Press Release: California Hotel & Lodging Association
August 23, 2002
SACRAMENTO, CA -- The California Hotel & Lodging Association (CH&LA) received a 2002 Flex Your Power Energy
Conservation Award from the Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency of the State of California. CH&LA received
this award for its demonstration of early leadership and motivation of its members and the entire lodging industry
to take action and achieve results in addressing California's energy crisis.
In an award ceremony at the State of California's new energy-efficient showcase Department of Education building,
Lon Hatamiya, Secretary of Technology, Trade and Commerce for the State of California presented the California
Hotel & Lodging Association with the award. In his comments, Secretary Hatamiya commended CH&LA for its
advocacy and educational programs, including its series of energy seminars across California, the resource manual
entitled Innkeepers Guide for Dealing with the Energy Crisis, as well as its $1.85 million grant program with the
California Energy Commission that put energy saving devices in many lodging properties throughout the state. Through
the efforts of CH&LA, it is estimated the lodging industry reduced energy consumption during peak demand by
more than 10%, significantly higher than expected.
"We're proud of our efforts to 'keep the lights on' in California, and grateful to Secretary Hatamiya for
recognizing our leadership," said Jim Abrams, executive vice president of CH&LA. "This award really
belongs to our members and the entire California lodging industry for their considerably efforts to conserve energy
in a great time of need."
The California Hotel & Lodging Association (CH&LA) is the largest state lodging industry trade association
in the country. Its 1,650 member properties, which comprise more than 210,000 guest rooms, consist of hotels, motels,
bed and breakfast inns, guest ranches, resorts, spas, condominium rentals, timeshares, and vacation home rentals
located throughout California. CH&LA's mission is to "be the indispensable resource for communicating
and protecting the rights and interests of the California lodging industry, for providing educational training
and cost-saving programs for all segments of the industry, and for supporting strategic alliances to promote the
value of California tourism and travel." Sacramento-based CH&LA has been representing California's lodging
industry for more than a century.
----------------------------------------------------------
Contact:
California Hotel & Lodging Association
Jim Abrams, 916/444-5780
jabrams@chlaonline.com
www.chlaonline.com