of their first General Manager role, has demonstrated exceptional leadership, growth, and impact through operational excellence, guest satisfaction, and a strong culture of teamwork while showing the confidence, adaptability, and vision to lead successfully in hospitality. 

NEW: General Manager Community Ambassador Award

Recognizes a General Manager who demonstrates exceptional commitment to building strong relationships and integrating their property within the local community through partnerships with civic organizations, nonprofits, and small businesses. Whether through sustainable local sourcing, spearheading charitable fundraisers, or creating employment outreach programs, this GM has redefined what it means to be a 'good neighbor' ensuring that the hotel is not just a place for travelers to stay, but a cornerstone of the community. 

2027 Stars of the Industry Awards, powered by AHLA Foudation

North Star Award: Lodging Employee of the Year 
Nominate your property’s superstar to get the spotlight they deserve on our industry’s biggest stage. We want to hear about our industry’s finest - the people who drive our industry every single day to make it extraordinary. This employee goes above and beyond their daily tasks, makes guests feel special, is always willing to give an extra hand to, and is strongly engaged with the local community. Your candidate’s nomination should showcase their passion for hospitality and demonstrate their unwavering commitment to the property and community. The top three finalist of this category will be honored at the 2026 Night of a Thousand Stars Gala, where the winner will be announced from the stage. 

Stevan Porter Emerging Hospitality Leader of the Year 
Our industry’s best ideas come from those who see the world with fresh eyes. This award, named in honor of Stevan Porter, former president of the Americas, InterContinental Hotels Group, recognizes emerging leaders around us, those that energize the industry and inspire those around them to be their best selves. Do you work with an exemplary young professional under 30 who exhibits these traits? Share their industry story and the motivating factors behind their dedication and work ethic.  

AHLA Foundation Scholar of the Year Award (Recognizing Outstanding Hospitality Student Achievement) 
Is there a leading hospitality student who consistently performs at the top of their class? Do you know a highly motivated hospitality student planning to pursue a career in hotels? This award honors outstanding student achievement and exceptional scholarship. Nominate a hospitality student you know who stands out as a stellar example of both academic excellence and the future of the hotel industry! Nominees must be enrolled in a 2 or 4-year Hospitality program. The Scholar of the Year Award includes a $2500 AHLA Foundation Academic Scholarship.

Hotel Hero Award 
Celebrate the amazing moments that exemplify hospitality in our industry by nominating your hotel hero. This award honors a team member that went above and beyond to aid a guest, fellow colleague, or property in a true time of need. Provide the details of the specific circumstance that exemplify how the team member put their own interest last to enable a positive outcome of a difficult situation or unexpected event. Please also include supporting details of the employee’s character and daily job function for context.  

 

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