Bluegrass Hospitality Association (BHA)

12/10/2023

“KLC and KTIA File Lawsuit Against Airbnb to Force Compliance with Kentucky Law”. Read full details of the lawsuit here:

The Kentucky League of Cities and the Kentucky Travel Industry Association have filed a complaint seeking declaratory judgment to enforce transient room tax legislation passed by the Kentucky General Assembly. On behalf of its member cities, KLC partnered with the Kentucky Travel Industry Associatio...

11/29/2023

It’s not too late to purchase tickets! BHA’s Annual Luncheon will be held tomorrow, 11/30 at the Origin Hotel at 11:30am. Join us for lunch and guest speakers from our community.

John McNamara is the Chief Operating Officer for Malone’s at the Bluegrass Hospitality Group and he has been a part of BHG for 21 years. Before that, John was the General Manager of Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Chicago, Illinois. John holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University and resides in Lexington, KY with his wife, Jessica and their two children, Connor and Kendall.

Christa Marrillia, is Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Christa Marrillia began her career at Keeneland in 2003. She oversees the Broadcasting, Communications, Marketing, Office Services, and Retail teams. A native of Midway, Kentucky, Marrillia is a graduate of the University of Kentucky. She is actively engaged in the community as a member of the VisitLEX Tourism Commission and was recently inducted as Trustee for Midway University. She is a member and past president of the Bluegrass Hospitality Association and formerly served on the board of LexArts and the Downtown Lexington Partnership. Christa and her husband, Josh, have two sons, Lincoln and Winston.

Purchase tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bluegrass-hospitality-association-2023-annual-luncheon-tickets-692601378367?aff=oddtdtcreator

11/29/2023

One more day until BHA's annual luncheon! Get your tickets today and hear from guest speaker Nik Fieldman of New Circle Investments!

Nik spent summers in Lexington and for years envisioned returning to invest in the community he now calls home. Prior to launching New Circle Investments in 2019, Nik was Director of Acquisitions and Portfolio Strategy for the Brodsky Organization, a Manhattan-based multifamily developer / family-office fund with over 9,000 apartments, 150 retail shops, and a hallmark boutique hotel. During his tenure at Brodsky, Nik executed on development of some of the highest profile projects in New York City at the time, and oversaw the purchase, sale, financing, and ownership-transition of over $1 billion worth of strategic assets. Prior to his role at Brodsky, Mr. Feldman was an associate in Cushman & Wakefield’s Global Hospitality Practice, where he specialized in structured finance and investments sales. Nik is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration.

New Circle Investments (“NCI”) is a full-service real-estate developer, investment manager, and operator, based out of Lexington, Kentucky. Notably, NCI is responsible for the rapid transformation, revitalization, and expansion of Lexington’s East End Distillery District, where in June 2023 it opened The Manchester, an independent, boutique hotel, fully conceptualized, built, and operated by New Circle Investments. NCI will also be opening the nation's third Everhome Suites by summer of 2024 in Lexington.

Tickets available here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bluegrass-hospitality-association-2023-annual-luncheon-tickets-692601378367?aff=oddtdtcreator

11/28/2023

Do you have your tickets to BHA’s annual luncheon? Join us this Thursday, 11/30 and hear guest speaker, Scott Meuret!
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Scott’s 30-year career in education and hospitality industry, includes work in restaurants, resorts, and hotels. He learned the hospitality industry from the ground up working in management for organizations such as Holiday Inn, Sheraton, and Hilton.
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Scotts work in education includes teaching and administration and the secondary and post-secondary levels. He has been involved with career and technical education for more than 20 years.
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Tickets available here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bluegrass-hospitality-association-2023-annual-luncheon-tickets-692601378367?aff=oddtdtcreator

11/23/2023

10/23/2023

Mark your calendars for the 2023 BHA Membership Meeting! Join us on November 30th at the beautiful Origin Hotel Lexington to enjoy lunch and network with colleagues.

09/08/2023

And the winner is.....

What a beautiful day for the BHA Hospitality Games yesterday! Teams representing hotels, attractions and a brewery were all on hand to "go for the Gold"!

Gold Medaling: West Sixth Brewers
Silver Medaling: Marriott Griffin Gate
Bronze Medaling: BigLEX (VisitLEX)

Spirit Award: Embassy All Stars (Embassy Suites Coldstream)

09/07/2023

It’s almost game time!

09/07/2023

Don't forget - there are games afoot! Join us at 4:30 pm TODAY for the 2023 BHA Hospitality Games in Triangle Park!

09/06/2023

The Best Team Spirit Award is presented to the one team that exemplifies teamwork, enthusiasm and encouragement of others during the Bluegrass Hospitality Games. Increase your spirit ranking by working together, encouraging your team, singing a rally song, etc.. Don’t forget that can boost your spirit by posting BHA Games related team prep on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram up until the end of the 3 main events.

THIS IS IMPORTANT – IN ORDER FOR YOUR SOCIAL POSTS TO COUNT you MUST do the following:

-USE THE HASHTAG!
Use when you post your own content or share a BHA post to your Facebook or Instagram. (so we can track your points easily)
-TAG BHA in your posts on Facebook and or Instagram using our handles below!
FACEBOOK: Hospitality Association (BHA)
INSTAGRAM: Lexington

09/05/2023

REMEMBER THE BHA GAMES ARE AFOOT!! New Date. See you Thursday, September 7th at 3:30 pm in Triangle Park!!