This year is fast coming to a close and we want to make sure you know you have only until Dec. 31, 2020, to get qualified to vote in the upcoming election at AAHOACON21 (May 4-7, 2021, Dallas, TX). To qualify, you must:

To learn more about voting eligibility, download our new 2021 Voter Eligibility Rules infographic. Note that renewing your 2020 membership also impacts your eligibility to vote in the 2022 AAHOA election. Reminder: Wyndham owners, your first AAHOA membership is available to you for free. G6 and RLHC owners, you can join and renew your AAHOA membership for free. Don't wait! Become a Lifetime Member by Dec. 31, 2020! Visit MyAAHOA.com or call our team at 404-816-5759 to check your membership status and renew or upgrade your membership.

The countdown is on! The December 31 deadline for hoteliers to comply with Florida’s new human trafficking law is almost here, but there’s still time for Florida hoteliers to take advantage of AAHOA’s human trafficking awareness training series. There are three events left in the series, which features Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST) Inhospitable to Human Trafficking Training Sponsored by AAHOA -- Jacksonville (6 p.m. EST today), Daytona (12:30 p.m. EST tomorrow), and Orlando (6 p.m. EST tomorrow). The new law mandates that all employees be certified within 60 days after they begin employment in a housekeeping or reception area role or by Jan. 1, 2021, whichever occurs later. Space is limited and registrants are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, so don’t wait, register now. If you are unable to attend the in-person training, you can take our on-demand online training at any time to help save lives and protect your business.

AAHOA Past Chair Jagruti Panwala, President & CEO, Wealth Protection Strategies, has been named to the Board of Advisors of the Boutique & Lifestyle Leaders Association (BLLA). "Boutique hotels are an important part of the hospitality industry because they can serve as hubs of innovation while providing guests with unique services and experience," Panwala said. "I look forward to working with BLLA to promote this part of the industry as we emerge from the pandemic." BLLA is dedicated to the luxury independent boutique lodging and lifestyle industries. The association connects the world’s most dynamic executives with cutting edge business and operational insight. BLLA’s mission is to provide leadership and opportunities for global recognition and connections to the world’s best hotels, vendors, and manufacturers. AAHOA congratulates Panwala on her appointment.

AAHOA President & CEO Cecil P. Staton led a Board Service Interest Meeting on Tuesday looking for motivated members who are ready and willing to help AAHOA achieve the goals laid out in its 2021-2023 Strategic Plan, which will launch in January. If you missed the meeting, you can still view the on-demand video. The nomination period runs through March 8, and open positions and eligibility requirements are available here. There is still time for you to answer the call and volunteer to serve.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent restrictions imposed to fight the spread of the virus have forced business owners to get creative with their marketing. To take out some of the guesswork and simplify the process, Silver Partner American Express has developed 10 Tips to Help You Get New Customers on Social Media. This handy how-to guide is designed to help AAHOA Members market their business effectively on social media in the age of social distancing. Optimizing your social media links, creating taggable content, and encouraging and promoting reviews are just a few of the ways this guide can help you stay relevant during these challenging times.

AAHOA Club Blue Member 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!

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 nearly 35,000 hoteliers to date and feature more than 200 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: Understanding the Intricacies of Hotel Valuation, 1-1:30 p.m. EST, Jan. 21, 2021

Truist Securities (formerly SunTrust Robinson Humphrey) reports, “Economy (-12.2%) was the relatively strongest chain scale for branded hotels; Luxury was the weakest at -78.5%. Upscale (-61.8%) underperformed the industry average; Upper Midscale (-45.6%) outperformed. The only relative bright spot is from Economy-priced hotels, where y/y RevPAR declines remain quite modest. Chain scale Economy occupancy of 46.5% last week was ahead of the national average of 37.8%. However, the trend is more disparate on the y/y percentage growth (-8.0% for Economy vs. -37.4% for the U.S. average). Similarly, Economy ADR was down just 4.5% y/y last week vs. 31.7% for the national average. Despite the considerable macro challenge, ADR is holding near flat y/y for Economy hotels. Quite remarkable.”

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.

Coast to Coast Computer Products, Inc.™ is a nationwide partner for all of your ink and toner needs. With over 27 years of experience, we offer OEM ink and toner as well as an OEM alternative, our Diamond Series™ cartridges. Coast to Coast is thrilled to announce a new height of dedication to AAHOA and an additional level of service to you. Effective immediately, Coast to Coast has launched a new toll-free number, (800) 231-4553, exclusive to AAHOA Members that directly connects you to your very own ink and toner specialist. Each specialist has been trained with the AAHOA Member in mind, providing a simple solution for all of your printing needs. Call and ask for the AAHOA program by name to learn how you can start saving money today.

HotStats is a unique profit-and-loss benchmarking service for hoteliers, enabling AAHOA Members to find out monthly how your hotel stacks up against the competition. The platform provides in excess of 500 key performance indicators across multiple areas of hotel revenue, cost, and profit in a database that currently totals close to two million hotel rooms worldwide. Contact David Eisen, director of Hotel Intelligence and Customer Solutions, or visit the HotStats website today.

With news of effective COVID-19 vaccines, CBRE has changed its projections for recovery. New projections show recovery truly beginning in the second half of 2021. These projections show a national occupancy level at 44.4 percent during the first half of 2021, then increasing to 55.7 percent during the second half.

According to data from STR, the hotel industry is likely to pass 1 billion unsold rooms before 2020 ends. Throughout this year, hoteliers have lost approximately $46 billion in revenue. With talks of the COVID-19 vaccine being released soon, hope for more travelers can't come too soon.

As a COVID-19 vaccine is being rolled out in the U.S., there is talk of guests returning to travel soon. As these guests return, we'll see changes in traveler trends. Guests will be more price conscious than before, and we have the possibility of guests looking to choose hotel rooms as their new remote-work spaces.