AHLA Celebrates GM of the Year Honorees at Hospitality Show

By Jordan Bradley

The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) hosted its annual conference, The Hospitality Show, where it distributed the 2026 General Managers of the Year Awards.

The conference was held from November 2–4 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida.

The annual General Manager (GM) of the Year Awards recognize GMs “who go above and beyond to deliver exceptional guest service, support their teams, and strengthen their communities,” AHLA said.

“Hospitality is an industry where talent and hard work can take you anywhere,” said Rosanna Maietta, President and CEO of AHLA. “This year’s honorees are proof.”

Honorees were selected in eight categories from a pool of more than 250 nominees.

This year’s GM awards included two new categories: the GM Rising Star Award, which recognizes a general manager within the first two years of their first GM role, and the GM Community Ambassador Award, which recognizes a general manager whose hotel had become a consistent contributor to the local community. 

The 2026 General Manager of the Year honorees include the following:
• GM Lifetime Achievement Award: Greg Leonard, General Manager, Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado
• GM of the Year, Extended Stay Property: Marie Ciss, General Manager, Extended Stay America Select Suites BWI Airport in Baltimore, Maryland
• GM of the Year, Full-Service Property: Sam Ioannidis, General Manager, The Plaza Hotel in New York City
• GM of the Year, Select-Service Property: Nilesh “Neil” Patel, General Manager, Best Western Opp Inn in Opp, Alabama
• GM of the Year, Independent Property: McClinton Heil, Area Managing Director, Halycon, a hotel in Cherry Creek, Denver
• GM of the Year, Resort Property: Greg Cook, General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, Florida
• GM Rising Star Award: Chris Egbert, General Manager, Holiday Inn Express & Suites in New Buffalo, Michigan
• GM Community Ambassador Award: Brad Everett, General Manager, Hilton Garden Inn & Manhattan Conference Center in Manhattan, Kansas

Leonard, the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, was given the award in recognition of “his more than 45 years of leadership with Hyatt, including leading a transformative hotel renovation while maintaining operational excellence and making lasting contributions to Denver’s tourism industry and community,” AHLA said.

Rising Star honoree Egbert was recognized for delivering “exceptional business results while strengthening team morale” and “transforming” the hotel’s workplace culture. Community Ambassador honoree Everett was recognized for “his unwavering commitment to community service,” AHLA said.

Maietta added that this year’s honorees “grew into leaders who develop their teams, drive results, and make their communities stronger. We’re proud to celebrate them.

There’s no greater joy than recognizing the important role they play in shaping the guest experience and bringing hospitality to life.”