Sign up for Hotel ROI this week and receive $75 off the registration fee! A $300 value, you can reserve your seat at this new, one-of-a-kind conference designed to help you boost your ROI the minute you walk out the door for just $225 using promo code MEET75. Offer valid only from April 10-15.

This year’s AAHOA PAC golf tournament welcomed over 100 golfers and supporters to the Quarry Golf Club for a morning on the links. Congratulations to our winners – Divyesh Bhakta, Paresh Bhakta, Vimal Bhakta, and Sanket Bhakta – and a huge THANK YOU to Wyndham Hotel Group CEO Geoff Ballotti, who kicked off 2017 with yet another $5,000 donation to the AAHOA PAC! We are extremely grateful to all our golfers and PAC donors – we couldn’t do it without you!

On March 23, AAHOA Past Chairman Hemant Patel presented before the Miami City Commission regarding short-term rentals, like Airbnb. After extensive debate, the Miami City Commissioners voted 3-2 in favor of hotels and held short-term rentals accountable for violating local zoning laws.

Make sure you get your LAS registration out of the way while you spend the week at AAHOA’s 2017 Convention & Trade Show! The best and brightest in the hospitality industry will be attending AAHOA and AH&LA’s Legislative Action Summit on May 17-18. Will you join them? It costs $49 to register, but this fee will be completely reimbursed (for AAHOA members) after attending the event. Register now, before it’s too late!

It’s been a busy few days here in Texas at the 2017 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show! So far, we’ve heard from keynotes David Robinson and Marcus Lemonis, enjoyed six fantastic education sessions, and welcomed 11 brand CEOs to the AAHOA stage – and much, much more. Tomorrow, we’ll hear remarks from former astronaut Scott Kelly during the closing general session, after which AAHOA members will head to the polls for AAHOA elections. Stay tuned to AAHOA social media for the results!

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In what was described by AAHOA President and CEO Chip Rogers as an "unprecedented" gathering, 11 CEOs of hotel brand companies converged on the same stage for the opening general session of the AAHOA annual convention. "There is no greater symbol of the influence of our members... than what you see here today," Rogers said, indicating the panel, which included representation from InterContinental Hotels Group, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, Choice Hotels International, Wyndham Hotel Group and more.

The controversy surrounding Airbnb isn't likely to abate any time soon, especially with the home-sharing company taking steps to improve its image in the eyes of local governments. In a statement, Airbnb declared that by May 1, it will have entered into agreements with more than 275 jurisdictions and collected and remitted more than $240 million in hotel and tourist taxes throughout the world.

AAHOA this year at its annual conference isn’t being shy about its record-breaking achievements over the past year. "AAHOA members in this room – and across the nation – should be gleaming with pride at where this association is in the landscape of the entire industry," said Bharat (Bruce) Patel, chairman of the association, during this week’s first general session.

Not always was hotel breakfast a mainstream concept, but now it’s difficult to find a hotel without the offering. Not long ago fax machines adorned guestrooms, then iPads, and now it’s all about BYOD – bring your own device. With guest wants and needs constantly changing, some hoteliers might find it difficult to know what to invest in. But what is clear today is that guest wants are changing, and hoteliers need to adapt amenities to meet their needs.

Just under a year ago, then-newly minted AAHOA Chairman Bruce Patel outlined his vision for 2016 in the May issue of "Today’s Hotelier." An aggressive PAC goal, an expanded franchise relations department, greater exposure and increased member engagement topped the list, and 11 months later the record reflects unprecedented growth and development across the board.

Do you really know what today’s hotel guests looking for in terms of customer service and experience? While the basics of hospitality may seem timeless, the type of customer service demanded by modern travelers, including today’s hotel guests, is constantly changing.