Emily F. Durso - Board of Trustees

Emily Durso currently serves as the President of the Hotel Association of Washington D.C., an affiliation of 91 hotels in the District of Columbia. The Hotel Association is a public affairs organization supporting its members in the political arena and in all dealings with the District Government and other business organizations in the District. In addition the Association has a major Community Affairs agenda first and foremost by developing and supervising the first Charter High School in America devoted to the hospitality field. The Hospitality High School of Washington, a Charter school, has graduated 7th classes, most recently sending 97% of its senior class to college with significant scholarship assistance. In addition the Association participatesin a BackpackProgram for 800 first grade children in D.C. Public Schools and supports many groups such as the D.C. Central Kitchen, The Shaw Orange Hat Brigade and the Carlos Rosario School.

The Hotel Association also plays a lead role in Labor Negotiations for its unionized hotels, in providing education training for hotel employees and serving as a link between job training programs in the District and its member hotels.

Ms. Durso serves as a Trustee with the University of the District of Columbia and Chairs the External Affairs Committee. She is also on the Boards of: The Washington Urban League, COMCAST, and the Washington Convention and Tourism Corporation as well as the Hospitality High School.

Prior to the Hotel Association Ms. Durso was the President of E.V. Housing Corporation, Vice President of Marketing for Techworld Trade Associates, Executive Assistant to the D.C. Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, Assistant Director of the D.C. Office of Business and Economic Development and the first Director of the D.C. Committee to Promote Washington.

Ms. Durso is a native Washingtonian attending Holy Trinity Grade School and High School and graduating from Georgetown University.