Today is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and the 2020 theme focuses on the first responders, the people who work in different sectors identifying, supporting, counseling, and seeking justice for victims of trafficking, and challenging the impunity of the traffickers. While hoteliers might not technically be first responders, you are indeed on the front lines and are in a unique position to be able to identify it and help eradicate it. To help members join the fight, AAHOA offers Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST) Inhospitable to Human Trafficking Training Sponsored by AAHOA. This on-demand, fully digital training is completely FREE to all AAHOA Members and your employees. As the industry continues to navigate through this pandemic, there has never been a better time to complete this brief yet highly impactful training. Observe World Day Against Trafficking in Persons by earning your certificate today. 

 

You're invited to join us for AAHOACON20, AAHOA’s leading and largest show of the year! In addition to all the great programming you’ve come to expect from AAHOA, members can now be automatically entered to WIN one of six great prizes if you register by Friday, August 7!* One grand prize winner will receive four FREE nights of hotel accommodations at one of AAHOA’s host hotels in Dallas during the 2021 Convention. Five runners-up will be able to earn their Certificate in Hotel OwnershipTM (CHO) for FREE (up to a $249 value). You do not want to miss out on this opportunity! You have six chances to win, so don’t wait – REGISTER NOW!

This year, AAHOA is conducting its election for the 2020-2021 Board of Directors via remote voting. It is vitally important that every voter has logged into your MyAAHOA account to check your eligibility and ensure the account includes your mobile number and a unique email address. Both are required to receive a ballot and cannot be duplicated or shared across accounts. Prepare for our 2020 election on August 11 by logging into MyAAHOA and visting the MyBallot page today to ensure you're eligible and ready to vote. 

Though the economy continues to move toward fully reopening, we're not quite there yet. Use this 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 August 9 using promo code WELCOME20, you can earn your certificate for as little as $149, so don't wait! Learn more here.

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 this and other upcoming virtual events. You also can visit the virtual events archive to view past recordings in their entirety.

 AAHOA has partnered with P&G Professional, a worldwide leader and trusted name in professional-grade cleaning products, to create the AAHOA/P&G Professional’s Training in Hotel Sanitization and Cleanliness. This all-new, all-digital program covers what hoteliers need to know as it relates to the effective sanitization of their property, including infection prevention and control, high-touch points, sanitizing soft surfaces, communications, elevating the guest experience, and more! This program is completely FREE and is available not only to AAHOA Members but to the entire hospitality industry. Download our infographic to learn more and sign up for this valuable training today!

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 25,000 hoteliers to date and feature more than 140 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. 

 

Register Now for These Upcoming Webcasts: 

• Getting Back to Business: 5 Key Ways to Grow Your Hotel’s Reputation Fast, 1-1:30 p.m. EDT Thursday, July 30
• Getting Back to Business: Contactless Solutions for Healthy Guest Journeys, 3-3:30 p.m. EDT Thursday, July 30
• Getting Back to Business: Maximize the Opportunity to Reinvent Travel, 1-1:30 p.m. EDT Friday, July 31
• Getting Back to Business: 4 Pillars of Online Reputation Management, 3-3:30 p.m. EDT Monday, August 3
• Getting Back to Business: Coronavirus Legislation on NOL Carrybacks & Other Provisions – Part II, 11-11:30 p.m. EDT Tuesday, August 4
• Getting Back to Business: Antimicrobial and Other Technology for the Ultimate Clean Guest Room, 1-1:30 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, August 5
• Getting Back to Business: Success Strategies, Part 3 – Building and Revising Budgets in an Evolving Market, 3-3:30 p.m. EDT Thursday, August 6

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey reports, “Economy (-26.9%) was the relatively strongest chain scale for branded hotels; Luxury was the weakest at -77.0%. Upscale (-61.0%) underperformed the industry average; Upper Midscale (-49.0%) outperformed. In short, we view last week's results similar to the prior week -- a travel industry stalling due to rising COVID-19 cases and still limited higher-rated corporate travel. Similar to the prior week, last week's results reflect a clean y/y comp. There is some evidence of weakening results in virus hotspots (AZ/FL/TX). Clean comps continue through most of August, so we will have a better read into Summer 2020 trends and any improvement/lack thereof in the three major demand segments. ”

AAHOA Members get up to 25 percent off ADP payroll and tax compliance services. Companies with fewer than 50 employees get the first month free and no set-up fees! ADP serves 585,000 clients from the smallest, to the largest businesses worldwide. Our services can help you manage your risk of tax penalties, improve your cash flow, and take advantage of available tax credits. Contact Thomas Bell or call 973-712-3290 today to obtain a free, no-obligation quote!

Sysco Guest Supply is the leading provider of operating supplies and equipment to the lodging industry. With product development and design, manufacturing, and a direct to property sales force, Guest Supply is the only vertically integrated company in the industry. From sixteen company owned and operated Sales and Distribution Centers, Guest Supply services over 26,000 hotels in the United States with a comprehensive product line that meets the needs of hotels at all market levels. For more info, contact Justin Haggart or visit the website.

AAHOA is proud to collaborate with Kennesaw State University 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, please click here.

As the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S., many new development and construction projects were well underway. However, now lenders are being extra cautious with new builds while trying to remain open to other deals.

While the hotel industry saw a slight increase in occupancy, more states have paused reopenings due to increased cases of COVID-19. This threatens the positive outlook for the industry, but recovery is still in sight. It just might be slower than anticipated.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reported that the lockdowns imposed by the COVID-19 response led to a 98-percent drop in international tourist numbers in May, compared to 2019. The good news is a restart is underway, though it is expected to be slow across the globe.