ForWard is an AHLA Foundation initiative to advance women in hospitality through events, professional development, and community-building.
The ForWard brand launched in 2018 as an annual conference to recognize the women of the hospitality industry and champion the next generation of leaders. The annual conference serves as the ForWard program’s pinnacle event and provides attendees an opportunity to hear from hospitality industry leaders, learn and grow with tailored sessions, and network with peers.
The AHLA Foundation’s BUILD/ELEVATE programs accelerate the advancement of women in executive leadership. Participating women develop a foundation for career success through a year-long curriculum of skills-based workshops, career coaching and leadership coursework targeting five areas of knowledge including: executive presence, negotiation, advocacy, career development, networking.
The ForWard Network (formerly Ambassador Program) is open to AHLA members working in the hospitality industry that are passionate about the mission of ForWard. Participation in the network is not limited to any professional level or company type. Network members will actively support the implementation of ForWard initiatives under the guidance of the ForWard Advisory Committee.