Hotelier Weekly
October 27, 2022

AAHOA News
  
AAHOA Founding Chairman H.P. Rama (1991-1992) spoke to a room full of students during the Tetley Distinguished Leader Lecture Series at Kennesaw State University on Wednesday, October 19. Rama was proud to share his humble beginnings with the attentive student body, who only knew of him before as a successful hotelier and philanthropist.
 
He grew up in a small town in India, and moved to the U.S. in 1969 to pursue a Master of Business Administration. He reminded the students that he considers himself an “accidental hotelier,” kicking off his professional career as a dishwasher at a motel and eventually landing a promotion as a waiter. After saving his hard-earned money, he purchased his first property in 1973, a 37-room motel in Ponoma, California. As a co-founder of AAHOA, Rama shared the significant impact the association has had in the industry and to many Indian-American hoteliers.
 
The AAHOA team interviewed Rama and hospitality students at the end of the event. In the upcoming weeks, we will release a video with more inspiring details about Rama's impact on the hospitality industry and the next generation.
  
Rishi Sunak, the 42-year-old son of Indian immigrants, has become the UK's first Asian Prime Minister. Diversity and representation are both part of AAHOA's foundational values, and AAHOA is proud that Sunak became the leader of the Conservative party on Diwali, of all days.
  
Sunak is Britain’s third prime minister in seven weeks. He’s also the youngest prime minister in two centuries and the first person of color, and the Hindu faith, to achieve Britain’s highest elected office in the history of the country.
 
While he will have to deal with the economic and political crises in the United Kingdom, a country that continues to grapple with racism and wealth inequality, Sunak’s win is proof of major progress.
  
Laura Lee Blake, AAHOA President & CEO, has been named one of Hotel Management’s Top Influential Women in Hospitality. 
 
“I am so highly honored to have been selected as an influential woman in the industry by HOTEL MANAGEMENT Magazine in its October 2022 issue,” Blake shared on LinkedIn. “With our first HerOwnership conference around the corner, I am thrilled to see doors opening for women in hospitality. Together we can foster, promote, and empower women entrepreneurs to shatter the glass ceiling and pursue their entrepreneurial journey.”
 
Although Blake was in the legal field full-time prior to joining the association this summer, she served as AAHOA’s general counsel and VP, fair franchising and government affairs, from 2005 to 2014. Blake’s decade of experience and legal background have proven valuable and unstoppable as she champions America’s hotel owners.
 
Additionally, Blake is working on long-term solutions to achieve fairness in franchising for AAHOA Members, voicing hotel owners’ concerns on important advocacy issues at federal, state, and local levels and, she said, “We're unifying our members to rally together, speak out, and stand firm on the issues that are most important for their businesses, their families, and their communities.”
 
  
Today is the final day of the HerOwnership Conference & Retreat, AAHOA's inaugural event under the HerOwnership initiative created in 2022 for women hoteliers.
 
We have welcomed hundreds of eager and amibitous women in the hospitality industry to network, attend education and wellness sessions, and get inspired. Last night, after wrapping up our first day of the conference, we set sail on the timeless Cincinatti Belle for a beautiful riverboat cruise! It was a wonderful evening full of good food and even better company.
 
We got off to an early start this morning with a yoga and Zumba session, followed by breakfast and multiple wellness and education panels covering a range of topics. It has truly been an inspiring and insightful couple of days, and AAHOA is proud to host an event that aims to cause a ripple effect in the hospitality industry for women hoteliers to shine brighter than ever before.
 
Stay tuned to see photos and videos from the event! To learn more about the HerOwnership initiative, click here.
Fortis Payment Systems, LLC
Charter Communications Operating, LLC
Featured Content
  
AAHOA released its updated 12 Points of Fair Franchising (the “12 Points”) as an educational primer earlier this year, continuing its mission and commitment to educating AAHOA Members on best-in-class, mutually beneficial franchise systems.
 
Currently, about 82% of AAHOA Members own and operate a hotel franchise. Many of you rely on the franchise business model to achieve entrepreneurship, contribute to your communities, and support your families.
 
