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THE AMERICAN FRANCHISE business model is in trouble, according to a recent survey commissioned by AAHOA. The survey was inspired by a webinar AAHOA co-sponsored to gather public comment on the state of franchising for the Federal Trade Commission. The survey found that only 5 percent of the franchisee respondents are satisfied that their current franchise agreements provide fair terms representing a balanced relationship between themselves and their franchiser. Also, 72.6 percent of respondents would "possibly" or "probably" terminate their current franchised business within the next year if they could do so without penalty. "Franchising is in dire straits unless changes are made," said Laura Lee Blake, AAHOA president and CEO. "Franchising is still a powerful tool for economic mobility for America's small-business owners, including AAHOA Members. But franchising only works when both franchisors and franchisees are committed to its success, which requires transparency, fairness, and sustainable business practices. As this survey shows, there is much room for improvement when it comes to relationships that allow our small-business owners to thrive." Blake recently wrote an editorial supporting AAHOA's 12 Points of Fair Franchising and its promotion of a proposed New Jersey law that would reform that state's franchising regulations in ways similar to the 12 points. Several large hotel companies, including Choice Hotels International and Marriott International, protested AAHOA's recent annual convention in protest to its position on franchise reform The survey was conducted among owners of hotels, restaurants, retail stores and other small businesses that had participated in the FTC webinar. It was co-sponsored by the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers, and the Coalition of Franchisee Associations, conducted the survey after a recent webinar with FTC Chair Lina Khan. The FTC is soliciting comments through June 8 about

AAHOA IS OFFERING a free educational webinar, "Essential Training for Hotel Owners: Managing Guest Misconduct and Ensuring Safety," on July 17. The initiative follows the death of an AAHOA member after a confrontation with a guest who was asked to leave the property, AAHOA said in a statement. The association emphasized that hoteliers should assess the risks of handling confrontational situations independently and involve law enforcement when faced with potentially volatile encounters to ensure personal safety. Hemant Mistry, a 59-year-old hotel owner from Oklahoma City, was killed last month at his property.

Yogesh Patel, Zeshan Chaudhry, Usha Patel, Dilip Patel and Hemant Shantilal Mistry; all were killed on duty at their own hotels. In response, AAHOA is providing instructions in a webinar on how to protect hoteliers' belongings and lives. The death of Oklahoma City hotelier Mistry on June 23 following an assault by an aggressive guest in his motel parking lot, is the most recent case of Asian American hoteliers being killed in conflicts with guests. The incident sparked an industry debate, emphasizing that hoteliers must now recognize the need to protect themselves, understanding both their rights as entrepreneurs and their duties to society. Some guests believe their payment gives them license to disregard basic etiquette, leading to increased anti-social behavior and vandalism, according to experts participating in AAHOA's webinar, "Essential Training for Hotel Owners: Managing Guest Misconduct and Ensuring Safety," held on July 17. The webinar provided insights on safely handling confrontational issues in daily operations.