Phoenix, AZ July 10, 2018—Harry Javer, Producer and Founder of The Lodging Conference, one of the industry’s leading events for Hotel Owners, CEO's and Deal Makers, announced today that Patrick H. Ford, Chairman, CEO, and Founder of Lodging Econometrics (LE) and New England Hotel Realty (NEHR), has been selected as the recipient of the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award. The award will be presented at The Lodging Conference on September 25, 2018.
The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has provided outstanding, life-long contributions to the hospitality industry. Past recipients include Minaz Abji, Executive Vice President, Host Hotels & Resorts; 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; Randy Smith, Chairman and Founder, STR; Jonathan M. Tisch, Co-Chairman of the Board and a member of the Office of the President of Loews Corporation, and Chairman and CEO of its subsidiary, Loews Hotels & Co.
In a career spanning more than 50 years, Pat Ford began his career with the Dunfey Hotel Company, the predecessor to the Omni Hotel Company, where he spent 20 years in a variety of operational and executive roles. In 1995, at the start of the lodging franchise boom, and at the urging of a number of hotel companies and Wall Street Investment Firms, he founded Lodging Econometrics (LE) to compile lodging development and transaction data for the U.S. Within two years, LE replicated their development research programs in every country of the world. Shortly thereafter, LE positioned away from solely being a data provider towards being a lodging sales and marketing specialty Patrick H. Ford Chairman, CEO, and Founder Lodging Econometrics New England Hotel Realty firm as well, providing a variety of customized new hotel construction and supply side databases, and trend line and forecast reports that assist development teams in growing their business within the lodging industry.
In 2017, Lodging Econometrics was honored by the Peter Paul School of Business at the University of New Hampshire as the most outstanding family business in New Hampshire. Today, Lodging Econometrics is ably led by Ford’s sons, Timothy, JP and Bruce and has also provided employment opportunities for a number of third generation family members.
“I’m delighted to be selected for the prestigious 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award and to be counted amongst the prominent roster of former award winners. It has been a pleasure to spend my over 50 year career as part of the lodging industry and in particular to have played a part in the unprecedented global expansion of the industry over the last 25 years. It’s been an exciting time,” said Pat Ford.
“We are thrilled to have Pat Ford as this year's recipient of The Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Harry Javer, Producer and Founder of The Lodging Conference. “This distinction is all about visionary leadership and there is no one who has provided more insight into the hospitality industry than Pat. Lodging Econometrics is the go-to industry source for franchise companies, ownership and management groups and lodging vendors who rely on timely intelligence on new construction, renovation and conversion opportunities and for transaction trends in every region, country and market worldwide. Pat is the embodiment of outstanding achievement.”
