Jim Sprouse, President and CEO Emeritus

As President and CEO Emeritus of GHLA, Jim Sprouse spent decades as a thoughtful and
prescient leader whose tremendous contributions helped transform the Association from a
small, under-resourced organization into today’s nationally respected voice of Georgia’s lodging
industry. During Jim’s tenure, he strengthened advocacy efforts at the state level, expanded
member services, championed workforce development, and deftly navigated industry
challenges including a global pandemic. Through Jim's long career with GHLA, he helped
expand membership and guided the industry through tremendous growth. Jim was instrumental
in securing a $150 million federal grant announced by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp in 2022,
providing critical funding to help hotel operators and employees return to work at pre-pandemic
levels. Under his leadership, GHLA created one of the nation's largest recognition programs for
lodging industry employees across all disciplines, now attracting more than 1,000 attendees
annually, and established the first statewide educational and networking organization for women
in lodging. Jim also initiated a widely respected annual lodging forecast program to assist
hoteliers in business planning and expanded GHLA's reach through a network of regional hotel
councils supporting both current hospitality leaders and next-generation professionals. Jim was
recognized by the governor with a commendation for his more than 20 years of extraordinary
service to Georgia's hospitality and lodging industry. Jim continues to support GHLA in an
advisory capacity.