Troy Aikman has harnessed the drive and dedication that formed the foundation of his Hall of Fame football career with the Dallas Cowboys in numerous successful business ventures since retiring from the game following the 2000 season. Through broadcasting, real estate, and The Troy Aikman Foundation, the three-time Super Bowl winner has quickly discovered numerous ways to keep himself occupied in “retirement.” Gear up to join us by applying this exclusive AAHOACON21 Facebook frame to your profile picture and using this flyer with important links on how to register and get ready for Dallas, Then, RSVP and share your excitement on LinkedIn and invite your connections to attend. We can’t wait to see you in Dallas, so register today! Reminder: Lifetime Members, you're eligible for complimentary registration to the convention if you register on or before Sunday, June 4.

All 50 U.S. states, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, have now made all U.S. persons over the age of 16 eligible for COVID-19 vaccines, successfully meeting the April 19 deadline set by President Biden. This likely will result in people feeling more comfortable to resume traveling, but they need to have confidence that hotels are safe and employees are protected from COVID-19. In addition to ensuring industry standards for sanitization, the most critical action hoteliers can take now is to encourage their staff to get a vaccination as soon as they are available. In launching the "Pledge to Protect Our Guests, Employees, and Businesses" initiative, AAHOA is asking the nation’s hotel owners not only to educate their employees about the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine but also to provide them with the resources they need to get vaccinated. Sign the Pledge today.

AAHOA is excited to host a Young Professional Hoteliers Reception during the 2021 Hunter Hotel Investment Conference, set for May 10-12 in Atlanta. The reception will be 7-9 p.m. May 11 at STATS Brewpub in downtown Atlanta and you don’t want to miss it! You must register to attend, so don't wait. The Hunter Hotel Investment Conference brings together the nation’s most influential leaders and investors in the hotel industry to analyze trends, network, and turn prospective opportunities into business transactions. 

AAHOA is pleased to welcome Dean Heyl as its new Vice President of Government Affairs. He will lead AAHOA’s Washington, D.C., office and join the association’s Executive Leadership Team. Heyl brings decades of experience from many sectors of the U.S. government and in the C-suites of industry associations. Prior to joining AAHOA, he served as the U.S. Department of Labor’s Director of the Office of Public Liaison where he reported directly to the U.S. Secretary of Labor. In this role, Heyl was responsible for stakeholder outreach with an emphasis on COVID-19 issues, including PPP, as well as OSHA and Wage and Hour guidance. He also worked with several national and international associations as chief legal officer, federal lobbyist, executive director, and senior advisor.

The road to recovery runs through AAHOA, so we are bringing you a series of webcasts that will keep you informed and help determine next steps for your business as you bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. 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 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, “Last week’s result was up against a -78.6% comp in the comparable week in 2020 vs. and -82.9% in the prior week’s results. On a 2-year run-rate, RevPAR was down 27.5% vs. down 29.6% in the prior week’s 2-year run-rate and consistent with the -27% to -32% range we have seen for the past five weeks. Upscale was +254.4% and -34.4% over 2 years, y/y outperformed the industry average; Upper Midscale was +245.1% and -14.4% over 2 years, y/y outperformed the industry average.” 

HBO, the oldest and most award-winning premium channel in the U.S., is offering AAHOA Members the chance to earn money back. Members get a rebate of $9 per room (5-year contract) or $7 per room (3-or 4-year contract) when they add or renew HBO at their properties. Click here today to complete the rebate form and get started. All rebate requests for contracts executed and that have begun billing between January 1 - June 30, 2021, must be submitted by July 31, 2021.

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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.

The past year has brought with it extensive changes to inumerable facets of everyday life. And as travel begins to return, your hotel needs to change with the times to remain safe, competitive, nimble, and profitable.

With leisure and business travel expected to emerge from a COVID-induced coma, the hospitality is in increasing need of workers. What hurdles will the industry expect to face from a labor perspective as "busines as usual" returns?

Asking guests to download yet another app on their phone, with only negliglble return on their effort, runs the very real risk of creating "tech backlash." Welcoming words, spoken by humans, convey authentic hospitality. Here are several best pratices to ensure you're connecting with your guests in the most meaningful ways possible.