Regional Director Kapil Patel and the Regional Ambassadors hosted the Georgia Regional Conference & Trade Show Tuesday in Atlanta. Attendees packed the Human Trafficking Awareness Training session, more than tripling the number of members in Georgia now certified. During the business meeting, Chris Hardman from the Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association reiterated the message and urged members to train themselves and their staffs. Chairwoman Jagruti Panwala, Treasurer Vinay Patel, and Interim President & CEO Rachel Humphrey gave the AAHOA update, while the trade show gave attendees the chance to check out the latest innovations in products and services from our valued vendor partners.

Regional Director Akshat Patel and his Ambassadors hosted the North Carolina Regional Conference & Trade Show in Raleigh on August 1. Read more about the regional in last week's issue. During the event, 10 lucky winners won passes to enjoy the final day of the Wyndham Championship golf tournament as guests in the Wyndham luxury hospitality suite located at the 18th hole of the Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro. AAHOA thanks Wyndham Hotels & Resorts for its ongoing support. 

Vice Chairman Biran Patel, Treasurer Vinay Patel, and Young Professional Director Eastern Division Purvi Panwala will be featured guests at the Hotel Data Conference in Nashville, TN, on August 14-16. Biran will participate on the panel "Help wanted! Dealing with today and tomorrow’s labor issues," Vinay will be on the "Downturn preparation: Staying ahead of the curve" panel, and Purvi will speak on the “Independent but not unbranded” panel. The Hotel Data Conference provides STR data presentations, including pipeline and top markets, and general session presentations, including an industry outlook, and tips and trends on everything from revenue management to digital marketing. The event is sold out, but you can join the wait list by clicking here.

On Tuesday, AAHOA launched MyAAHOA.com, a brand-new platform that will allow you to access all your important data – membership, events, advocacy efforts, education, company and personal profile, and more – in one place 24/7/365. You can confirm, renew, or update your membership; confidentially update your property info to help AAHOA more effectively advocate on your behalf; keep track of your events and registrations; participate in member-exclusive education and personal development; you name it! Check out our infographic “Top 6 Ways to Maximize MyAAHOA” to learn more about how you can make the most of your MyAAHOA.com experience today!

We want to serve you better and learn more about your preferences. Help us by taking just a few minutes to answer a series of questions in our lifestyle survey. The insights we will gain from this survey will help us better understand you, our audience, and keep our advertisements and sponsorships relevant and timely. The survey should take only about five minutes to complete, is 100-percent confidential, and could make you a winner! If you elect to provide your contact information at the end of the survey, you will be entered into a drawing to win one of three $100 Visa gift cards. The survey ends Friday at noon. Don't wait; take the survey today!

What have you missed? Regional Director Kapil Patel and the Regional Ambassadors held the Georgia Regional Conference & Trade Show in Atlanta, Regional Director Sawan H. Patel and Female Director Western Division Nimisha Patel hosted a Women Hoteliers Town Hall in Houston, we conducted three Human Trafficking Awareness Training sessions during Gulf Region Town Halls in Monroe, Lafayette, and Baton Rouge, LA, we enjoyed the hospitality of Club Blue Member and longtime partner Ecolab at their headquarters in Minneapolis, we honored our Club Blue, Platinum, and Silver partners during Vendor Appreciation Day at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta; and more! Visit the AAHOA Facebook page to catch up!

Join us for the Regional Conference & Trade Show closest to you for access to top vendors, incredible networking opportunities, and region-specific industry updates you won't see anywhere else. These events are open to all hotel owners, even if you're not yet a member. Plus, Lifetime Members receive a free golf shirt for attending.

 

 

August 22 - Upper Midwest - Elmhurst Regional Conference & Trade Show - Elmhurst, IL 

 

Town Halls are a great opportunity to build your professional network and to learn more about AAHOA programs and resources available to help you strengthen every aspect of your business. These events are open to all hotel owners, even if you're not already a member. Coming up soon:

 

 

August 22 - Alabama Town Hall Meeting - Montgomery, AL 

September 17 - Upper Midwest Town Hall Meeting - Sioux Falls, SD 

 

Registration continues for the Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) program, which will take place September 17-18 in Orlando, FL. AAHOA Members in good standing are eligible for a deeply discounted rate to receive the training, which is the only hotel-related certification for industry professionals that focuses specifically on analytics. The rate is the lowest available in the industry, so encourage nonmember hoteliers in your region to join AAHOA, and sign up today to participate in this valuable training.

 

 

We offer conventional, SBA, and USDA loans in all 50 states. AAHOA Members can get terms up to 26 years with competitive bank rates with no prepayment penalties for loans under 15 years. We have creative capital structures for all your needs, including ground-up construction, acquisitions and conversions, renovations and upgrades, real estate purchases, working capital, and refinancing. Click here to learn more, then contact Rickman Davis today to get started.

 

Auction.com, a subsidiary of Ten-X, is the world’s leading online real estate marketplace, having sold more than $26 billion in property since its first auction in 2007. Auction.com brings buyers and sellers together with an easy, transparent platform that yields the true value of any real estate asset. Visit the Ten-X website or email them for more info.

AAHOA has joined with the University of Houston Conrad Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant Management to create an AAHOA Scholarship. AAHOA will contribute a total of $125,000 to UH over five years, beginning in 2016. The contributions will be matched by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, creating a $250,000 fund to be named the AAHOA Student Assistantship & Scholarship Endowment. To find out more about the qualifications or how to apply, please click here.

“The greatest piece of advice I have for young people starting their careers is to take every opportunity that’s given to you with gusto,” says Leanne Harwood, managing director Australasia and Japan, InterContinental Hotels Group. After working in the industry for more than 20 years, Harwood shares her advice with those seeking a career in hospitality.

Hotel shuttles can work on several levels. From the basic hotel-to-airport rides to stopping at local tourist spots and specialty restaurants to something in between, shuttles are a way that hotels can make some extra money. However, the costs can quickly add up, too. This is why outsourcing shuttle rides could be the future of hospitality transportation.

Technology is a gift when it works well and a curse when it doesn't. With advances in technology such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, there are ways to incorporate this new tech that are helpful to your guests and your business.