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GREATER ACCESS TO capital and addressing the severe labor shortage facing the hospitality industry were the major topics to address for AAHOA's Spring National Advocacy Conference last week. It was the final advocacy conference for Nishant "Neal" Patel as AAHOA chairman. "It was an honor to attend my final advocacy conference as chairman. We brought nearly 200 AAHOA leaders to Washington, D.C., to advocate on behalf of our industry and on behalf of AAHOA's 20,000 members," Patel said in a press release. "Creating relationships with our elected officials is a top priority for AAHOA, and we will continue to work on your behalf, strengthening relationships so we can continue to represent the entire hospitality industry with your best interests at heart." the AAHOA reps met with more than 200 elected officials. their mission included educating those officials on the importance of hotels to their communities and the economy at large. the issues at hand were essentially the same as those addressed during AAHOA's Fall National Advocacy Conference in September. AAHOA's main advocacy objectives include: More access to capital by increasing Small Business Administration loan caps/limits - Currently, SBA 7(a) and 504 loan limits are capped at $5 million, but AAHOA wants that raised to $10 million, which would be the first increase in the cap since 2010. AAHOA said hoteliers' costs of constructing and purchasing properties have risen past that cap over the past decade.

THE AMERICAN HOTEL & Lodging Association has announced THE dates, cities, and registration information for its "On THE Road" State Hotel Conferences for 17 states in 2023. THE conferences will provide hoteliers, suppliers, and service providers opportunities to connect with THEir peers as well as hospitality and policy leaders to learn about THE latest news and information affecting THE hotel and lodging industry, AHLA said in a statement. Anyone who works in THE hotel industry can attend THEse half-day, free events, it added. "AHLA's 'On THE Road' State Hotel Conferences are designed to help local hoteliers connect with THEir peers, gain insights on national and local market business performance trends and learn from top hospitality leaders, service providers and policy experts," said Chip Rogers, AHLA president and CEO. "THE events are also a vital tool to help AHLA build coalitions, grow our grassroots network and rally hoteliers around THE industry's goals and initiatives. We are excited to bring AHLA's successful On THE Road State Hotel Conference series to a record number of cities in 2023." AHLA will host THEse conferences in partnership with its state or city lodging association partners. Since starting with four events in 2021, AHLA's On THE Road State Hotel Conferences have brought togeTHEr thousands of hoteliers in cities across THE nation. Last year, 11 events were held.

EXTENDED-STAY ROOM SUPPLY increased by 1.8 percent in February due to it being a leap year, consistent with the average monthly increase observed over the last two years, according to the Highland Group. February marked 29 consecutive months of 4 percent or less supply growth. Additionally, the change in supply has remained below 2 percent for more than two years, with both metrics significantly falling below the long-term average. the 18.8 percent surge in economy extended-stay supply, along with a modest increase in mid-price segment rooms, is largely attributed to conversions, the Highland Group said. Meanwhile, new construction in the economy segment is estimated at around 3 percent of open rooms compared to a year ago. 2024 first half supply trends Supply change comparisons have been affected by rebranding, segment realignment in the Highland Group's database, and the de-flagging of hotels failing to meet brand standards, along with sales to multi-family apartment companies and municipalities, the report said. This trend is expected to persist into the first half of 2024, particularly with older extended-stay hotels still available on the market.

HYATT HOTELS CORP. reported $26 million in net income for the fourth quarter of 2023 and $220 million for the year. Comparable system-wide RevPAR grew by 9.1 percent during the same period and 17 percent for the full year of 2023, outperforming figures from 2022 and exceeding the previous full-year outlook. Adjusted net income reached $68 million in Q4 and $276 million for full-year 2023, Hyatt said in a statement. "the fourth quarter marks the completion of a transformative year and demonstrates the progress towards our strategic vision and earnings evolution," said Mark Hoplamazian, Hyatt's president and CEO. "RevPAR growth exceeded the high end of our guidance range and we had industry-leading net rooms growth for the seventh consecutive year. This led to a record level of fees and the highest free cash flow in Hyatt's history. We returned $500 million to our shareholders and achieved an asset-light earnings mix of approximately 76 percent for the full year, a testament to the successful execution of our strategy."

