In AAHOA's continuing observance of National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we are offering Virtual Training Group Session: BEST Inhospitable to Human Trafficking Training, Sponsored by AAHOA at 3 p.m. Wednesday, January 27. This live virtual event is the latest effort in our drive to help as many AAHOA Members and their employees as possible spot the signs of trafficking to save lives and protect businesses. This event will be capped at 500 attendees and you must be an AAHOA Member to attend. It will not be recorded, so it's imperative that you register yourself and your staff as soon as possible.   

Yesterday, as President Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, AAHOA Chairman Biran Patel and President & CEO Cecil P. Staton joined host Glenn Haussman on the "No Vacancy Podcast" to discuss what the new administration will mean for hospitality as COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on the industry. “As I was watching the inauguration, I felt optimism,” Patel said. “With all we’ve gone through and endured the last year, we have nothing else to look forward to but ... an upward trajectory.” Staton said Inauguration Day is a meaningful time for him. “It signals a new beginning for our country,” Staton said. “We will be working with this new administration [and all of the new and returning members of Congress] to make sure the interests of our industry and hoteliers are front and center.” View the entire video here.

AAHOA Chairman Biran Patel was among the featured speakers as HVS and The Lodging Conference took the “View from the Top" panel online last week with a webinar focusing on hospitality insights and strategies for 2021. Patel said AAHOA has been reaching out to the incoming Biden administration and working to educate lawmakers on both sides of the aisle on what the hospitality industry needs. “I feel somewhat optimistic that even though the new administration is not in the hotel industry, they are aware of our industry,” Patel said. “We’re in their ears on a daily basis with our Government Affairs team. We've had a town hall with their team to educate them on our initiatives as an industry.” Leaders from a range of hospitality companies gathered to look back over lessons learned from 2020 and to discuss how they think the industry can hang on until travel makes a full comeback. View the full on-demand video.

Registration is now open for the first two events on AAHOA's 2021 Charity Golf Tournament schedule. The AAHOA Southeast Texas Inaugural Charity Golf Tournament will take place Tuesday, April 6, at the Wildcat Golf Club in Houston, TX, while the AAHOA Southwest-Phoenix Charity Golf Tournament will tee off Thursday, April 8 at the Ocotillo Golf Club in Chandler, AZ. We invite players and sponsors to join us at two of the country’s top golf courses as we come together to support local charities and COVID-19 relief efforts. It also will be a great opportunity to network in person once again while enjoying a beautiful day of competitive golf. Event participants’ well-being, health, and safety at our AAHOA Charity Golf Tournaments are our No. 1 priority, so we are taking all necessary precautions to keep you safe. AAHOA will provide face coverings, hand sanitizer, and proper health and safety measures at all of our events.

 

As National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month continues, it's critical that each hotel owner understand exactly what is required of them by law in every state where they own properties. Laws can vary greatly from state to state, that's why AAHOA has put together a handy infographic that breaks down exactly which states require what in regard to human trafficking. Also, to learn more about human trafficking and its impact on children in particular, join us at 3 p.m. EST Thursday, January 28 for "Understanding Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation." Then, if you haven't already done so, register yourself and your team for our BEST Inhospitable to Human Trafficking Training Sponsored by AAHOA online training.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has reopened the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). All participating lenders have access to the program, so new PPP borrowers should submit your applications as soon as possible. If you have already exhausted your first PPP loan, the process for second draw is now available. We encourage all AAHOA Members seeking to participate in the PPP to contact your lenders if you have not already done so. Visit AAHOA's website for more information.

The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on the hospitality industry, leaving many wondering, "Where do we go from here?" and “How do we come back from this?” AAHOA Chairman Biran Patel and Secretary Nishant (Neal) Patel will be among the featured speakers who will address those questions and more at Hotel Optimization Part 3, set for January 27. This virtual event series, created in partnership with AAHOA, will provide clear insight, opinion, and forecasting to help you better understand your options of getting back to profitability... and fast. Your FREE pass to the third installment of this virtual event series gives you access to four expert panels discussing: 

There also will be a chat room to talk strategy with your peers, a Q&A tab to submit your questions to speakers, and resources to help you power through this challenging time. Don't miss out, view the agenda and register today for your free pass!

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's virtual Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) is available once again. 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. 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. The cost of registration is $199. Non-members and Future Hoteliers will first be required to sign up for AAHOA membership ($199) in addition to the cost of registration. Register today to get your certification as seats are limited!

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 200 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. 

• What Employers Can Expect from the New Administration, 11-11:30 a.m. EST, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021
• Hotel Valuation Outlook: What to Expect in 2021, 3-3:30 p.m. EST, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021
• Understanding Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation, 3-4 p.m. EST Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021

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 (-6.6%) was the relatively strongest chain scale for branded hotels; Upper Upscale was the weakest at -76.5%. Upscale (-56.9%) underperformed the industry average; Upper Midscale (-40.3%) outperformed. Results were largely as expected last week with leisure demand remaining the primary customer base. The Economy chain scale remains a material relative outperformer, but occupancy was slightly down last week (-2.0%) vs. slightly up (+1.1%) in the prior week.”

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 the website to learn more and sign up today!

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 the website, then contact Daniel Mormino today to get started.

Better Buildings provides hotel owners with free technology solutions, market expertise, and a network of peers to identify cost-saving efficiency measures. Contact Holly Carr for more information on the Department of Energy's drive to make the nation’s homes, commercial buildings, and industrial plants more energy efficient.

As the hotel industry was struck by COVID-19, it seemed that only bad news would prevail. However, almost one year into the pandemic, there is some good news still to come. The recent stimulus package that was passed in addition to personal savings rates could lead to an increase in consumer spending.

According to data from Integra Realty Resources, experts are looking to a potential mid-year economic turnaround. While the numbers aren't pre-pandemic levels, major mergers and acquisitions are anticipated for the hospitality industry.

The hotel industry is starting to see the shape of recovery as the COVID-19 vaccine becomes more widely available. Room cleanliness and sanitization will continue to be a key player beyond 2021, but we will start to see other trends such as a stronger mix between business and leisure travelers and interest in boutique hotels with fresh takes on F&B.