2016-2017 AAHOA Vice Chairman Bhavesh Patel took the stage yesterday in Memphis, Tenn., to join the Presidents Panel at the Southern Lodging Summit. He was joined by fellow panelists John Hamilton, senior vice president Business Development, Pyramid Hotel Group; Alex Cabanas, chief executive officer, Benchmark Hospitality International; and Mark Carrier, president, BF Saul Company Hospitality Group. 

Photo credit: Don Reber.

AAHOA took Vancouver, Wash., by storm Tuesday afternoon at the 2016 Northwest Regional Meeting! We’re happy to report that the meeting was extremely well-attended and great fun for all! At the time of writing, over $5,000 in PAC donations had been pledged by Northwest members. Way to go, Northwest! We’re also proud to recognize our 2016-2017 Northwest Region Premier Ambassador, Smita Patel. Congratulations, Smita!

On Tuesday, Representative Ed Royce (R-CA) participated in an AAHOA-sponsored back-of-the-house tour of the Holiday Inn & Suites in Fullerton, Calif. Owner Dhar Patel, an AAHOA member, guided Royce through the inner workings of the hotel’s operations, including running the front desk, turning over a room, and washing and preparing laundry. 

After the tour, Rep. Royce participated in a roundtable discussion to address issues facing hoteliers, including the new overtime rule and the importance of the franchise model.

The United States has created more than 10 million jobs in the past four years, and hoteliers have been an integral part of this process. Click here to read the USA Today’s list of the current top 10 job-creating cities in the United States.

On September 6 and 7, AAHOA will host its annual Fall National Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C. This is our association’s premier legislative event of the year, and we want to see you there!

The AAHOA Education Dept. is hard at work bringing you new webinars jam-packed with information you need to become a better, more informed hotelier. Hotel tenancy, ADA compliance with service-animal policy, and underused brand resources are all on the calendar! Check out our webinar listings and RSVP now – at 20 minutes each, they’re a tiny investment that can bring you and your business a HUGE return! 

If you’re not attending your region’s town hall meetings, you’re missing out! Town halls are the best way to find out the latest AAHOA news, the most up-to-date info on what’s happening in hospitality, and how your AAHOA leaders are working for you.

- From $25,000 to $2 million dollars in funding

- An easy application process

- Funds within 24–48 hours 

- Same-day approvals

- Call 1-866-905-5444

 

Living room-like public spaces, the elimination of traditional front desks and dual color tones are some design trends hoteliers should be looking forward to in the remainder of 2016 and going into 2017.

No. 1: Concierges are getting a reboot: A number of upscale brands are taking their concierge services digital, using texting, social media, and custom apps to help guests connect with the hotel. In some cases, they’re replacing people with technology altogether.

On the evening of April 8, 2016, dozens of Irving, Texas, residents were left homeless after a massive blaze destroyed about 40 units in Jefferson Park Apartments. When the Irving Fire Department finally extinguished the flames, all that remained of so many homes was rubble and still-smoldering ash.

Hotels with strong brands, such as Marriott and Hilton, that enforce operational and physical standards, support owners by providing sales and management training and tools, negotiate preferred pricing with vendors and generate demand via marketing and membership loyalty programs, are typically better positioned for success with more predictable performance.