Jagruti Panwala Named 2026 Peggy Berg Castell Award Winner

The American Hotel & Lodging Association's charitable arm announced Tuesday that Jagruti Panwala will receive the 2026 Peggy Berg Castell Award, recognizing her decades of leadership advancing women in the hospitality sector. Panwala, who serves as president and CEO of Wealth Protection Strategies and sits on AHLA's Executive Committee, will accept the honor at The Lodging Conference in Phoenix this October.

The award commemorates the legacy of Peggy Berg, founder of the Castell Project, an initiative dedicated to accelerating women's advancement into hospitality leadership roles. An independent panel of industry stakeholders chose Panwala as the seventh recipient of the annual distinction, which celebrates female executives who exemplify commitment to gender equity and create pathways for emerging women leaders.

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Panwala has established herself as a prominent voice within the industry, delivering presentations at conferences, policy forums, and universities nationwide on subjects spanning the economic impact of travel and tourism to regulatory challenges facing small businesses. Her advocacy work has extended from municipal government hearings to congressional testimony, where she has represented lodging industry interests.

Beyond her Executive Committee role, Panwala serves on AHLA's Hotel PAC Advisory Council and actively supports the AHLA Foundation's FORWARD initiative, a program designed to cultivate community, develop leadership capabilities, and stage transformative events for women in hospitality. According to Kevin Carey, president and CEO of the AHLA Foundation, "Jagruti is truly a titan in the hospitality industry," noting that she "exemplifies that leadership opportunities are within reach for anyone willing to work hard and lift others along the way."

Reflecting on the recognition, Panwala emphasized her comprehensive experience across hotel operations. "I have spent my entire life in the hotel business, and I have done every job there is to do – from housekeeping and maintenance, to bookkeeping and management," she stated, expressing hope that her trajectory "encourages more women to pursue leadership roles, use their voices, and know that they belong at every table where decisions are made."