Sheila Johnson, founder/CEO, Salamander Collection, received the Peggy Berg Castell Award from the AHLA Foundation at The Lodging Conference 2024 in Phoenix. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to elevating and advancing women in the hospitality industry.

“I am honored to be a recipient of the Peggy Berg Castell Award and to be recognized in our industry as a champion for women,” said Johnson. “I share this award with my entire team of dedicated professionals who also share my values.”

Through her career, Johnson has built a portfolio of properties in the U.S. and Jamaica, emphasizing the importance of showcasing each hotel’s unique environment. The Salamander Collection is the largest Black-owned luxury hotel company in America and ranked as one of the largest minority-owned and women-owned companies in the Washington, DC, Metro area.

Known for her engagement with professional sports, the arts and humanitarian causes, Johnson was the cofounder of the BET television network. Today, she serves on the executive committee for the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and the Forbes Travel Guide Strategy Committee. She previously served on the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

“It is hard to imagine an industry leader who embodies the principles of the Peggy Berg Castell Award more than Sheila Johnson,” said Anna Blue, president, AHLA Foundation. “She has been an inspiration in so many areas throughout her career and continues to set standards for excellence in the hotel industry.”

An independent group of industry leaders and stakeholders nominated and selected Johnson as the fifth recipient of the annual award. Its recipients are principled leaders that champion inclusion in the hotel industry, creating new paths and opening doors for more women to advance, according to the AHLA Foundation.

Originally known as the Castell Award, the honor was renamed last year as a tribute to Castell Project founder Peggy Berg. The Castell Project, a former nonprofit with the mission to help women rise as leaders in the hospitality industry, merged with the AHLA Foundation’s ForWard initiative in 2023.

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