Hotelier Weekly
August 1, 2024
Champion PTAC, LLC
AAHOA News
AAHOA Action Alert: Support The Tax Relief for American Workers Act of 2024
We need your immediate support to advance critical legislation that will significantly benefit our industry and workforce. H.R. 7024, the "Tax Relief for American Workers Act of 2024," has successfully passed in the House and is now awaiting action in the Senate. This bill provides essential tax relief and support for American workers and businesses, which will help our industry recover and thrive. Now, it's up to us to ensure it becomes law.
 
Why it Matters:
  • Increased Deduction for Business Expenses: Increases the allowable deductions for business expenses related to property improvements, renovations, and energy-efficient upgrades. This means hoteliers can invest in their properties with less financial burden.
  • Payroll Tax Deferral: Extends the deferral period for payroll taxes, providing immediate cash flow relief for hotel owners, allowing them to reinvest in their businesses and workforce.
  • Targeted Relief for Small and Medium-Sized Hotels: Provides specific tax incentives for small and medium-sized hotels, helping them to remain competitive and thrive in a challenging economic environment.
 
AAHOA Raises a Record-Breaking $75k for PAC at the Mid South Hotel Owners Conference & Trade Show
What Happened: Congratulations to Mid South Regional Director Ajay Patel and AAHOA Secretary Pinal Patel, along with the Mid South Region Ambassadors, for making the Hotel Owners Conference & Trade Show a tremendous success.
 
Why It Matters: With around 650 attendees, this event was truly one for the books, with a record-breaking $75,000 raised for the AAHOA PAC.
 
Deeper Dive: Attendees heard from incredible speakers like:
  • Freddie O'Connell of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County
  • Sarah Beth Urban, President & CEO of the Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association
  • John DeBerry, Senior Advisor to Governor Bill Lee
  • Roshan Patel, President of the Gujarat Cultural Association of Nashville
Happening today: The 2024 AAHOA Arkansas Hotel Owners Conference and Trade Show, in Little Rock, AR! Be sure to check out other upcoming AAHOA HOCs, and stay updated on future events.
 
 
WATCH NOW: The HerOwnership 2024 Promo Video
What Happened: Are you ready? The 2024 HerOwnership Conference Promo Video is now available on YouTube! Get a sneak peek into why attendees return year after year and discover what awaits new attendees at this transformative event.
 
Why It Matters: Join us in Redondo Beach, CA, on Semptember 12-13, for an experience dedicated to empowering women in hospitality, focusing on mental health & wellness, executive leadership, and hotel ownership.
 
See you in Redondo Beach!
 
 
AAHOA Applauds NYC's Council Decision to Postpone Safe Hotels Act Hearing
What Happened: AAHOA welcomeed New York City Councilwoman Julie Menin's recent announcement to postpone the hearing on the Safe Hotels Act, a decision that follows last week's announcement of the bill's concerning rapid introduction and development. If enacted, it would prohibit hotels from operating without an additional license, including preventing the use of subcontractors for core functions such as housekeeping, front desk, and security.
 
Deeper Dive: Councilwoman Menin stated via X on Sunday afternoon, following conversations with the Hotel Association of New York City and the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, that she has decided to reschedule the upcoming hearing, which was scheduled for Tuesday, July 30, to "allow for more time for feedback prior to taking the next step in the legislative committee process."
 
AAHOA recognizes this as a positive step toward ensuring the voices of hotel owners and industry stakeholders are heard in the legislative process.
 
OUT TODAY: The August 2024 Issue of Today's Hotelier!
What Happened: The August issue of Today's Hotelier is out now, featuring an exclusive cover story with Zack Gharib, President of Red Roof Inn! As an AAHOA Platinum Vendor Partner, Zack shares his insights on the future of the company and the hospitality industry. 
 
Why It Matters: AAHOA values its longstanding partnership with Red Roof and is excited to collaborate with Zack in his new role to drive positive change in the hospitality industry.
 
