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Healthcare Associations Sue Government Over Deleted Health Data & Websites
By Todd McElwee
Nine co-plaintiffs, including multiple healthcare associations, sued Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the federal government on May 20 to stop the deletion of public health and science data.
The suit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. Co-plaintiffs say that since January, the executive branch has deleted dozens, if not more, websites that physicians, nurses, healthcare providers, scientists and public health professionals rely upon, removing data on a wide range of medical topics.
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Photos of the Week
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Industry Movers
Lyndsey Overman
Lyndsey Overman is taking over the role of Convention Sales Coordinator at Visit Wichita. She will provide support to the convention sales and services team to promote Wichita as a destination for meetings and conventions. She will also provide assistance to recurring groups and meeting planners by helping them utilize the resources made available by Visit Wichita. Overman served as an engagement center representative at Celebrity Cruises.
Nicholas Gold
Nicholas Gold is now Managing Director of Black Desert Resort in Southern Utah. He is responsible for overseeing operations at Black Desert Resort and the Red Mountain Resort, which are now managed by CoralTree Hospitality. Prior to joining Black Desert Resort, Gold was vice president at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay in Hawaii. He is originally from London and has held a variety of roles in Arizona and Mexico.
Daniel Lotz
Daniel Lotz has been promoted to Area General Manager of the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club and JB Duke Hotel, both are located at Duke University, and Lodge at Duke Medical Center. Lotz previously served as general manager of the Inn and area director of rooms operations across the hotel portfolio. He is a member of the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (NCRLA) Foundation Board.
Carrie Williams
Carrie Williams is the new General Manager of Aspen Meadows Resort. Salamander Collection made the announcement. Williams has served as managing director of operations and facilities for the Aspen Institute, which owns Aspen Meadows. Prior to joining the Aspen Institute in 2020, Williams was director of operations at The Limelight Hotel in Aspen and held various leadership roles at The Little Nell. She is originally from Pennsylvania.
Lydia Bates
Lydia Bates has been appointed Dream Inn Santa Cruz’s Director of Sales and Marketing. Bates brings more than two decades of hospitality leadership experience to the role at the California hotel. She is a graduate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and has held senior leadership positions at properties, including Hotel San Luis Obispo, Inns of Monterey, and Chaminade Resort & Spa in Santa Cruz.
Allen Highfield
Allen Highfield is now General Manager of Madeline Hotel & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection. The resort is in Telluride, Colorado. Highfield will oversee all operations at Madeline Hotel & Residences. A hospitality industry veteran, Highfield draws on more than 10 years of service in mountainous destinations, including Aspen, Bachelor Gulch, Lake Tahoe, and Deer Valley. He has held roles with brands such as The Ritz-Carlton and Montage International.
Association NEWS
Around Associations
America’s Beverage Members Invest $263,000 in Pensacola’s Recycling Program to Reduce Contamination… American Beverage has announced a $263,250 investment through its collaboration with The Recycling Partnership, to support the Pensacola, Florida, region’s return to recycling. The initiative includes new on-truck AI camera technology to help reduce contamination.
The AI-enabled cameras will help the city identify and reduce contamination—an issue that previously led to the city pausing recycling services. The funding will also support a community engagement program to educate residents on recycling best practices.
“We are proud to support the City of Pensacola in delivering better recycling services for residents,” said Elizabeth DeWitt, President & CEO, Florida Beverage Association. “By leveraging new technology, we can help improve the quality of recyclables in Pensacola and get more of our valuable bottles and cans back—so they can be remade as intended.”
This investment, the second in the state following Jacksonville last year, is expected to collect an estimated 26 million pounds of new recyclables over the next decade. This includes more than 1 million pounds of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic and 338,000 pounds of aluminum, materials essential for creating recyclable bottles and cans.
American Beverage said this project is the latest from “Every Bottle Back”—an initiative of The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper and PepsiCo—that launched in 2019 and has reached more than 14 million Americans through $30 million in funding nationwide. In total, the investments across 54 communities are estimated to yield more than 711 million new pounds of recycled PET and 45 million more pounds of recycled aluminum over the next decade.
Find more information at americanbeverage.org.
Hotel NEWS
Checking Inn
The Courtyard San Jose Airport, California announced on May 22 its reopening following a multi-year, $15 million renovation. The hotel offers 199 guest rooms, including 13 suites, meeting and event spaces that can accommodate up to 250 guests, an on-site restaurant, The Bistro, and a new deli-style market, The Crate. The property is owned by Beach Point Capital and is managed by Crestline Hotels & Resorts.
“We are excited to open the reimagined Courtyard San Jose and to collaborate with Crestline as the manager of the property,” said Jerome Yuan, of ASAP Holdings, which asset manages the hotel on behalf of Beach Point Capital. “Crestline has extensive experience managing Marriott branded properties and is well known in the market for their unparalleled reputation for excellence in financial performance and guest service. Given Crestline’s strong track record, and this beautiful new hotel’s prime location in the Bay area, we are confident that we can deliver a unique and enjoyable experience for guests.”
Plano, Texas-based distillery, Brother’s Bond Bourbon, and 1 Hotels, a mission-driven luxury lifestyle hotel brand, released its “first-ever micro-batch single barrel release,” the two companies announced on May 27. The Regenerative Grain Straight Bourbon was selected by 1 Hotels is a limited edition bourbon “crafted with 100% regenerative grain and aged for seven years,” according to the pair.
“At 1 Hotels, we’re always looking for innovative ways to elevate the guest experience while prioritizing sustainability. Working with Brother’s Bond Bourbon for this Regenerative Grain micro-batch release is a perfect example,” said Steven Minor, Corporate Director of Beverage at Starwood Hotels, owner of 1 Hotels. “It’s not just about exceptional flavor; it’s about supporting the future of agriculture and the planet with every sip. This initiative reflects our dedication to sustainability—because great spirits deserve to come from great soil.”
The spirit will be available at select 1 Hotels in the United States beginning this month.
CVB Updates
Discover Long Island in New York announced on May 22 that Suffolk County’s world-renowned shoreline has made waves nationally, once again.
In the highly anticipated annual release of the Top 10 Beaches in the U.S. list, Dr. Stephen Leatherman, known widely as “Dr. Beach,” has ranked Coopers Beach in Southampton as the #1 beach in America. Also representing the region with pride, Main Beach in East Hampton earned the #5 spot on the esteemed annual list.
Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman is a professor in the Department of Earth & Environment at Florida International University and one of the world’s leading scientific advocates for America’s beaches. Since 1991, he has released his highly anticipated annual list of America’s Top 10 Beaches, using 50 scientific criteria.
Coopers Beach has consistently earned a place on Dr. Beach’s prestigious Top 10 list over the years, but 2025 marks the first time it has claimed the #1 spot.
“This is an extraordinary honor for Suffolk County, and a testament to the incredible natural beauty and world-class quality of Long Island’s beaches,” said Mitch Pally, President & CEO of Discover Long Island. “To see our region recognized above renowned beaches in Hawaii, Florida, and the Carolinas reflects the dedication of our communities to protecting and promoting our shoreline and reinforces our position as a premier coastal destination for travelers from around the world.”
For more information, visit discoverlongisland.com.
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