We officially kicked off our 2022 Regional schedule on Tuesday with the 2022 AAHOA Greater Los Angeles Area Regional Conference & Trade Show in Los Angeles, CA.We had several guest speakers, including our incoming CEO Laura Lee Blake, as well as the Mayor of Inglewood James T. Butts, Jr., who recognized Greater Los Angeles Regional Director Naresh (ND) Bhakta for his outstanding leadership and community service. We also showcased the 2021 Annual Report, discussed the updated 12 Points of Fair Franchising as well as 2022 policy priorities, and held an open forum at the end. It was a major success, and a fantastic way to kick off Regionals season!

 

Next up is the 2022 AAHOA North Pacific Regional Conference & Trade Show in San Jose, taking place today. Check out the Regional Calendar to find the one near you so you don't miss out on the best way for you to connect and network with local hoteliers and vendors in the hospitality industry!

The 2022 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®) is celebrating its 50th anniversary June 27-30 in Orlando, FL. HITEC®, the world's largest and oldest hospitality technology event, offers a unique combination of top-notch education and brings together the brightest minds and hottest technologies from across the globe to one place. AAHOA Members are invited to attend for FREE when you enter HITECAAHOA22 in the discount code text box area during registration. The unparalleled event offers attendees essential education, access to top hospitality technology industry experts, and the resources to find cost-effective ways to improve company bottom lines. Furthermore, AAHOA is co-hosting an event for Young Professionals in Orlando! This is an exclusive networking event for HITEC attendees under 35 only. Attendees must register for HITEC to attend.

During AAHOACON22, AAHOA introduced its updated 12 Points of Fair Franchising (the “12 Points”) as an educational primer. Did you miss the 12 Point panel conversation that took place on the General Session mainstage? You can now watch the full panel session and get the latest updates from franchise experts and hospitality leaders.

 

Dr. Jay S. Patel, author of “Franchising Is it Fair? How to Negotiate an Equitable Franchise Agreement” and former Chair of the AAHOA Franchise and Industry Relations Committee, posed an often-asked question to the two attorneys on the panel, one being our incoming President Laura Lee Blake and Himanshu Patel, “Why doesn’t AAHOA do anything about franchising?” The attorneys explained that interfering with duly executed contracts could be deemed tortious interference with contract – a position in which AAHOA does not seek to find itself.

AAHOA Vice Chairman Bharat Patel recently spoke with NPR's Chief Economics Correspondent Scott Horsley on their "All Things Considered" segment regarding the current hospitality labor shortages and how it's being addressed.

 

“Rates are through the roof. People want to travel. And so instead of going abroad - they're really enjoying the beaches and the national parks and state parks. And, you know, people just want to get out,” Patel said.

 

Check out our lineup of events coming your way over the next few months! Make plans to join us by registering today. (All times are local.)

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.

PMC Commercial Trust offers conventional and SBA loan programs for the acquisition, refinancing, renovation and construction of businesses with commercial real estate throughout the country as principal lenders. PMC has been granted Preferred Lender (PLP) status from the SBA, which allows for a faster turn-around time at the SBA. Since the early 90’s, PMC’s focus has been on the hospitality industry, assisting start up individuals as well as multi property owners in obtaining the financing that best fits their needs. Visit the website, then contact Kristi Lewis-Hodge to get started.

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.

According to projections, guests should be returning to the open road – and hotel rooms – in increasing numbers this summer. And while inflation will affect travel costs, pent-up demand could overshadow those increases.

With hoteliers in direct competition with the use of private residences to attract travelers, some property owners are experimenting with incorporating private homes into their slate of available rooms.

No longer the stuff of science fiction, the metaverse is disrupting countless industries, and savvy hoteliers are discovering methods of incorporating digital experiences into an otherwise-typical hotel stay.