Press Release - January 20, 2010

RECIPIENT OF THOM DAVIS LOSS PREVENTION LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD ANNOUNCED

HOUSTON, TX  (January 20, 2010) –John Sczcepanski has been selected as the 2010 recipient for the Hospitality Loss Prevention Lifetime Achievement Award. Strong encouragement from the hospitality loss prevention and risk management community has prompted HospitalityLawyer to rename the Hospitality Loss Prevention Lifetime Achievement Award to the Thom Davis Loss Prevention Lifetime Achievement Award.

Thom Davis passed away in late 2009 after dedicating more than 30 years of his life to hotel security and loss prevention management. He was the President of Security Litigation Group and also provided expert testimony in the areas of safety and security for more than 13 years.

Stephen Barth, Founder of HospitalityLawyer.com, says “It is fitting that we name the Award after Thom, who diligently served the industry with his knowledge and insight, including assisting the Educational Institute of the AH&LA. His work and achievements serve as a standard for all recipients of the Award.”

The Thom Davis Loss Prevention Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a person who has committed his or her career to improving safety and security in the hospitality industry. In presenting the award, the selection board seeks to recognize someone who exemplifies Thom Davis’ commitment to improving safety and security in the industry. This will be the fourth year the Award will be presented.

As Senior Director of Associate Relations & Risk Management, Szczepanski is responsible for Worker Compensation, General Liability, Property Loss, Associate Opinion Survey, as well as those issues arising out of associate and management relations. He has seen the White Lodging grow from two hotels to over 140 hotels. Szczepanski also has extensive experience in the area of human resources and has experience with state, federal and non‐profit agencies and organizations

Mr. Bruce White, Chairman and CEO of White Lodging, has said “[John] continue[s] to be the essence of what is good about White Lodging & many in the organization look to [him] as a role model & for guidance. [His] advice & counsel are valued in addition to the credibility [he] add[s] to the entire organization inside and outside the four walls. [His] impact is substantial and without [his] daily example of care, professionalism & competence, we would not exist in our present form.”

Of Szczepanski, Barth says, “Szczepanski’s contributions to the industry are diverse and extensive. He is very deserving of the Award and what it represents to the industry.”

Previous recipients of the Award include 2009 recipient Jesse Denton, former Sr. Risk Analyst at Zurich Insurance, 2008 recipient Chad Callaghan, Vice President of Enterprise Loss Prevention for Marriott International, and 2007 recipient Wendell Couch, former Senior Vice President, Global Risk Management, for InterContinental Hotels Group.

The Award will be presented to Sczcepanski during the Awards Luncheon on February 4 at the annual Hospitality Law Conference. The conference will be held at the Omni Houston Hotel in Houston, Texas, on February 3‐5, 2010.

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