Hotelier Weekly
June 8, 2023
Legendary Capital
AAHOA News
  
North Texas Regional Director Dhiren Masters and AAHOA Member Zan Patel hosted Congressman Jake Ellzey for a Back-of-the-House Tour at Best Western Plus Mansfield Inn & Suites in Mansfield, TX. During the tour, Congressman Ellzey got a front-row seat on how the hotel staff maintains clean rooms, provides exceptional customer service at the front desk, and ensures everything is in proper working order for guests. 
 
“It was a great idea having Congressman Ellzey, who represents my district, learn more about this hotel property and the industry as a whole,” Zan said. “We need more elected officials like Congressman Ellzey to do Back-of-the-House Tours in their districts.”
 
The tour also allowed Congressman Ellzey to hear first-hand about issues affecting hotel owners, including the SBA loan limits, franchisee-franchisor concerns, and labor issues. 
 
“I would like to thank Zan for hosting the Congressman and Past Chairman Neal Patel (2022-2023) for setting up this event,” North Texas Regional Director Dhiren Masters said.  
  
AAHOA Chairman Bharat Patel will be one of the six high-level panelists participating in the headliner panel, “International Perspectives – Tech Future Proofing: Planning for The Global Traveler.” In addition to his experience as AAHOA Chairman, Patel is also the owner of Gulf Coast Hospitality Solutions and has represented the hospitality industry extensively around the world, including India.
 
The five executive panelists taking the stage alongside Chairman Patel have also seen it all from localities that span the globe.
 
Sherry Marek, Principal/Owner of Aiken Street Consulting, and Frank Wolfe, CEO of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), will moderate this panel discussion.
 
Access to the Headliner panel sessions is open to all registered HITEC attendees.
 
Produced by HFTP®HITEC North America will take place on June 26–29 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ont. Canada.
 
HITEC is the world's largest and longest-running hospitality technology exposition and conference. It offers a unique combination of top-notch hospitality technology education, led by industry peers and experts, and an unparalleled trade show showcasing the latest hospitality technology products and services.
  
It's that time again... AAHOA is bringing you a brand-new edition of Today's Hotelier! The June 2023 issue is officially out TODAY, ready to read in print and digital.
 
This month, we're exploring a handful of topics, with a special focus on staying ahead of design trends, including budgeting for current and upcoming hotel design trends, getting back to basics, and much more.
 
Check out some of the featured content in this month's article:
  
AAHOA strongly opposes any form of discrimination, including caste. AAHOA, however, opposes California Senate Bill 403 (“SB 403”) due to a concern that it could lead to improper and unlawful racial profiling, targeting, and attacks on individuals of Asian American descent and/or who practice the tenets of Hinduism. Adding “caste” to the anti-discrimination categories outlined in Section 51 of the California Civil Code and other Education Code and Government Code sections is unnecessary, and will cause more harm than good.
 
“AAHOA was founded on the very basis of preventing discrimination and, therefore, has always strongly opposed any form of discrimination, including caste-based, as inimical to our values as Americans and as human beings,” said AAHOA Chairman Bharat Patel. “However, contrary to what it looks like on the surface, Senate Bill 403 singles out South Asians and other vulnerable ethnic communities and could lead to improper and unlawful racial profiling and stigmatization of individuals of Asian American descent.”
  
AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake and AAHOA Chairman Bharat Patel started this week at the 45th Annual NYU International Hospitality Investment Conference in New York City.
 
“Representing AAHOA at one of the nation’s premier hospitality finance and development conferences was a great honor,” Patel said.
 
Each presentation helped provide a greater understanding of the evolving investment landscape, changing consumer base, and how the competition is pressing hospitality executives to differentiate their brands from other companies.
 
Furthermore, on Monday, June 5, Laura Lee joined Andy Ingraham, President, Founder, and CEO of the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers (NABHOOD), Chip Rogers, President & CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), and Geoff Freeman, President & CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, for a panel discussion on critical national policy issues. With AAHOA owning more than half of the hotels in the nation, it was important for the association to attend and participate in these crucial conversations.
 
“Excited to join the nation’s top lodging industry association leaders and lobbyists at the New York University Conference to discuss mission-critical national policy issues,” Blake said on LinkedIn.
 
Charter Communications Operating, LLC
AAHOA Advocacy in Action
The U.S. Small Business Administration acknowledges the important role that AAHOA’s members serve in helping to make SBA’s 7(a) loan program a success.
 
SBA has very recently implemented a number of changes to the 7(a) loan program, some of which took effect on May 11-12, and some that will take effect on August 1, 2023. There is a great demand for training on the new changes. To that end, SBA has posted a new Training on Demand page, hosting single-topic recorded trainings on the new rules and procedures. The Training on Demand page offers free public access to training led by SBA subject matter experts, available around the clock. Access it here.
 
AAHOA Members have long been advocating for an increase of the current maximum 7(a) loan amount. Most recently, AAHOA Treasurer Kamalesh (KP) Patel spoke with Congressional staff on Capitol Hill about the need to increase the limit on the Small Business Administration’s 7(a) loan program from its current cap of $5 million. This maximum amount is set by statute in the Small Business Act. It will require Congressional action to change that cap, or to change the cap on the maximum outstanding guaranteed loan amount to any one borrower and its affiliates, which is set at $3.75 million.
 
