WHLA Wins ISHA Award of Excellence for Member-Driven Communications

​The Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association (WHLA) is honored to receive the 2025 ISHA Award of Excellence in Communications from the International Society of Hotel Associations (ISHA). Presented at the ISHA Summer Conference held June 18–20 in beautiful Newport, Rhode Island, this award recognizes outstanding programs or projects that enhance communication with members and stakeholders.

​WHLA Vice President Monica Goeke, CAE, accepted the award on behalf of the association during the official ceremony, representing the collective efforts of the WHLA team, members, and contributors who made the initiative a success. The award-winning program was led by WHLA Senior Graphic Designer & Marketing Manager Lexie Mallary, whose leadership and creativity brought the project to life.

WHLA's Vice President, Monica Goeke, CAE (right) accepted the 2025 Award of Excellence in the Communications category from the International Society of Hotel Associations (ISHA) on behalf of WHLA - alongside Lenza Jolley (left), Vice President of Membership and Development, South Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association accepting the 2025 Award of Excellence in the Events, Fundraising, and Membership category.

​About the Award-Winning Program: Telling the Industry’s Story

The WHLA Member-Driven Content Initiative was developed to amplify the voices of Wisconsin lodging professionals, enhance the quality of association publications, and establish a sustainable, member-powered communication strategy. The program featured two main components:

• Property Improvement Project Features, inviting hotel and lodging members to showcase renovations, upgrades, and capital projects.
  Have a recent renovation or capital improvement project to share? We’re always looking for stories to spotlight! Submit Your Property Story
  
  
• Vendor Educational Articles, offering associate members a platform to share non-promotional thought leadership and practical insights with hotel professionals.
  Want to share your expertise in a future WHLA feature? Associate members are invited to contribute educational content year-round! Submit an Article

Input from WHLA’s Publications Committee also played an important role in shaping the direction of the program, helping ensure the content strategy reflected the interests and needs of our diverse membership.

By streamlining the submission process and promoting these stories across WHLA’s website, newsletter (Wisconsin Lodging Innsider), and print magazine (InnTouch with WHLA), the initiative empowered members to play an active role in shaping the association’s voice.

This member-driven approach significantly strengthened WHLA’s communications by integrating authentic member perspectives into various platforms. Through these two submission funnels, WHLA collected nine property stories and twelve expert articles, resulting in engaging, high-quality content featured in InnTouch with WHLA, the Innsider newsletter, and across WHLA’s digital channels.

The program drove measurable engagement, including increased click-through rates and overwhelmingly positive member feedback. Contributors expressed pride in being featured, with many eager to participate again. Additionally, the initiative generated non-dues revenue by linking featured content to advertising and sponsorship opportunities. Internally, it reduced staff workload while elevating member voices, creating a scalable and sustainable model for ongoing communications success.

Want to see how we told our story? View Our Full ISHA Award Entry

WHLA was honored by the International Society of Hotel Associations (ISHA) as the winner of the 2025 Award of Excellence in the Communications category for their project titled: "Telling the Industry's Story: WHLA's Member-Driven Content Initiative."

Why This Recognition Matters

The ISHA Award of Excellence is significant because it comes from industry peers—chief executives and staff from hotel associations across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. The International Society of Hotel Associations (ISHA) exists to strengthen lodging-focused associations by sharing insights, fostering leadership, and promoting professional development.

To be honored alongside exceptional programs from groups like the South Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association (Events, Fundraising & Membership) and the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association (Education & Workforce Development) highlights the innovation and collaboration taking place across the industry—and places WHLA among the leaders in advancing hospitality through member connection.

This award is a testament to the power of community storytelling and to the dedicated members who contribute their time, ideas, and insights to WHLA’s mission—including the Publications Committee, whose support helped guide the development of this initiative. It also recognizes the strategic vision of our team, including Lexie Mallary’s leadership in developing and executing a scalable, member-centered communications model.
​
We’re incredibly proud to celebrate this win with you and look forward to what we can build next, together.

Share on LinkedIn