In special video messages, AAHOA Chairwoman Jagruti Panwala and President & CEO Cecil P. Staton address America's hotel owners to urge unity, patience, and focus during this unprecedented crisis.

To address the myriad of issues that are sure to be top of mind for our members during the COVID-19 pandemic, AAHOA has compiled a series of one-pagers designed to give hoteliers information and resources to help them weather this storm. We are updating the AAHOA website regularly, so be sure to check it often for new downloads or ones you may have missed.

As COVID-19 continues to impact the hospitality industry, AAHOA is providing a series of webcasts to keep our members and partners informed and help determine the necessary steps to take to protect your business as best you can. The "Impact of COVID-19 on America's Hotel Owners" webcast series will cover a wide range of topics and is being made available to the industry at large, so be sure to share with those in your network, whether they're an AAHOA Member or not. Check www.aahoa.com/covid-19 for a complete listing.

As health and government officials urge social distancing to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, now is a great time to take advantage of AAHOA's all-new, all-encompassing Certificate in Hotel Ownership^TM (CHO). This reimagined CHO is a fully customizable all-digital platform that offers an in-depth look into 12 learning tracks: Investment & Development, Front Office, Financing, Hotel Ownership, Human Resources, Accounting, Major Support Departments, Leadership, Legal & Compliance, Revenue Management, Sales & Marketing, and Technology. If you sign up by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 8 using promo code CHOLAUNCH20, you can earn your certificate for as little as $149, so don't wait! Learn more here.

As we all continue to practice social distancing to slow the spread of the coronavirus, AAHOA is working hard to provide up-to-the-minute updates on upcoming webinars, resources, and communications to our members to keep you apprised of the latest news and information about the COVID-19 pandemic, especially as it relates to the hospitality industry. We are updating the AAHOA website several times a day as the situation evolves, so be sure to check it often.

The 2020 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show is being rescheduled to August 9-12 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. Undoubtedly, many of you have questions and concerns. For answers regarding event registration, hotel registration, and more, check aahoa.com/convention and continue to monitor our website regularly for further updates and other information, including a list of frequently asked questions.

Join us for the Regional Conference & Trade Show closest to you for access to top vendors, incredible networking opportunities, and region-specific industry updates you won't see anywhere else. Open to all hoteliers, and AAHOA Lifetime Members receive a free gift for attending. For the most up-to-date listing of all our upcoming events, check the events calendar.

AAHOA's exclusive members-only webinars provide insights on the latest topics and ideas in hotel ownership. Accessible via MyAAHOA.com, sign in today to browse topics, track your professional development goals, and review all of AAHOA's educational offerings. 

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey reports, “Economy (-32.1%) was the relatively strongest chain scale for branded hotels; Luxury was the weakest at -85.1%. Upscale (-74.3%) underperformed the industry average; Upper Midscale (-62.8%) outperformed. The worst lodging environment for U.S. hotels certainly through the start of national lodging data collection by STR (late 1980s) and we believe since the Great Depression continues to present with lodging results that are unprecedented for the U.S. lodging industry.”

 

AAHOA*PMSAAHOA has partnered with AutoClerk to offer AAHOA*PMS, a property management system designed specifically for AAHOA Members. If you sign up for both Chase Merchant Services and AutoClerk, AAHOA will pay your set-up fee ($99) and the cost of your first month for each property. Visit www.aahoapms.com for more details and to sign up now.

AAHOA Members, when you choose Rinnai, you’re choosing a commitment to excellence. It’s time to give your buildings a more efficient and reliable source of hot water. Rinnai® Tankless and Demand Duo™ Hybrid Commercial Water Heating Systems supply commercial buildings with an endless supply of hot water while you save thousands in operational and life-cycle costs. Contact Dipesh Parekh, call 800-621-9419, or visit the Rinnai website to see what rebates are available.

AAHOA has joined with the University of Houston Conrad Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant Management to create a AAHOA Scholarship. AAHOA will contribute a total of $125,000 to UH over five years, beginning in 2016. The contributions will be matched by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, creating a $250,000 fund to be named the AAHOA Student Assistantship & Scholarship Endowment. To find out more about the qualifications or how to apply, please click here. 

The state of the hotel industry in Washington, D.C., is looking bleak. "All of us in the business don't have enough hours to support the team we normally would have," Donohoe Hospitality President Thomas Penny said. "There is not a hotel team in the city or the region that is staffed at the same level it was before this crisis." 

The hotel industry is facing unprecendented hardship with the spread of the novel coronavirus. While investors are planning a tough recovery, the good news is recovery is in sight. Some survey respondents believe recovery could happen in only one year.

While most area hotels have been shut down, major chains in New York City are hoping to reopen doors to guests as soon as July. “The property looks forward to welcoming guests later this summer,” a Hilton spokesperson said. With sinking occupancy rates, the news of hopeful summer reopenings is a bit of welcome relief.