Today’s passage of the Americans with Disabilities Education and Reform Act strengthens this landmark civil rights law and marks extraordinary progress in expanding accessibility for citizens with disabilities. By putting an end to drive-by lawsuits filed by predatory lawyers and serial plaintiffs – whose intent is to profit rather than to improve access for the disabled – small businesses and the constituencies empowered by the ADA can work together to ensure issues of physical access are addressed in a timely manner, and corrective action is taken when warranted. This legislation upholds the spirit and intent of the ADA, and AAHOA members support this commonsense solution to promote constructive and collaborative efforts when resolving questions of compliance and accessibility.

To better serve the hotel industry, Businesses Ending Slavery & Trafficking (BEST) recently launched a Spanish version of its Inhospitable to Trafficking Training, which details ways workers can safely identify, intervene and report potential human trafficking activities. Visit https://www.bestalliance.org for additional details.

Founded in 2008, and comprised of more than 10,000 hospitality, travel and tourism professionals around the globe, the Travel Industry Executive Women's Network (TIEWN) bridges connections for executive women who make significant contributions to the travel and hospitality industries. TIEWN will meet March 8 at the SLS Beverly Hills hotel to celebrate accomplishments and discuss industry-related  innovations and developments. Registration is open now, and sponsorship opportunities are also available. If LA is out of reach, make sure to join the group on LinkedIn.

Stay Current on Issues in Your Local Area 
Town hall meetings are a great opportunity to build your professional network and to learn more about the AAHOA programs and resources available to help you strengthen every aspect of your business. Coming up soon:

• Feb. 19 - Southwest Town Hall - Salt Lake City, Utah
• Feb. 20 - North Texas Town Hall - Longview, Texas
• Feb 21 - Southeast Texas Town Hall - Houston, Texas
• Feb. 22 - North Texas Town Hall - Irving, Texas
• March 1 - Florida Town Hall - Tampa, Fla.
• March 14 - North Carolina Town Hall - Wilson, NC
• March 15 - South Carolina Town Hall - Aiken, SC
• March 15 - North Carolina Town Hall - Raleigh, NC

Join AAHOA Southwest Regional Director Imesh Vaidya for the 2018 Southwest Phoenix Regional Meeting and Trade Show. This is an excellent opportunity to meet and network with other industry professionals in your area, learn about what is happening industry-wide in your region and take advantage of vendor deals you can’t get anywhere else. The meeting will take place Feb. 21 at the Phoenix Airport Marriott. Register today.

AAHOA members are encouraged to register for the legislative action days and other events hosted in partnership between AAHOA and state lodging and travel associations in their local area. Consider signing up to help educate legislators about your business.

• Feb. 21 - Taste Oregon Legislative Reception
• Feb. 21-22 - Missouri State Capitol Advocacy Days
  
• Feb. 27 - Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Day on the Hill
• March 7 - California Hotel and Lodging Association Legislative Action Summit

Upcoming Webinars – February and March 2018

• Feb. 20 – How to Hire Hotel Salespeople
• Feb. 21 – What You Need to Know About FLSA Joint Employment of Employees
• Feb. 22 – Hotels and Price Gouging: What Hotel Companies Should Know
• Feb. 27 – Your Business Structure: Now More Important Than Ever
• Feb. 28 – White Collar Exemptions for Hotel Owners
• March 6 – Ensuring Safety in the #MeToo Era: Creating a No Tolerance Workplace
• March 14 – Keeping Kids Safe in the Workplace: Child Labor Rules for Employers
• March 15 – Hotel Negotiations Made Easy from a Sales Perspective
• March 20 – Data Breaches – Understanding the Risks

Check out the AAHOA Resource Library to view over a hundred past webinars and other educational resources.  

• March 27 – AAHOA Certified Hotel Owners (CHO) Program (last onsite class for 2018)
• March 27 – Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics  (seats are going fast)
• March 27 – Human Trafficking Awareness Training (open to non-convention attendees too)
  

For more information, contact Paul Mougel, (713) 747-0341, Pmougel@dicksonfurniture.com.

Leading provider of marketing solutions for the lodging industry Special pricing on revenue generator services that includes three publications (HotelCoupons.com, Florida Travel Saver, Travel Coupon Guide) For additional information, email john.zelenika@travelmediagroup.com.

After starting this year with the announcement in January of a $1.95 billion acquisition of La Quinta Holdings, WHG will continue to examine new opportunities for deals, whether through acquisitions or growth opportunities. (Source: Skift)

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the world's leading luxury hospitality company, announced that its president and CEO, J. Allen Smith, will be leaving his position at the end of 2018 upon completing his five-year contract with the company. (Source: Hospitality.net)

A business can live on beyond an owner's involvement if there is continuous and careful planning before the entity passes hands. With an eye toward the future, estate planning also can help minimize estate taxes and equally distribute wealth. (Source: Hotel Management)