AAHOA Members, the 2020 elections are only five days away, and we want to make sure you are exercising your right to vote. When you fill out your ballot this year, you will have the opportunity to vote for President and VP of the United States, 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats, and also a number of state and local positions. State and local elections don't generate as much publicity as the federal races, but these races are arguably more important to you, our members, and can have a profound effect on your local community. Preview your ballot beforehand to get informed on the candidates and their platforms. Check your state’s official voting resources to ensure you are registered and find your polling place. Make a plan TODAY to vote safely on November 3!

AAHOA Chairman Biran Patel and President & CEO Cecil P. Staton were on hand for the 2020 Best Western Virtual Convention this week. Patel provided an AAHOA update in a video message, while Staton joined AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers, USTA President & CEO Roger Dow, and Hotel Association of Canada President Susie Gryn on an Industry Leaders panel yesterday. Following Biran's appearance was a special message from BWH Hotel Group President & CEO David Kong, recognizing AAHOA's contributions and leadership in the industry. Watch the message here.

AAHOA Past Chair Jagruti Panwala sat down for a fireside chat with Talene Staab, Global Head, Tru by Hilton, at the She Has a Deal competition on Saturday. Panwala shared her experiences as a woman hotelier as well as the first Chairwoman in AAHOA's history. The hybrid event was livecast on Saturday to reveal the five finalist teams. The winning team was a group from the Cornell University real estate program that pitched an adaptive re-use hotel deal in Detroit. “It was more of a boutique type of brand,” competition founder Tracy Prigmore said. The pitch competition, of which Vice Chair Vinay Patel is on the advisory board and also served as a judge, is specifically designed for women in the early stages of their careers in hospitality, real estate, and related fields. 

AAHOA's 2020 Regional Conferences & Trade Shows continues next week with the AAHOA Mid South, North Carolina, and South Carolina Regional on Monday, November 2 and the AAHOA Mid Atlantic, Washington, D.C. Area, and Northeast Regional on Thursday, November 5. Our Regionals Series, which continues into December, offers attendees and vendors unparalleled networking opportunities and trade shows, as well as the chance to hear from leaders and experts in your area as you continue down the road to recovery. These virtual conferences also will offer attendees region-specific industry panels that impart vital information to help your business survive. All Regionals are FREE, and you can attend as many as you like! Visit here to learn more about this can't-miss series, then register now to reserve your spot.

AAHOA is hosting upcoming virtual events to share the latest updates for America’s hotel owners in various parts of the United States. Add these events to your calendar now. 

Tune in at 3 p.m. EST Thursday, November 12 for “Welcoming Customers This Holiday Season and Beyond” hosted by AAHOA Silver Partner American Express. This free webinar will bring together a panel of merchants across various industries to discuss how they've pivoted to provide customers with optimal experiences that keep them coming back. This discussion will highlight the importance of having an innovative and customer-first mindset, provide inspiration on how you can optimize your customers’ experiences, and give tips on how to prepare your business this holiday season and beyond. Register today for this can’t-miss webinar.

AAHOA is bringing you a series of COVID-19-related webcasts that will keep you informed and help determine next steps for your business. We have educated more than 33,000 hoteliers to date and feature more than 180 webcasts separated by category in our library. AAHOA is making these webcasts available to the industry, so share with those in your network, whether they're an AAHOA Member or not. 

 

Register Now for These Upcoming Webcasts: 

• Getting Back to Business: I Want to Win the Ball Game: The Owner/GM as the Hotel’s Head Coach, 3-3:30 p.m. EST Tuesday, November 3
• Getting Back to Business: A Look at the Current Investment Landscape, 11-11:30 a.m. EST Thursday, November 5
• Getting Back to Business: Property Improvement Plans - Tips and Advice for Hoteliers, 3-3:30 p.m. EST Tuesday, November 10
• Getting Back to Business: I Want to Win the Ball Game: The Owner/GM as the Hotel’s Chief Culture Officer, 3-3:30 p.m. EST, Tuesday, November 17
• Getting Back to Business: I Want to Win the Ball Game: The Owner/GM as the Hotel’s Chief Strategy Officer, 3-3:30 p.m. EST Wednesday, December 2
• Getting Back to Business: I Want to Win the Ball Game: The Owner/GM as the Hotel’s Chief Financial Officer, 3-3:30 p.m. EST Tuesday, December 8
• Getting Back to Business: I Want to Win the Ball Game: The Owner/GM as the Hotel’s Chief Information Officer, 3-3:30 p.m. EST Tuesday, December 15

AAHOA Members earn 5 percent of revenue back, reduce OTA fees, and improve your guest-review scores. Plus, get your own personal FREE AAHOA Member app that includes features such as SMS texting, GPS mapping, local-area content, push messaging, and more. This app will help drive more revenue and increase guest engagement at your property. Contact Troy today to get started!

INFINITI HR is a Master Aggregator, The Professional Employer Organization for Hospitality Management© throughout all 50 states. INFINITI HR is recognized for the exceptional ability to support employer standards, mitigate employer risk and liability, while providing superior economies of scale and purchasing power for world-class, mid-range, and economy hotel properties of all sizes. For more information, visit our website, then contact Daniel Mormino today to get started.

AAHOA Members can receive monthly reports that track and compare the valuation levels, trading levels, and credit profile of each of the U.S. publicly traded Hotel C-Corps and Hotel Real Estate Investment Trusts. It includes pro forma adjustments for any announced acquisitions, dispositions, financings, and other corporate actions. All data is based on publicly available information, including equity research analyst estimates. Contact Jonathan Falik for more info.

The industry knew guest expectations would shift due to the COVID-19 pandemic but just how wasn't certain. Now, the data has arrived. According to research by Deloitte and SevenRooms, 46 percent of Americans surveyed would be comfortable booking a hotel under specific conditions. 

The hotel industry is struggling, so every penny counts. Not sure where to start? Check your tax rates. By auditing tax rates on your hotel and OTA websites, you can save a few cents per each reservation, adding up over time.

A panel of hoteliers discussed how they are survivng the pandemic at the Latino Hotel Association 2020 Virtual Conference. From analyzing every single bill for savings to being up front with banks, each hotelier offered tips on how they are getting by as we continue to navigate COVID-19.