Hotelier Weekly
May 25, 2023
Legendary Capital
AAHOA News
Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser Joins Gulf Regional Director Vimal Patel for a Back-of-the-House Tour
  
On Wednesday, May 17, Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser visited the Hampton Inn in Broussard, LA, to see what the hard-working hotel staff do to keep the rooms clean and create an extraordinary guest experience. 
 
Lt. Governor Nungesser rolled up his sleeves, helped clean furniture, vacuumed the carpets, and pulled some towels for hotel guests. 
 
“Most people think hospitality staff is only the receptionists, but there are many more people and jobs that need to be done to keep everything running,” Lt. Governor Nungesser tweeted. 
 
“I saw everything from the front to the back of the house tour,” he continued. “Next time you see someone in the hospitality industry, thank them for their hard work!”
 
The 80-room Hampton Inn, owned and operated by Gulf Regional Director Vimal Patel, welcomes between 60 to 150 guests daily based on occupancy. 
 
Patel, with the help of his 18-person team, makes sure the property stays clean and organized in a timely manner. 
 
“It meant a lot to me, the team, and the overall industry to have had the Lt. Governor learn more about what it takes to keep a hotel business running,” Patel said. “If he didn’t spend time learning how hard our employees work and how the industry works, then it would be very difficult to understand the needs of hoteliers and promote tourism.”
 
Hospitality makes up a significant part of Louisiana's economy, and AAHOA Members are key players, owning 88.7% of the hotels in the Bayou State and impacting 96,062 jobs. According to Louisiana Travel Association, the leisure and hospitality industry is the fourth highest employer in the state.
President & CEO Laura Lee Blake Featured on M3 Podcast
  
AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake recently joined M3 host Casi Johnson to share valuable industry insights, how the HerOwnership initiative is championing women hoteliers, and the plans to elevate the AAHOA Convention & Trade Show next year. Below are some excerpted highlights of the discussion:
 
Casi Johnson: What can other companies or other organizations do to improve diversity within their leadership teams?
 
Laura Lee Blake: Maybe it was not seen as a field that they wanted to get into because the initial thought was, “I don't want to work at a hotel, because I'd have to either be at the front desk, or a housekeeper, or room service. And I don't want to work in those positions,” not realizing the full breadth of all the opportunities in the industry. As women start taking these positions, and start encouraging other women to consider it, the men are starting to see the true benefits of having women in some of these leadership roles and hearing these different perspectives. Initiatives like AAHOA's HerOwnership conference help expand membership beyond the Asian American community. As women, we have to continue to pursue it, speak out in favor of it, support it, and then celebrate every success along the way.
 
Casi Johnson: What can people look forward to for the Fall 2023 [HerOwnership] Women’s Conference?
 
Laura Lee Blake: We're hoping that we turn this women's conference into an opportunity, to figure out, how do I find the right location. Who do I need to talk to? How do I get financing? That's a huge issue. Should I be looking at a franchised hotel? Should I be looking at an independent or a boutique? How many partners do I need? Do I need a male partner to help me have these discussions with the banks or the lending institutions? These are a lot of the questions that first-time potential owners have, and it would really be to help them address the [questions]. Last year, for example, I also did - just me personally - a little session on the art of negotiation for women. Because as women, we tend to negotiate with a different focus sometimes. Even that type of opportunity to learn things that might even apply in other areas of your life, even if you're not just looking at becoming a hotelier, those opportunities are available.
America's Hotel Owners Gear Up for Memorial Day Weekend Travelers
  
On the cusp of Memorial Day celebrations, America’s hotel owners have an incredible opportunity to create unforgettable experiences for many travelers this summer. AAA predicts 42.3 million people will travel during this upcoming holiday weekend. There are so many reasons why the number of people traveling for Memorial Day weekend will positively impact hotel businesses owned by AAHOA Members. In fact, we can think of $275.4 billion: that’s the amount spent annually by guests staying at AAHOA hotels. Of this, only $104.7 billion is spent on lodging (38%), while the remaining amount is spent on transportation, food and beverage, and other goods and services (62%). During the holiday weekend, AAHOA Members are honored to welcome many more guests to their properties and contribute to the economic impact felt in their communities. 
 
For more information on the extent of influence from AAHOA Members, please read our Oxford Study. 
Grab Your Clubs! AAHOA Charity Golf Tournaments Are Fast Approaching
  
AAHOA's 2023 charity golf tournaments are fast approaching!
 
