AHLA Names 2026 General Managers of the Year
The American Hotel & Lodging Association honored hotel leaders across five property categories and two new award categories at The Hospitality Show in Miami Beach.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Hospitality
The American Hotel & Lodging Association awarded its 2026 General Managers of the Year at The Hospitality Show in Miami Beach on November 3, 2026. The awards recognize general managers who deliver exceptional guest service, support their teams and strengthen their communities.
Why it matters
The awards highlight the leadership roles general managers play across the United States, which has more than 64,000 hotels. The AHLA also introduced two new categories, the GM Rising Star Award and the GM Community Ambassador Award, to broaden recognition within the industry.
Winners were selected from more than 250 nominations across the United States, a country with more than 64,000 hotels. The source does not disclose the scoring method used by the panel of fellow general managers and industry leaders.
The players
American Hotel & Lodging Association
The AHLA is a national trade association representing the U.S. hotel and lodging industry, and it sponsors the General Managers of the Year awards.
Greg Leonard
Greg Leonard received the GM Lifetime Achievement Award for a career marked by exceptional leadership and mentorship.
The details
Greg Leonard received the GM Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors a general manager whose career reflects exceptional leadership and whose mentorship extends beyond their property. Five GM of the Year awards were presented across extended stay, full-service, select-service, independent and resort property categories.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: AHLA presented the 2026 General Managers of the Year awards at The Hospitality Show in Miami Beach.
Industry Context
The 2026 awards extend the AHLA's General Managers of the Year program by adding the GM Rising Star and GM Community Ambassador categories alongside the existing property-type honors. The expansion broadens recognition beyond traditional property-level performance to include emerging leaders and community engagement.
Guests at hotels across the United States may see the recognized leadership practices reflected in service at participating properties. The awards do not change room rates, booking options or availability for travelers.
The takeaway
Recognition of general managers highlights that guest service and team support are central to hotel performance. Travelers and industry watchers can look to these standards when evaluating the quality of a stay.
Further reading
Explore more on Hospitality coverage across the United States.
