• Channel Management, Distribution, and GoPAR to Grow Your Bottom Line
• Owners, Brands, and Management Companies: On the Same Page?
• The Rise of Third-Party Management and How it is Affecting the Industry
• From the CEO's Perspective
• Leaders in Hospitality
• Tech Talk: Real-World Solutions for Your Hotels

The Fall National Advocacy Conference, taking place October 24-25 at the Royal Sonesta Washington, DC Capitol Hill, presents the perfect opportunity for hoteliers to talk with their elected officials personally. Lawmakers respond best to strength in numbers, so we need you to RSVP to attend and let your voices be heard where they will count most - in the halls of Congress. Participation in this event is extremely limited, and we are near capacity. However, AAHOA invites you to join the waitlist to attend if space becomes available for you. Reservations will be taken in the order received and are first come, first served. Register Now.

 

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the AAHOA North Pacific Charity Golf Tournament has been postponed until further notice. AAHOA leaders are actively working on rescheduling the event, and registrants will be informed as soon as a new date is confirmed. If you have already registered for this event, your current registration will automatically be transferred to the new date, and you do not need to take any action now. If the new date does not work for you, we will provide options for refunds or transfers once the new date is confirmed. Your understanding and support are greatly appreciated.

 

AAHOA Members were treated to a productive and inspiring Brand Alliance Meeting at Best Western's "Big Wave" Conference in Honolulu, HI. Attendees heard important updates from Larry Cuculic, President & CEO of Best Western Hotels, and his commitment to working alongside AAHOA Members was evident throughout the event. AAHOA truly appreciates Best Western's dedication to the success of the association.

Call it "Swiftonomics" or "Taylornomics," Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” is smashing all sorts of records. With 53 shows over five months, the economic impact has been monumental and non-stop. Cities have experienced an economic boom whenever a Taylor Swift concert was in town, including an uptick in hotel sales.

 

Join us in exploring this "Swiftonomics" phenomenon! If you've experienced a notable uptick in occupancy rates and revenue, AAHOA wants to hear from you. Participate in this quick survey and let AAHOA know how Taylor Swift's concert tour impacted your hotel business this year. Your input will help uncover exciting trends in hospitality.

This week, in a bold stance, AAHOA called out Big Lodging for publishing a misleading and false narrative involving alleged "problems" with the New Jersey Franchise bill A1958, which would hold franchisors accountable and supports AAHOA’s four core pillars of franchise advocacy to reform rules for mandated vendors, rebates, loyalty programs, and new fees. 

 

AAHOA cites to the specific provisions of the New Jersey franchise legislation to "set the record straight" and stop the disharmony arising from the spread of untrue assertions. Instead of asserting spurious and untrue statements, AAHOA calls on Big Lodging to join in collaborating on how to strengthen the industry and ensure fairness for all.

In early September, AAHOA Alabama Regional Director Sanjay Patel and AAHOA Member Viral Patel had the opportunity to meet with Sen. Katie Britt in Tuscaloosa, AL, to discuss critical economic issues at the national and state levels. The meeting touched upon the Department of Labor's proposed overtime rule and its potential impact on hotel businesses.

 

The proposed regulation would require employers to pay overtime to salaried workers who are in executive, administrative, and professional roles but make less than $1,059 a week or $55,068 a year for full-time employees. That salary threshold is up from the $35,568 level that has been in place since 2019, when the Trump administration raised it from $23,660.

 

Join GHLA for an executive level summary of what lies ahead for Savannah's lodging industry. GHLA is pleased to partner with R.M. Woodworth & Associates & CBRE to present the Annual Savannah Lodging Update. This program is for Savannah hotel managers, brand leaders and managers, meeting planners, hotel management company professionals, industry investment professionals, and anyone involved in the budgeting process.

 

Taking place on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, from 11:30 AM - 1:15 PM EST at the Hyatt Regency Savannah, anyone in the tourism and hospitality industry is encouraged to attend.