Since its inception, AAHOA has engaged with local communities by supporting charitable organizations that provide services ranging from education and disease research funding to humanitarian efforts. Thanks to the generosity of our vendor partners, members, and sponsors, AAHOA has been able to donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to charities that touch lives and make the world a better place.
 
Last year, AAHOA Vendor Partners and Members helped us raise more than $333,000 for local charities across the U.S.
 
AAHOA’s charity golf tournaments serve as an important component of advancing our mission through community engagement. They provide a great opportunity for vendors and members to network, enjoy the outdoors, and come together for great causes.
 
Join us once again in 2023 at some of the country’s premiere golf courses as we come together to support local charities and network in person while enjoying a beautiful day of competitive golf.
 
Check out the upcoming charity golf tournaments:
AAHOA Members Participate in Volleyball Tournament to Support San Diego Asian American Sports Club and Local Causes
  
AAHOA Members got together for a friendly volleyball competition and an opportunity to support local causes through the Asian American Sports Club of San Diego.
 
AAHOA was one of the many sponsors for the sporting event, where 37 teams participated and included hotel owners from various parts of the country as well as different age groups. 
 
“The San Diego Asian American Sports Club continues to support their local community with sporting events and hosting a competitive tournament like this past weekend,” AAHOA Member Jyoti Sarolia said. “A special shout out to the AAHOA Members who volunteered their precious resources and time to make this event successful. There was a tremendous outpouring of support from local vendors with whom many of our AAHOA Members have worked directly within San Diego County. It was wonderful to see AAHOA also partake in a local cause.”
Charter Communications Operating, LLC
AAHOA Advocacy in Action
NOW AVAILABLE: The 4 Core Pillars of Franchise Advocacy VIDEO
 

AAHOA recently released a new informational video about its 4 Pillars for Franchise Advocacy to advance AAHOA’s mission as the foremost resource and advocate for America’s hotel owners. These 4 Pillars for Franchise Advocacy represent the primary issues for which AAHOA advocates on behalf of member-hoteliers.

The 4 Core Pillars:

  1. Mandated Vendors: Brands should not mandate specific vendors when there are multiple vendors selling goods of comparable quality at comparable prices.
  2. Rebates: Brands should disclose all vendor "rebates," which can also be called "discounts," "refunds," or "allowances," and should be returned to Franchisees through appropriate accounts.
  3. Loyalty Programs: Brands should reasonably compensate Franchisees when the brand sells loyalty points for cash and then allows travelers to stay at hotels owned by Franchisees.
  4. New Fees: Brands should not unilaterally or arbitrarily impose new fees on Franchisees that were not disclosed in the official Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) without the approval of the Franchisees or a properly elected Franchise Advisory Council (FAC).

The 4 Pillars for Franchise Advocacy is the basis upon which AAHOA advocates for hoteliers in a changing franchise dynamic, through forums such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). As a current example, the 4 Pillars also serve as a guiding directive for AAHOA’s support of current legislation regarding hotel franchising in New Jersey.

“Franchisors and franchisees depend on each other for success, but neither one should be subordinate to the other,” said AAHOA Chairman Bharat Patel. “These two groups will always have different objectives and differences of opinions. But owners and brands must work together as close business partners. And it's why AAHOA will continue to work proactively for a smarter, better, and more balanced franchise relationship.”

Featured Content
AAHOA Celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
  
The month of May serves as a time to celebrate the contributions that Asian American and Pacific Islanders have made across the U.S. and all over the world. AAHOA’s nearly 20,000 members represent thousands upon thousands of stories of small business owners filled with hope, determination, and inspiration to achieve their dreams and make a difference in their communities. In a recently released video, AAHOA leadership shares what AAPI Month means to them and to so many AAHOA Members. Join AAHOA in this month-long celebration, watch the video today!
Red Roof Inn
Member Testimonial
  
"AAHOA is just a major help to any hotelier. It doesn't even have to be an Asian American, even though that's our primary audience. But even without that, AAHOA is always just always trying to meet with state representatives or House officials, no matter who it is. They're always putting the best effort and that's honestly more than a lot of people can say. So just having the backing of an organization behind you is a huge help."
 
-Aaryan Patel, AAHOACON23 Attendee
AAHOA Education
ICYMI: Is Franchising Fair? Franchisee Conversations with FTC Chair, Lina Khan
  
On Tuesday, May 2, The American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD), the Coalition of Franchise Associations (CFA), and AAHOA jointly hosted a call for webinar attendees to listen in on a discussion with the Federal Trade Commission.
 
