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THE AMERICAN HOTEL & Lodging Association philanthropy branch AHLA Foundation has launched a trafficking prevention training program for the hotel industry in collaboration with ECPAT-USA and Marriott International to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons observed on July 29, a statement said. The program titled "Recognize and Respond: Addressing Human Trafficking in the Hospitality Industry" was developed by Marriott by partnering with non-profit organizations and survivor experts. It includes learning paths for associates and managers around increased guidance on responding to potential trafficking situations and interacting with potential victims. It is available to the hotel industry through ECPAT-USA's online learning platform for free, the statement said. The new initiative advances the American Hotel & Lodging Association and AHLA Foundation's "No Room for Trafficking" awareness program which raises awareness about human trafficking. "One of No Room for Trafficking's goals is to train every single hotel employee to identify and respond to a potential human trafficking situation. Through this innovative new training, the industry as a whole will be better equipped to help identify and stop cases of human trafficking," said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA. "We are extremely grateful to Marriott International and leading trafficking prevention partners who are offering this free training with support from the AHLA Foundation."

THE RECENTLY INTRODUCED "Human Trafficking Awareness Training Recognition Act" aims to expand the Department of Homeland Security's "Blue Campaign" by establishing an annual certificate program for employers to train employees in human trafficking awareness. The American Hotel and Lodging Association announced its support for this legislation that would increase awareness through education. "The Human Trafficking Awareness Training Recognition Act would complement our industry's anti-trafficking efforts by providing important third-party validation for hotels' training and prevention initiatives," said Kevin Carey, AHLA's interim president & CEO. The legislation, sponsored by Congressmen David Valadao and Troy Carter, allows DHS to certify businesses that have trained their employees to combat human trafficking and display these annual certifications to the public, AHLA said in a statement. These optional certifications would be issued by the Blue Campaign at the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking, which aims to raise public awareness.

STAYNTOUCH, A CLOUD-BASED hotel property management system provider, recently launched 'Stayntouch Academy 2.0,' an updated online training course. It uses AI and large-language models to deliver eLearning content, streamline lesson plans and reduce production time by 91 percent, with more frequent updates. The PMS features an intuitive interface, allowing staff to complete training in two days or 1.5 hours per module, Stayntouch said in a statement. "Stayntouch Academy 2.0 enhances our training capabilities, offering a more intuitive learning experience for our customers," said Priya Rajamani, Stayntouch's senior vice president of implementations and support. "By leveraging AI, we can update content faster and provide targeted, role-specific lessons, helping hotel staff master the Stayntouch platform more efficiently and focus on guest experiences."

HYATT INDIA RECENTLY launched the Vocational Education and Training Swiss Professional Diploma program across its properties, including Hyatt Regency Delhi, Andaz Delhi, Grand Hyatt Gurgaon and Hyatt Regency Lucknow. The company worked with the Confederation of Indian Industry and EHL Hospitality Business School to offer an 18-month program for students who have completed their higher secondary education with at least 50 percent marks in English. The program, divided into foundational, intermediate and advanced levels, will equip students with the skills and knowledge required to succeed in the hospitality industry, according to a joint press statement. "At a time when India is emerging as a global leader in the hospitality industry, there is significant growth potential for the youth of India who choose the VET by EHL program offered by the Confederation of Indian Industry," said Sunjae Sharma, Hyatt Hotels' managing director, India and Southwest Asia. "We are proud to be the first international hotel chain in India to collaborate with CII and EHL for this initiative and to contribute to training a new generation of hoteliers. I am confident that the learning and training imparted at Hyatt will enable these young minds to stand out in this competitive sector and achieve their dreams."

IDeaS, A SAS company, has expanded its client learning tools, incorporating live chat support, monthly live learning events, quarterly panels, and on-demand virtual training sessions. The company refined learning pathways tailored to specific client roles such as revenue manager, sales manager, or general manager, IDeaS said in a statement. The company also developed a calendar of live learning events for users to explore new features and discuss system optimization with IDeaS. "Providing a best-in-class client experience is one of the key drivers for our global teams," said Sanjay Nagalia, IDeaS co-founder, COO and technology officer. "Effective implementation, training, and system adoption are crucial for our clients' day-to-day work and ensuring they gain the most ROI from our solutions. To do so requires an ongoing learning journey." To ensure timely client assistance, IDeaS now provides live chat support led by its team of professionals, the company said. These on-demand activities promote organization-wide understanding of system capabilities and internal alignment with revenue management culture.

