Hotelier Weekly
March 30, 2023
Legendary Capital
AAHOA News
Ensure Your Eligibility to Vote in the 2023 AAHOA Elections
  
Attention, AAHOA Members! The credentialing and identity-verification process for the 2023 AAHOA Elections is now open! This process runs from March 22 through Friday, April 7.
What is credentialing, and what do I need to know?
  • This process verifies you are eligible to vote in the 2023 AAHOA Elections and verifies your identity to cast your ballot via the Voatz app, the official app of the 2023 AAHOA Elections. 
  • When completing this process, ensure your mobile phone number matches the mobile phone number on record in MyAAHOA.com. 
  • Important: If you do not complete the credentialing process during this 17-day period – March 22 through April 7 – you will NOT be able to participate in the 2023 AAHOA Elections. For those who have previously used Voatz, please use the same account info and don’t try to create multiple Voatz accounts.
Check out some of these AAHOA Elections resources guide you through the process:
Get Ready for the 2023 AAHOACON Tech Pitch Competition, Co-Powered by HFTP!
  
Due to the pandemic, hoteliers’ budgets are tight, and labor continues to be one of the top issues. What new technologies can we implement today that will help drive our ROI, streamline operations, and help with the labor shortage? Come hear from select companies who will pitch to five seasoned professionals with expertise in technology and hospitality. See why they think they can make a difference in our business today. Identify and support companies making a difference for hoteliers as we continue to navigate the post-pandemic landscape.
 
Here are the finalists that will be participating in the competition:
You don't want to miss the AAHOACON23 Tech Pitch Competition Co-Powered by HFTP, taking place from 3:30 - 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 13. Mark your calendars, and download the agenda today for AAHOACON23 today. You can also check out the map of the trade show floor to see where the finalist's booths are located.
 
Swami Brahmaviharidas, BAPS, Live at AAHOACON23 General Session as Keynote Speaker
  
AAHOA is excited to announce that Swami Brahmaviharidas, BAPS, will be the keynote speaker during the AAHOACON23 General Session on Thursday, April 13, in Los Angeles, CA.
 
An inspiring leader and relentless champion of humanitarian causes worldwide, he spearheads the Global Outreach of BAPS to spread harmony and collaboration of all generations and backgrounds. He has played a key role in some of the most recent global events at the call of the Indian Government and Heads of States.
 
Get to know Swami Brahmaviharidas through this short video.
 
Don’t miss your chance to hear from this global, esteemed spiritual leader. Secure your registration TODAY by visiting AAHOACON.com.
 
AAHOA Chairman Neal Patel Speaks at HUNTER Conference
  
The 34th Hunter Hotel Investment Conference, also known as HUNTER, took place March 21-23, 2023, at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. AAHOA leadership was proud to be in attendance for the highly-anticipated annual gathering of prominent industry leaders and hotel investors, attending numerous sessions and connecting with up-and-coming hoteliers and entrepreneurs.
 
On Thursday, March 23, AAHOA Chairman Neal Patel participated in a panel with Adam Glickman, Vice President of brand strategy for Actabl, Laura West Presnol, Vice President of Talent & Culture at Davidson Hospitality Group, and Susan (Sue) Sanders, EVP & Chief Human Resources Officer of HVMG, to discuss the challenges and opportunities around labor issues. The panel discussion was moderated by Lisa Lombardo, Chief Culture and Strategy Officer for HDG Hotels.
 
While labor is one of the greatest assets for hotel owners, it is also the most pressing challenge. Here's what Chairman Neal Patel had to say about this crucial topic:
 
“I’m proud to have had the opportunity to speak on the 'Labor Issues: Challenges & Opportunities' panel at the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference,” Patel shared. “Labor is the biggest challenge facing our industry, with 90% of AAHOA Members having job openings in 2019. COVID has only intensified this issue. As the Chairman of AAHOA, the largest hotel owners association in the world, with 20,000 members owning 60% of all hotels in the nation, I believe it's time to explore out-of-the-box solutions.”
 
Charter Communications Operating, LLC
Launch Entertainment
AAHOA Advocacy in Action
AAHOA Chairman Neal Patel Testifies in Support of Texas Property Tax Relief Legislation
On Monday, March 13, AAHOA Chairman Neal Patel testified before the House Ways and Means Committee at the Texas Capitol in support of House Bill 2, also known as the Property Tax Relief Act.
 
HB 2 is a part of Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan’s priorities this legislative session. If HB 2 is passed, the 10% limit on how much a property appraisal can increase each year would be cut to 5% and apply to all properties in Texas, including commercial properties.
 
During his testimony, Patel welcomed the property tax relief legislation on behalf of the hospitality industry in Texas.
 
“As owners of income-producing commercial properties, property taxes are a burdensome cost of doing business in Texas. Year after year, we’ve seen increases in the property taxes that we’ve paid,” Patel shared in front of the House Ways and Means Committee. “For example, for one of our limited-service hotels in Round Rock, TX, we paid $53,000 in taxes in 2021. But on January 9, 2023, we paid $95,990 for the 2022 property taxes. Additionally, our hotels pay $270,000 in sales and local taxes.”
 
