| The Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association (OH&LA) is one of America's oldest hotel associations. While the world has changed in so many ways, many of the reasons lodging properties throughout Ohio joined a century ago are still reasons to be a member today.
In 1893, Mr. D.C. Shears, general manager of The Grand Hotel in Cincinnati was elected president of the newly formed Ohio State Hotel Association. Other officers of this new group included Mr. W.C. Terry of the Hotel French in Lima, Ohio and Mr. W.H. Maxwell of the Palace Hotel in Cincinnati. Nineteen members signed up in the organizational meeting.
This association of hotel general managers was created under the principles of developing esprit de corps, expanding educational opportunities, and finding a legislative voice for the hospitality industry. But believe it or not, their greatest motivation was to stop hustlers from stinging Ohio hotels by passing bad five-dollar bills as methods of payment. This example highlights the true value and flexibility associations provide.
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