Earn Your HTAT Certificate at the Georgia Hotel Owners Conference!
Background: AAHOA has long been at the forefront of the hospitality industry’s battle against human trafficking. As hoteliers, you’re in a prime position to lead the fight against sex and labor trafficking, helping to eradicate human trafficking from your communities.
 
What's Next: Join us for our HTAT Session, at the Georgia Hotel Owners Conference & Trade Show, from 2-3 p.m. on Tuesday, August 13 at the Georgia International Convention Center, where members can meet and discuss with local law enforcement and fellow hoteliers how this important issue affects your local communities, and how AAHOA Members can earn their certificate with Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST) Inhospitable to Human Trafficking Training, Sponsored by AAHOA.
 
Amerifab International, Inc.
AAHOA Advocacy in Action
Join the Waitlist for the 2024 AAHOA Fall National Advocacy Conference
The 2024 AAHOA Fall National Advocacy Conference is officialy next month, Sept. 18-19, 2024. If you are interested in attending this event, please join our waitlist by filling out this form. AAHOA Members will be admitted to this event on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
Why it Matters: Attending FNAC allows AAHOA Members to directly engage with Members of Congress, influencing policy decisions and protecting industry interests while networking with peers and strengthening AAHOA's advocacy efforts. This opportunity amplifies our collective voice, ensuring the hospitality industry's needs are addressed and fostering a favorable business environment.
 
Bottom Line: You have until Friday, Aug. 23, to join the waitlist, so don't delay!
New York City: Share Your Voice!
NYC has introduced an ordinance threatening the hotel industry. AAHOA, AHLA, and our partners are actively working to combat this legislation.
  • Read more about our stance here.
  • Please send your letter to the City Council. Click here to take action.
  • Complete the engagement survey at this link.
Thank you for your support in fighting harmful legislation that would prohibit hotels from operating without an additional license.
Advocacy Alert: Support the Hotel Industry!
What Happened: Earlier this year, Congressman Shri Thanedar (MI-13) introduced H.R. 7242, the Loans in Our Neighborhoods (LIONS) Act. This piece of legislation would increase the maximum loan amount for the Small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) program from $5 million to $10 million. AAHOA knows how important this increase would be for our industry, and we need your help to let Congress know.
 
Act Now: Write to your Member of Congress to garner support for this legislation and ask them to cosponsor H.R. 7242.Your voice can help move this legislation forward.
Featured Content
AAHOA Announces New Educational Offerings
Through new partnerships with CoStar and AHLEI, AAHOA now offers its members exclusive discounts to access a suite of educational offerings for members and your staff. 
 
Deeper Dive:
 
HerOwnership
Access Now: The 2024 HerOwnership Conference Agenda Preview!
AAHOA is thrilled to share the agenda preview for the 2024 HerOwnership Conference! Taking place in Redondo Beach, CA, at the stunning Sonesta Redondo Beach & Marina on September 12-13, this transformative event is dedicated to empowering women in hospitality.
  • Background: Focusing on mental health & wellness, executive leadership, and hotel ownership, the third annual HerOwnership Conference by AAHOA will focus on helping you elevate your career, determine your next steps, and inspire your journey.
  • Deeper Dive: Some of the agenda preview highlights include:
    • Two pre-conference masterclasses
    • Three diverse breakout sessions
    • Inspiring, dynamic speakers, including Bobbie Singh-Allen, Mayor of Elk Grove, CA, and Executive and COO of California Lodging Industry Association
    • La Dolce Vita Reception, Powered by Sonesta
  • What's Next: Stay tuned for further updates and speaker announcements! We'll see you in Redondo Beach in September!
 
