The Garden State gavel has been passed. Michael J. Taylor, CHA, CMP General Manager of The Heldrich, the newly opened hotel/conference center in New Brunswick, was installed in June as the new President of the New Jersey Hotel & Lodging Association. Above, Taylor receives the N.J. President’s Gavel from Joe McInerney, president of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Taylor, a 22-year veteran of the hospitality, has served at 14 different Benchmark Hospitality International venues, including Director Conference Services of North Maple Inn in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Prior to joining the Benchmark organization Taylor served as Director of Convention Services at the New York landmark hotel, The Waldorf=Astoria. His term as President of the New Jersey Hotel & Lodging Association runs from 2007-2010.