Last week, AAHOA and the hospitality industry at large mourned the sudden loss of industry legend Jayanti P. (JP) Rama. JP, the brother of AAHOA Founder HP Rama and AAHOA Past Chair MP Rama, served as AAHOA Chairman (1997-98) and was instrumental in building the association’s membership through awareness campaigns and educational seminars. He also was a big proponent of bringing young hoteliers into the association, recognizing that they were the key to AAHOA continuing to grow and thrive well into the future. To honor his legacy, AAHOA created a video tribute to honor JP’s significant contributions to the hospitality industry and the lasting impact he had on everyone he encountered.

Help us build a stronger AAHOA by renewing your hotelier annual membership. If you do so by March 15, you will be eligible to win roundtrip coach airfare to Baltimore and three nights’ accommodations for AAHOACON22.* Renewing your annual membership by March 15 also will contribute to eligibility requirements to vote in the 2022 AAHOA Elections. The voting is electronic this year, so the eligibility requirements have changed. Make sure your voice is heard. Renew today.

Ready to hit the greens and do your best Tiger Woods impression? Well, you'll soon get your chance as AAHOA has released its 2022 Charity Golf Tournaments schedule! This year, we’re again inviting you to join us on some of the nation’s premier golf clubs for a beautiful day of competitive golf as we raise money for worthwhile charities. You’ll have the chance to network with local hoteliers and other industry professionals, all in service to a good cause. So, save the date and plan to join us!

AAHOA is excited to welcome new Platinum Partner Access Restoration Services into the fold! Access Restoration Services is an emergency restoration and build company that specializes in property damage resulting from water, fire, storm, and environmental disasters. If you own, manage, or insure property, they are your single-source solution for all restoration needs. With more than 60 years of experience in the property insurance industry, they are dedicated to meeting the needs of insurers, agents, brokers, and most importantly, policyholders.

AAHOA will soon be releasing its full 2022 events schedule. In the meantime, check the lineup below for an event in your area. (All times are local.)

What happens when an unexpected, crisis-caused disruption drags on? What do you do when everyone is looking at you, asking, “What do we do? When will it be over? Will we be OK?” Watch on demand as hospitality security and crisis management expert Paul Moxness, Managing Partner, North Point International, shares the keys to maintaining your focus when disaster strikes, information is scarce, and everyone is looking to you for answers.

Truist Securities reports, “Last week’s RevPAR was up against a -40.6% comparable result in 2021 vs. -47.2% in the prior week. On a 3-year run-rate (vs. 2019), RevPAR was -0.8% vs. -12.9% in the prior week’s 3-year run-rate. Upscale RevPAR: +74.2% y/y and -8.7% over 3 years; Upper Midscale RevPAR: +59.6% y/y and +2.4% over 3 years. There were a few factors at play in last week's lodging results, including a Valentine’s Day calendar shift and a President’s Day calendar shift. (Please see the note link for detail).”

 

We are nearly two full years into the pandemic. In that time, rental properties often enjoyed greater occupancies due to guest preferences for more private accommodations. But, during the same period, hotels typically charged higher rates, showcasing a different strategy from opposite ends of the short-term lodging market.

Confirming predictions made during the pandemic's early days and casual anecdotal observations throughout, the spread of COVID-19 directly contributed to an increase in contactless check-in options across the industry as hoteliers looked to address labor shortages while easing guest concerns.

According to recently released data from STR, hospitality IT spending still lags behind similarly sized industries. But hoteliers are slowly closing the gap by placing an emphasis on using technology to improve the guest experience and streamline operations.