The Legislative Action Summit held this week in Washington, D.C., gave hundreds of hoteliers a rare opportunity to meet face to face with their home state members of Congress and enlighten them about the issues most important to America's hoteliers. Topping the list for this fifth installment of the LAS, co-sponsored by AAHOA and the American Hotel & Lodging Association, were the reauthorization of Brand USA, congressional action on online booking scams, and empowering localities to combat illegal hotels that advertise on short-term rental platforms. These important gatherings demonstrate the strength of our industry and emphasize the vital role we play in the nation's economy by creating jobs, serving guests, and supporting communities.

Education will be just one of the stars of HX: The Hotel Experience Powered by AAHOA in New York City November 10-11. From dual- and tri-branded hotels and preparing to sell your franchised hotel to how successful women network and empowering the next generation, you can choose from 24 AAHOA-curated education sessions to help you improve your business model. In addition, HX will offer an exclusive Young Professional hoteliers event, high-level networking opportunities, and an expo featuring hundreds of exhibitors. “The value of trade shows in 2019 goes far beyond the ability to see the latest products and services,” says Glenn Hausmann, creator and founder of the No Vacancy Network, who will speak on understanding development trends at the event. “HX offers a clear opportunity to get inside information from industry peers. If you stay home, you won’t be able to have those networking opportunities that will really give you insight to where we are truly headed.” Register today using promo code AAHOA19 to receive a free two-day expo pass, and pay just $125 to receive a full-conference pass or $50 for the one-day conference pass.

What have you missed? AAHOA Members converged on Washington, D.C., for the fifth Legislative Action Summit to meet with thier elected officials; Lifetime Members Chan Patel, Asvin Patel, Shetal Zina Patel, Rimpal Patel, and Atul Patel were elected to serve on the Red Roof Franchise Advisory Council to serve as the brand liaison between franchisees in their area and the Red Roof Franchising executive team; AAHOA Interim President & CEO Rachel Humphrey spoke at the Atlanta Lodging Outlook last week, where she provided an AAHOA update and national industry update on what's on the mind of today's hoteliers, and so much more! Check out the AAHOA Facebook page regularly to see our members doing great things!

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.

 

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:

 

 

 

 

Time is running out to register for the Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) program taking 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.

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey reports, “Economy (+1.3%) was the strongest chain scale for branded hotels; Upper Upscale was the weakest at -2.7%. Upper Midscale (-0.5%) and Midscale (-0.4%) outperformed the industry average. Within Upper Upscale and Luxury class hotels, Group (-2.2% vs. +6.2% prior week) outperformed Transient (-4.0% vs. +1.1% prior week). Last week, overall U.S. RevPar was down -2.1%, with all chains down except Economy (+1.3%). We believe soft results reflect Florida visitation hurt by hurricane fears. Miami (-20.8%) and Orlando (-14.8) noted double digit y/y occupancy declines for the week. For more, read the full report.

 

Ecolab, the global industry leader in hotel cleaning and sanitization, offers preferred pricing to AAHOA Members. Save on laundry, housekeeping, kitchen, pool and spa chemical programs, and more! For more information, please contact Michael Pfister, visit the website, or call 952-852-0926 today!

We offer AAHOA Members a one-call solution for all of their hot-water requirements. You get a single point of contact for water-heater purchases, installations, warranty administration, and service performed by factory-trained agents. We also offer the broadest range of products available that can be delivered in two-four hours, as well as one bundled price for product and installation, allowing you to budget ahead and eliminating “sticker shock” from non-standard installations. Contact Chris Murphy or visit our website today!

AAHOA is proud to collaborate with Kennesaw State to establish the Michael Leven and Lee Dushoff AAHOA Scholarship for Compassionate Leadership. This annual scholarship will support students seeking an undergraduate degree in hospitality management. For more on the qualifications and how to apply, please contact Seth Walker or call 470-578-2206. To make a tax-deductible contribution to the scholarship endowment, click here. 

Guestline is a UK-based hospitality software company that surveyed experts in AI, architects, and hoteliers about the future of the industry. According to this survey, technology is the future of the industry, which will come as little surprise to anyone in hospitality. From AI to everything being paperless, tech will be an aspect of every piece of the hotel business.

(Source: TechRepublic)

Frank Jermusek, lawyer and commercial real estate professional, notes the top five trends going on in the hospitality industry right now. While technological advancements are obviously high on the list, there's always going to be something outside of tech that has a place in the hospitality industry. In this particular case, it's important to not forego interior design and decor.

(Source: Patch)

More than 2,000 hotels have opened in the past three years. While this is a good sign for hotel demand, hoteliers have been struggling to find an incredibly important feature for these hotels: labor. The labor market is facing a shortage and this will affect guests – from longer lines at the front desk to delayed responses to maintenance requests.

(Source: The New York Times)