Following the conclusion of its most successful and best-attended convention in history, AAHOA is pleased to announce the certification of 50 hotelier-members. The 2017 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show, held April 11-14 in San Antonio, was the first in AAHOA’s history to offer the coveted designation.

In a 2017 AAHOA Convention education session, "Don’t Give Danger a Key Card to Your Property," Businesses Ending Slavery & Trafficking (BEST) Founder Dr. Mar Brettmann offered tips on enhancing hotel safety and described the risks associated with hosting illegal activity. Dr. Brettmann is pictured here second from left.

AAHOA Founding Member Milestone Internet Marketing has put together a short, handy guide for hoteliers to keep their virtual property (i.e., website) in compliance with ADA standards. Don’t underestimate the need to protect your digital presence!

AAHOA 2017-2018 Chairman Bhavesh Patel is on the cover of this month’s issue of Today’s Hotelier, in which he discusses his plans for the upcoming year and talks about the challenges and opportunities that modern hotel owners face.

Last Wednesday, the administration released a broad proposal indicating what they hope to accomplish with tax reform. In a recently published article, AAHOA Director of Government Affairs Communication Brandon VerVelde analyzes the proposal and highlights areas of interest for hoteliers in 2017.

For our shared efforts in 2016, AAHOA recently won a Goldie Award for "Best Email Action Alert Campaign." The Goldie Awards recognize excellence and innovation across the spectrum of political campaigns, issue advocacy and grassroots organizing. The annual award program is judged by political and organizing professionals. This accomplishment is emblematic of the advocacy efforts of AAHOA’s growing membership and exemplary leadership. 

Attending AAHOA and AH&LA’s Legislative Action Summit on May 17-18 in Washington, D.C.? Be sure to register for the LAS Prep Webinar to learn about the top issues impacting hoteliers in 2017. The webinar will be held on Thursday, May 11, at 3 p.m. Click here to register today! Also, if you haven’t already registered for LAS, be sure to click here and register ASAP. The room block is now completely full, but we encourage members to register and find a nearby hotel in the downtown D.C. area. 

Today’s Hotelier, the official publication of AAHOA, featured critical stories impacting the hospitality industry in its May issue. Namely, AAHOA’s President and CEO Chip Rogers discusses ADA drive-by lawsuits and their impact on small businesses across the country. In addition, AAHOA’s Government Affairs Manager Brian Kaissi analyzes and reports the fight for tourism funding in Florida. 

In partnership with the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, AAHOA presents the 29th Annual Legislative Day on May 9 – an event to connect you with your state lawmakers. The Legislative Day is an opportunity to visit and become familiar or friendlier with the lawmakers and their staff who affect how lodging and tourism operators do business in Pennsylvania. Your legislators want to hear from you, and this event is the perfect way to make your voice heard.

You’re invited to join the AAHOA officers and Choice executives for the latest AAHOA updates and to learn more about AAHOA’s partnership with Choice Hotels. The meeting will be held on Thursday, May 11, from 4:30–5:30 p.m. at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.

The window of opportunity is closing fast! Women of AAHOA, don’t miss this chance to network with Hilton leadership and learn more about one of the most respected names in hospitality. You can’t afford not to take advantage of this fantastic day of professional development, so click here now to register!

Join AAHOA North Carolina Regional Director Rashmikant (Haji) Patel, CHO, and the North Carolina regional ambassadors on Tuesday, May 9, featuring special guest speaker U.S. Representative Ted Budd (R-NC), for this important town hall meeting.

Procurement costs are an integral part of the profitability and performance of a hotel business. Renovations and smaller projects require the same attention to detail as new construction projects. Learn from a hotel industry procurement expert on how third-party purchasing can reduce overall time spent and expenses. 

In the face of a sudden disaster, are you or your hotel staff prepared to respond? Join crisis-management experts to understand the importance of preparedness and clear communication during a disruptive and unexpected event. Learn how to establish and implement a strategy in order to minimize any damage that can affect the company’s reputation and bottom line for years to come.

Millennials are collectively the youngest and largest generation in the workforce today, according to the 2016 Joint Economic Report. There are a few things you should know about the generation that will represent nearly 75 percent of the workforce by 2030. Learn from a millennial CEO about best practices to capitalize on what this generation of employees has to offer. 

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When it comes to customer satisfaction, it’s clear that American consumers have different sets of expectations for airlines, hotels, and online travel services. That’s the message delivered by the results of the annual American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) report, which is based on interviews with thousands of U.S. consumers over a 12-month period ending in March 2017.

President Donald Trump is proving he's good for business. At least in the lodging sector. Hilton reported its first-quarter numbers this week, the first since it successfully completed the spin-offs of Park Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Grand Vacations, citing global RevPAR growth of 3 percent, net income of $75 million, a pipeline of 325,000 rooms and net unit growth of 7,800 rooms in the quarter – 20 percent more than at the same time last year. 

Trends in group meetings are ever-changing and improving based upon guest needs, which means hotels have to be ready and willing to change to be competitive in that space. Scott McClinton, GM at the Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles in Chantilly, Virginia, said when he joined the hotel four years ago, he had specific ideas on how to adapt to modern and tech-facing trends in group meetings.

Leaders of the hotel industry have a lot on their plates from juggling the day to day, to worrying about larger issues at hand that will affect current and future business in an industry that supports millions of jobs. Even so, many top leaders recognize that for a versatile industry such as hospitality, challenges can become opportunities and risks can pay off in big ways. Six of the industry’s top leaders spoke with Today’s Hotelier about those challenges and opportunities.

One of the greatest challenges that you face as an owner or asset manager is stepping back from the day-to-day and delegating unencumbered operating responsibility to your on-property team. Not doing so can have disastrous effects.

If you want to succeed with today’s modern traveler and hotel guests – including the oversized millennial generation – as well as their elders, you should be benchmarking and learning from Virgin Hotels.