Patel also noted that hotel owners in Texas consider the high property taxes when deciding whether to expand their businesses in the Lone Star State or another state.
 
In Texas, AAHOA Members own an outstanding 89.1% of all the hotels and pay $1.5 billion in total lodging taxes. Additionally, they employ more than 270,000 employees, who earn more than $23 billion in wages, salaries, and other compensations.
 
“Thanks to AAHOA Chairman Neal Patel for testifying at the State Capitol on behalf of the hotel industry,” the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association shared on their Instagram account. “Mr. Patel testified to the House Ways and Means Committee on HB 2, which is meaningful property tax legislation for commercial businesses.”
 
You can watch Patel testify before the House Ways and Means Committee on HB 2 here. (Patel starts to testify at the 1:00:43 mark). Follow AAHOA and THLA for the latest updates on this legislation and more. 
AAHOA Members Successfully Rally to Maintain Oversight of Arkansas Short-Term Rentals
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Mar. 30 – Members of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), the largest hotel owners association in the world, applauded a vote by the Arkansas House Committee on City, County, and Local Affairs not to advance legislation that would have weakened oversight of short-term rentals in the state.
 
AAHOA Members in Arkansas had urged the defeat of Senate Bill 197, which would have handcuffed local governments from enacting reasonable regulations over short-term rentals. In a voice vote this morning, the House Committee on City, County, and Local Affairs declined to advance the bill.
 
AAHOA Members own nearly 90% of hotels in Arkansas.
 
“Allowing short-term rentals to operate without proper oversight hinders the ability of local governments to protect their communities,” said AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake. “There is no dispute that property owners should have the right to legally rent their homes to earn extra income. But there needs to be safeguards in place to ensure safety standards and prevent artificial inflation of housing costs.”
 
AAHOA and the Arkansas Hospitality Association worked together to educate lawmakers about the problems with allowing short-term rentals to escape local regulations.
Featured Content
WATCH NOW! Point 11 of the 12 Points Webinar Series Is Live!
  
 AAHOA is wrapping up the first quarter with another educational webinar. Point 11 of the 12-part webinar series is now available and addresses transferability. 
 
Transferability is a situation in which a Franchisee seeks to transfer its property to an unrelated third party. Point 11 recommends that the Franchisor should not delay it, withhold its consent, and impose conditions on the transfer in an unreasonable, arbitrary, or capricious manner.  
 
In the Point 11 webinar, AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake, Central Midwest Regional Director Arti Patel, and Vice President of Education Ralph Thiergart take a closer look at the concept of transferability and the specific provisions of Point 11.
HerOwnership
Women's History Month: A Q&A with AAHOA Member Shila Patel
  
 
We continue to celebrate Women’s History Month with AAHOA Member Shila Patel, a hotel general manager and owner for 30 years.
 
Throughout her hospitality career, she has been honored to advocate for women hoteliers as a speaker at AAHOA events and on various industry panels. In fact, Shila encouraged women hoteliers to attend AAHOA’s first-ever HerOwnership Conference & Retreat in October to “build strength, share experiences, and gain wellness tips.”
 
In this Q&A, Shila reflects on her ownership journey and how the industry can support the next generation of women hoteliers.
 
What does AAHOA's HerOwnership initiative mean to you?
"The initiative will help women with the bigger picture of their business. This opportunity can empower women with knowledge, undertake business-shifting decisions, and help position generational family businesses for success.”
What advice would you give the next generation of women hoteliers?
“Get formal education to enhance your experience and work in the hospitality industry.”
What does it mean to you to be a woman hotelier?
“It means being strong enough to handle the challenges of the industry 24/7.”
What is the biggest challenge you face in our industry today as a woman?
“Time! Not having enough time to handle the many responsibilities we have today professionally and personally.”
 
You can read more about Shila Patel and a few other industry-pioneering women in the March issue of Today’s Hotelier.
Women’s History Month: A Q&A with AAHOA Member Nila Patel
  
During Women’s History Month, AAHOA has paid tribute to women hoteliers changing the face of the industry.  AAHOA Member Nila Patel is one of the many women taking charge of her ownership journey and inspiring the younger generation along the way.
 
Nila is a second-generation hotel owner who also acts as the manager and sales director for one of her properties. She has been an AAHOA Member for over two decades and earned the AAHOA Certificate in Hotel Ownership® (CHO) designation early in her career. Currently, Nila serves the North Central Region as a local ambassador.
 
Read about her perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing women in hospitality and the unique path she continues to carve for her career.
 
