Even in the midst of a pandemic, bad-faith actors continue to file lawsuits and send demand letters alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). AAHOA reminds hoteliers to take action on the following:

Ensure your property is welcoming to all guests.  The cost of ADA compliance is far less expensive than defending a lawsuit. For additional guidance, see AAHOA’s library of ADA-related webinars here or contact franchise@aahoa.com with any questions.

 

The 45th annual Hotel, Motel and Restaurant Supply Show of the Southeast kicks off March 9-11 in Myrtle Beach, SC. AAHOA Chairman Biran Patel will give remarks as South Carolina Regional Director Chetin (Chet) Patel and North Carolina Regional Director Akshat Patel host a Town Hall on the second day. We also encourage you to visit the AAHOA booth on the trade show floor. The in-person supply show, which offers free admission to industry members, allows attendees to connect face to face with actual producers of the products and services they need, find competitive pricing for all supplies and service needs, gain exposure to the latest innovations available to the hospitality industry, and so much more. To ensure the health and safety of attendees, organizers will provide masks or face shields, have temperature scanners on site, and encourage social distancing. The Myrtle Beach Convention Center also has a new fresh-air system, which is touted as “the closest to being outdoors, while being inside.” Don't miss it, register now!

Each year, AAHOA honors hoteliers for their contributions to the hospitality industry and the challenges of the past year have indeed revealed greatness. Do you know a hotelier who has gone above and beyond in their efforts, especially during this black-swan event of the COVID-19 pandemic? Now is the time to nominate him or her for one of seven awards to be bestowed at AAHOACON21 on August 3-6 in Dallas, TX. You can see a complete list of the awards here. The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, June 4, and you do not need to be an AAHOA Member to submit a nomination.

AAHOA's virtual Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) is available once again, but space is limited and selling out fast. The CHIA is the leading certification for industry professionals focused on analytics. Held in partnership with STR, AHLEI, and ICHRIE, this program teaches you how to read, understand, and interpret statistical hotel data to help you strategically set rates and make business decisions. Make sure you've got all the tools you need in your belt to help navigate this most challenging of seasons. The exam is a timed 90 minutes and will be administered Friday, March 26 through Monday, March 29 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Registration is capped at the first 50 registrants and only members in good standing can participate. Our exclusive, heavily discounted, members-only rate is $199. Not a member? No problem! It's quick and easy to become one today to unlock this special rate and access countless other benefits. Register today to get your certification!

 

The Small Business Administration (SBA) released a report updating the data tracking the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Since February of 2020, employment in the leisure and hospitality industry is down by 22.9%, representing the most adversely affected of any major economic segment. According to the SBA report, accommodation and food service sector businesses account for 18% of the total PPP loans administered.

 

AAHOA encourages all members to consult our PPP resource toolkit and contact their lenders regarding Second Draw loans from the program. AAHOA will be hosting an upcoming virtual event on this topic, “A Conversation on PPP Lending: What Hoteliers Need to Know,” set for 3 p.m. EST Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. Make plans to join if you have questions around the Second Draw program. AAHOA will continue to provide you with timely updates on the SBA and its various loan programs. We expect more developments in the coming weeks as Congress moves to pass the Biden administration’s $1.9-trillion relief plan.

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. 

AAHOA takes seriously our commitment to giving back to the communities our members serve. What better way to honor that commitment than with a fun-filled day of golf and networking, all in the support of worthwhile causes? AAHOA has released its 2021 Charity Golf Tournament shedule and registration is now open for the first two events, in April. Save the dates and join us on the greens for a masked, socially distanced, and safe day of golf as we tee off for charity. Registration is now open for our April events. 

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 50,000 hoteliers to date and feature more than 240 webcasts separated by category in our library. AAHOA makes these webcasts available to the industry, so share with those in your network, whether they're an AAHOA Member or not. 

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!

Independent public adjusters are invaluable members of your insurance claim settlement team for help in dealing with commercial or residential catastrophic loss. Negotiating a claim after a devastating event such as a fire, flood, earthquake, hurricane, or any natural disaster is a monumental task. The insurance company will use their team to attempt to minimize your loss. That’s where we come in. WorldClaim Global Claims Management is a 33-year-old international firm of public insurance adjusters advocating on behalf of commercial, institutional and individual policyholders. We provide the highest level of claims management services to clients around the globe. For more information, visit our website, then contact Russell Heath today.

Marcus & Millichap is a leading commercial real estate brokerage firm focusing exclusively on investment sales, financing, research, and advisory services. The firm has perfected a powerful property marketing system that integrates broker specialization by property type and market area, has relationships with the largest pool of qualified investors, and uses state-of-the-art technology to match buyers and sellers. Contact them by email or visit the website 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 vaccine distribution ramping up and confirmed virus numbers beginning to tick downward, optimism regarding upcoming travel plans later this year is increasing, according to a recent survey commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

Despite a year of record lows across the hospitality industry, extended-stay properties weathered the downturn better than many of their counterparts and are poised to experience more growth in 2021 with events helping to provide an additional boost.

It's no secret that 2020 was an enormously challenging time for the hospitality industry, and many properties are in desperate need of help while the economy bounces back. Here are several steps hotel owners can take to best position themselves for recovery.