Association History
The 2020 merger was the next step in the evolution of storied hospitality trade associations dating back to the early 1900’s. Below is a summary of when each of the original organizations came into existence with follow on mergers of their own:
In 1958, these three independent non-profit Minnesota trade associations decided there was much to be gained by joining forces and working more closely. The Minnesota Restaurant Association, Minnesota Hotel & Lodging Association and Minnesota Resort Association formed a management company named Upper Midwest Hospitality (UMH). Under this unique structure, each Association retained its own vision, mission, strategic plan, goals, brand identity, Board of Directors, and budget. Each Association owned a portion of the management company – the MRA owned 50% of the stock in UMH and MLA and MRCA owned the remaining 50% of the stock, split at 25% each.
In 1996, the Minnesota Association of Campground Owners merged with the Minnesota Resort Association to form the Minnesota Resort & Campground Association. In 1997, Upper Midwest Hospitality began doing business as Hospitality Minnesota, a corporate name that better described the nature of the cooperative partnership. Hospitality Minnesota had a 12-member Board of Directors comprised of representatives from each of the Associations (reflecting the stock ownership) that was charged with overseeing the management company. In 2006, the Minnesota Hotel & Lodging Association and the Minnesota Association of Innkeepers merged to form the Minnesota Lodging Association.
With the arrival of a new leader in 2018, discussions began at the board level around the benefit of merging all three associations into one organization. In 2019, the plan of merger was put forward and voting to ratify the merger by the membership was completed in January 2020. The Hospitalty Minnesota name was transferred to become the new 501(c)6 trade association.
There have been five chief staff executives for Hospitality Minnesota and its predecessors. Mark J. Ocken served as Executive Secretary from 1933 to 1968; W.J. “Chum” Bohr served as Executive Vice President from 1968 to 1978; Arnold Hewes, CAE, served as President & CEO from 1979 to 2004, David Siegel, CAE, IOM served as EVP and President & CEO from 2005-2010, and Dan McElroy served as EVP and President & CEO from 2011-2018. Liz Rammer began her tenure as President & CEO upon McElroy’s retirement in mid-2018. Hospitality Minnesota staff serve its members as well as providing support to the Hospitality Minnesota Education Foundation.
More on earlier association history:
Lodging
The Minnesota Hotel & Lodging Association was formed in 1931, incorporated in 1940, and became the Minnesota Lodging Association when it and the Minnesota Association of Innkeepers came together in 2006. In 1997, the Minnesota Bed & Breakfast Guild merged with the then Minnesota Hotel & Lodging Association, bringing yet another segment of the lodging industry under the Association’s wings. The B&B Guild remained with MH&LA for several years before breaking off to form the Minnesota Bed & Breakfast Association in 2002.
Resorts & Campgrounds
The Minnesota Resort Association was formed in 1944 and incorporated in 1946. The Association incorporated the Minnesota Association of Campground Operators (MACO) into the organization in 1996, forming the Minnesota Resort & Campground Association.
The UP Show
The Upper Midwest Foodservice and Lodging Show (known as the UP Show) was first held in 1957. Widely acknowledged for many years as one of the top shows of its kind in the country, the UP Show was discontinued in 2009 after a 51-year run.
- 1933 Minnesota Restaurant Association 501(c)(6) Incorporated
- 1940 Minnesota Hotel & Lodging Association 501(c)(6) Incorporated
- 1946 Minnesota Resort Association 501(c)(6) Incorporated
In 1958, these three independent non-profit Minnesota trade associations decided there was much to be gained by joining forces and working more closely. The Minnesota Restaurant Association, Minnesota Hotel & Lodging Association and Minnesota Resort Association formed a management company named Upper Midwest Hospitality (UMH). Under this unique structure, each Association retained its own vision, mission, strategic plan, goals, brand identity, Board of Directors, and budget. Each Association owned a portion of the management company – the MRA owned 50% of the stock in UMH and MLA and MRCA owned the remaining 50% of the stock, split at 25% each.
In 1996, the Minnesota Association of Campground Owners merged with the Minnesota Resort Association to form the Minnesota Resort & Campground Association. In 1997, Upper Midwest Hospitality began doing business as Hospitality Minnesota, a corporate name that better described the nature of the cooperative partnership. Hospitality Minnesota had a 12-member Board of Directors comprised of representatives from each of the Associations (reflecting the stock ownership) that was charged with overseeing the management company. In 2006, the Minnesota Hotel & Lodging Association and the Minnesota Association of Innkeepers merged to form the Minnesota Lodging Association.
With the arrival of a new leader in 2018, discussions began at the board level around the benefit of merging all three associations into one organization. In 2019, the plan of merger was put forward and voting to ratify the merger by the membership was completed in January 2020. The Hospitalty Minnesota name was transferred to become the new 501(c)6 trade association.
There have been five chief staff executives for Hospitality Minnesota and its predecessors. Mark J. Ocken served as Executive Secretary from 1933 to 1968; W.J. “Chum” Bohr served as Executive Vice President from 1968 to 1978; Arnold Hewes, CAE, served as President & CEO from 1979 to 2004, David Siegel, CAE, IOM served as EVP and President & CEO from 2005-2010, and Dan McElroy served as EVP and President & CEO from 2011-2018. Liz Rammer began her tenure as President & CEO upon McElroy’s retirement in mid-2018. Hospitality Minnesota staff serve its members as well as providing support to the Hospitality Minnesota Education Foundation.
More on earlier association history:
Lodging
The Minnesota Hotel & Lodging Association was formed in 1931, incorporated in 1940, and became the Minnesota Lodging Association when it and the Minnesota Association of Innkeepers came together in 2006. In 1997, the Minnesota Bed & Breakfast Guild merged with the then Minnesota Hotel & Lodging Association, bringing yet another segment of the lodging industry under the Association’s wings. The B&B Guild remained with MH&LA for several years before breaking off to form the Minnesota Bed & Breakfast Association in 2002.
Resorts & Campgrounds
The Minnesota Resort Association was formed in 1944 and incorporated in 1946. The Association incorporated the Minnesota Association of Campground Operators (MACO) into the organization in 1996, forming the Minnesota Resort & Campground Association.
The UP Show
The Upper Midwest Foodservice and Lodging Show (known as the UP Show) was first held in 1957. Widely acknowledged for many years as one of the top shows of its kind in the country, the UP Show was discontinued in 2009 after a 51-year run.