The AAHOA Advocacy team will continue to update our members on any new information we receive regarding changes to the SBA 7(a) loan program.
The New Jersey General Assembly recently passed Assembly Bill No. 1958, paving the way for new legislation concerning hospitality franchising agreements and moving the bill along to the state's Senate.
 
The article, "Hotel franchising bill draws mixed responses after passing in the New Jersey General Assembly," includes extensive comments from AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake supporting AB 1958.
 
Check out some of Blake's comments:
"It is not impacting the customer or their loyalty programs. It's not impacting brand standards. It's really just trying to add some fairness back in, especially with some of the things that have developed since COVID-19."
"So if [the companies] have to reasonably reimburse their hotel owners, maybe they can't profit that entire amount[...], but I can't imagine it would ruin the [loyalty] programs."
 
Blake also noted that "franchisees have seen an uptick in surprise fees since the pandemic, something the bill is intended to push back against by requiring more disclosure of fees from franchisors."
 
Blake added, "The bill has been amended since its first introduction to take out anything that would impact brand standards or the guest experience."
 
Read the full article here and here.
Featured Content
Earlier this week, AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake was featured on the Modern Hotelier podcast, hosted by Steve Carran and David Millili.
 
The podcast episode, titled "Always Striving for Bigger & Better at AAHOA," provided Blake the opportunity to share her insights on how the hospitality industry can utilize technology to fill the space caused by the labor shortage that continues to plague hoteliers.
 
"How can robotics make a difference? Maybe using robots to deliver room service, or using robots to vacuum the floors," Blake said.
 
To listen to the full episode and view other episodes by The Modern Hotelier, click here.
 
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
  
Contrary to popular belief, your Social Security benefits are not set in stone. By focusing on key factors such as your health, assets, and post-retirement income requirements, you may be able to get even more out of your benefits than expected. Join us to learn expert filing tips for individuals and couples, get tips on how to minimize taxes on your benefits, and find out how to optimize your Social Security income.
 
Presenter: Richard Moravek, CLU, Financial Representative at MassMutual South Florida
dormakaba Canada Inc.
DIRECTV Hospitality
Featured Club Blue Member
  
AAHOA Members get up to 25 percent off ADP payroll and tax compliance services. Companies with fewer than 50 employees get the first month free and no set-up fees! ADP serves 585,000 clients from the smallest, to the largest businesses worldwide. Our services can help you manage your risk of tax penalties, improve your cash flow, and take advantage of available tax credits. Contact Thomas Bell (thomas.bell@adp.com) or call 973-712-3290 today to obtain a free, no-obligation quote!
Hotel Equities
Karcher North America
Featured Member Benefit
  
Group whole life insurance issued by MassMutual offer for AAHOA Members with special underwriting! Elect up to $250,000 with only a few health questions to determine insurability; no medical exam required! (Must be enrolled through BeneChoice.) Also available to AAHOA Members through BeneChoice – additional benefits for your employees that are made available at no direct cost to you/the owner! To Schedule an appointment to review your life insurance options, please visit www.calendly.com/aahoa.
Featured Platinum/Silver Partner
  
From the beginning, every Amana® brand product has been made with the same core philosophy: to provide our customers with high-quality products that are reliable, meet their needs, and last longer than the rest. And we keep that philosophy firmly in mind as we build our industry-leading Amana brand Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners (PTACs) and other heating and cooling products. Amana brand PTACs are designed to simplify your business with plain-and-simple product durability and advanced energy management features, while helping you to create the best environmental experience possible for your customer. For more information, check out the website.
Visual Matrix
Alliance Laundry Systems-UniMac
Industry News
In an effort to address workforce shortages, shoring up the U.S. travel infrastructure, and help speed the full return of international travel, industry leaders are intensifying their quest for industry-friendly legislation.
(Source: LODGING)
Despite a lower-than-hoped-for occupancy projection, industry predictions for the remainder of 2023 and early 2024 with regards to rates and profit are on the rise.
(Source: Hotel Management)
According to recent market research, hoteliers can expect continued surge in bookings throughout the coming months, as the post-pandemic rebound extends into the summer.
(Source: RE Journals)
Intellihot
Today's Hotelier

JUNE ISSUE

The June 2023 issue of Today's Hotelier magazine is out now! This month, we're exploring a handful of topics, with a special focus on staying ahead of design trends, including budgeting for current and upcoming hotel design trends, getting back to basics, 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
  
Truist Securities reports, “Overall U.S. RevPAR was -1.0% y/y for the week ending 6/3/2023, per STR, below the prior week's result of +2.9%, and below the trailing 10-week average of +3.9%. Vs. 2019, RevPAR was -3.5%, below the prior week’s result of +30.0%, and below the trailing 10-week average of +11.6%. Last week reflected Memorial Day for the 2022/2023 comparison weeks (clean comp and weak group travel as expected). Group has been the largest driver of RevPAR strength this year; a holiday-impacted soft group week did not help the y/y performance. The 2019 comp incorporated this year’s Memorial Day calendar shift whereas the comparable week in 2019 did not contain the holiday. Upscale RevPAR: +0.1% y/y and -11.4% vs. 2019; Upper Midscale RevPAR: -0.9% y/y and -2.3% vs. 2019.”
For more, read the full report here and read the China/Europe report here.