We all know these past 12 months have been unlike anything we've ever seen. But this is just one of the many reasons AAHOA exists – to unite behind a common cause and weather any storm together. And the more hoteliers we can help – and the more hoteliers we represent – the more we can help hotels across America thrive. Help us build a stronger AAHOA by renewing your hotelier annual membership. If you do so by June 30, you will be eligible to win roundtrip coach airfare to Dallas and three nights’ accommodations at the Omni for AAHOACON21.* The drawing to determine the winner is July 1, and there is no requirement to register for convention to enter the sweepstakes.

The March 2021 issue of Today's Hotelier magazine is now available. In the cover story, Teague Hunter, President & CEO of Hunter Hotel Advisors, the nation's leading investment advisory firm focused exclusively on the hotel industry, dives into how hoteliers have risen to have risen to meet the challenges of COVID-19. AAHOA President & CEO Cecil P. Staton explains how AAHOA, through its 2021-23 Strategic Plan, will provide the services, advocacy, and resources to get back to business as usual, while Rushi Shah delves into what you need to consider before converting your hotel into an apartment building.

On Wednesday, AAHOA President & CEO Cecil P. Staton moderated a panel of industry experts at Hotel Success Strategies: Innovative Takeaways and Best Practices. The speakers – Elie Maalouf, CEO, IHG Hotels and Resorts; Mitch Patel, President & CEO, Vision Hospitality Group; and Mit Shah, CEO, Noble Investment Group – looked back and ahead at the innovative ideas and new best practices emerging from the pandemic as they celebrated stories of resilience from the industry’s toughest year. Watch the on-demand video.

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 Chetan (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!

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!

Truist Securities (formerly SunTrust Robinson Humphrey) reports, “Economy (-11.9%) was the relatively strongest chain scale for branded hotels; Upper Upscale was the weakest at -67.8%. Upscale (-49.7%) underperformed the industry average; Upper Midscale (-34.8%) outperformed. We focus on comparing last week’s data against the data from two weeks prior as the data from one week ago benefited from the leisure-centric President’s week holiday. Versus two weeks prior (pre-holiday), we interpret a modest improvement in sequential results. The greatest growth was driven from lower-rated chain scales as Upper Upscale was 40 bps worse (essentially unchanged).”

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!

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.

No Vacancy with Glenn Haussman is the travel industry’s most exciting podcast. It's a fun, fast-paced, genre-bending program that peels back the veneer of the travel business. Click here to subscribe to the No Vacancy Podcast. Follow Glenn on Twitter @TravelingGlenn or visit www.rouse.media.

As we all look forward to recovery in 2021 and beyond, here's a look at some of the steps hoteliers should be implementing now to ensure the greatest chance of long-term success.

With hospitality accounting for an estimated 39% of all jobs lost during the pandemic, more than 80 travel-industry organizations announded their joint support for the Hospitality and Commerce Job Recovery Act of 2021.

As the hospitality industry continues to struggle with recovery, hoteliers can expect some financial relief due to the Economic Aid Act, passed in late 2020, with specific respite coming from the Paycheck Protection Program.