HOSPITALITY FINANCIAL AND Technology Professionals, the global representative for hospitality technology and producers of HITEC, recently initiated a project to develop a digital responsibility code for the hospitality industry. HFTP is forming a task force of experts and academics to develop the code. HFTP commissioned the University of Houston to write a white paper on digital responsibility, featured in the inaugural issue of HFTP's Tech+Fin Hospitality Magazine at HITEC 2024, HFTP said in a statement. the paper and industry discussions highlighted the need for guidelines on digital responsibility. Task force members include: ProfitSence Favicon Ads by ProfitSence Co-chair Scot Campbell, principal, Integrated Resort Advisors, HFTP Global past president and inductee to the HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame Co-chair Agnes DeFranco, Conrad N. Hilton Distinguished Chair at University of Houston and HFTP Global past president Mike Blake, vice president, IT, Kemper Sports Steven Bronken, head of global hospitality, Ruckus Networks Sanovnik Destang, executive director, Bay Gardens Resorts Florian Gallini, CEO, INTEREL Thomas Hempel, vice president, sales and partnerships, VENZA Barry Thomas, vice president, technology, Orient Express and Fairmont Hotels Sherry Marek, founder, Aiken Street Consulting and inductee to the HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame Shannon McCallum, vice president, hotel operations, Resorts World Las Vegas, Neal Patel, managing partner, Blue Chip Hotels, AAHOA past chairman Andrew Rubinacci, chief advisory officer, FLYR for Hospitality Thomas Atzenhofer, deputy CEO, HFTP "there are many good practices for digital responsibility throughout the industry, but these have never been aggregated, vetted and published as a compilation of the best practices in a uniform guide," said Atzenhofer. "HFTP's task force of global industry technology and business experts, has agreed to tackle the task and make the ind

WYNDHAM REWARDS RECENTLY announced the three finalists for the mural project at Gillespie Golf Course in Greensboro, North Carolina. the selected artists are Vincent Ballentine from Brooklyn, New York; Raman Bhardwaj from Greensboro, North Carolina; and Abel Jackson from Charlotte, North Carolina. A committee of key community figures and organizations chose these finalists from over 50 nationwide applicants, Wyndham said in a statement. the project aims to honor the Greensboro Six, a group of Black men who, in 1955, played golf at the whites-only Gillespie course, the statement said. their act of defiance against segregation occurred just a week after Rosa Parks' arrest for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus. the Greensboro Six were arrested, convicted of trespassing, and spent 15 days in jail. their actions and subsequent court cases eventually led to the desegregation of Gillespie Golf Course. In 1961, the Greater Greensboro Open (now the Wyndham Championship) became the first PGA Tour event in the South to welcome a Black player, Charlie Sifford.

ONLY ONE IN five hotel professionals believe the current tech stack is sufficient for achieving efficiencies, cost savings and adequate guest care, according to a recent survey by the Hospitality Women's Innovation Council. Approximately 91 percent of survey respondents indicated that better collaboration among technology companies on integrations is needed, while 86 percent felt improved integration processes would encourage greater investment in technology. HWIC, a group of hotel brand executives, managers, and innovators, conducted the survey between May 25 and June 15, HWIC said in a statement. More than 300 owners, managers, and technologists participated in the survey. the study was supported by Visual Matrix, a PMS software developer in Richardson, Texas. "Industry professionals have confirmed that more than any other factor, collaboration is the key to driving better business results for hoteliers-collaboration among technology providers and between the providers and the hoteliers they serve," said Georgine Muntz, HWIC co-chair and CEO of Visual Matrix. "When we created the council close to a year ago, we began with the assumption that women leaders in hospitality can help improve the ways industry professionals collaborate for common ends and encourage better standardized integrations. Now that assumption has been fully validated. We look forward to sharing the council's recommendations on better integration, collaboration and advancing innovation, in the weeks ahead."

U.S. hotel performance improved in the fourth week of April from the week before, according to STR. the top 25 markets saw improvement as well. Occupancy was 65.8 percent for the week ending April 23, up from 62 percent the week before and down 4.2 percent from 2019. ADR was $148.35 for the week, increased from $147.25 the week before and up 15.4 percent from three years ago. RevPAR reached $97.66 during the week, up from $91.25 the week before and rose 10.5 percent from 2019. Among STR's top 25 markets, Tampa saw the highest occupancy, up 3.4 percent to 78.1 percent and ADR, increased 38.5 percent to $203.40, over 2019. Minneapolis experienced the largest occupancy decrease, dipped 21.1 percent to 53.8 percent, from 2019.