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REMOTE SALES AND training appear to be surging in popularity among hotels, according to training consulting firm Gillis Sales. The firm reported $23 million in revenue from hospitality clients in 2021 and a 40 percent since the beginning of the pandemic. The latest figures indicate that hotels are seeing the benefits of investing in sales to increase profitability as travel resumes, said Tammy Gillis, CEO of Gillis Sales. Gillis foresees an increase in business as hoteliers turn to remote sales solutions to find and keep qualified salespeople. Market trends suggest that leisure and corporate travel are increasing while labor shortage continues, according to the company's statement.

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.

WESTIN HOTELS & RESORTS, part of Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio, and goop, actress Gwyneth Paltrow's lifestyle brand, recently launched "Sleep Training for Grown-Ups," a three-part video series to help travelers improve sleep at home and while traveling. The series follows the 2024 launch of the next generation Heavenly Bed, a mattress developed and offered by Westin, and extends the brand's focus on sleep through guidance from wellness professionals. The program features Paltrow and Dr. Cheri Mah, a sleep physician and research scientist, who explore how daily routines affect sleep and share science-based guidance on building habits in sleep, diet and exercise, Westin said in a statement. "For over 25 years, Westin has focused on sleep while traveling, starting with the Heavenly Bed," said Peggy Roe, Marriott's executive vice president and chief customer officer. "Sleep is a core commitment. Through this partnership with goop and Gwyneth Paltrow, we're combining wellness guidance with Westin's sleep offerings to help travelers wake up rested."

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AAHOA MEMBERS IN the U.S. will now have access to more workforce training opportunities and products from India under the new "Made in India" agreement made with that country. The agreement came about as a result of meetings between a delegation of AAHOA board members and Indian officials. Bharat Patel AAHOA chairman, Treasurer Kamalesh "KP" Patel and others met with the Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel to discuss the partnership, AAHOA said in a statement. It includes: Partnering with India-based educational institutions to implement training programs and skill-development initiatives that will equip young individuals to pursue successful and global careers in hospitality. Actively promoting, prioritizing and providing support for the sourcing of "Made in India" products, including textiles, furniture, and plumbing fixtures, for U.S.-based hospitality businesses. "With strong family ties and a significant footprint in the United States encompassing more than 36,000 properties, the AAHOA community is uniquely positioned to showcase the best of India to the world," said Bharat, who mentioned the program in June when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the U.S. "Our new initiatives aim to not only fuel economic and workforce development and progress, but to create a stronger platform for the exchange of ideas and innovation between the world's leading democracies."

IN RECOGNITION OF National Human Trafficking Prevention Month in January, G6 Hospitality, the parent company of Motel 6 and Studio 6, has intensified efforts to combat and raise awareness about human trafficking. This month, the company is introducing an updated mandatory training program, "The Room Next Door," to identify signs and response protocols for human trafficking within the lodging industry, G6 Hospitality said in a statement. "G6 Hospitality remains committed to combating human trafficking across the country and maintains a zero-tolerance policy against it," said Julie Arrowsmith, CEO of G6 Hospitality. "Our expanded anti-human trafficking program will ensure that our team members, franchisees, and hotel teams are educated advocates who can help the industry move toward eradicating human trafficking." The training is mandatory at every Motel 6 and Studio 6 locations, the statement said. The company is also renewing ongoing partnerships in 2024 with law enforcement agencies and survivor advocate organizations, including:

LAS VEGAS LED the top 25 markets in meetings and events growth for September, with a 34.2 percent year-over-year increase, according to Cendyn's Sales Intelligence platform, formerly Knowland. This marked its eighth consecutive month in the top five. Las Vegas meetings and events averaged 5,596 square feet with 209 attendees, driven by weddings, accounting for about 10 percent of event volume, and tech events like Oracle SuiteWorld, according to Cendyn. Anaheim ranked second, hosting education, national associations, and weddings. Across the top 25 markets, average space rose to 3,856 square feet with 130 attendees. The top five among the 25 leading markets were: Las Vegas (+34.2 percent): Weddings, technology, training/education, national associations and manufacturing. Anaheim-Santa Ana (+23.2 percent): Education, national associations, weddings, healthcare and consulting. Orlando (+22.9 percent): National associations, technology, healthcare, training/education and charity/non-profits/social services. New York (+21 percent): International government, finance/banking, charity/non-profits/social services, national associations and travel. Dallas (+18.6 percent): Healthcare, technology, consulting, finance/banking and education.

