Phoenix, AZ – August 9, 2016 – Harry Javer, Producer and Co-Founder of The Lodging Conference, one of the industry’s leading events for Hotel Owners, CEO's and Deal Makers, announced today that Minaz Abji, Executive VP, Host Hotels & Resorts, has been selected as the recipient for the 2016 Above and Beyond Humanitarian Award. The award will be presented at The Lodging Conference on September 28th, 2016.
The prestigious Above and Beyond Award is presented annually to a hospitality leader who is highly regarded for having given back to the industry or their community. Past recipients include Jack DeBoer, Chairman, Value Place; John Q. Hammons, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts; Michael Leven, President and COO, Las Vegas Sands Corp.; Joe McInerney, President & CEO, McInerney Hospitality International; Leland C. Pillsbury, Co-Chairman & CEO, Thayer Lodging Group; Hasmukh (H.P.) Rama, CEO & Chairman of the Board, JHM Hotels; and Randy Smith, Chairman and Founder, STR.
Abji has served as a member of the Board of Trustees to the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF) since 2006 and has been elected Chairman each year since 2007. For more than 60 years, the Foundation has been the primary source of financial support for industry-related scholarships and research. Over the last decade, Mr. Abji has helped guide the Foundation in its fundraising, research and scholarship efforts. In addition, he has given generously to the Foundation including a recent gift of $100,000 to the AHLEF’s Opening Doors to Opportunity campaign. He has also volunteered and served on dozens of committees of the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA).
"I am humbled to receive this award and am grateful for the opportunities the hospitality industry has afforded me. I am passionate about giving back to educating the next generation,” said Minaz Abji
“It’s so important to give back to the industry and nobody has given more,” said Harry Javer, Producer and Founder of The Lodging Conference. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Minaz at the AH&LEF and he is an industry treasure. His hard work, dedication and leadership has helped the Foundation to reach some tremendous goals over the past 10 years. His tremendous efforts will continue to bear fruit for years to come. The industry needs more people like Minaz."
As Executive Vice President of Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. Minaz Abji is responsible for the leadership of the Global Asset Management, Feasibility & Portfolio Analysis, Business Intelligence, and Revenue Management Departments. Mr. Abji has over 40 years of hotel operations experience including 23 years with Westin hotels. Mr. Abji joined Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. as Executive Vice President in August of 2003. Before coming to Host Hotels & Resorts, Mr. Abji was President of Canadian Hotel Income Properties REIT, a Canadian REIT located in Vancouver, British Columbia. Prior to his tenure with CHIP, Mr. Abji worked for Starwood Hotel and Resorts in Canada as Area Managing Director.
