Though the election results have not been certified, AAHOA President & CEO Cecil P. Staton has issued an official statement on behalf of AAHOA's 20,000 members. "We congratulate President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on a strong campaign and look forward to working with them and their administration on issues important to America's hoteliers," Staton said. But with the Senate majority riding on the outcome of Georgia's two runoffs, Staton has turned his focus toward economic relief for struggling hoteliers and is urging members to stay active and involved. "Because Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin failed to reach an agreement on an economic stimulus package, AAHOA will continue to press Congress and the administration to reach a bipartisan solution that will help the people and industries hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic, including hoteliers," Staton said. "Your help will be imperative to the success of our efforts, and I encourage you to remain engaged. AAHOA will keep you updated on our efforts and what you, as hoteliers, can do to make your voices heard in these crucial times for our industry." Read the full statement.

A hand, not a handout. That’s what President & CEO Cecil P. Staton replied when asked what AAHOA Members were looking for when the Biden administration assumes the White House in January. “Many of our members came here originally because of their belief in the American Dream, and I see the fulfillment of the dream,” Staton said. “But they may lose what they have been building, some for more than a generation. Our members are not looking for a handout, just some help to get to the other side. And I think that help is there. There is hope for the future.” Staton joined AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers, USTA President & CEO Roger Dow, and NABHOOD President & CEO Andy Ingraham this week for Policy Matters: What Lodging Needs to Know Now About Public Policy for a high-level discussion on the continued impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The panel also discussed the importance of technology, infrastructure and bipartisanship, much-needed changes to the tax code, what the future holds for the industry, and more. 

The fifth event in AAHOA's 2020 Regional Conferences & Trade Shows is kicking off RIGHT NOW with the AAHOA North Central and Upper Midwest Regional: A Virtual Experience 2-6 p.m. CST Thursday and you still have time to register to attend! Our Regionals Series, which continues into December, offers attendees region-specific industry panels that share important information to help your business survive in these trying times. You can get sound, usable advice from industry leaders and experts in your local area as you continue to recover even as the COVID-19 pandemic surges. Attendees and vendors also can take advantage of unparalleled networking opportunities and trade shows to form new relationships and strengthen existing ones. 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 Club Blue Members, UnitedHealth Group has launched the Healthy You, Healthy Business initiative. HealthiestYou by Teladoc is a mobile virtual care app providing convenient access to high-quality everyday health care services via phone or video. Telemedicine gives you and your employees unlimited access to virtual visits to a doctor, dermatologist, or behavioral health provider from wherever you are. All employees are eligible and no insurance is necessary. The cost is only $7 per employee per month, which includes unlimited visits with no co-pay for employees and their families. Check out the FAQ and sign up today!

Join us at 11 a.m. PST, 2 p.m. EST Friday as our AAHOA Government Affairs Team and Lynn Mohrfeld, President & CEO of CHLA, give AAHOA Members an update on Proposition 15. Prop 15, which was narrowly defeated at the polls, would have amended the California State Constitution to require commercial and industrial properties, except those zoned as commercial agriculture, to be taxed based on their market value rather than their purchase price. The bill received significant support from Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, but was opposed by the majority of AAHOA Members. Don't miss this informative update.
Join by Phone: 301 715 8592. Passcode: 089275

In a recent Morning Consult survey, a whopping 72 percent of respondents said concerns about cleanliness and sanitization affect their decision on whether to stay in a hotel. AAHOA has partnered with P&G Professional to create the AAHOA/P&G Professional’s Training in Hotel Sanitization and Cleanliness. This all-digital program covers what hoteliers need to know as it relates to the effective sanitization of your property. This program is completely FREE and is available to the entire hospitality industry. Download our infographic to learn more and sign up for this valuable training today!

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. 

 

• Getting Back to Business: Improving Diversity and Encouraging Black Participation in the Hospitality Industry, 1-2 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 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

Truist Securities (formerly SunTrust Robinson Humphrey) reports, “Economy (-16.0%) was the relatively strongest chain scale for branded hotels; Luxury/Upper Upscale were the weakest at -76.7%. Upscale (-60.3%) underperformed the industry average; Upper Midscale (-44.3%) outperformed. Last week's results represented a fairly clean comp. Halloween shifted in the prior week to a Saturday from a Thursday; we also note that Veteran's Day shifted to Wednesday for the week ending 11/14/20 from Monday in 2019. We view Halloween's calendar shift more impactful than Veteran's Day. More telling perhaps is some indication of COVID's second wave impacting general travel, leading to sequentially softer results last week. As we say, one week does not a trend make, but we are concerned that last week's results could be impactful for the remainder of 4Q. Note that in normal years, business travel is less material starting in late November, thus the more fickle and easily cancellable leisure demand is more material for hotel performance for the rest of the quarter. Even if we hear news headlines of heavy traveling for Thanksgiving and into the December holidays, our question is how much will COVID dent holiday demand. Travel will clearly be down; the question is how far down and the risk tolerance of travelers given rising COVID cases. ”

AAHOA has partnered with AutoClerk to offer AAHOA*PMS, a property management system designed specifically for AAHOA Members. If you sign up for both Chase Merchant Services and AutoClerk, AAHOA will pay your set-up fee ($99) and the cost of your first month for each property. Visit www.aahoapms.com for more details and to sign up now.

PMC Commercial Trust offers conventional and SBA loan programs for the acquisition, refinancing, renovation and construction of businesses with commercial real estate throughout the country as principal lenders. PMC has been granted Preferred Lender (PLP) status from the SBA, which allows for a faster turn-around time at the SBA. Since the early 90s, PMC’s focus has been on the hospitality industry, assisting start up individuals as well as multi property owners in obtaining the financing that best fits their needs. Visit the website, then contact Kristi Lewis-Hodge to get started.

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. Visit the website, then contact Rushi Shah for a no-obligation pre-approval.

The hotel industry is heading toward a rebound and benchmarking can significantly help the process. Benchmarking can spot shifts in demand, help hoteliers reset costs, and more.

While 2023 is the earliest projection for hotel industry recovery, there is some good news on the horizon. As Pfizer announced a successful vaccine trial, the stock market increased exponentially, particularly in the hotel sector.

The COVID-19 pandemic hit all industries, but hospitality was one of the hardest hit. As we continue to rebuild, there are some aspects of hospitality that will be changed forever. Communicating these changes, such as new employee training, new ways to serve food, and demonstations of your committment to safety will be crucial to getting numbers back to pre-COVID-19 levels.