ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (May 14, 2010) – Atlantic City Hotel and Lodging Association (ACHLA) Scholarship Foundation awarded $27,000 in scholarships at its annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon on Friday, May 14, 2010 at the Atlantic City Hilton Casino Hotel.

Jeffrey S. Vasser, president of the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority, was the keynote speaker. “Congratulations on picking the right industry,” he said in remarks addressed to the students. He shared two lessons that he learned that were especially valuable for him. “The first is to work hard,” he said. “The second is to develop the professional relationships that you are making now. You will likely meet some of these people again.”

The awards were presented by ACHLA Executive Director Howard Bacharach, Al Maiorani, Senior Vice President of Resort Operations at Tropicana Casino & Resort and David Loftus, Director of Hotel Operations at Showboat Atlantic City. Scholarships were presented to hospitality, culinary and tourism industry students at Atlantic Cape Community College, Atlantic County Institute of Technology, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Ferrum College, Johnson & Wales, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and Rutgers University.

During the course of its history, the ACHLA Scholarship Foundation has awarded in excess of $270,000 to area students pursuing hospitality, culinary and tourism careers. This year, six scholarships were donated to recognize the contributions of Steve Whiteside to hospitality education in the region during his many years of service to the Atlantic City hotel casino industry.

Through close collaboration with local and regional educational institutions that offer programs in hospitality education, ACHLA actively supports activities and programs that promote the hospitality, culinary and tourism industries as a desirable career alternative. ACHLA also promotes our members as the employers of choice.

For more information, contact ACHLA at (609) 345-8910 or visit www. achotellodging.com