Picture this: your hotel is bustling with guests enjoying their stay when suddenly, a fire alarm blares, or news of an approaching wildfire sends everyone into a frenzy. Emergencies like natural disasters, fires, medical crises, or security issues can strike at any moment, throwing normal operations into chaos. That’s why having solid emergency plans in place isn’t just a good idea—it’s absolutely crucial. The AHLA has your back! We’ve created resources designed to help you prepare and plan for any type of emergency. From the initial response to getting back on your feet afterwards, AHLA’s too ..read more

Last Spring, we came together as an association and won a pause to changes to the Tourism Levy that would have negatively impacted hotels.  Since then, the province has introduced new regulations to ensure OTAs like Expedia, Booking, and Airbnb are collecting and remitting their fair share of the Tourism Levy. The new changes to the Tourism Levy include: Bookings made on or after October 1/2024, the party that collects payment from the consumer is required to collect, remit, and report the Tourism Levy. Operators are required to report the revenue from payments received di ..read more

Alberta’s Finance Minister Nate Horner tabled his first budget, which includes more than $70 billion in spending and a surplus of $367 million. Restraint and austerity are the key words that define this budget. Premier Danielle Smith’s goal of keeping spending increases below 6.2% (this figure is based on inflation combined with population growth) has been met. Health Care and Education are the big winners in this budget. Fiscal Projections/Economic Outlook: The province plans to spend $73.2 billion this fiscal year – a 3.9% increase from last year. It is estimated that resource revenues will ..read more

We were honoured to be part of the Government of Alberta’s announcement of their new immigration stream dedicated to the tourism and hospitality industry. “The AHLA welcomes the creation of a dedicated immigration stream for Alberta’s tourism and hospitality industry. While Canadians continue to respond to Alberta’s call, our member hotels are still experiencing acute labour shortages in their teams. By helping hotels attract and retain the skilled staff they need, this stream will help Alberta hotels deliver a better experience to our guests and strengthen the provincial tourism economy ..read more

Are you passionate about Alberta’s hotel industry? Do you believe that hotels are stronger when they work together? Consider running for the AHLA Board of Directors! The Board of Directors is responsible for setting the association’s strategic direction in order to help our members prosper. We are looking for industry champions who: Believe in the power of working together Want to find solutions to the biggest challenges facing Alberta hotels Are ready to be part of a progressive board that acts with integrity Take pride in serving their fellow hoteliers Embrace challenge and fun! The Board ..read more

The AHLA continues to advocate for members and the hotel industry by providing feedback on the Government of Alberta’s 2024 Budget. In the feedback submission, we highlight the significant financial strain that  hotels in Alberta continue to experience. Hotels are pillars of their communities, serving guests and providing fulfilling careers for employees. They are a key driver of economic diversification, job creation, and sustainable, clean growth in the province. If the Alberta government intends to deliver on their goal of doubling tourism revenues by 2035, the hotel industry will nee ..read more

You can’t see it, smell it, or taste it, but carbon monoxide (CO) is a deadly gas lurking in our midst. In North America, it stands as a primary contributor to accidental poisoning fatalities. So, what’s the deal with this elusive foe? What is carbon monoxide? CO, a by-product of combustion, rears its dangerous head when fuel-burning appliances don’t get enough air to burn fuel completely. CO is no joke—it absorbs into your bloodstream a whopping 200 times faster than regular oxygen. In simpler terms, it’s a fast-acting danger. Where do you find it? Concerned about where CO might strike? Wel ..read more

Thank you to all our inspiring speakers, amazing sponsors, and wonderful members for another successful Ascend conference! On November 6 & 7, we gathered with representatives from 150+ hotels across Alberta for Ascend, the can’t miss event for hotel leaders, owners and investors. Ascend is a chance to connect with peers and discover what’s next for the hospitality industry. Attendees had the opportunity to gain market intelligence from several hotel industry, political, and real estate experts. The key takeaways included: Dr. Jody Carrington, Psychologist & Best-Selling Au ..read more

The AHLA, on behalf of our membership, submitted a letter to Councillor Jennifer Wyness calling on the City of Calgary to impose stricter regulations on short-term rentals (STRs) and the platforms that host them. This submission reflects similar recommendations made to Edmonton City Council in October. Regulating the STR Market We believe that everyone who operates a commercial scale accommodation business in Alberta — whether it is a hotel, motel, inn, apartment, or short-term rental — should be subject to the same taxes and regulations. By regulating commercial short-term rentals and the pla ..read more

The AHLA, on behalf of our membership, provided a submission to Edmonton City Council in support of Councillor Michael Janz’ motion to amend Bylaw 2002 (Section 60) regarding residential short-term rentals. The motion aims to impose stricter regulations to address the housing crisis and create a level playing field for accommodation providers. We have been pushing for stronger regulations around short-term rentals for over a decade and welcome the support of Councillor Janz on this file. The original concept of home sharing promoted by online platforms has been distorted by real estate investo ..read more