It was a busy week last week in the Washington District Region! After FNAC, AAHOA members made the trek to Springfield, Virginia, for the 2016 Washington District Regional Meeting. HUGE thanks to all our attendees for your generous PAC donations, and congratulations to our 2016-2017 Washington District Premier Ambassador, Navnit Patel!

The 16th annual Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) will be held January 23-25 in Los Angeles! ALIS boasts an attendance rate among CEOs and chairman of over 30 percent, making it one of the lodging industry’s most prestigious and valuable networking opportunities. We hope to see you there!

In an effort to promote and protect the franchise model, Representative Rodney David (R-IL) and Representative Collin Peterson (D-MN) will serve as co-chairs of the new Congressional Franchise Caucus. This initiative was led by the International Franchise Association and its partners, including AAHOA, who aim to inform elected officials about the traditional franchise model to encourage pro-business policy solutions in Congress. 

On Tuesday, the U.S. Census Bureau released an extensive yearly report highlighting nationwide improvements with respect to: earnings, income, income inequality and poverty. 

We are just weeks away from early voting, and about two months away from the national election. Are you registered and prepared to cast your ballot? Click here for a rundown on how to vote and register in every U.S. state and territory.

Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey members, get ready for your 2016 regional meeting! AAHOA is bringing the magic to Cherry Hill, New Jersey, next Tuesday, Sept. 20. Don’t miss out on the chance to hear a live update on the Department of Labor’s new overtime rule and Obamacare, and to network with all our awesome members and vendors in the Mid Atlantic region!

The 2016 AAHOA Independent Hoteliers Conference is coming up on Oct. 26 in Atlantic City, New Jersey! Mark your calendars now, and prepare to have a blast getting to know other AAHOA independents, learn about issues specific to independent hoteliers and meet the vendors who want to make a deal with YOU. 

• First month free for AAHOA Members 
• Up to 25 percent off ADP payroll and tax compliance services
• Discounted set-up fees
• Got a question? Email us now!

Newsflash: There are just four months left of 2016!  

With Labor Day behind us, the dust has settled from your summer season and you’re just now beginning to think of the rest of the year ahead. Before you get swept up in end-of-year chaos and coming up with holiday hotel marketing campaigns, September is the opportune time to set the foundation for your success in 2017.   

Hotel industry tech experts anticipate hotel companies will invest more in mobile application capabilities and bandwidth speeds in 2017, and guests will continue to give out personal data, which could aid hoteliers. Ron Hardin, VP of technology at Davidson Hotels & Resorts, said the need for faster bandwidth speeds will grow as more and more guests start bringing multiple devices and streaming video in their rooms.

In Taken to the Cleaners: A Case Study of the Overregulation of American Small Business, former environmental policy analyst Jonathan H. Adler wrote that "The cumulative effect of regulatory efforts is to depress economic activity, retard job creation and stifle the entrepreneurial spirit." If that sentiment sounds familiar, you might be an American small-business owner. If you’re among AAHOA’s first-generation members, you might even remember that report: it was published in 1993.

The wellness movement and all it entails – exercise, nutritious foods and a healthful environment – was once considered to be a craze. It is now thought of by many as a way of life. Such a large part of our lives, not only has wellness moved into the workplace, it has followed us into hotels and on vacations so our healthy routines need never be interrupted, and perhaps even improved, when not at home.