In a member meeting held on January 21, 2009 at the Nashville Marriott Hotel at Vanderbilt, the members of the Tennessee Hotel & Lodging Association (TH&LA) voted to change the Charter of the 81-year old association and become the Tennessee Hospitality Association. This move follows the purchasing of the assets of the former Tennessee Restaurant Association in December 2008. By changing the name, the association will be better poised to position itself for the future as it consolidates member services and programs for both organizations under a single management structure.
The final vote by the participating members was 92-0 in favor of the name change.
"This change will more appropriately recognize the Association as the representative for all of Tennessee's hospitality industry components – both with lodging and dining businesses," said Walt Baker – CEO of the Tennessee Hospitality Association.
"This transaction has been endorsed and approved by both of the governing organizations for the hospitality industry at the national level: the National Restaurant Association and the American Hotel & Lodging Association. As a result, the TN Hospitality Association will officially handle all membership and government relations functions for member restaurant and lodging companies throughout the state of Tennessee," Baker concluded.
All benefits, activities and training programs provided to either group by their respective national organizations will continue without interruption.