ATLANTA, Ga. – AAHOA, the world’s largest hotel owners association, is proud to announce key leadership promotions that underscore its commitment to serving its members and driving industry progress. Geetika Rana has been promoted to Executive Vice President of Membership & Events, and Dennis Smith has been promoted to Executive Vice President of Business Development.
Congratulations to Geetika and Dennis on their well-deserved promotions. Geetika’s extensive experience with our members and events, combined with Dennis’s expertise in building strategic partnerships, will significantly enhance AAHOA’s ability to meet the evolving needs of our members. These leadership advancements position AAHOA for continued success in leading the hospitality industry forward. AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake
Rana has been with AAHOA since 2012, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of Membership. She brings a wealth of experience, including prior roles as general manager of two hotel properties, to her new position.
I am honored to step into this role and continue serving AAHOA’s members, partners, and the broader hospitality industry, Rana said. Our members are the backbone of this association, and I look forward to growing and strengthening the community through enhanced programs, events, and opportunities.
Smith, who joined AAHOA in 2022, most recently served as Vice President of Business Development. He has a proven track record in business development and sales for associations and trade shows.
This is an exciting time for AAHOA and its partners, Smith said. I look forward to taking on this expanded leadership role and look forward to fostering stronger connections that bring value to our members and partners.
AAHOA also announced two additional promotions: Alyson Corey, currently Senior Director of Conventions, will now serve as Vice President of Conventions, and Frederick Thompson, currently Senior Director of Finance & Strategic Planning, has been promoted to Vice President of Finance & Strategic Planning.
I am thrilled about the promotions of Alyson and Frederick, Blake said. Alyson’s dedication to delivering exceptional conventions and Frederick’s strategic financial expertise will further strengthen AAHOA’s efforts to lead the hospitality industry into the future.
About AAHOA
AAHOA is the largest hotel owners association in the world, with Member-owned properties representing a significant part of the U.S. economy. AAHOA’s 20,000 members own 60% of the hotels in the United States and are responsible for 1.7% of the nation’s GDP. More than 1 million employees work at AAHOA Member-owned hotels, earning $47 billion annually, and member-owned hotels support 4.2 million U.S. jobs across all sectors of the hospitality industry. AAHOA’s mission is to advance and protect the business interests of hotel owners through advocacy, industry leadership, professional development, member benefits, and community engagement.
