Laura Lee Blake, AAHOA President and CEO, wrote an opinion piece for CPO Magazine to address the cyberattack that affected the booking systems at InterContinental Hotels Group, also known as IHG Hotels & Resorts. This cyberattack disrupted business for many franchisees, and had many hotel owners asking what exactly they get for the expensive monthly technology fees that IHG charges them per room, if it does not cover measures to protect the booking systems and assure guests of the integrity of their data.

 

In the article, Blake highlights the unfortunate reality AAHOA’s 20,000 members, who own 60% of U.S. hotels including popular brands such as Marriott, Hilton, and Holiday Inn, face when navigating issues with hotel chains.

 

“Whether on cybersecurity, unfairly low reimbursement rates for loyalty points redeemed by guests, or kickbacks from vendors mandated by corporate offices, the hotel chains try to dictate terms that are favorable to them rather than the owners,” Blake explained. “The chains have made it harder for owners to reinvest in their properties to ensure positive guest experiences and long-term growth.”

AAHOA is accepting applications for the 2023 Tech Pitch Competition, which will take place at AAHOACON23.

 

Technology has revolutionized the hospitality industry, and the COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased the rate at which hotel businesses adopted innovative strategies to keep up with the times. Now, more than ever, technology-based companies are solving everyday issues for hotel owners, their staff, and their guests. AAHOA wants to help showcase these cutting-edge solutions at the 2023 Tech Pitch Competition.

 

Select companies will pitch to seasoned judges with expertise in technology and hospitality. The winner will receive a complimentary booth at AAHOACON24, exposure to over 6,000 attendees in Los Angeles at AAHOACON23, and much more!

 

AAHOA is proud to release a highlight video from its inaugural HerOwnership Conference & Retreat that took place at the Radisson Hotel Cincinnati Riverfront in late October. This event educated and promoted women who are interested in exploring hotel ownership. Attendees enjoyed two days of inspiring panels, unique content, and networking, including an unforgettable Riverboat Cruise on the Ohio River.

 

During the conference, AAHOA spoke to several of the women in attendance. Check out just a few of the many quotes we collected about the event:

Watch the video today and take a peek at how the inaugural HerOwnership Conference & Retreat empowered women hoteliers to take the next step in their ownership journey.

 

Stay tuned for more HerOwnership events and initiatives! To learn more about HerOwnership, click here.

 

And that's a wrap, folks! The 2022 AAHOA Regional Conference & Trade Show season is officially over. Nearly 200 hoteliers made it our to the final Regional event in Round Rock, TX, for a day full of connecting, deal-making, and education. The excitement and energy around our Regional events from AAHOA Members and Industry Partners matter to us, and the enthusiasm and dedication helped make this year's Regional Conferences & Trade Shows season the best one yet. Here's some of our highlights for this Regionals season:

Thank you to AAHOA Board Members, Members, Industry Partners, and the tireless efforts of the AAHOA Team for making this the most successful Regionals season thus far!

 

 

Interested in participating in the 2023 AAHOA Elections? You should be! Voting for your volunteer leaders is your way to help guide the future of AAHOA and have your voice heard on issues that matter to you.

 

 

If you are an annual member, you can sign up for automatic renewals or upgrade your membership 24/7 at MyAAHOA.com. Please email info@aahoa.com or call 404-816-5759 with any questions. We want as many AAHOA Members as possible to be ready to participate in our elections. 

AAHOA is wrapping up the month of November with another educational webinar. The fourth video, Point 4, of the 12-part webinar series is now available. In this latest webinar, AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake is joined by Lifetime Member Neil Patel and Franchisee Advocacy Consulting Principal Keith Miller to focus on quality assurance inspections and guest surveys.

 

“We want to make sure our properties are good for our guests. Clean, well-maintained, and comfortable,” Patel shared. “There are some brands that are company-owned, and the quality inspection should be the same for both, and the standards should be the same for both, whether they’re corporate-owned or franchisee-owned.”

We invite you to review the webinars for Points 1, 2, and 3 on the 12 Points Webinar Series Landing Page. AAHOA is excited to continue its mission and commitment to educating AAHOA Members on best-in-class, mutually beneficial franchise systems.

Housekeeping processes have not changed much over the past 20 years, but have proven inefficiencies, costing hoteliers money. Technology for Housekeeping can eliminate some of these inefficiencies by getting rooms cleaned and returned to inventory much quicker, providing true ROI and insight into operations.

Truist Securities reports, “Last week’s RevPAR was against a +117.1% comparable result in 2021 vs. +102.0% in the prior week. On a 3-year run-rate (vs. 2019), RevPAR was +1.7% vs. +19.9% in the prior week’s 3-year run-rate. Upscale RevPAR: +13.8% y/y and -7.7% over 3 years; Upper Midscale RevPAR: +8.0% y/y and +5.8% over 3 years. Relative to the post-Labor Day improving trends, last week's results were simply 'not so hot.' We do not overstate one week's results, especially as normal lower occupancy in early December can lead to overstated percent changes in performance. However, we will monitor if last week's weaker results continue."

For more, read the full report here, and read the China/Europe report here.

HCareers is a real-time, tech-first solution for both employers and professionals in North America's hospitality industry and has placed more than one million professionals in progressive roles within the industry since 2001. They feature more than 25,000 job listings daily and support more than 4,000 registered employers. Hcareers has revolutionized job matching. Use our score to find the BEST opportunities based on YOUR personal profile. Check out the website and get started today!

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.

According to ongoing research, customer sentiment toward the hospitality industry remains positive as the industry continues to rebound from the pandemic.

Based on feedback from more than 60 properties, the coming year should see an uptick in meetings-based travel, although the new normal may look different moving forward.

Despite comptetition from the short-term-rental market, hotels remain the first choice for those who are committed to traveling during the next three months, according to a recent survey.