American Pride Bank
Charter Communications Operating, LLC
AAHOA Education
On-Demand Featured Webinar: Is Music In Your Hotel Putting You at Legal Risk?
Studies show music enhances your business by making customers happier. But it’s important to know that under federal copyright law, when copyrighted music is performed in any establishment, permission must be granted from the copyright owner. In most cases, that permission comes in the form of a music license. In this webinar, you will hear from Daniel Spears from BMI, who will help you navigate the complex world of music licensing. BMI represents more than 1.3 million songwriters, composers, and publishers with over 20.6 million musical works.
Red Roof Inn
Featured Club Blue Member
ADP
  
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!
DISH Business
Naylor Association Solutions
Featured Member Benefit
HCAREERS
  
HCareers is a real-time, tech-first solution for both employers and professionals in North America's hospitality industry and has placed more than one million professionals in progressive roles within the industry since 2001. They feature more than 25,000 job listings daily and support more than 4,000 registered employers. Hcareers has revolutionized job matching. Use our score to find the BEST opportunities based on YOUR personal profile. Check out the website and get started today!
Featured Platinum/Silver Partner
BEST WESTERN HOTELS & RESORTS
  
BWH Hotels is a leading global hospitality enterprise comprised of three hotel companies including WorldHotels™, Best Western® Hotels & Resorts and SureStay Hotels®. The global enterprise boasts approximately 4,300 hotels in over 100 countries and territories worldwide. With 19 unique brands across every chain scale segment, from economy to luxury, BWH Hotels suits the needs of developers and guests in every market as each brand offers its own personality and style.
Naylor Association Solutions
PayRange
Industry News
The Urgency of Implementing AI Solutions
More than a mere trend, AI is here to stay, and savvy hoteliers are discovering the myriad ways artificial intellgence can boost profits, shave turnaround time, and increase efficiencies, resulting in a greatly improved bottom line.
(Source: Hotels Magazine)
Travelers Lack Trust in Hotel Recycling, Survey Finds
With a reported 88% of travelers considering sustainability when seeking short-term lodging, it's critical to ensure a peroperty's recycling efforts are clearly outlined to capture as many of those bookings as possible.
(Source: HospitalityNet)
Wyndham CEO Confident Select-Service Hotel Revenue Will 'Bounce Back'
Despite a slowdown in the select-service corner of the market, hoteliers in that space should look forward to improvements in the near-term future, according to observations from Wyndham Hotels President & CEO Geoff Ballotti.
(Source: CoStar)
Naylor Association Solutions
Naylor Association Solutions
Today's Hotelier

Red Roof President Zack Gharib on his hospitality journey and the future of the company

Growing up in Lebanon, the land of his birth, Zack Gharib took a memorable vacation to Greece, where he stayed in a hotel for the first time.

It was love at first sight. "I was fascinated by the whole package – the physical structure, the beautiful setting, the great service, the friendly people who made the whole experience," he recalled. The episode left an everlasting mark on Gharib’s personal development and career path, as he came to the U.S. as an immigrant a few years later and worked his way up through the hotel industry.

Little could Gharib have dreamed that he would eventually end up living in Columbus, OH, thousands of miles away from his childhood home, as the president of Red Roof, an iconic American hotel chain with more than 700 hotels – the role he took on in May of this year.

Read more
In the Market
U.S. RevPAR +0.9% y/y; Results Reflective of Lackluster Summer Leisure Trends
  
As Truist Securities wrote, “Overall U.S. RevPAR was +0.9% y/y for the week ending 7/27/2024, per STR, below the prior week's result of +3.4% y/y and slightly below the trailing 10-week average of +1.0%. While Group results were relatively strong (RevPAR +13.7% y/y), there is lower corporate group travel during the summer months and so group strength is countered by the continuation of weaker domestic leisure. Post-hurricane temporary relocation demand in the large Houston metro continues to act as a tailwind to national results (Houston RevPAR +26.4% y/y). Upscale RevPAR: +0.9% y/y; Upper Midscale RevPAR: +0.4% y/y”.
 
For more, read the full report here, and read the China/Europe report here.