AAHOA had the privilege of being joined by the Honorable Lina Khan, Chair at the Federal Trade Commission, and the Honorable Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, Commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission. Additionally, each of the three hosting organizations' leadership made statements and asked questions of our guests.
 
Nearly 1,000 registrants tuned in. It was an excellent opportunity for current and future franchisees to hear from FTC leadership on how they have focused attention on using the FTC’s authority to improve oversight and education within the franchise industry.
 
Stay tuned for more exciting events, virtual and live, from AAHOA Education.
dormakaba Canada Inc.
DIRECTV Hospitality
Featured Club Blue Member
LOWE'S PROSERVICES
  
AAHOA Members, get 5 percent off all your everyday purchases when you use the Lowe’s LAR business credit card. There’s no annual fee, and you can make purchases by phone, fax, or at lowesforpros.com. You’ll also be able to take advantage of exclusive cardholder promotions and receive discounted delivery on your purchases! Click here for more details, then contact Anthony Ruiz (Anthony.ruiz@lowes.com) to get started.
Hotel Equities
Karcher North America
Featured Member Benefit
STR
  
AAHOA Members get a 25% discount on the STAR report (during the 1st year of enrollment), 15% discount on Pipeline reports, and a 10% discount on the School Break Report. Click here to view additional benefits, then contact STR at (615) 824-8664, ext. 3504 or info@str.com to get started.
Featured Platinum/Silver Partner
FOCUS BRANDS®
  
Atlanta-based Focus Brands® is a leading developer of global, multi-channel food service brands. Focus Brands, through its affiliate brands, is the franchisor and operator of more than 6,300 restaurants, cafes, ice cream shoppes and bakeries in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and more than 60 foreign countries. This curated collection of iconic brands is united under one powerhouse company that’s leading the industry through product innovation, cutting-edge business practices, and an expansive media presence. Check out the website to learn more.
Visual Matrix
Alliance Laundry Systems-UniMac
Industry News
Hospitality Trends: How Are Different Generations Traveling?
In an effort to better attract, and cater to, a wider variety of guests, hoteliers must better understand the motivations and preferences of different groups of travelers.
(Source: HospitalityNet)
Hotels Roll Out the Red Carpet for Pets
With more travelers hitting the road with canine companions, many hotels are keeping with the times and offering pet-friendly amenities and offerings to attract these guests to their properties.
(Source: The New York Times)
Solving the Need for Robotics in Hospitality Facilities
Hotels of all sizes and across a variety of markets are discovering the importance of on-property automation while also realizing the simultaneously growing need for technical expertise to execute emerging tech opportunities.
(Source: Forbes)
Intellihot
Today's Hotelier

MAY ISSUE

The May 2023 issue is out now! This month, we're taking a close look at a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on AAHOA's rising stars including how AAHOA’s young leaders are finding success through talent, work ethic, and drive, the allure of independence for younger hoteliers, 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
Lodging: U.S. RevPAR +1% y/y Last Week, +5% vs. 2019
  
Truist Securities reports, “Overall U.S. RevPAR was +2.1% y/y for the week ending 5/20/2023, per STR, up from the prior week's result of +1.3%, but below the trailing 10-week average of +6.0%. Vs. 2019, RevPAR was +11.4%, up from the prior week’s result of +5.2%, and below the trailing 10-week average of +12.3%. For the y/y performance, results were negatively affected by a shift in the timing of Mother's Day, resulting in a tough comp. For the week ending 5/20/2023, Mother’s Day occurred on a Sunday at the start of the week whereas it fell a week earlier in 2022. Subsequently, RevPAR on Sunday this year was down 13.1% y/y. For the performance vs. 2019, holiday shifts were both a negative and a positive. While the comp for Sunday was difficult due to the Mother’s Day shift resulting in RevPAR down 13.9% vs. 2019 on that day, there was an easy comp vs. 2019 as Memorial Day weekend began at the end of the comparable week in 2019. Subsequently, RevPAR on Saturday was up 12.4% vs. the comparable day in 2019. Upscale RevPAR: +5.4% y/y and +8.1% vs. 2019; Midscale RevPAR: -0.4% y/y and +9.9% vs. 2019.”
For more, read the full report here and read the China/Europe report here.