Hotelier Weekly
September 19, 2024
Champion PTAC, LLC
AAHOA News
What Happened: Women hoteliers from across the nation converged at the 2024 HerOwnership Conference by AAHOA, a dynamic two-day event crafted by women for women in the hospitality industry. Centered around the empowering themes of executive presence, hotel ownership, and mental health and wellness, the conference inspired attendees to connect, lead, and thrive in an industry where their voices and leadership are more important than ever.
 
Some 300 people attended the event, which marked the third annual HerOwnership Conference for AAHOA.
 
Featured Quote: "The hospitality industry stands out because women comprise most of the workforce," said AAHOA Chairman Miraj S. Patel. "They are not only the backbone of our families but also our industry and association. Women make up about 40% of our membership today—a significant and growing presence shaping our organization's future. As we celebrate our 35th anniversary and reflect on the work and growth, we see how women members have played a crucial role in our association's development and success."
 
What Happened: AAHOA’s 2024 Fall National Advocacy Conference is officially underway. Yesterday, members from across the country came together in Washington, D.C. to prepare for a full day of meetings with legislators. After a productive afternoon of advocacy education, members felt confident to bring the key issues affecting hoteliers directly to Capitol Hill today.

Deeper Dive: Wednesday's reception was a great opportunity to connect with legislators, share ideas, and strengthen our collective voice. And today, those conversations are being taken to lawmakers to advocate for the policies that matter most to our industry. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) gave the keynote speech at the reception, sparking inspiration and enthusiasm among members.
 
Why It Matters: The event allows AAHOA to raise awareness of the most pressing matters facing hotel owners nationwide. At FNAC 2023, hoteliers had the opportunity to advance their policy priorities by meeting with more than 200 offices and 70 Members of Congress.
 
Stay tuned for more information about FNAC 2024.
 
The AAHOA Mid Atlantic Hotel Owners Conference & Trade Show was a phenomenal success! Under the leadership of Regional Director Mahendra (MZ) Patel and with the support of dedicated Ambassadors, the event welcomed over 350 attendees, gained 16 new members, and raised a record-breaking $100,000+ for PAC—a milestone worth celebrating!
 
Esteemed guest speakers included New Jersey State Senators Raj Mukherji and Vin Gopal, along with Ben Fileccia, Senior Vice President of Strategy & Engagement at the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, who all provided valuable insights.
 
A huge thank you to all who attended and contributed to the success of this amazing event.
 
Draco Hygienic Products Inc.
PayRange
AAHOA Advocacy in Action
AAHOA needs your input to support our advocacy efforts for the Loans In Our Neighborhoods (LIONS) Act (H.R. 9176), which proposes increasing Small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) loan limits from $5M to $10M. 
 
Your insights are crucial for influencing policy, especially ahead of the upcoming 2024 AAHOA Fall National Advocacy Conference. Completing a brief 3-question survey will bolster our case for enhanced financial support, benefiting our community and entrepreneurs across America.
 
Responses are confidential and pivotal in our collective advocacy efforts. When we each play a small role, we can have a great impact.
 
Take the survey here.
Featured Content
What You Need to Know
  • A lawsuit alleging excessive fees charged to business owners by Visa and Mastercard has recently been settled.
  • Businesses that accepted Visa and Mastercard credit cards from 2004 to 2019 could potentially receive a portion of a $5.54 billion settlement.
  • Act soon: Claims must be submitted by Saturday, November 30, 2024. 
Time Is Running Out - Act Now!
The claim deadline has been extended! Don't miss out on your opportunity to receive funds from a $5.54 billion settlement reached with Visa and Mastercard for merchants who used their credit card services between January 1, 2004, and January 31, 2019. 
 
National Preparedness Month: September is National Preparedness Month, observed to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. AAHOA offers disaster planning and preparedness resources, including signing up your hotel for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Lodging Assistance program. You can find them here.
 
National Food Safety Month: The U.S. government estimates that there are about 48 million cases of foodborne illness annually – that's about 1 in 6 Americans each year. Each year, these illnesses result in an estimated 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. Food Safety Month is observed in September to bring awareness of the importance of food safety. Today's Hotelier August 2023 article provides guidance on protecting your guests and hotel from foodborne illnesses. Find six tips on food safety here.
 
American Pride Bank
Charter Communications Operating, LLC
AAHOA Education
Day: Wednesday, Sept 25, 2024
Company: DPA Attorneys at Law
Panelist: Pooja Mehta, Esq.
Are you considering signing a hotel franchise agreement? Before you commit to a 10, 20, or even 30-year partnership, it's essential to understand the fine print. The terms of a franchise agreement can significantly impact the long-term success of your business.
 
