AAHOA’s support of the LIONS Act by TEAM AAHOA In February, Congressman Shri Thanedar (MI-13) announced the introduction of the Loans In Our Neighborhoods (LIONS) Act, a bill designed to amend the Small Business Act by increasing the maximum gross loan amount for section 7(a) loans, from $5M to $10M, which would provide greater financial support to small businesses. This legislation is now being referred to the appropriate House Committee thanks to the leadership of Rep. Thanedar. While the road ahead is long, this is the first of many necessary steps to help hoteliers obtain access to capital ..read more

Celebrating the five-year anniversary of AAHOA’s first Chairwoman Jagruti Panwala by JODI SCOTT As AAHOA celebrates its 35th anniversary, 2024 also marks a milestone for one its members as it was five years ago that Jagruti Panwala took office as the first chairwoman of the association. Much has changed since that time, including setbacks for the hospitality industry as well as opportunities for growth and development. Panwala has been an active participant in those changes through her role as a hotelier and president of Wealth Protection Strategies and as an AAHOA volunteer leader. “The hotel ..read more

No-code automation’s role in speeding innovation and enhancing the guest experience by STEPHAN WIESENER “To automate or not to automate?” is the question most hoteliers have found themselves asking at some point during the past couple of years. It’s a fair question – one the entire industry has grappled with as guest preferences shift from traditional hospitality to self-service experiences. The conventional response to this shift has involved the adoption of all-in-one property management systems, but a growing pool of hoteliers are realizing the limitations of the one-stop shop. In a landsca ..read more

Prioritizing value and operational efficiency in new tech investments by MIKE GRAY Investing in new technology can feel overwhelming. Too often, a desired upgrade in one area – faster Wi-Fi or new property management software (PMS) – can render other infrastructure or software obsolete due to incompatibilities. In addition, many select-service hotels put off upgrading their internet and telecoms systems to avoid capital expenditures. This can have a detrimental impact on guest experience and loyalty. According to Hospitality Technology’s 2023 Customer Engagement Technology Study, 92% of travel ..read more

Taming construction costs with creative, efficient design by STEPHEN OVERCASH Hotel construction costs continue to escalate into 2024 with little signs of declining. While hoteliers can’t control the construction industry or availability of materials, there are many subtle design decisions that can reduce construction costs. Hoteliers and their design team must use practical approaches and work closely with their contractors from the start of the process. There often is considerable waste in hotel design, leading to less sustainable structures. Here are six considerations hoteliers should take ..read more

Read the fine print before signing by POOJA MEHTA, ESQ. In the era of e-signatures and quick transactions, it’s easy to underestimate the importance of meticulously reviewing and negotiating hotel contracts before signing on the dotted line. Your signature isn’t just a formality; it carries weight. Whether you’re buying a hotel property, transitioning operations, or entering into a franchise agreement, dedicating time to scrutinize and negotiate contract terms is paramount. Here, we’ll explore four prevalent types of contracts in the hotel industry: purchase and sale agreements, franchise agr ..read more

The new economy’s effect on hotel operating metrics, asset valuation, and the capital markets by RUSHI SHAH It’s a post-COVID world, but it’s far from normal both personally and professionally. How we live our lives and conduct business has changed. At the forefront of these changes is the increased inflationary pressure on goods and services we continue to face. We’ve watched prices go up on everything – from the most basic household items to the cost of operating businesses. Since the pandemic, daily headlines and overarching pressure to increase prices have sent property taxes, government a ..read more

Past chairs share their thoughts on AAHOA’s history, its future, and its role in bridging the two by CARTER DAVIS It’s difficult to believe, but 2024 marks AAHOA’s 35th anniversary. Throughout that time, AAHOA has been fortunate enough to have countless talented, selfless, and visionary leaders among its ranks. To mark the occasion, we’re catching up with a few of AAHOA’s Past Chairs who helped lead this organization and remain key influential pillars in the industry. Nitin Shah 1993-1994 Chairman In my time, our main obstacles included discrimination, establishing the infrastructure, and hav ..read more

Cultivating meaningful relationships with federal, state, and local legislators via Back of the House Tours by JODI SCOTT United States Representative Buddy Carter (R-GA) visited an AAHOA Member-owned hotel in Savannah in September 2023 As the U.S. gears up for a major election year, with 468 Congressional seats up for grabs, it’s more important than ever for AAHOA Members to build relationships with their senators and representatives. One effective way to ensure their voices are heard – and to further cultivate meaningful relationships – is for members to host Back of the House tours at the ..read more

PART OF AN ONGOING SERIES EXPLORING THE (SOMETIMES) LIGHTER SIDE OF A LIFE SPENT WORKING IN A HOTEL. READ EARLIER INSTALLMENTS HERE. by DEVEN MATTHEWS “Checking-in. The last name is Clark.” It was 10:45 on a busy Saturday night at the front desk. I’d spent the entire shift alone as Sean, my counterpart, had called off. The stream of arrivals had been pretty consistent during the past eight hours without too much congestion at the desk, for which I was grateful. However, I was tired and eagerly looking forward to my day off, which officially began in 15 minutes. The hotel was completely so ..read more