WSH&LA Board of Directors

Chairman
Paul Ishii
General Manager
Mayflower Park Hotel
Seattle, Washington  98101
(206) 623-8700
Fax: (206) 382-6996
www.mayflowerpark.com

Paul has more than 20 years of hospitality experience and a long history of community service, and has been General Manager of the Mayflower Park Hotel since 1998. He serves on WSH&LA’s Political Action Committee, was WSH&LA’s Stars of the Industry Award recipient for General Manager of the Year in 2006, is a past president of the Seattle Hotel Association, and has served on the Washington State Tourism Advisory Board.

Chairman-Elect
Todd Thoreson, CHA
Regional Vice President of Hotel Operations
Red Lion Hotels Corporation

Todd has over 20 years of lodging industry experience, and has been on numerous boards and hospitality organizations throughout his career. He has advocated both for and against lodging tax initiatives, and also has given presentations to city council and state legislative members promoting the economic benefits derived from investing in the hospitality industry. With his open mindedness, industry perspective, collaborative spirit and board experience, Todd is working diligently to help WSH&LA's Board accomplish the many goals lying ahead for the organization.

Vice Chairman
Andy Olsen
Managing Director
The Chambers Group, Inc.
(206) 441-5522
Fax (206) 441-1775
www.thechambersgroup.com

Andy has 34 years of experience in the hotel industry with a combination of consulting, management and university-level teaching. He served for many years on WSH&LA’s Board as an Allied Director, and then as a Lodging Director. Operating four hotels in Western Washington, Andy’s varied background provides him with a relatively unique perspective. His main focus is in the areas of education, the annual convention and legislative issues.

Treasurer
Cindy Fanning
Vice President of Operations
Silver Cloud Inns & Hotels
(425) 637-9800
Fax (425) 637-1900
www.silvercloud.com

Cindy has more than 20 years of hotel experience, working at both the corporate and property levels. She has served on a Lodging Tax Advisory Committee and was a Chamber of Commerce board member. Cindy has tracked WSH&LA’s recent efforts to revise Liquor Control Board laws. She is interested in the legislative process, and in working with teams to improve conditions for the industry. Cindy is passionate about attracting new members, while maintaining current memberships, and working on strategies for future growth of the Association.

Secretary
Zahoor Ahmed
Vice President of Hotel Operations
R. C. Hedreen Company, Seattle
(206) 624-8909
Fax (206) 625-1543
www.rchco.com

Zahoor is currently the Vice President of Hotel Operations with R.C. Hedreen Company, the owners of the Grand Hyatt, Hilton, Renaissance and Hyatt on Olive 8. He has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, and has served as a volunteer for Junior Achievement and Habitat for Humanity. Zahoor has served on the Dues Committee, determining and recommending a revised dues structure, and assisted the Executive Committee in addressing organizational issues.

AH&LA Representative
Frank Welton
General Manager
Hilton Hotel Seattle Airport
   and Conference Center,
Doubletree Hotel Seattle Airport
(206) 246-8600
Fax (206) 901-5923 www.seattleairport.doubletree.com

Frank has over 30 years of hotel industry experience and has had Hotel oversight responsibilities in all regions of Washington state as well as Oregon, Montana, Idaho and Utah. Active in community leadership, his current Board involvement includes Tourism Alliance of King County, Puget Sound Regional Council/Prosperity Partnership, SeaTac Tax advisory committee and he’s served on WSH&LA’s Board for four years and is the AH&LA Representative. Frank continues to make positive contributions to the industry and was most recently named WSH&LA General Manager of the year. He brings a strong statewide perspective to the Board’s work of promoting tourism and protecting lodging’s interests in the arena of governmental affairs.