Jack Juve, owner/manager of the AmericInn Lodge and Suites of North Branch, has been elected as the co-president for the new Minnesota Lodging Association (MLA).

Formed through the merger of the Minnesota Hotel & Lodging Association and the Minnesota Association of Innkeepers, the MLA represents some 75 percent of the stateís hotels and motels. The historic joining of these two respected and successful associations occurred Friday, April 1, and united what had been a fractured industry for more than 25 years. The new MLA boasts some 550 property members, including some 80 Allied members and 40 chambers of commerce and convention and visitorís bureaus.

Juve and Jim Waldvogel, Crowne Plaza Northstar Hotel Minneapolis, will serve as co-presidents for the first year of the Association.

Juve has 16 years experience in the lodging industry after receiving a degree in hotel/restaurant management from Southwest State University in Marshall. He had been the vice president of the Minnesota Association of Innkeepers.

ìThis is truly a unique moment for Minnesotaís lodging industry,î he said. ìBy working as one, we can accomplish much more for our members.î

Waldvogel has been in the hospitality business since 1977. He was general manager of several hotels from 1987 to 1997 in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Hollywood, California before moving back to Minnesota.

MLA is housed in St. Paul on I-35E, slightly north of the State Capitol and will be managed by Hospitality Minnesota, which also manages the Minnesota Restaurant Association and the Minnesota Resort & Campground Association.

Denny Breamer, who has served as executive director of the MAI for the past six years, will remain on staff with the MLA through Dec, 31. At that time, although he will formally retire, he is expected to continue to serve MLA on a contract basis. ìWe believe itís important that there be continuity and comfort for our members, and all agree that Denny Breamer is a tremendous asset to the new Association,î Juve said.