AAHOA Treasurer Vinay Patel, President & CEO Cecil Staton, and COO & VP of Franchise Relations Rachel Humphrey represented AAHOA as featured speakers at the American Lodging and Investment Summit and ALIS Law this week in Los Angeles. Cecil moderated the "Development Track: The CDOs Outlook" panel discussing the outlook for development in 2020, which was deemed "cautiously optimistic." He also introduced himself to attendees at large and shared his enthusiasm during the General Session. Vinay and Rachel focused on current political and legal matters of interest to hoteliers at ALIS Law. Vinay sat on the "National Priorities Shift to Local Battlegrounds" regulatory panel for a discussion about state and local advocacy. Rachel moderated a roundtable of hotel general counsel, where the concensus was that 2020 will be a year of increased acquisitions. Rachel also joined other women executives for a discussion on diversity and inclusion in hospitality and ways women can help pave the way for other women to advance during AHLA’s ForWard at ALIS: Women's Leadership Forum. Click here to see all our photos from this event on the AAHOA Facebook page.

 

AAHOA President & CEO Cecil Staton will give a legislative update at the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference March 19-20 in Atlanta. Cecil will be featured on the "Your Government & Your Business" panel and will give his take as a former legislator on how the election year will shape hospitality and investment matters and how that will affect hoteliers. The conference brings owners and investors together in a high-energy setting for education and networking. It digs deep into industry trends and emerging opportunities in order to highlight the information today’s investors need to grow their business. 

 

 

AAHOA is currently accepting nominations for all open positions on the Board of Directors, including the newly created Greater Los Angeles Area Regional Director. Nominations are due by February 16. Nominees must comply with each of the qualifications set out in AAHOA Bylaws Art. V (2), the Board Member & Officer Nominations Policy, and the Board Member & Officers Elections Policy, all available in full here.

Two weeks left! Register for the 2020 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show by February 13, and you could be the lucky winner of four free nights of hotel accommodations at one of AAHOA’s host hotels* during Convention, April 13-16 in Orlando, FL. And that's not all. Lifetime Members**, if you register by Feb. 13, you'll qualify for complimentary registration. If you are not yet an AAHOA Lifetime Member, upgrade today to take advantage of this exclusive offer.

AAHOA reaches its fullest potential through the hard work of our volunteers. Committee Members are vital to helping advance the business interests of hotel owners through advocacy, industry leadership, professional development, and so much more. Help AAHOA thrive in 2020 and beyond. Apply to serve on one of these committees today. Applications are due by April 16.

Do you know a hotelier who has gone above and beyond? Help us recognize industry leaders and stars at the 2020 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show, April 13-16, in Orlando, FL. You do not need to be an AAHOA Member to submit a nomination, but nominees must be AAHOA Members. The deadline to submit nominations is February 3. 

Town Halls are a great opportunity to build your professional network and 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 yet a member. 

Credit card chargebacks are a fact of life for hoteliers. However, not all credit card disputes are created equal. Join us 2-3 p.m. Monday, February 3 as representatives from American Express teach you how to prevent and manage credit card disputes. This webinar also will highlight American Express’s updated Damages & Smoking Fee Policy that went into effect October 2019 and how the changes affect you and your business moving forward.

Dual- and tri-brand projects are increasingly transforming the hotel pipeline. Combining multiple lodging choices under one roof caters to a wider customer base and offers more flexibility for travelers, while the shared amenities and dining venues provide added value for hotel guests. For hoteliers, multi-brand properties provide a unique opportunity to increase revenue and streamline operations. Register today  for a workshop on March 4 in New Orleans to learn everything you need to know about building a successful multi-brand property.

AAHOA's exclusive members-only webinars provide insights on the latest topics and ideas in hotel ownership. Accessible via MyAAHOA.com, sign in today to browse topics, track your professional development goals, and review all of AAHOA's educational offerings. 

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey reports, “Luxury (+4.6%) was the strongest chain scale for branded hotels; Midscale was the weakest at -3.2%. Upscale (-0.2%) and Upper Midscale (-1.5%) underperformed the industry average. Last week was a more normalized week (the first in many weeks). Unlike the relatively volatile and in some cases stronger RevPAR growth over the past several weeks (in some cases, holiday related), last week's results reflected more of the new run-rate norm: flattish RevPAR. Chain scale performance was quite varied and we attribute weaker results in the lower-rated chain scales partly driven by more material supply growth vs. Luxury/Upper Upscale.”

 

AAHOA has partnered with AutoClerk to offer AAHOA*PMS, a property management system designed specifically for AAHOA Members. If you sign up for both Chase Merchant Services and AutoClerk, AAHOA will pay your set-up fee ($99) and the cost of your first month for each property. Visit www.aahoapms.com for more details and to sign up now.

SurferQuest™ has been setting the industry standard for Secure Business Center software while serving thousands of locations worldwide since 2001. We emphasize minimizing your hotel's liability and protecting your guests from malware, viruses and identity theft, the fastest-growing cyber crime in technology today. SurferQuest™ offers a full suite of guest engagement technology solutions built with your hotel and budget in mind. For more info, contact Kathryn Koning, visit the website, or call 814-342-3120 today!

Better Buildings provides hotel owners with free technology solutions, market expertise, and a network of peers to identify cost-saving efficiency measures. Visit the website or contact Holly Carr for more information on the Department of Energy's drive to make the nation’s homes, commercial buildings, and industrial plants more energy efficient.

Though there are many technologies hoteliers can implement in their properties, often these strategies are hit or miss. More and more, hoteliers find they introduce technology that doesn't match well with their property's needs. To avoid this, discover the four problems getting in the way of achieving your goals and how to solve them.

Younger generations are often viewed as conceited or maybe entitled, but data is showing millennial travelers are looking for a more enriched experience. Called "Intrepid Improvers," millennials are looking to travel to improve themselves, not just to get away.

Consumer expectations are leading to a change in the hopitality industry. Smart building technology, such as smart speakers and smart doors and locks, is expected to grow 24 percent between 2020 and 2026 according to research from Reports and Data. Guests are looking for a seamless experience and smart technology is right in line with achieving that expectation.