The Independent Lodging Foundation (ILF) is proud to offer Professional Development Conference Grants, which are awarded to new, full-time lodging professionals to attend annual lodging professional association conferences such as Association of Lodging Professionals Conference and Marketplace (ALP), Pennsylvania Association of Bed and Breakfast Inns Mid-Atlantic Conference (PABBI), California Association of Boutique and Breakfast Inns, or other professional association conferences.

Grants will be given to individuals who demonstrate a strong interest in investing in his/herself to broaden and strengthen their level of understanding and knowledge of the lodging industry. It is a goal of the Independent Lodging Foundation to expose recipients to content-rich sessions that provide knowledge, new ideas, and tools to apply in their roles as lodging professionals.

Eligibility requirements: If selected, grant recipients will receive:

• Applicants who are under contract to purchase a property or have owned their property for 18 months or fewer are eligible to apply for a grant.
• Applicants must be a member of ALP or the state or regional conference host organization.
• Only one grant per eligible conference may be awarded.
• To broaden awareness of the ILF Professional Development Conference Grants, recipients will be asked to post daily on social media while at their conference.
• Grantees will complete a post-conference assessment survey conducted by the Independent Lodging Foundation (ILF) and participate in a post-conference conversation with committee members.

Application and Award Process

• Applications will be reviewed and scored by members of the Grants Committee.
• Incomplete applications may disqualify an individual from consideration.
• Finalists will be interviewed virtually approximately 7-10 days after the application closing date.
• Any recipient who has already registered for a winter/spring 2026 conference will be reimbursed for one eligible registration fee, or up to $500, whichever is less.
• CABBI Applicants will be notified in advance of the conference date.
• Conference Grant applications close on January 16, 2026.
• Please note the award will cover the conference registration fee only (or up to a maximum of $500).
• The cost of transportation, lodging, and meals not covered by the conference registration fee will not be covered.
• In addition, any additional registration fee for an aspiring innkeeper education track is not included.

To be considered, please complete the brief questionnaire by clicking the link below.  The ILF Grant Committee will review your application.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf52uYrwHAWNoGJgzAFA4E6c5x4Vj1-TNsoV7TqNgl5uFdTUA/viewform

You can also find out more information about the Independent Lodging Foundation on our website -  https://independentlodgingfoundation.org/

Thank you for your interest in this opportunity and in supporting the mission of the Independent Lodging Foundation.  If you have any questions, you can email us at: director@alpfund.org