Hundreds of hotel industry professionals from around the country made their way into Nashville for the 2017 Hotel Data Conference last week. AAHOA Chairman Bhavesh Patel and Vice Chairman Hitesh (HP) Patel participated in two-panel discussion sessions during the event, where they provided expert insight on the cost of loyalty programs and the future of revenue management (respectively). The Hotel Data Conference is designed to give industry professionals an opportunity to listen and learn from 100+ hospitality execs on ways to analyze and use data to improve hotel performance. This year, Frits van Paasschen, former CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, (pictured with Chairman Patel) was among those speakers. The next HDC will be held Aug. 15-17, 2018, at the Omni Nashville Hotel.

Join us for one of these upcoming town hall meetings for AAHOA updates, a short education session and industry info that every hotelier needs to know.

• Aug. 22 – Gulf Town Hall – Jonesboro, Ark. 

• Aug. 24 – South Pacific Town Hall - Palm Desert, Calif.

Looking to get a better understanding of how to report revenue and expenses? Join us for the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI) Part 2. Attendees will get a more in-depth review of USALI revenue and expense categories, guidance on the implementation of the USALI and answers to frequently asked questions.

When you turn on the TV, you usually see headlines about the current Administration and Congress. However, in our current political climate, it has never been more important to engage with state and local lawmakers to ensure they understand the issues impacting your business. This how-to webinar will teach you the basics to build relationships with your local lawmakers and become a leader in your community.

Extended stay hotels are one of the industry’s hottest segments. Learn how this segment began, who the average guest is and what they expect. Even if you are not an extended stay property, this webinar will give you insight into what these guests require and provide ideas that you can do to bring them through your front door. 

The data is provided courtesy of SunTrust Robinson Humphrey (STRH), a leading, full-service corporate and investment bank dedicated to helping its customers successfully manage and grow their companies through a comprehensive range of strategic advisory, capital raising, risk management, financing and investment solutions.

• $7 flat online booking for AAHOA member hotels

• Pay according to your budget

• Control your offer and how long offer will be valid

While the venerable swimming pool remains a staple amenity in countless hotels worldwide, a growing number of hoteliers are now rethinking their properties’ aquatic offerings in response to expensive regulatory measures and lofty equipment costs. Hotel pools are also being abandoned to put that premium space to a better use that yields greater returns.

Most major hotel company CEOs say their direct booking pushes are working, but they’re candid about also maintaining ties with major online travel agencies like Expedia and Booking.com. Hilton CEO Christopher Nassetta, when asked about the looming threat of Airbnb and short-term rentals recently, said he actually thinks Airbnb appears to be becoming more like an online travel agency (OTA) and that’s actually a "good thing" for hotels because it forces the other companies like Expedia and Booking.com to be more competitive.

Traditional room service is becoming a service fewer travelers are demanding. Instead, they are looking to be able to order food the way they do at home. And hotels are responding by forming partnerships with food-delivery services such as Peapod and Grubhub.

Word of mouth is a great way to secure business that can turn into loyalty. But today, word of mouth is amplified by strangers sharing information online. The good, bad and the in-between merge to form a property’s reputation – and hoteliers need to know how to protect that reputation if it’s great or fix it if it’s not so great. By protecting the hotel’s reputation, hoteliers can protect their profits.