The NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference will welcome AAHOA President & CEO Chip Rogers next Monday, May 5, as a main-stage panelist for a session titled, "Industry Association Update." This session will cover the views of industry leaders on what is happening in Washington, D.C., and globally that will influence the hospitality industry in the months and years to come.

The 2017 Southwest Regional is going on now at the Isleta Resort & Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Join Southwest Regional Director Imesh Vaidya and the Southwest ambassadors this afternoon for a busy trade show, an exciting education session hosted by HR consultant Jill Avey, and plenty of networking opportunities during dinner and the business meeting. 

Join us next Wednesday, June 7, at the Marquee Events in Hartford, Connecticut, for a day of education, networking, and important industry and regional updates! Don’t miss our in-depth education session: "2017 Regional Industry Update." Hosted by STR, Marcus & Millichap, and HVS/U.S. Hotel Appraisals, this session will help you to gain stronger understanding of your local markets to better strategize business decisions.

On Tuesday, the Illinois State House passed a bill to raise the state hourly wage to $15 by 2022, up from the current $8.25. The bill will now move to the Senate, although it will likely be vetoed by Governor Bruce Rauner if it passes. Click here to learn about the effects of extreme wage increases on small business owners across the country.

ADA "drive-by" lawsuits show no signs of stopping. From January 1 through April 30, 2017, 2,629 lawsuits were filed — 412 (18 percent) more than during the same period in 2016. Click here for a detailed analysis by Seyfarth Shaw, LLP, and click here to learn about the issue on AAHOA’s website.

Join us for the 2017 Young Professionals Conference, to be held in Toronto in conjunction with HITEC, for two days of interactive activities, keynote speakers and professional development. Programming is designed for up-and-coming hoteliers interested in developing strategies for success through business leadership. AAHOA members who register and attend the Young Professionals Conference will also receive complimentary access to HITEC.

AAHOA South Pacific Regional Director Timesh (Timmy) Patel is working hard to keep you — AAHOA members — in the loop! Join us for one of these three upcoming town hall meetings for AAHOA updates, a short education session and industry info that every hotelier needs to know.

● June 6: Newport Beach, California

● June 7: Studio City, California

● June 12: Monrovia, California

Hosted by the Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA), the Boutique Hotel Investment Conference highlights noteworthy players in the boutique and lifestyle sector who will share their insights as panelists and keynote speakers. Connect with like-minded individuals, creating a network for information and support at the conference, held at The Times Center in New York.

The time of a loss is not the time to verify if your property insurance will meet your needs. Learn more about the importance of property insurance, available coverage, and how you may be paying too much for inadequate coverage.

Every hotel faces fluctuations in revenue based on seasonality. With creative marketing and revenue management strategy, you can help your hotel grow market share and improve revenue performance during low periods of demand. Join us to learn five strategies which will help you add value.

AirBnB and other homestay services are directly impacting the hospitality industry. Similar to any other property on your comp list, hoteliers will need to strategize ways to maximize revenue. Join us to hear an AirBnB forecast, learn how AirBnB may be impacting your RevPAR, and some strategies on how to coexist without sacrificing your ADR.

There are a large number of wage and hour laws applicable to business owners, and with the Department of Labor increasing its investigation and enforcement efforts, staying in compliance is critical to avoiding liability, including financial penalties and possible litigation. Gain a better understanding of the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division’s role and authority, and what business owners can do to stay in compliance and out of trouble. 

● State-of-the-art classic RFID locks in satin chrome

● Visionline software, with laptop, encoder and check-in stations

● 500 RFID ultralight guest keycards and 10 staff cards 

Contact ASSA ABLOY today!

As executive director of Destination DC, which markets the capital to travelers, Elliott Ferguson knows a thing or two about hotels. When he travels, one of the first things he looks for is a good fitness center. "Before I physically go up to my room, I stop by... to assess what they have and figure out what I can do," Ferguson said. "Some hotels offer yoga and cycling and/or at least access to some of the various companies that do that here in Washington, D.C. That really makes a big difference when people are looking at where they’re going to stay."     PHOTO: HILTON. 

"Tourist" has become a dirty word in the hospitality business. The preferred word? Local. Travelers can now sign up through hotels and tour operators for experiences arranged by locals. The latest to join the trend are Marriott International, which recently took a stake in PlacePass, the tour- and activity-booking start-up, and Royal Caribbean Cruises, which just introduced GoBe, a seller — online and through an app — of land-based tours and activities.

Hospitality marketing is like selling chocolate in a busy shopping mall: Every customer has different tastes. Too many hotel marketers get caught up in the latest trends or buzz words like "big data" or "content marketing." This often causes hoteliers to overthink their marketing budget and engage in complex strategies while they still have an automated attendant answering their phone or a call center in Canada pretending to be the front desk. It's time to get back to the basics and focus on what’s important – your guests.

When the Tru by Hilton brand first launched it was touted as a revolutionary new midscale brand and a disruptor in its space. As Tru continues to grow, global head of the brand Alexandra Jaritz, says those claims are proving true. When the brand launched in January 2016 it debuted with 102 signed deals in the United States. Most recently, the brand celebrated the grand opening on May 25 for the first Tru hotel, the Tru by Hilton Oklahoma City Airport, owned by AAHOA member Champ Patel. Another 10 to 15 Tru-branded hotels will also open this year in the U.S.

The digital age has been transforming to the hospitality industry, as it impacts guest interaction at almost every step, and has given rise to the central role the IT department plays in guest-facing and back-of-the-house operations. Today, an effective CIO does not solely act as an engineer, but also needs to establish inter-departmental partnerships to ensure the success of technology projects that touch every corner of the hospitality environment. 

With more than 19 years of hospitality industry experience, John Edwards has led multi-functional and cross-departmental projects, beginning with forming an information systems group tasked with fully supporting the relationship between the technology group and each operating department leader. He joined RLHC in October 2015 as senior vice president and chief information officer.