At the Chicago meeting the ASFONA Board of Directors extended a warm welcome to Hyatt Hotels Corporation, which is headquartered in Chicago. Hyatt is one of the world’s leading global hospitality companies with a portfolio of 20 premier hotel, resort and spa/wellness brands. Hyatt also operates the very popular World of Hyatt® loyalty program.

The Hyatt hotel portfolio currently comprises more than 900 properties in 65 countries across six continents, and has plans to open nearly 200 additional properties in the Americas. The company's overarching mandate, which they presented at the ASFONA meeting, is to “care for people so they can be their best.”

“As ASFONA continues to diversify its focus on the hotel industry’s leading hotel organizations, it was an honor to welcome the team from Hyatt Hotels to meet our group,” said John Shingler, ASFONA's President. “With over 20 outstanding brands in its portfolio, Hyatt represents extensive opportunities for our Owner/Operator and Management Company Members, as we move forward.” Shingler stated.

A meeting of the ASFONA Board of Directors and ASFONA Associate Members was held at The "W" Hotel South Beach, Miami, Florida on Thursday, June 6th 2019.

The counsel and input commitment of the ASFONA Board to Marriott for the Starwood Legacy Brands has been highly satisfactorily executed. This has been carried out by the Board who at the same time have ensured that during this period the obligations to ASFONA's own membership were also met and will continue to be met going forward.

To be Incorporated in the ASFONA Mission from 2019 onward is the implementation of a more informal communications conduit to provide Marriott with pertinent business issues relating to the business.

At the meeting John Shingler, ASFONA President re stated the official implementation of ASFONA's “Diversification Strategy” which is its evolution and transitioning into an Independent, non brand affiliated hotel industry Association.

Now, Included in the ASFONA annual program will be the continuation of extending an invitation from the ASFONA Board of Directors to other International Hotel Companies to join a designated ASFONA meeting to interact with the ASFONA group during both the “Owners Board Meeting” and then also the “General Session” of the meeting. The goal being the establishment of a "unique" communications conduit designed to engage, align and strengthen relationships and joint expertise between selected hotel brands and ASFONA's key executive representatives of the owner operator community.

The start of ASFONA’s “Diversification Strategy” at the Spring 2018 Meeting in Washington D.C. provided the opportunity for Raul Leal, President of VIRGIN Hotels and his Executive Team to attend. The Virgin Hotels Presentation on the brands growth plans was most impressive.

Then at the Fall 2018 Meeting in Philadelphia the ASFONA Owner Board members were, at the direction of Geoff Ballotti the CEO of Wyndham Hotels, joined by the Executive Management Team of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. The meeting included a terrific presentation on WYNDHAM Hotels & Resorts Worldwide brands and their development opportunities.

A meeting of the ASFONA Board of Directors and ASFONA Associate Members was held at The WARWICK Hotel – Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia on November 29th & 30th 2018.

At the meeting John Shingler, ASFONA President re stated the official implementation of ASFONA's “Diversification Strategy” which is its evolution and transitioning to an independent, non-brand affiliated hotel owner/operator association. ASFONA’s mandate still being to secure and coordinate input from invested owners/operators of “Starwood Legacy” branded hotels and to provide integration input to Marriott International.

Now Included in the ASFONA mandate is the extension of invitations by the ASFONA Board of Directors to other International Hotel Companies for them to interact individually and separately with the ASFONA group during selected “Owner Board Meetings” & “General Sessions” of ASFONA meetings. The goal associated with the mandate is for the establishment of a "unique" communications conduit designed to engage, align and strengthen relationships and joint expertise between selected hotel brands and key executive representatives of the owner operator community.

The start of the Implementation of ASFONA’s “Diversification Strategy” at the Spring 2018 Meeting in Washington D.C. provided the opportunity for Virgin Hotels to attend. Then at the most recent Philadelphia Meeting the ASFONA Owner Board members and Associate Members were joined by Executives from Wyndham Hotels & Resorts for the Reception & Dinner and were also treated to a terrific presentation on WYNDHAM Hotels & Resorts Worldwide various brands and their development opportunities.

The ASFONA group joined together for the traditional ASFONA “Chefs Creation Dinner” followed by an after-dinner "Magic in the Moonlight" reception.

On the afternoon of November 30th the ASFONA Owners Board of Directors met with Marriott International. The meeting overview as follows:

A meeting of the ASFONA Board of Directors and ASFONA Associate Members was held at The “W” Hotel – Washington D.C. on May 30th & 31st 2018.

