Chris Hardman Director of Governmental Affairs and Membership, Georgial Hotel and Lodging Association
Ankit Govan Vice President, Five Star Group
Chris Hardman serves as the Director of Governmental Affairs & Membership for the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association representing the state’s lodging industry and is also one of GHLA’s registered lobbyists. GHLA acts as the unified voice for Georgia’s 2,064 hotel and lodging properties. Hardman graduated summa cum laude with a BBA in Hospitality Administration from Georgia State University, where he also earned a Master of Global Hospitality Management degree. Prior to working with GHLA, Hardman was the research associate for Georgia Capitol Associates, advocating on behalf of the hospitality and tourism industry. He also served four years as the member development executive and as a registered lobbyist for the Georgia Restaurant Association, representing one of the state’s largest industries. Hardman was recently included in GSU’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2019. He has volunteered with many organizations, including serving as Governmental Affairs Conference Chair for the international Society of Hotel Associations, sitting on the advisory board for NOSH Talks and the boards of directors of TEAM Georgia and the Georgia Mountain Food Bank, and serving as former chair of the Hospitality Syndicate. Hardman has spent his career devoting his time to creating a better environment for hospitality and tourism businesses in Georgia.
Ankit Govan serves as the Vice President of Investments at Five Star. At a young age, Ankit was exposed to hospitality through his family’s business and quickly developed a passion for the industry. After graduating from the University of Tennessee with his degree in Finance, he completed a Manager in Training (MIT) program with one of the largest hotel operators in North America. During his career, he quickly climbed the corporate ladder, serving as an Operations Manager, Revenue Analyst, Financial Analyst, Asset Manager, and most recently, as a Senior Associate of Finance & Acquisition for a private equity firm. In his current role, Ankit provides Five Star investment opportunities across all commercial real estate asset classes. Ankit was born and raised in Ringgold, GA. Growing up, he was passionate about basketball, cricket, horseback riding, and attending local rodeos. He enjoys traveling with his friends and family, working out, and watching the Georgia Bulldogs play football. In his free time, he loves to spend time with his parents and wants to travel the world. His favorite trip has been during his study abroad to Dublin, Ireland
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