U.S. Representatives Charlie Crist (D-FL) and Bill Posey (R-FL) recently introduced the Restored, Equitable, Coronavirus Adjusted Lodging (RECAL) Act, bipartisan legislation that would avoid cuts to per diem rates due to the impact of COVID-19 on the lodging and travel industries. The rates limit what federal government employees can spend on travel and lodging each day. The new legislation would require the GSA to continue to freeze future federal per diem rates at the 2020 level established in 2019 before the pandemic, rather than letting these rates reflect a pandemic-depressed market. This is beneficial news for the hospitality industry, and as a result, AAHOA is launching a Call to Action campaign to spread the word and drum up support. We encourage all of you to contact your lawmakers and press them to support this critical legislation and urge everybody you know to do the same. Let's make our voices heard.

For the last decade, an increasing number of frivolous lawsuits under Title III of the ADA have been filed. Unfortunately, these lawsuits have done little to ensure places of public accommodation are more welcoming to all guests, and they have hurt hoteliers and other small businesses. We are conducting a survey to gather data on how hoteliers have been impacted by these lawsuits, and your response will help shape our efforts to combat this issue. We would appreciate you taking a few minutes to fill out this survey submitting the details of your specific ADA lawsuits or demand letters. Please re-submit the form for each property for which you have received a lawsuit or demand letter. These often-meritless lawsuits do great harm to hoteliers nationwide and they must end.

Here’s how you can get involved:

As states across the nation make the vaccine available to everyone, AAHOA's P2P initiative is helping ensure your employees have the tools and resources they need to get their vaccine and help safely reopen travel and tourism in the U.S. Let's make our guests feel welcome and safe returning to our hotels. Sign the Pledge today.

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.

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 attendees 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, “On a 2-year run-rate, RevPAR was down 31.5% vs. down 31.5% in the prior week’s 2-year run-rate. National results were unchanged on the 2-year comparison and most chain scales were also sequentially similar. Note that leisure demand continues to incorporate Spring Break impact, including pent-up leisure. Upscale was +258.2% and -40.4% over 2 years, y/y outperformed the industry average. Upper Midscale was +229.1% and -24.8% over 2 years, y/y underperformed the industry average. Despite the super-easy y/y comp driving an impressive headline, we primarily focus on the 2019 vs. 2021 comparison. While last week is a continuation of Spring Break and pent-up leisure demand strength, particularly to the “sun and ski” markets, we continue to see little evidence of strength building in higher-rated corporate travel. Upper Upscale 2-year RevPAR change “improved” to -54.3% vs. the prior week at -54.8%. Upscale was -40.4% vs. -40.3% in the prior week. These statistics are telling for the lack of material rebound of the core individual business traveler.”

AAHOA has partnered with AutoClerk to offer AAHOA*PMS, a property management system designed specifically for AAHOA Members. There are pricing options to fit your needs, including subscriptions with no upfront fees, and you can run your hotel from any mobile device with a browser. Autoclerk also offers 24/7 phone support from staff and trainers who each have at least five years of hands-on hotel work experience. Visit www.aahoapms.com for more details and to sign up now!

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 has partnered with IWBI to support hoteliers in successfully getting back to business, strengthen pandemic recovery efforts, and reassure guests and staff alike with health and safety guidance and education. IWBI introduced the WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management to help organizations get back to business with confidence. AAHOA Members save 25% on WELL Health-Safety Rating enrollment fees. Login to MyAAHOA.com and click on "International WELL Building Institute" in the vendor directory to obtain your discount code and enroll today! (Click the "See More" dropdown to access the code.)

The hospitality industry has been one of the hardest hit throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Leisure and hospitality accounted for 39% of all jobs lost since the onset of the pandemic—more than any other sector. But Dream Hotel Group CEO Jay Stein predicts that most markets in the U.S. will bounce back to where they were and even stronger due to the pent-up demand.

With the looming shade of COVID-19 slowly dissipating and vaccines rolling out, tourism is likely to resume in some capacity in the near future. Real estate investors have the perfect entry point into the hospitality real estate investment market. With so many businesses looking to cash out, it's easier to acquire real estate investments now than ever before.

With the pandemic creating an amplified focus on safety and cleanliness in hotels around the world, many "wellness" amenities have been pushed aside in favor of offerings like "enhanced cleaning and hygiene practices."