Jagruti Panwala, AAHOA’s first chairwoman, earns the 2026 Peggy Berg Castell Award
By Cathleen Draper
At The Lodging Conference in October, Past AAHOA Chairwoman Jagruti Panwala (2019-20) was honored as the 2026 recipient of the AHLA Foundation’s Peggy Berg Castell Award. The award recognizes female leaders who are changemakers, who champion gender equity, and who help pave a path for the next generation.
The award’s namesake, Peggy Berg, founded Castell, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing women into leadership positions, with the ultimate goal of women filling more than one in three positions across all levels and fields of hospitality leadership and ownership. An independent committee of industry leaders and stakeholders selected Panwala as the seventh recipient of the annual award, recognizing her leadership and commitment to advancing women in hospitality.
“I was incredibly grateful,” Panwala said of receiving the honor. “It’s very humbling and unexpected. I appreciate the industry, specifically the AHLA Foundation, recognizing me, and I hope that this indirectly helps many women.”
Panwala, president & CEO of wealth management firm Wealth Protection Strategies, made history as AAHOA’s first chairwoman, and throughout her career, she has helped to pave the way for more women to see themselves in leadership roles in the industry. Her work to open doors for women is a daily responsibility, one she views as an integral element of her role as a leader.
“You’re not really thinking about it day to day,” Panwala said. “At some point in your journey, it becomes a part of you.” A dedicated mentor, Panwala presents regularly at hospitality events and universities, and she advocates on behalf of the industry’s priorities and hotel owners on the local, state, and federal level.
She is also a staunch supporter of the AHLA Foundation’s FORWARD movement, which develops female leaders and creates community through events focused on women’s advancement. The movement’s events bring together women in the industry from executives, general managers, and front desk associates to CEOs of corporations and brands.
“Talk about mentorship. Talk about connecting with people,” Panwala said. “They are providing a platform specifically for female hoteliers and younger generations.”
She sits on the board of the AAHOA Charitable Foundation (ACF), as well. Panwala joined the foundation three years ago, and women’s empowerment is one of the ACF’s core pillars. At AAHOA’s HerOwnership Conference in September, Panwala moderated the roundtable discussion “Lead with Purpose: How Service Shapes Strong Leaders.” The panel, sponsored by the ACF, featured female industry leaders who spoke to the power of service and the importance of using one’s talents to give back to worthy organizations.
“It was about how you can give your time, your knowledge, your expertise, your connections, your availability – sometimes that is more important than the money,” Panwala said. It’s the first in a series of panels the ACF hopes to host.
Panwala hopes that receiving the Peggy Berg Castell Award shows women that one doesn’t have to sacrifice their humanity and hide their struggles to be a leader. She also hopes it serves as an inspiration for more women to attend conferences and connect with others, something that has played a pivotal role in her journey.
As for how she plans to continue elevating women in the industry, Panwala will continue on the path she’s already set.
“What I’ve done all these years will hopefully continue as long as I’m able to,” she said. “I see myself being part of this industry for a very long time. But I think one thing that will change is receiving an award will inspire other women to come forward and take more of a leadership role, and that’s my hope.”
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