 

Register by clicking on the link below!

Join us for a transformative journey at the AAHOA 2023 HerOwnership Conference & Retreat, November 2-3, at the Beeman Hotel in Dallas, TX!
 
The second annual HerOwnership Conference & Retreat is a celebration of the incredible achievements of women in the hospitality industry. It's a gathering of trailblazers, innovators, and leaders who have paved the way for success and want to share their valuable insights with YOU.
 
This is the perfect opportunity to forge new connections while gaining insights and strategies from top industry visionaries. Hear from women who understand exactly what it's like to be a woman in the hospitality industry, and discover the power of collaboration and solidarity as you build relationships with like-minded professionals. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting your journey, you'll find inspiration and guidance to propel you forward.
 
The conference will also feature bonus wellness content designed to enrich your mind, body, and soul with expert-led wellness activities designed to rejuvenate and energize you.
 
Don't miss your chance to be part of this transformative experience. Register now and secure your spot at the HerOwnership Conference & Retreat. Your journey to success in hotel ownership begins here!

Join us for a fun and dynamic webinar that can help add revenue to your top line. Winning your fair share of Local Negotiated Rate (LNR) and Corporate Negotiated Rate (CNR) business is highly competitive and there are specific strategies that are proven to work better than others. Let us show you what you can do and what you should never do! Too many hotel owners believe getting these contracts is the finish line of the race. In fact, it's just the beginning. Learn how you can make your contracts generate even more room nights through online platforms, global sales teams, travel management companies, and partnerships.

 

Time: 2 - 2:45 p.m. EDT

Day: Thursday, September 28

Company: Jacaruso

Panelists: Melanie Calcagno and Kate Cannon

 

 

HBO, the oldest and most award-winning premium channel in the U.S., is offering AAHOA Members the chance to earn money back. Members get a rebate of $9 per room (5-year contract) or $7 per room (3-or 4-year contract) when they add or renew HBO at their properties. Click here today to complete the rebate form and get started.

MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyowners. MassMutual offers a wide range of financial products and services, including life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance, annuities, retirement plans and other employee benefits. For more information, visit www.massmutual.com, then contact Ana Lucia Divins (analuciadivins@massmutual.com) to get started.

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 call 470-578-2206. To make a tax-deductible contribution to the scholarship endowment, please click here.

Experts have been sounding the alarm on potential vulnerabilities in the hospitality industry with respect to cybersecurity, with the recent electronic attack on MGM Resorts serving as a wakeup call for anyone still unconvinced about this growing threat.
(Source: Cybersecurity Dive)

With the industry mostly back to pre-pandemic levels, hoteliers are taking stock of evolving guest preferences and emerging technology, marrying the two to create personalized travel experiences for a changing market.
(Source: HospitalityNet)

Social media can be a Pandora's Box of trouble for hoteliers but, if managed wisely, the myriad offerings can offer properties an easy way to distinguish themselves and connect with guests in novel ways.
(Source: HNR Hotel News)

Truist Securities reports, “Overall U.S. RevPAR was +0.1% y/y for the week ending 9/16/2023, per STR, similar to the prior week's result of -0.1%, but below the trailing 10-week average of +1.6%. Versus 2019, RevPAR was +12.8%, above the prior week’s result of -2.0% and similar to the trailing 10-week average of +12.6%. Last week's results were negatively impacted by the timing of Rosh Hashanah (started last Friday night). Monday-Wednesday RevPAR was +6.6% y/y; Thursday-Saturday was -6.0%. Group RevPAR was 250 bps below the running 28-day average. We expect greater negative lodging impact for Yom Kippur later this month due to the holiday partly falling on the workweek. Upscale RevPAR: +2.8% y/y and +8.2% vs. 2019; Upper Midscale RevPAR: +1.1% y/y and +13.4% vs. 2019.”
For more, read the full report here, read the China/Europe report here, and read the RevPAR Monitor here.