THE U.S. HOTEL industry is "beginning to get back to getting back to it," according to a speaker at THE Lodging Conference 2022, held Sept. 19-22 in Phoenix. More than 2,500 people attended THE event at THE JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort, continuing THE industry's return to normalcy after more than two years of pandemic. Talk of THE economy during THE conference was mostly positive, though concerns about THE labor shortage remained high as well as some apprehension about overall economic stability. Women were strongly represented on THE stage with THE awarding of THE annual Castell Award. AAHOA's leadership team also contributed to THE conference conversation.

U.S. HOSPITALITY SECTOR has consistently maintained the highest quit rates by workers among all industries, consistently exceeding 4.5 percent since July 2021, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. However, the leisure and hospitality sector maintained the highest hiring rate among all industries, fluctuating between 6 percent and nearly 19 percent. these industries saw a loss of 837 thousand workers in September, yet 1.1 million individuals were hired into the industry during the same month. This hiring rate exceeds the national average, which was 3.7 percent in September 2023, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said in its latest report titled Understanding America's Labor Shortage: the Most Impacted Industries. the latest jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals a positive influx of individuals into the workforce.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE was up in the second week of March from the week before, according to STR. ADR was up during the week compared to two years ago. Occupancy was 63.2 percent for the week ending March 12, up from 61.2 percent the week before and down 9.8 percent for the same period in 2019. ADR was $144.68 for the week, increased from $137.96 the week before and up7.7 percent from two years ago. RevPAR was $91.45 for the week, up from $84.39 the week before and down 2.8 percent from the same period two years ago. None of STR's top 25 markets showed an occupancy increase during the period when compared to two years ago. Miami came closest to its 2019 comparable, down 4.7 percent to 84.1 percent.

THE PERFORMANCE OF U.S. hotels ended strong in THE first quarter with March profit surging across most global regions, according to HotStats. THE research firm said stronger revenues, better conversion rates and less worry by travelers about a COVID upsurge drove THE first quarter surge in performance. During THE quarter U.S. hotels saw an increase in its operating fortunes, according to a blog post on THE HotStats website. GOPPAR in March 2022 was up $70 over January 2022 and at $90 was closing in on March 2019's level. It was THE highest profit month in THE U.S. since February 2020, THE last normalized month of performance before COVID-19 reframed THE world. ADR growth in THE U.S. led THE way in recovery with March ADR on a nominal basis was at its highest level since October 2018.

U.S. HOTELS ADDED 700 jobs to their payrolls in June, according to the latest government data, but the nationwide workforce shortage continues to make it difficult for hotels to fill open positions, according to the American Hotel and Lodging Association. Total hotel employment stands at about 1.92 million, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is more than 196,000 fewer workers than in February 2020, reflecting a scarcity of available employees. Bureau of Labor Statistics also revised down the total number of hotel jobs in the country, which eliminated job gains for the industry that were reported in prior months, AHLA said in a statement. "Halfway through 2024, the hotel industry is behind where it needs to be when it comes to hiring staff, despite near-record high wages and expanding workplace benefits and flexibility," said Kevin Carey, AHLA's interim president and CEO. "the reason is the nationwide workforce shortage, which is preventing hoteliers from meeting their full potential as demand for travel remains strong. Both Congress and the administration can provide relief to our members, many of whom are small business owners, and AHLA will continue to call for action to expand the pool of available workers."

ASIAN HOSPITALITY IS A B2B NEWS MAGAZINE AND WEBSITE THAT COVERS THE U.S. HOTEL INDUSTRY. OUR NICHE READERSHIP AND TARGET MARKET ARE INDIAN AMERICAN HOTELIERS, WHO OWN MORE THAN HALF OF THE HOTELS IN AMERICA. THE COMMUNITY OF HOTELIERS IS AMONG THE MOST AFFLUENT GROUP BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE U.S., WITH AN ESTIMATED $35 BILLION IN BUYING POWER. ASIAN HOSPITALITY uniquely provides editorial in Gujarati, THE language spoken by most Asian American hoteliers who have roots in Gujarat, India. Its sister publication, PRIYA, is THE business magazine for entrepreneurial women. In Indian American hotel businesses, women make most of THE buying decisions. THEy also have carved THEir own paths to business success, leading family enterprises and starting THEir own ventures. THE next generation of THE Asian American hotelier community is made up of highly educated and experienced women and men who are eager to take hotel development and operations to THE next level. ASIAN HOSPITALITY is with THEm every step of THE way.

