Cultures across the globe recognize hospitality as a virtue — a sign of respect, kindness, peace or protection. AAHOA thrives on the spirit of hospitality to all. It is who we are and why we exist. We were founded on a commitment to equal opportunity, acceptance, diversity and the pursuit of the American Dream. AAHOA, its board, members, staff and partners stand with those who also champion these values and are working to make them a reality for communities across our country. Far too many of our fellow Americans continue to face discrimination and injustice.

In an op-ed article published today by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, AAHOA President & CEO Cecil P. Staton shared how hotel owners have been impacted by the pandemic and what is likely to be their next greatest anticipated threat: the promise of costly COVID-19-related lawsuits. As small business owners and hoteliers are playing their part to get America on the road to recovery – creating jobs and revitalizing their operations – they should not have to worry about whether public health guidelines open them up to costly lawsuits. “That is why it is critical for Congress and the Georgia General Assembly to do as previous lawmakers did in times of crisis and provide limited safe harbors from liability as we emerge from this pandemic,” Staton said. Read the full article here.

Invisible disabilities like autism, PTSD, dementia, and other sensory processing disorders often get lost in the conversation of making a business accommodating to guests with disabilities. Is your business sensory friendly? Does your staff have the right tools and knowledge to create an inclusive experience for your guests with invisible disabilities? Sensory City is offering a 20% discount to the first 100 AAHOA Members to sign up for their Sensory Awareness Training, which will certify them immediately upon completion of the course. Use promo code AAHOA20 to sign up today.

In response to the negative effect the pandemic and economic downturn is having on many people's mental health, as well as the new barriers it has created for those already suffering from mental illness and substance abuse disorders, AAHOA has partnered with UnitedHealth Group to offer FREE access to several resources and hotlines for mental health, substance abuse, suicide prevention and more. The information and resources on the Health Resources page are available to AAHOA Members, their employees and their families. Visit the webpage and download the free resources guide. 

As the economy continues to move toward reopening fully, now is a great time to take advantage of AAHOA's all-encompassing Certificate in Hotel Ownership^TM (CHO). 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 Aug. 9 using promo code WELCOME20, you can earn your certificate for as little as $149, so don't wait! Learn more here.

Check Facebook regularly to see our members exemplifying what it means to be #AAHOASTRONG! Last week, 19 women hoteliers provided supplies for 1,000 care packages created for women’s shelters in Ohio and Kentucky. The packages included basic items such as hand sanitizers, wipes, soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, lotion, snacks, bandages, and much more. Thank you, Shila Patel, Nila Patel, Hina Patel, Asha Patel, Lina Patel, Smita Patel, Pratixa Das, Falguni Patel, Sarju Patel, Mona Bhog, Surekha Patel, Pritty Patel, Sunita Patel, Reena Patel, Meghna Patel, Sangita Patel, Manisha Kalyan, Dimple Patel, and Jigisha Patel for donating their time efforts and truly exemplifying what it means to be #AAHOASTRONG!

AAHOA continues to host virtual events around the country. The virtual event series is designed to help hotel owners remain connected with AAHOA Officers, board members, staff and each other during the COVID-19 pandemic. Make plans to join us for these and other upcoming virtual events. You also can visit the virtual events archive to view past recordings in their entirety.

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 14,000 hoteliers to date and feature more than 100 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. 

 

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey reports, “Economy (-28.4%) was the relatively strongest chain scale for branded hotels; Upper Upscale was the weakest at -80.7%. Upscale (-66.8%) underperformed the industry average; Upper Midscale (-57.2%) outperformed. Last week's sequential improvement in y/y RevPAR change was much better than past weeks. We view some of the improvement from pent-up leisure demand (in line with our prior expectations of drive-to leisure demand returning first) that was evident not just over Memorial Day weekend but likely into the midweek. (Not that surprising given many Americans are still working from home and have more flexibility to lengthen vacations.)”

 

 

HBO, the oldest and longest continuously operating pay TV service in the U.S., is offering AAHOA Members the chance to earn money back. Members get a rebate of $9 per room (5-year contract) or $7 per room (3-year contract) when they add the service at their properties. Click here today to complete the rebate form and 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 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% off with potential for cash-out. Visit the website, then contact Rushi Shah for a no-obligation pre-approval.

Health and safety concerns are starting to ease, according to Deloitte's Global State of the Consumer Tracker. While the financial strain from the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, there are good signals coming for the hotel industry. Thirty-one per cent of travelers plan to stay in a hotel within the next three months, up from 24 per cent in April. This is a sure sign things are beginning to look up for the industry.