Laura Lee Blake, Esq., serves as the President & CEO of AAHOA, the foremost resource and advocate for America’s hotel owners. A highly accomplished attorney with more than 25 years of experience, Blake most recently served as a partner at Connor, Fletcher, and Hedenkamp LLP in Irvine, California. Blake brings decades of experience in the fields of law, government, business, and academia to AAHOA.
Blake previously worked for AAHOA for nearly 10 years, from 2005 to 2014, as General Counsel & Vice President of Fair Franchising and Government Affairs.
As President and CEO, Blake is focused on promoting fair franchising and franchise advocacy, evaluating the franchisor-franchisee relationship in an effort to improve the ROI, and helping to educate members about the legal aspects of their franchise agreements. Blake also is prioritizing strategies for legislative advocacy and building alliances with those who support the travel industry.
Blake’s passion is to serve women and children in poverty-stricken areas in the world, and has traveled to several third-world countries to raise awareness and make an impact.
Blake earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Studies with Highest Distinction from the University of Iowa, and her J.D. Law Degree with High Distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law.