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April 17, 2020
 AAHOA News
It was reported yesterday that funds for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) have officially run out. Though the PPP has already provided hundreds of millions of dollars to the nation's small business owners and remains a centerpiece of legislative efforts to support small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress is not planning to reconvene until early May. This is unacceptable. Congress must stop political infighting and secure more funds for the PPP immediately. Elected officials are constantly monitoring constituent outreach across social media platforms in addition to their email inboxes and voicemail messages. Engage your members of Congress through a letter and on Twitter today. Urge them to support immediate funding for the PPP!
AAHOA Chairwoman Jagruti Panwala will be a feaured guest next week at a virtual event designed to address issues the hospitality industry is facing because of the COVID-19 pandemic. At 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, she will join Hotel Business, InspireDesign, and NEXT Events for a 60-minute virtual town hall session featuring a panel of hotel industry experts who will provide insightful responses to top-of-mind questions, as well as practical solutions for some of the challenges small business owners are facing. The session will be held via Zoom, and questions will be discussed in real-time.
With so many hotels shuttered because of the COVID-19 pandemic, you might think human trafficking will at least slow down. You would be wrong. AAHOA Partner Polaris recently reported that human trafficking thrives on chaos and desperation in communities already ravaged by ills including addiction and poverty. As layoffs continue with no end in sight, accumulated or generational wealth will be the difference between those who struggle through but eventually recover economically and those who spiral ever further into poverty. And that's where human trafficking can enter the picture. To date, AAHOA and our members have trained thousands of hotel owners and employees to recognize and report the signs of human trafficking with our BEST Inhospitable to Human Trafficking Training Sponsored by AAHOA. The training is completely digital and free for all AAHOA Members and their employees. Use this time of social distancing to earn your certificate.
As we all continue to explore the longer-term impacts of coronavirus, AAHOA is working diligently to provide up-to-the-minute updates on upcoming webcasts, resources, and communications to keep you abreast of the latest news and information about the COVID-19 pandemic, especially as it pertains to implications for America's hotel owners. We are updating the AAHOA website several times a day and sending out daily email updates as the situation continues to evolve, so be sure to check it often.
With all the serious financial and operational issues hoteliers are facing because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important now than ever before that all AAHOA Members make sure they have created and fully completed their account at MyAAHOA.com. AAHOA needs your important data – company and personal information, email, date of birth, cell phone number, and confidential property data – to communicate with you and better advocate on your behalf for relief with government officials on the local, state, and federal levels. If you have not already done so, please create and complete your MyAAHOA account today.
AAHOA in the News
Events and Happenings
Head over to Facebook regularly to see our members doing great things! AAHOA Lifetime Member Raju Patel and his wife, Dharmistha, of San Antonio, TX, both recently recovered from their fight against COVID-19. Yesterday, they received a call about a critically ill patient who desperately needed plasma from a donor who had tested positive and recovered. After learning they were the same blood type, Raju and Dharmistha, without hesitation, drove all the way to Houston to make the donation! ... Texas hotel owners Nishant (Neal) Patel, Avi Patel, Harry Patel, Kiran Patel, Meena Patel, Navin Patel, Nikunj Patel, and Priyanka Patel donated 2,000 masks to Ascension Seton Williamson and have committed to a total of 25,000. Their goal is to hit 500,000 donations across the nation. If you'd like to join this effort, contact Neal Patel on Facebook or LinkedIn. ... AAHOA Ambassador Jay Kumar and his company Kumar Property Holdings partnered with US Foods and the City of Lake Charles, LA, to supply and operate a pop-up food bank, providing 45 churches with enough food to feed 1,500 families for a week.
If you know of someone in your community helping those affected by the pandemic, let us know by emailing pr@aahoa.com. We’d love to feature the great work they’re doing.
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 Education
In the wake of the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry, AAHOA is bringing you a series of webcasts that will keep you informed and help determine next steps for your business. We have educated more than 8,500 hoteliers to date and feature 60 webcasts separated by category in our library. AAHOA is making these webcasts available to the industry, so be sure to share with those in your network, whether they're an AAHOA Member or not.
Upcoming Webcasts:
In the Market
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey reports, “Economy (-49.7%) was the relatively strongest chain scale for branded hotels; Luxury was the weakest at -95.2%. Upscale (-86.1%) underperformed the industry average; Upper Midscale (-81.6%) outperformed. Last week's lodging results presented "even worse" results for the most part. More hotels are closing. (We know of no hotels reopening anytime soon). Based on our analysis of lodging and related travel data (we do not make stock calls on gut feels): Lodging fundamentals are simply not improving. That being said, investors have been focusing their attention with us on Economy relative outperformance; we assume the rural/interstate concentration, simpler operating model, and price-accommodating hotel product (for those that need to travel) are all advantages in today's lodging environment.”
Featured Club Blue Member
AAHOA Members, get 5 percent off all your everyday purchases when you use the Lowe’s LAR business credit card. There’s no annual fee, and you can make purchases by phone, fax, or at LowesForPros.com. You’ll also be able to take advantage of exclusive cardholder promotions and receive discounted delivery on your purchases! Click here for more details, then contact Anthony Ruiz to get started.
Featured Platinum/Silver Member
We have been an ELITE dealer with DIRECTV since 2002, and we work closely with our leadership team at DIRECTV/ATT corporate on a daily basis. This relationship enables us to provide the best free-to guesst in-room programming and customer service support in the industry. We would be happy to provide any referral emails or a phone call from DIRECTV/ATT corporate to back up who we are, the impeccable service we provide, and our longtime excellent partnership together. Check us out on the web or call us directly at 888-388-1531.
Featured Member Benefit
AAHOA Members, get preferred access to the market's best rates and terms. Non-recourse bridge and permanent loans, as well as refinance and acquisition hotel loans available. LTVs up to 75 percent off with potential for cash-out. Contact Rushi Shah for a no-obligation pre-approval.
Industry News
The CARES Act was a step in the right direction in helping the now millions of Americans unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Small businesses, however, will need extra help. Businesses would be required to rehire employees by June, but business owners say they don't even know if they'll be back in buiness by June. But without changes to the CARES Act legislation, they would be prohibited from spending the funds on fixed costs like franchise fees, etc.
(Source: The Washington Post. Photo Credit)
According to data from STR, only 21.6 percent of hotel rooms were occupied March 29-April 1. That percentage is slightly decreased from the previous week, and the STR report expects the number to contirnue dropping as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
(Source: CNN. Photo Credit)
Recovery begins with what you do today. With those who are able working from home, now is the time to adopt cloud technologies that will help you manage your property once hotels are thriving again. Plan on how to continue marketing to those who are eager to get out and travel again, and take the time to revise your health and safety guidelines for employees and guests.
(Source: Hospitality Net. Photo Credit)
Today's Hotelier: In Case You Missed It
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1100 Abernathy Road NE - Suite 725
Atlanta, GA 30328 (404) 816-5759 |
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