What does AAHOA's HerOwnership initiative mean to you?
“I believe it will impact the future of women who want to begin investing. During the 70-90s, the younger generation of 'daughters' watched their moms work hard by running the motels and the homes. Now these girls have grown up with the best of both worlds. They’re our future investors!”
What advice would you give the next generation of women hoteliers?
“Study the industry and learn the dos and don’ts earlier rather than later. Be prepared and wake up with a game plan daily.”
What does it mean to you to be a woman hotelier?
“It means you are an active member of your asset or assets. You are contributing to the success of a joint business. It means you bring something to the table. It means you are a part of the TEAM.”
What is the biggest challenge you face in our industry today as a woman?
“The industry continues to evolve with new trends, newer technologies, and changes with brand standards…keeping up is my biggest challenge.”
 
Nila is also merging her hospitality experience with other industries. She recently became a business developer for a boutique finance brokerage firm in Cincinnati, OH. This finance brokerage firm issues about 70% of its loans to hoteliers.
 
You can continue to recognize Women’s History Month when you:
Red Roof Inn
Showtime Networks Inc.
AAHOA Education
WEBINAR - Top Financial Management Strategies to Legally Minimize Your Taxes
  

Join us to learn how to cut your tax bill so you aren’t giving up money that belongs in your pocket. Discover top strategies that will maximize your investments and minimize your taxes. Discussion topics will include how to: find the silver lining in a loss, generate retirement income from your portfolio, build your own inflation-proof source of income, and take deductions for capital losses. Don’t miss this opportunity to put a plan in place so you can keep what’s yours and protect your investments for future years.

Presenters: Juan C. "JC" Villalobos, Wealth Management President, SunBright Wealth Management Laura Lee Blake, Esq.

Access the webinar

dormakaba Canada Inc.
DIRECTV Hospitality
Featured Club Blue Member
HBO
  
HBO, the oldest and most award-winning premium channel in the U.S., is offering AAHOA Members the chance to earn money back. Members get a rebate of $9 per room (5-year contract) or $7 per room (3-or 4-year contract) when they add or renew HBO at their properties. Click here today to complete the rebate form and get started.
Hotel Equities
Karcher North America
Featured Member Benefit
CBRE
  
AAHOA Members receive a 10% discount on CBRE’s Hotel Horizons econometric forecast reports of 60 major markets in the United States. Click here to view additional benefits. Contact CBRE Client Services (websales@cbre.com) to claim your discount or call 855-223-1200.
Featured Platinum/Silver Partner
MASS MUTUAL
  
MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyowners. MassMutual offers a wide range of financial products and services, including life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance, annuities, retirement plans and other employee benefits. For more information, visit the website, then contact Ana Lucia Divins (analuciadivins@massmutual.com) to get started.
IDeaS - A SAS COMPANY
Alliance Laundry Systems-UniMac
Industry News
Transitioning the Hotel Industry to a Cloud Ecosystem with Open Integration
Technology is revolutionizing the hospitality industry, and – as many operators explore a widening array of options – cloud-based platforms and solutions are becoming one of the most ubiquitous resources for properties of all sizes.
(Source: Forbes)
Hotels Are Evolving to Meet the Needs of Gen Z
In an attempt to attract younger travelers, many hoteliers are changing with the times by creating on-property experience-based moments and expanding digital connectivity options.
(Source: Business Insider)
Hotel Executives 'Cautiously Bullish' on Future of Industry
During last week's Hunter Hotel Investment Conference, several top industry executives agreed that the industry appears to be emerging from the pandemic on solid ground, though there remain several key points to watch, including inflation, unemployment, and geopolitics.
(Source: CoStar)
Visual Matrix
Intellihot
Today's Hotelier

MARCH ISSUE

The March 2023 issue is out now! This month, we take a deep dive into all things revenue including three ways to maximize revenue without exorbitant upfront costs, wine revenues as a first step for total revenues, six steps to maximize revenue without increasing guest count, and much more.

Featured Content

Join thousands of AAHOA Members, brand CEOs, and industry professionals by subscribing to our magazine. Receive every digital issue of Today’s Hotelier as soon as it’s released to the public. Click here to subscribe.
In the Market
U.S. RevPAR +4.1% y/y Last Week, +12.0% vs. 2019. Group Solely Driving Overall y/y Growth
  
Truist Securities reports, “Overall U.S. RevPAR was +4.1% y/y for the week ending 3/25/2023, per STR, down from the prior week's result of +10.4%, and below the trailing 10-week average of +16.7%. Vs. 2019, RevPAR was +12.0%, down from the prior week’s result of +20.8%, and above the trailing 10-week average of +10.8%. Last week was a clean comp. We are starting to see harder y/y post-Omicron transient comps (Transient RevPAR for Lux. and Upper Up. was -3.1% y/y last week vs. the trailing 10-wk avg. of 13.1%). As noted in our RevPAR Monitor, the resulting growth is then solely derived from strong Group performance (Group Occ. and ADR y/y were +11.7% and +7.2% respectively). Upscale RevPAR: +10.1% y/y and +6.7% vs. 2019; Upper Midscale RevPAR: +6.4% y/y and +11.3% vs. 2019.”
For more, read the full report here, and read the China/Europe report here.