Chris Hardman, President and CEO

As GHLA's President and CEO, Chris Hardman brings a wealth of experience in the hospitality
industry and deep relationships with industry and state leaders. Chris served as GHLA's
Director of Governmental Affairs and Membership from 2017 to 2025, where he managed
membership initiatives while advocating on behalf of the state's hotel and lodging industry as a registered lobbyist. A true champion of collaboration, Chris has strengthened partnerships with
GHLA's sister hospitality organizations, including the American Hotel and Lodging Association,
Asian American Hotel Owners Association, Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors
Bureaus, Georgia Restaurant Association, and Southeast Tourism Society. He has earned
national recognitions including the ISHA Award of Excellence in Governmental Affairs, the
GACVB Tourism Champion Award, and the STS Shining Example Award.
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Chris helped shape some of the most significant legislative victories for Georgia’s hospitality
and tourism industry over the past several years. He was instrumental in advancing landmark
legislation such as Georgia House Bill 317, requiring short-term rental platforms to collect and
remit hotel/motel taxes that is recognized as the greatest tourism revenue driver in Georgia in
more than 50 years. Chris led passage of the "Protecting Georgia Businesses and Workers
Act," the first law of its kind in the nation and now adopted by the American Legislative
Exchange Council as model legislation and secured passage of Senate Bill 127 in 2023,
strengthening protections for Convention and Visitors Bureaus statewide. Chris supported
creation of the voluntary Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing
program in 2024, providing critical tools for hotel owners to invest in development and
sustainability and advocated for Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's 2025 comprehensive Tort Reform
Package delivering long-awaited legal relief for Georgia's hospitality sector and broader
business community.