Join us for an informative webinar. Managing Attorney at DPA Attorneys at Law Pooja Mehta, Esq., will guide you through the typical hotel franchise agreement, highlighting the terms you need to know. Discover the negotiable clauses, what to look out for, and strategies to ensure the agreement aligns with your interests.
 
Key Takeaways:
- The importance of reviewing and negotiating franchise agreements
- Common terms and clauses to beware of
- Tips for effective negotiation with franchisors
- Real-world examples of agreements gone right and wrong
 
Who Should Attend:
- Hotel owners and operators
- Potential franchisees
- Hospitality industry professionals
 
Take advantage of this opportunity to learn how to protect your investment and set your business up for success from the start! Demonstrate your commitment to professional development and earn an AAHOA Learning Journey certificate!
Decorative Ceiling Tiles, Inc.
Red Roof Inn
AAHOA in the News
AAHOA's third annual HerOwnership Conference, held at the Sonesta Redondo Beach & Marina Sept. 12-13 in Redondo Beach, Calif., focused on providing women in hospitality with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to succeed in hotel ownership. The event drew almost 300 attendees and provided energy, insights and inspiration from keynote speakers, masterclasses, engaging panels, and breakout sessions over two days of programming.
 
Following a uniquely California welcome—an early-morning earthquake measuring a magnitude of 4.7 just over five miles away from the hotel—AAHOA President and CEO Laura Lee Blake offered opening remarks.
Featured Club Blue Member
  
New Orleans-based Gauthier, Murphy & Houghtaling Law has had a leading role in litigation that has shaped the civil landscape in the U.S. for more than 50 years. Their attorneys have extensive experience representing clients in many areas, including business litigation, natural disaster litigation, class actions, insurance disputes, and more and have secured hundreds of billions of dollars (yes, with a "B") in verdicts and settlements for their clients. Check out their website to see how they can help with your legal needs.
DISH Business
Condair Ltd.
Featured Member Benefit
  
All Insurance Underwriters (AIU) is a National Managing General Agency giving AAHOA Members the option to retain current Insurance Agents. We also offer all Commercial General Lines of insurance, together packaged with Worker’s compensation (where applicable) extra savings can be found. Check out the website for more information on AAHOA Member benefits, and fill out a form to contact one of our dedicated team members.
Featured Platinum/Silver Partner
  
Red Roof is a leader in the economy lodging industry with franchised, corporate-managed, and corporate-owned properties, serving millions of guests each year. With coast-to-coast locations, Red Roof has over 360 properties in the U.S. The primary goal at Red Roof is to provide customers with savings without sacrificing comfort. The brand recently completed a $150 million investment to renovate and upgrade hotels nationwide with sleek and modern NextGen® redesign elements.
Naylor Association Solutions
Industry News
Despite a slower start to the month than hoped, experts are cautiously optimistic the final month of Q3 will result in a healthy quarter's worth of performance.
(Source: CoStar)
Even as RevPAR hit records highs in 2023, new data suggests parking revenues can have a greater impact on a hotel's bottom line than room-generated profit.
(Source: BISNOW)
Though many hotels are still enjoying a strong market, industry experts are warning of a potential slowdown in spending in Q4 as many Americans may be looking to save money by cutting back on travel.
(Source: CBS News)
Naylor Association Solutions
Naylor Association Solutions
Today's Hotelier

With rising insurance costs eating into profits, experts share advice

If you experienced sticker shock the last time you shopped for insurance coverage for your hotels, you’re in good company. Stubborn inflation rates, destructive weather events, and high property valuations have contributed to poor loss ratios for insurance carriers, prompting some to pull out of coastal markets, regions frequently hit by hail, and other areas seeing high claims activity.

Consequently, hoteliers have fewer insurance options, and when they can get coverage, it typically costs a bundle. Last fall, a CBRE survey of 2,565 hotels found that insurance was their fastest-growing expense, having climbed an average of 19.5% since 2022. CBRE estimated that last year, insurance costs accounted for 1.7% of the average hotel’s operating revenue, up from the long-term average of 1.2%.

Read more

In the Market
  
As Truist Securities wrote, “Overall U.S. RevPAR was -1.4% y/y for the week ending 9/14/2024, per STR, above the prior week's result of -5.2% y/y and below the trailing 10-week average of +0.5%. Last week was another overall soft week. There was y/y comp noise as Rosh Hashanah occurred Friday 9/15-Sunday 9/17 last year. We suspect negative impact from the calendar shift but tough to discern. This year the holiday starts on Wednesday, 10/2 (bigger group impact). Also the Dreamforce conference in San Francisco took place during the same week last year (Tuesday 9/12 to Thursday 9/14). San Francisco RevPAR y/y was -37.2%. The conference is taking place 9/17-9/19 this year. Upscale RevPAR: -1.1% y/y; Upper Midscale RevPAR: -2.5% y/y”.
 
For more, read the full report here.