Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association: Announces new Wisconsin Lodging Hall of Fame, inaugural inductees

(Brookfield, WI) – The Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association (WHLA) has announced that they will honor an inaugural class  into the Wisconsin Lodging Hall of Fame, recognizing leaders and pioneers who have contributed significantly to Wisconsin’s lodging industry and the longevity of the Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association. The group will be officially welcomed to the Hall of Fame with a ceremony and celebration on November 8, 2021 as part of the 125th Anniversary Wisconsin Lodging Conference at the Brookfield Conference Center.

“The seven leaders who will make up our inaugural class are a prestigious group, who have each made significant, lasting contributions to our industry and organization,” said WHLA President & CEO Bill Elliott, CAE.  “They are true trailblazers and we are thrilled and honored to recognize them in this special way.”

The inaugural class of Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Hall of Fame inductees:

  • Howard L. Ashworth (1886 – 1966)
  • Augie Faulkner (1931 – 2019)
  • Alvin P.  Kletzsch (1861-1941)
  • Stephen H. Marcus
  • Trisha Pugal, CAE
  • Cal Worrell (1949 – 2005)
  • Kari Zambon (1953 – 2020)

Inductees were nominated by WHLA members and industry peers, and selected by a judging panel of WHLA Awards Committee members. The Wisconsin Lodging Hall of Fame was established by the WHLA Awards Committee earlier this year. The program’s criteria and procedures were approved by the WHLA Board of Directors.

“The creation of the Wisconsin Lodging Hall of Fame and the induction of this tremendous group of industry pioneers is a wonderful way to acknowledge the contributions of those who built Wisconsin’s reputation as a great state for tourism and hospitality,” said Elliott. “We look forward to celebrating the incredible accomplishments of these inductees at the 125th Anniversary Wisconsin Lodging Conference .”

For more information about the Wisconsin Lodging Hall of Fame and the 125th Anniversary Wisconsin Lodging Conference, visit the WHLA website at wisconsinlodging.org.