Pictured left to right: Jeff Higley, ISHC, President, The BHN Group, Beth White, Chair of White Lodging, Connor White, Vice Chair and Chief Investment Officer, Steve Hennis, ISHC Chair, Hotelogy, Jonathan Jaeger, ISHC Awards Committee Chair and Senior Managing Director of LW Hospitality Advisors.
Los Angeles – January 27, 2026 – The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) in partnership with the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) presented Bruce White posthumously, Founder of White Lodging, with the 2026 Pioneer Award.
Steve Hennis of Hotelogy and the Chair of the ISHC Board of Directors shared, “Bruce White truly exemplifies the meaning behind the Pioneer Award. He made White Lodging successful by challenging norms, listening to people, and continually seeking improvement. His influence extends well beyond the company he founded and the industry he helped advance – impacting hospitality professionals nationwide, advancing business and hospitality education at Purdue University, and transforming communities through his philanthropy.”
“It was a profound honor to celebrate the legacy of Bruce White at the ALIS Conference this year while presenting the Pioneer Award to his wife Beth and son Conner,” shared Jonathan Jaeger, ISHC Awards Committee Chair and Senior Managing Director of LW Hospitality Advisors, “Bruce wasn’t just a leader; he was a visionary who redefined the landscape of hotel development and management. His relentless pursuit of excellence remains the gold standard for our entire industry.”
“Accepting this award in recognition of my father, next to my mother and before so many people he deeply respected, was a special moment,” said Conner White, Vice Chair and Chief Investment Officer at White Lodging. “His legacy is both White Lodging’s foundation and our inspiration. Our job now is to carry it forward, building an even stronger company rooted in the same values and vision that defined him.”
“Recognizing Bruce White with the Pioneer Award was a natural decision, given the profound influence he has had on the hotel investment community—an influence that continues to shape the industry today,” said Jeff Higley, president of Northstar Travel Group’s Hotel Investment Group. “His legacy at White Lodging lives on through Beth and Conner’s ongoing commitment to community engagement and their unwavering dedication to excellence.”
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.
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)
ENDS
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 Hotel Investment 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. ALIS 2026 took place January 26-28, 2026, at the JW Marriott/Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles L.A. LIVE. ALIS is collocated with ALIS Law and ALIS DESIGN+, providing an unparalleled opportunity to learn, network, collaborate, and get deals done. The 2027 ALIS conference will take place January 25-27, 2027, at the JW Marriott/Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles L.A. LIVE. Visit the ALIS website, ALISconference.com, for additional information.
About Northstar Travel Group (www.northstartravelgroup.com)
Northstar Travel Group is the leading B-to-B 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 owned by EagleTree Capital. Northstar Travel Group is based in Rutherford, NJ, and more information is available at northstartravelgroup.com.
About the Hotel Investment Group by Northstar
The Hotel Investment Group by Northstar is a global leader in convening the hotel investment community through high-impact conferences and insight-driven media. With more than three decades of experience, the group has produced over 190 events worldwide, attracting more than 130,000 senior executives, investors, and decision-makers. Its portfolio includes the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), ALIS Law, ALIS DESIGN+, ALIS CALA, and the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP). The group also publishes Hotel Investment Today, a digital media platform focused on the ROI of hotel investment, delivering timely intelligence and analysis to the global hospitality investment market.
