December 11, 2025 – The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) in partnership with the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) will present Bruce White, Founder of White Lodging, posthumously with the 2026 Pioneer Award.
The Pioneer Award, established in partnership with ALIS in 1996, recognizes an individual each year who is considered a pioneer in their field by making an outstanding contribution, achievement, or improvement in the hospitality industry.
The award presentation will take place on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, during ALIS and will include an interview with Beth White, Chair, White Lodging, and Conner White, Vice Chairman & Chief Investment Officer.
“Our family, and everyone affiliated with White Lodging past and present, take great pride in what my father built and his relentless passion for the hospitality industry,” said Conner White. “He was never satisfied with the status quo and wanted to help transform the industry, which is exactly what this award celebrates.”
Andrea Belfanti, CEO of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants, said, “Bruce White embodied the visionary spirit that drives our industry forward. His innovative approach continues to shape how hospitality leaders think, operate, and invest. It is a privilege for ISHC to honor his lasting impact through the Pioneer Award, which celebrates individuals whose contributions elevate the entire field.”
“Bruce White’s legacy is synonymous with changing the landscape between franchising companies and hotel investors and operators—a landscape that remains in place 40 years after its foundation was laid,” said Jeff Higley, president of The BHN Group by Northstar. “The period of exponential growth experienced in hotel franchising by third-party investors and operators was heavily influenced by Mr. White’s forward thinking and determined approach. The ALIS team is honored to be a part of this recognition of Mr. White’s influence on the industry.”
Bruce White founded White Lodging in 1985 with a single hotel in Northwest Indiana, ultimately growing the business into one of the hospitality industry’s largest privately held development, ownership, and management companies. He passed away in early 2023.
In addition to being among the earliest Marriott franchisees, he introduced the first dual- and tri-brand hotels in the United States. Throughout his career, White developed, owned, and managed more than 225 new hotels over the last 40 years on behalf of White Lodging and other partners. Learn more about Bruce White and his history in the industry through a 40-minute documentary here.
Past recipients of the Pioneer Award include:
- Ben Weprin (2025)
- Tracy Prigmore (2024)
- Alejandro Zozaya (2023)
- Peggy Berg (2022)
- Marilyn Carlson Nelson (2020)
- Jack DeBoer (2019)
- Wing T. Chao (2018)
- Ian Schrager (2017)
- Lyndall DeMarco (2016)
- Stephen Kaufer (2015)
- Michael Bedner (2014)
- Steve Rushmore (2013)
- Chip Conley (2012)
- Kathleen Taylor (2011)
- Leland C. Pillsbury (2010)
- J.W. Marriott (2009)
- Jean Gabriel Peres (2008)
- Stanley Selengut (2008)
- Jean-Claude Baumgarten (2007)
- James E. Burba (2007)
- Stelios Haji-Ioannou (2006)
- H.P. Rama (2006)
- Costakis Loizou (2005)
- Barry Sternlicht (2005)
- Christel DeHaan (2004)
- Regis Bulot (2004)
- Bill Kimpton (2002)
- Jonathan M. Tisch (2001)
- Michael A. Leven (2000)
- Jack Vaughn (1999)
- George Johnson (1998)
- Randell A. Smith (1997)
For more information, contact:
Libby Acquista
Manager of Membership & Marketing
lacquista@ishc.com
+1 314-724-8436
About ISHC
The International Society of Hospitality Consultants is truly The Leading Source for Global Hospitality Expertise, represented by over 200 of the industry’s most respected professionals from across six continents. Collectively, ISHC members provide expert services in over 50 functional areas and have specialized skills in virtually every segment of the hospitality industry. ISHC is dedicated to promoting the highest quality of professional consulting standards and practices for the hospitality industry. Candidates undergo a rigorous screening process, ensuring that all ISHC members have a reputation of integrity and are qualified by their experience, training, and knowledge to develop and express sound judgment on industry issues. Additional information about the organization and membership process, along with a directory of ISHC members, is available on the ISHC website at ishc.com.
About the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS)
Produced by Northstar Travel Group, in association with the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and The BHN Group by Northstar, the two-and-a-half-day ALIS event features an extensive array of seminars and panels hosted by leading experts and investors discussing important trends and identifying new opportunities. The conference attracts the lodging industry’s leading hotel executives, investors, lenders, developers, and professional advisory community. The 2026 event will take place Monday-Wednesday, January 26-28, 2026, at the JW Marriott/Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles LA LIVE. Visit the ALIS website, ALISconference.com, for additional information. ALIS is collocated with ALIS Law and ALIS DESIGN+, providing an unparalleled opportunity to learn, network, collaborate, and get deals done. ALIS Law is scheduled for Sunday-Monday, January 25-26, 2026, at the Courtyard/Residence Inn Los Angeles L.A. LIVE. ALIS DESIGN+ is set to take place Wednesday-Thursday, January 28-29, 2026, at the JW Marriott/Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles L.A. LIVE.
About Northstar Travel Group
Northstar Travel Group (www.northstartravelgroup.com) is the leading business-to-business media company providing information and marketing solutions for the global travel industry. The company owns 14 media brands connecting 1.3M industry professionals through a comprehensive portfolio of digital, social, print and more than 100 events in 13 countries. Northstar Travel Group is based in Rutherford, NJ.
About The BHN Group
The BHN Group by Northstar (www.burba.com) is the worldwide leader in developing and organizing conferences for the hotel and tourism investment community. With over three decades of experience, it has completed more than 190 events drawing in excess of 130,000 international delegates. Its events include: the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) in Los Angeles; ALIS Law in Los Angeles; ALIS DESIGN+ in Los Angeles; ALIS CALA in Miami; and Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) in Singapore. The BHN Group also publishes Hotel Investment Today, a digital media outlet focused on the ROI of hotel investment.