WITH THE TENNESSEE River winding through downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, as a backdrop, Mitch Patel, president and CEO of Vision Hospitality Group, welcomed nearly 300 guests to a formal gala recognizing his company's 25th anniversary on Thursday. Among THE guests were local officials, brand leaders, some of Patel's fellow hoteliers and THE VHG employees who he said made it all possible. "I know many of you are tired and have early flights tomorrow, so I'll do my best to keep this short but I have a lot of people to thank, I'm sorry," Patel said in his speech near THE end of THE gala, following many presentations and a full dinner on THE terrace at THE Hunter Museum of American Art. THE museum is next door to THE Edwin Hotel, one of VHG's several boutique hotels in Chattanooga alone. Some guests for THE gala also enjoyed complimentary housing at THE Edwin for THE special anniversary event, which was announced in March.

NEWCRESTIMAGE HAS COMPLETED its sale of 27 hotels to Summit Hotel Properties it first announced in November. The Dallas-based company, led by Mehul Patel as managing partner and CEO, also contracted with Aimbridge Hospitality to manage The hotels and will become a minority shareholder in The management company. The initial closing includes 26 existing hotels with 3,533 guestrooms, with final closing on The currently under construction 176-room Canopy by Hilton New Orleans expected to be completed in The first quarter, according to The company. It also includes two parking structures. The transaction costs $776.5 million for The hotels, or $209,000 per key. It also includes $24.8 million for The two parking structures and $20.7 million for The various financial incentives through Summit's joint venture with Singapore-based sovereign wealth fund GIC, made in 2019 to acquire hotels in The U.S.

The Best Western Kennesaw is now open in Kennesaw, Georgia. Darren Patel is The owner and general manager of The hotel. The 59-room hotel is near The Six Flags Over Georgia waterpark, Town Center at Cobb shopping mall, Andretti Indoor Karting and Games, The Georgia Aquarium, The World of Coca-Cola museum and Truist Park, home of The Atlanta Braves baseball team. Also nearby are Dobbins Air Reserve Base, The SouThern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History and The Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. "Guests will appreciate having everything They need at our newly renovated property, and The warm service and exceptional value that The Best Western brand has been providing for 75 years," Patel said.

THE RECENTLY RENOVATED Four Points by Sheraton Cleveland Airport in Cleveland, Ohio, is THE latest acquisition by NexGen Hotels. It is THE 11th property in THE portfolio for NexGen, led by Chris Patel as principal. THE 147-room Four Points is two miles from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. It also is near Quicken Loans Arena, THE Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and THE Cleveland Clinic Medical Center. Amenities at THE 6-story hotel include 7,500 square feet of meeting space and a heated indoor swimming pool. It also hosts THE brand's Best Brews program at its onsite restaurant, THE Hub Bar & Grill. "As THE company's newest property, THE hotel plays a significant part of our continued growth strategy," Patel said.

U.S. HOTEL OCCUPANCY increased in the first week of December, according to STR. But, all performance metrics were lower during the week when compared to same period in 2019. Occupancy was 54.8 percent for the week ending Dec. 4, up from 53 percent the week before and down from 8.8 percent for the same period in 2019. ADR for the week was $127.92, down from $128.41 the week before and decreased 0.5 percent when compared to two years ago. RevPAR increased to $70.08during the week from $68 for the week before but dropped 9.2 percent for the same period in 2019. According to the report, none of STR's top 25 markets recorded an occupancy increase over 2019, Only Los Angeles matched its 2019 comparable at 70 percent. Miami, lifted by Art Basel, reported the largest ADR increase when compared with 2019, up 32.9 percent to $373.71.

MORE THAN EIGHT in ten hotels in the U.S. experienced difficulties in operations due to supply chain disruptions, according to a survey. Nearly three in four hotel operators say the disruptions are negatively impacting their business revenue. the American Hotel & Lodging Association conducted the survey among more than 500 AHLA members during Nov. 8 to 22. More than half, 52 percent, of respondents said that the problem became worse over the past three months, and 74 percent said supply chain issues are having a negative impact on business revenue. the impact on operations could have repercussions for employment, underscoring the need for targeted federal relief for hotel employees, such as the Save Hotel Jobs Act, according to AHLA. "Hotels have a complex supply chain that requires regular procurement of a wide range of goods and services each day. And whether it's production backups or shipping delays, supply chain disruptions are compounding hotels' existing problems and increasing operating costs during an already tough time," said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA. "This survey highlights just how widespread these challenges are for hoteliers. That's why now is the time for Congress to pass the Save Hotel Jobs Act, so hotel employees can get the relief they need during these difficult times."