The Breakers – Palm Beach, FL

The Breakers – Palm Beach, FL

Old Edwards Inn and Spa – Highlands, NC

Old Edwards Inn and Spa – Highlands, NC

The Swag – Waynesville, NC

The Swag – Waynesville, NC

The Boca Resort and Beach Club – Boca Raton, FL

The Boca Resort and Beach Club – Boca Raton, FL

Welcome to the Southern Innkeepers Association

Founded in 1908, the Southern Innkeepers Association (SIA) is proud to be the oldest hotel
and lodging organization in the United States.

 
 

The mission of the Southern Innkeepers Association is to build a community that leverages experience, focuses on innovative solutions and tackles meaningful issues. Our goal is inspiring the leaders of Southern hospitality to connect, engage, collaborate and exchange by providing a platform for innovation and inspiration. We value connections, engagement, collaboration and exchange within the hospitality industry. Southern Innkeepers wants to inspire you, the leaders of Southern hospitality.

 

Events

Events
SIA 117th Annual Conference
SIA 117th Annual Conference

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia’s wine and horse country, this 340 acre destination resort will host the 2025 SIA Annual Conference.

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SIA 116th Annual Conference
SIA 116th Annual Conference

Southern Innkeepers Enjoy a Star-Studded Gathering at the 116th Annual Conference in Charleston!

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Leaders of Southern Innkeepers

  • Will Jones

    PRESIDENT
    NORTH CAROLINA

    Managing Director
    The Swag
    Waynesville, NC

  • David Friederich

    PRESIDENT ELECT
    GEORGIA

    President
    Barnsley Resort
    Adairsville, GA

  • David Mars

    PAST PRESIDENT
    NORTH CAROLINA

    Managing Director
    The Umstead Hotel and Spa
    Cary, NC

  • Bill Lacey

    TREASURER
    SOUTH CAROLINA

    General Manager
    The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
    Kiawah Island, SC

  • Bruce Seigel

    VICE PRESIDENT
    FLORIDA

    General Manager
    The Colony Hotel
    Palm Beach, FL

  • Ralph Mahana

    VICE PRESIDENT
    LOUISIANA

    General Manager
    The Windsor Court
    New Orleans, LA

  • Kristin Assad

    VICE PRESIDENT
    TEXAS

    Chief Operating Officer
    Exchange Hotels Management
    Ft Worth, TX

  • Gigi Vega

    VICE PRESIDENT
    VIRGINIA

    General Manager
    Boar’s Head Resort
    Charlottesville, VA

  • Elmer Coppoolse

    Elmer Coppoolse

    VICE PRESIDENT
    WEST VIRGINIA

    General Manager
    The Greenbrier
    White Sulphur Springs, WV

  • Wynn Salisch

    ALLIED REPRESENTATIVE

    Casablanca Payments
    New York, NY

  • Eric Poovey

    VICE PRESIDENT
    SOUTH CAROLINA

    General Manager
    Hotel Domestique & Restaurant 17
    Travelers Rest, SC

Welcome Members

  • Edward Villafane

    Managing Director
    The Tides Inn

    Nestled along a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, one of America’s most significant estuaries, The Tides Inn is a waterfront retreat offering warm hospitality in a stunning natural setting.

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  • Connie Turlington

    Resort Manager
    Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resor    t

    Disney's Hilton Head Island Resortis located on the picturesque coast of South Carolina. This elegant, relaxing home-away-from-home—fashioned after a 1940s hunting and fishing lodge—combines local charm and simple pleasures with outdoor fun for the entire family.

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  • Ron Nagy

    General Manager
    Grand Bohemian Lodge Greenville

    Perched on the falls of the iconic Reedy River, the Grand Bohemian Lodge Greenville is inspired by the spirit of Greenville with carefully curated detailing that pays tribute to surrounding Falls Park.

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  • Louis Shapazian

    General Manager
    Keswick Hall & Club

    Keswick Hall has been an icon of the Virginia countryside for over one hundred years. Set amid a backdrop of Virginia’s natural splendor, this newly reimagined resort invites guests and locals to discover a sense of discrete luxury where you can retreat from the everyday into the calm comforts of a space all your own.

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View All Members

What Members Are Saying

  • Jordan S. Beckner <span class="attribution"> President of Sales, Fiberbuilt Umbrellas and Cushions </span>

    “It has been both an honor and a pleasure to be part of the Southern Innkeepers Association. JoAnne and I have been able to make some great friends, while at the same time creating some prosperous business partnerships.”

  • Richard M. Delany <span class="attribution"> President and Managing Director, Old Edwards Inn and Spa </span>

    “I have been part of SIA for over six years now and I could not recommend it more highly. To be part of an association that includes some of the top hospitality professionals and leaders in the south is invaluable. SIA creates an environment and conduits where these top leaders can share and exchange ideas, best practices and provides a camaraderie that simply makes me a better leader.”

  • Russ Cronberg <span class="attribution"> General Manager, Boar’s Head Resort </span>

    “Southern [Innkeepers Association] has meant so much to me. Since my first year in 2017, I have had the opportunity to network and become friends with some of the very best people in Hotels and Resorts. This network and our experiences have made me a better leader.”

  • Brent Cross, President and General Manager, The Gasparilla Inn

    Being a member of the Southern Innkeepers Association has enriched our approach to hospitality, giving us access to a network of experienced peers and innovative ideas.  The association's dedication to excellence and camaraderie truly sets it apart in the industry.