The coronavirus pandemic is inflicting significant financial strains upon hoteliers across the country. Many are now worried about making payroll and paying their mortgage. Now, more than ever, Congress must protect those affected most by the coronavirus. Please sign this letter to your elected officials. It will be sent to your specific members of the U.S. House and Senate. In this letter to your representative and senators, we provide detailed policy solutions that will address the challenges many AAHOA Members are experiencing as a result of COVID-19. 

Have you completed our survey, Business Impacts on Hoteliers Due to COVID-19, yet? If not, please set aside some time to share your perspective. We need this vital information on how this crisis has impacted your business and ideas on how government officials and brands can help our industry in order to most effectively advocate on your behalf. It should take less than 10 minutes to complete, and your responses are voluntary and will be kept strictly confidential. Survey ends at 11:59 p.m. tonight.

As COVID-19 continues to impact the hospitality industry, AAHOA is providing a series of webcasts to keep our members and partners informed and help determine the necessary steps to take to protect your business as best you can. The "Impact of COVID-19 on America's Hotel Owners" webcast series will cover a wide range of topics, including government and local regulations and their implications, proper cleaning and sanitization procedures, and so much more. AAHOA is making these webcasts available to the industry at large, so be sure to share with those in your network, whether they're an AAHOA Member or not. Check www.aahoa.com/covid-19 for a complete listing.

 

AAHOA President & CEO Cecil P. Staton urged federal and state government officials to ease red tape and regulations to help hoteliers when he appeared on Fox Business' "Cavuto Coast to Coast" on Monday. "Our members will be facing a liquidity crisis," Staton said. "[Hoteliers] are facing severe challenges to make payroll and make the mortgage. We don't want a bailout, but we do want some ease in regulations ... so our members can work out ways to get through this." Staton reminded viewers that despite the big-brand name on the building, most hotels are owned by "Joe Hotelier" who could lose his/her livelihood without government help. See the full segment here.

As health and government officials urge social distancing to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, now is a great time for professional development and AAHOA's all-new, all-encompassing Certificate in Hotel Ownership^TM (CHO) is just the ticket. This reimagined CHO is a fully customizable all-digital platform that offers an in-depth look into 12 learning tracks: Investment & Development, Front Office, Financing, Hotel Ownership, Human Resources, Accounting, Major Support Departments, Leadership, Legal & Compliance, Revenue Management, Sales & Marketing, and Technology. If you sign up by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 8 using promo code CHOLAUNCH20, you can earn your certificate for as little as $149, so don't wait! Learn more here.

The coronavirus is not going anywhere anytime soon. As we hunker down for what is to come, AAHOA is working hard to provide updates on upcoming webinars, resources, and communications to our members to keep you abreast of the latest news and information, especially as it relates to the hospitality industry. We are constantly updating the AAHOA website as the situation evolves, so be sure to check it often.

The 2020 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show is being rescheduled to August 9-12 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. Undoubtedly, many of you have questions and concerns. For answers to your questions regarding event registration, hotel registration, and more, check out aahoa.com/convention and continue to monitor our website regularly for further updates and other information, including a list of frequently asked questions.

 

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. Open to all hoteliers, and AAHOA Lifetime Members receive a free gift for attending. For the most up-to-date listing of all our upcoming events, check the events calendar.

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, “Economy (-16.8% RevPAR) was the relatively strongest chain scale for branded hotels; Luxury was the weakest at -45.9%. Upscale (-34.4%) underperformed the industry average; Upper Midscale (-26.9%) outperformed. Last week's results represent in our view one of if not the worst results in the U.S. lodging industry for a normal week (ex-holiday shifts). Unfortunately, results will likely move in a progressively negative direction for the next several weeks, especially as some hotels are expected to close and layoffs are in process.”

 

Dell empowers business owners to use technology to realize their dreams. Now, the computer technology giant has partnered with AAHOA to bring members savings of 30 percent to 40 percent off the everyday price on their systems and Dell-branded electronics and accessories! Visit www.dell.com/AAHOA to shop or call 800-757-8442 today. Please mention you are an AAHOA Member and use Member ID 530002735094.

Better Buildings provides hotel owners with free technology solutions, market expertise, and a network of peers to identify cost-saving efficiency measures. 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.

New York City occupancy rates dropped to 72.1 percent in early March. The city is expecting lower occupancy rates and similar data to come. “It’s going to get worse before it gets better,” STR analyst Jan Freitag said. The news may seem grim, but there is hope once the virus is contained.

The novel coronavirus spread has health and sanitization top of mind for all hospitality industry workers, but the impact of the virus goes beyond physical and mental well-being. Situations like this are the reason why it's important for hoteliers to have a communication plan in place and to ensure all employees are trained in what steps to take.

While occupancy and room rates are dropping, that outlook seems to be in line with the hotel investment market survey provided by the Lodging Industry Investment Council (LIIC). Buyers have stopped submitting LOIs, but some buyers see this as an opportunity with less competition. The U.S. is academically facing a recession, but there is hope. The survey expects a quick rebound in hotel cash flow.