The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) named Brett Horton to the newly created role of chief advocacy officer, effective Dec. 1. He had previously been chief of staff to U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) In the role, according to an announcement, Horton will oversee AHLA’s comprehensive advocacy, political engagement and government affairs strategies “to advance the hotel industry’s priorities at the federal, state and local levels.”