Deal of the Year Awards

The Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), honored the executives and companies responsible for the most influential hotel industry deals in 2021 with the prestigious ALIS awards. The winners will be announced during the ALIS conference, January 24-26, 2022. Nominees for the awards are evaluated based on outstanding business performance in various industry sectors. Nomination forms must be submitted by Friday, December 3, 2021.


ALIS Development of the Year 2021
The ALIS Development of the Year Award recognizes two newly built, redeveloped, or repositioned (after significant product renovations and/or enhancements) hotels that opened, reopened, or completed their repositioning in the Americas region between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021. Categories include:
• Full Service
• Select/Limited Service

Nomination Period is Now Open 


ALIS Single Asset Transaction of the Year 2021
The ALIS Single Asset Transaction of the Year Award recognizes a hotel or resort in which more than a 50 percent ownership stake has been acquired (transaction closed) in the Americas region between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021. Categories include:
• US$25M & Under
• Over US$25M

Nomination Period is Now Open 


ALIS Merger & Acquisition of the Year 2021
The ALIS Merger & Acquisition of the Year Award recognizes an acquisition of a controlling stake in a portfolio of hotels, company, or brand ownership entity in the Americas region between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021.

Nomination Period is Now Open 


ALIS Jack A. Shaffer Financial Advisor of the Year 2021
Closing deals is ultimately not about the numbers, but about people and trust. The Jack A. Shaffer Financial Advisor of the Year Award is not about who has done the biggest and sexiest transaction. This Award will be about the process of getting the buyer and the seller together through relationships. This Award will be presented to the Advisor who exhibits enthusiasm, drive, and style in the pursuit of putting the buyer and seller together for a transaction that was beneficial to both parties.

Nomination Period is Now Open 

Deal of the Year Awards Committees


Development of the Year 2021
Committee Chair: JP Ford, Lodging Econometrics
Bruce Baltin, Industry Consultant
Raj Chandnani, WATG | Wimberly Interiors
Bruce Ford, Lodging Econometrics
Ryan Girnun, DLA Piper
Adam Lair, HVS
Warren Marr, PwC
Frank Nardozza, REH Capital Partners, LLC

Single Asset Transaction of the Year 2021
Committee Chair: John R. Karver, Karv Corp
Teague Hunter, Hunter Hotel Advisors
Jared Kelso, Cushman & Wakefield
Rich Lillis, Colliers
Daniel Peek, Hodges Ward Elliott
Gilda Perez-Alvarado, JLL
Rob Stiles, RobertDouglas
Bob Webster, CBRE
Larry Wolfe, Newmark Knight Frank Lodging Capital Markets

Merger & Acquisition of the Year 2021
Committee Chair: Michael Murphy, First Fidelity Companies
Kellan Florio, Goldman, Sachs & Co
Arthur Goldfrank, Deutsche Bank
Larry Kwon, Moelis & Company
Bradley Langner, Piper Sandler
Phil Summers, Lazard Freres & Co. LLC
David Thigpen, J.P. Morgan
Croft Young, Morgan Stanley

Jack A. Shaffer Financial Advisor of the Year 2021
Committee Chair: Thomas J. Corcoran Jr., TCOR Hotel Partners
Tony Capuano, Marriott International
Jim Chu, Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Joel Eisemann, IHG
Kevin Jacobs, Hilton
Marty Newburger, KSL Capital Partners
Mehul Patel, NewcrestImage Investments

2020 ALIS Deal of the Year Winners:


ALIS Development of the Year 2020
• Full Service – The JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District in Savannah, GA
• Select/Limited Service – Hyatt House & Hyatt Place in Chicago, IL

ALIS Transaction of the Year 2020
• US$25M & Under – The Killington Mountain Lodge in Killington, VT
• Over US$25M – The L’Ermitage Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA

ALIS Merger & Acquisition of the Year 2020
• Arbor Lodging Partners’ acquisition of 12-Hotel Portfolio

ALIS Jack A. Shaffer Financial Advisor of the Year 2020
• Gilda Perez-Alvarado, Global CEO, Hotels & Hospitality at JLL

Lifetime Achievement Award

Michael S. Shannon, co-founder of KSL Capital Partners LLC, will be presented with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award during the 21st annual the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) on January 24-26, 2022, in Los Angeles. This prominent award is presented to an individual who has made significant contributions to the hospitality industry through their actions, deeds, and great accomplishments.

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Arne Sorenson Social Impact Leadership Award

The Arne Sorenson Social Impact Leadership Award is given to an industry professional who demonstrates extraordinary efforts to advance positive societal change and make the lodging industry, and the world, more hospitable.

Nominations are due by October 15, 2021, to [email protected]. Votes will take place during the Executive Committee meeting on November 7, 2021.

Awards Criteria

  • Individual (CEO or senior level employee) the hospitality industry
  • Individual must:
    1. display a distinct, inclusive leadership style
    2. have a proven impact on humanity at large
    3. be valued and respected by peers
    4. use their platform to drive social change by being an advocate
    5. live by the values they promote
  • Submission must include:
    1. recommendation letters (250 words) from at least one colleague from the nominee’s company and two industry peers
    2. employment and leadership history (Nominee must have held a leadership position for at least five years in the hospitality industry)
    3. proven metrics for successful progress in an area requiring change and improvement
    4. a detailed list of social and corporate contributions
    5. a head shot of nominee
    6. any applicable media clips, videos or sound bites
    7. a sizzle reel of company leadership to be featured during award presentation

ISHC Pioneer Award

The ISHC Pioneer Award was established in 1996 to recognize one individual each year who has made an outstanding contribution, achievement and/or improvement in the hospitality industry. Winners are selected on a basis of three criteria: Active involvement in the hospitality industry; Contribution to the industry; and Personal/organizational attributes and qualities adhering to professional standards recognized and respected by industry peers.