At the meeting John Shingler, ASFONA President announced the official implementation of ASFONA's “Diversification Strategy” which lays the groundwork for its evolution and transitioning to become an independent, non-brand affiliated hotel owner/operator association. ASFONA’s mandate will still be to secure and coordinate input from invested constituents of owners and operators of “Starwood Legacy” branded hotels and to provide integration input to Marriott International.

Going forward, to be Included in the ASFONA mandate will be the extension of invitations by the Owners Board of Directors to other international hotel companies to interact individually and separately with the ASFONA group during selected “Owner Board Meetings” & “General Sessions” of future ASFONA meetings. The goal associated with the mandate will be the establishing of a communications conduit designed to engage, align and strengthen relationships and joint expertise between the multitude of hotel brands and key representatives of the owner operator community.

The start of the Implementation of ASFONA’s “Diversification Strategy” at the Spring meeting provided the opportunity for Virgin Hotels to attend the “General Session” of the meeting, where ASFONA Owner Board members and Associate members were treated to a lively presentation of the Virgin brand by Virgin Hotels President & CEO, Raul Leal.

The ASFONA group joined together for the traditional ASFONA “Chefs Creation Dinner” followed by an after-dinner "Magic in the Moonlight" reception in the spectacular “W” Hotels Roof Top Bar overlooking the White House Grounds.

On the afternoon of May 30th the ASFONA Owners Board of Directors met with Marriott International. The meeting overview as follows:

A meeting of the ASFONA Board of Directors and ASFONA Associate Members was held at The Bardessono Hotel in Yountville, Napa Valley, California on November 28th & 29th 2017. Bobby Bowers from Smith Travel Research made a presentation to the group on the prevailing and projected business environment in North America including the expanded markets to be covered by ASFONA going forward. John Shingler gave an extended presentation on the new structure of ASFONA and its commitment to Marriott following the acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts by Marriott International and the ongoing highly successful integration process.

A meeting of the ASFONA Board of Directors and ASFONA Associate Members was held at The “W” Hotel – Washington D.C. on May 18th & 19th 2017. Bobby Bowers from Smith Travel Research made a presentation to the group on the prevailing and projected business environment in North America including the expanded markets to be covered by ASFONA going forward. John Shingler gave an extended presentation on the new structure of ASFONA and its commitment to Marriott during the Starwood/Marriott integration.

A meeting of the ASFONA Board of Directors and ASFONA Associate Members was held at The Westin Hotel in Nashville on November 9th. On the evening prior to the Board Meeting the ASFONA Owners Board hosted a pre-meeting working dinner. The guest at the dinner was Liam Brown - President North America Owner & Franchise Relations - Marriott International. The dinner discussion focused on the immediate and ongoing interaction conduit/structure between ASFONA and Marriott International in North America.

A meeting of the ASFONA Board of Directors and the ASFONA Associate Members was held at the Le Meridien Hotel in Atlanta on May 19th. For part of the Owners Board session the meeting was joined by the Head of Business Integration for Starwood Dave Phillipps. Dave gave the Board Members updates on Starwood's work on the integration program with Marriott. Later in the morning the meeting was joined by Liam Brown - President North America & Canada for Marriott & Head of Owner & Franchise Services.

A meeting of the ASFONA Board of Directors and the ASFONA Associate Members was held at the Sheraton Hotel Bloomington, Minneapolis on November 3rd 2015. Starwood Senior Leadership team joined the meeting led by Serge Rivera, President The Americas, Bob Hermany, Chief of North Americas Operations, John Peyton, Senior Vice President Global Brand Management ALL Brands & Dave Marr, Senior Vice President, Global Brand Management - Sheraton & Tribute & Colleen Keating, Senior Vice President - Franchise Operation.

A meeting of the ASFONA Board of Directors was held at the Sheraton Hotel in New York in April. The meeting was joined by Starwood's new Chief Executive Officer, Adam Aron and also the President of the Americas, Serge Rivera. Senior Executives from Starwood also presented to the group meeting during the course of the afternoon - this included Bob Hermany Starwood's Chief of North America Operations and also Colleen Keating - Senior Vice President Owner Services. 

A meeting of the ASFONA Board of Directors was held in October at the W Hotel – Washington DC. In addition to the mornings main board meeting the group were later joined by the ASFONA Associate Members together with Smith Travel Research and Senior Management Executives from Starwood. The President and also the Chief Operating Officer of Starwood Hotels & Resorts North America joined the group on Wednesday together with The Presidents & CEO’s of AH&LA and Brand USA and The US Travel Association.