From termination rights and liquidated damages to franchise sales ethics and practices and dispute resolution, the 12 Points cover a lot of ground. To continue to empower AAHOA Member-Franchisees toward more successful franchise hotel ownership, AAHOA launched the 12 Points of Fair Franchising Webinar Series - a 12-part video series where AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake will dive deep into each point and invite industry leaders to share their experience with fair franchising.
 
To start, the first video in the 12 Points Webinar Series dropped last week! You can now watch Blake discuss termination rights and liquidated damages, a key provision in many franchise agreements.
Red Roof Inn
Ascentium Capital , LLC
Events and Happenings
dormakaba, Inc.
Mango
AAHOA Education
  
 
 A hurricane has caused damage to your hotel, thankfully you have hurricane insurance, but now what do you do? Understand the dos and don’ts when presenting your hurricane insurance claim, what actions are required by your policy and what coverage is available for rebuilding. Also, learn how to avoid unnecessary legal issues for coverage and settlement options every policyholder should know about.
 
Speakers: Sneha Patel, Vice President of Sales, Metro Public Adjustment, Inc. and Bill Underkoffler, Director Of Adjusting, Metro Public Adjustment, Inc.
In the Market
  
Truist Securities reports, “Last week’s RevPAR was up against a +86.0% comparable result in 2021 vs. +77.3% in the prior week. On a 3-year run-rate (vs. 2019), RevPAR was +16.1% vs. +12.8% in the prior week’s 3-year run-rate. Upscale RevPAR: +33.1% y/y and +8.4% over 3 years; Upper Midscale RevPAR: +19.1% y/y and +17.2% over 3 years. We continue to see Group strength in a clean-comp week with Group RevPAR +81.3% y/y. Versus 2019, Group occupancy is now just ~ 7% down with ADR +13-14%. ”

For more, read the full report here, and read the China/Europe report here.
Red Lion Hotel Corp - Sonesta
Karcher North America
Featured Club Blue Member
  
AAHOA Members, get 5 percent off all your everyday purchases when you use the Lowe’s LAR business credit card. There’s no annual fee, and you can make purchases by phone, fax, or at LowesForPros.com. You’ll also be able to take advantage of exclusive cardholder promotions and receive discounted delivery on your purchases! Click here for more details, then contact Anthony Ruiz (Anthony.ruiz@lowes.com) to get started.
Featured Platinum/Silver Member
  
Guest Supply, a Sysco Company, 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 16 company-owned-and-operated Sales and Distribution Centers, Guest Supply services more than 26,000 hotels in the U.S. with a comprehensive product line that meets the needs of hotels at all market levels. For more info, contact Justin Haggart (jhaggart@guestsupply.com) or visit the website.
Featured Member Benefit
  
AAHOA is proud to collaborate with Kennesaw State University to establish the Michael Leven and Lee Dushoff AAHOA Scholarship for Compassionate Leadership. This annual scholarship will support students seeking an undergraduate degree in hospitality management. For more on the qualifications and how to apply, please contact Seth Walker (swalk165@kennesaw.edu) or call 470-578-2206. To make a tax-deductible contribution to the scholarship endowment, please click here.
Ecolab
ADP, Inc.
Industry News
  
Despite rising room rates and the slow return of business travel, hoteliers are working against a tide of persistent challenges, including inflation, labor shortages and high demand, as well as unpredictable hiring trends.
(Source: HospitalityNet Photo credit)
  
While big-budget festivals have long partnered with hotels to create immersive and engaging experiences, the concept has proven to be nimble enough to work with smaller events and venues.
(Source: Uproxx Photo credit)
  
According to a recent study, nearly 50% of all respondents expect that RevPAR will return to pre-pandemic levels by next year.
(Source: Asian  Hospitality Photo credit)
Best Buy Business
Scout Mystery Calls
Today's Hotelier: In Case You Missed It

OCTOBER ISSUE

The October 2022 issue is out now! In this issue, we explore the road to recovery, including flexing your political muscle. We also discuss topics such as combatting the rise of wage-and-hour lawsuits, how independent hotels can remain relevant in today’s market, tackling a major project during an economic downturn, and much more.

Featured Content

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