CHOICE UNIVERSITY, OPERATED by Choice Hotels International, recently launched the online "School of Business Principles & Financial Management" program to train owners and operators of Choice Hotels-branded properties in hotel management. The program equips owners with the tools and knowledge to make informed decisions, improve operations and increase profitability, Choice said in a statement. "Choice University's schools offer our community of owners targeted learning in key areas of hotel management," said Jeneane Becker, Choice University's dean. "Our new School of Business Principles & Financial Management is designed to help them elevate their hotels' financial performance." The new program includes instruction on benchmarking performance, enabling owners to measure their hotel's results against industry standards and competitors to identify areas for improvement, the statement said. It also covers income statement and balance sheet basics, helping owners understand and analyze financial statements to make informed decisions.

THE ILLINOIS SENATE Local Government Committee approved SB 1422, strengthening the hotel industry's efforts to combat human trafficking by mandating employee training. The legislation allows local government and law enforcement to oversee compliance and issue penalties for violations. Industry associations, including the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, praised the bill introduced by Sen. Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island), which now awaits a vote by the full Senate. "This legislation will allow local governments and local law enforcement to keep tabs on businesses to ensure they are giving their employees this crucial training," said Halpin. "We must do everything we can to make sure our communities are safe, and combating human trafficking is a top priority."

THE RECENTLY INTRODUCED "Halting of Trafficking and Exploitation in Lodging" Act would encourage federal employees traveling for business to choose hotels with anti-human trafficking programs. The legislation also would ensure that the U.S. government's preferred accommodations for conferences and employee travel are committed to training staff to recognize, prevent and respond to human trafficking. The bipartisan HOTEL Act, introduced by Reps. Chris Smith and Raja Krishnamoorthi on Sept. 19, gained support from anti-trafficking organizations and lodging associations, including the American Hotel and Lodging Association, Protecting All Children from Trafficking and Hope for Justice. Smith, who has authored five laws to combat human trafficking, argued that hotels are key locations for identifying and addressing sex and labor trafficking.

The Home2 Suites by Hilton-Richmond is open in Richmond, Indiana. It is owned by The Witness Group led by Sachin Patel, Sagar Patel and Aakash Patel as principals and executive leadership team. It is managed by Hotel Equities of Atlanta. The 100-room extended-stay hotel is near Richmond Mall, the Indiana Football Hall of Fame, and Indiana University East. Dayton International Airport. Amenities include an indoor saline pool and electric vehicle charging stations. It is pet friendly. "The hotel staff has prioritized the health and safety of patrons by implementing HE's industry leading HEalth First standards of cleanliness and safety protocol as part of the early operations training," said David Rosenberg HE's vice president of operations. "These protocols, which are above and beyond brand standards, along with the team's delivery of superior customer service will give guests complete confidence during their stay and will position the hotel as a leader in the Richmond market."

MORE THAN A week after Hurricane Ian devastated parts of Florida, AAHOA is on the ground providing aid and training for members. Hoteliers in affected areas are now in the process of working with insurance companies to repair damages while also taking care of their communities' basic needs. On Sept. 28, Hurricane Ian brought massive flooding from its storm surge in Florida, where at least 119 people died as of Oct. 18, according to NPR. According to AAHOA, 65 percent of hotels in Florida are owned by its members. Rahul Patel, AAHOA's Florida director, owns five properties in the Fort Myers-Sarasota area. He was at his America's Best Value Inn in Fort Myers, Florida, during the hurricane.

THREE MAJOR U.S. hospitality firms have donated $1 million to the No Room for Trafficking Survivors Fund by the American Hotel & Lodging Association Foundation to support human trafficking prevention and survivors, a statement said. The Hyatt Hotels Foundation donated $500,000 to the fund and the G6 Hospitality and Extended Stay America gave a combined $500,000 to the initiative, AHLA said in a statement. The fund supports economic stability for survivors of human trafficking. It also provides advance training and education to prevent human trafficking within the industry. A representative from the Hyatt Hotels Foundation will serve as co-chair of the No Room for Trafficking Advisory Council. "We recognize the potential of human trafficking to intersect with the hospitality industry and believe that one of the best ways the industry can combat the egregious violation of fundamental human rights is through efforts like the AHLA Foundation's No Room for Trafficking Survivors Fund," said Malaika Myers, the Hyatt foundation's chief human resource officer. "The fight against human trafficking has no finish-line, and as an industry we will continue to provide cutting-edge resources and support to ensure we are doing all we can to prevent and respond to human trafficking," said Rosanna Maietta, president and CEO of AHLA Foundation.