Copyright 1995-2010 Hsyndicate http://www.hsyndicate.org/organization/17001120.html Latest news, events, photos and more from American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) en-us Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:44:32 +0100 cs@hsyndicate.com (Hsyndicate) info@hsyndicate.com (Hsyndicate) Hsyndicate RSS FeedGenerator 5 http://www.hsyndicate.org/news/154000320/4045752.html http://www.hsyndicate.org/news/154000320/4045752.html Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:36:39 +0200 Former 2008 Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain of Arizona will join Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas to address the American Hotel & Lodging Association 2010 Legislative Action Summit (LAS)on March 15-16. Also invited is U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, who will share with attendees the White House’s economic priorities over the next year. http://www.ahla.com/blogs.aspx?id=29861&blogid=3236 http://www.ahla.com/blogs.aspx?id=29861&blogid=3236 Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:54:00 +0200 This past weekend was truly special, as my daughter gave birth to her third child on Thursday, and I was able to spend time with our growing family in New York. But I had to leave my babysitting duties on Sunday to head to Atlanta, where a breakfast to raise money for HotelPAC was being held. It was well-attended, hosted at the InterContinental hotel, courtesy of Jim Abrahamson, president, the Americas, InterContinental Hotels Group, and featuring Senator Isakson (R-GA), who provided an inside look on matters from Capitol Hill. http://www.ahla.com/blogs.aspx?id=29839&blogid=3236 http://www.ahla.com/blogs.aspx?id=29839&blogid=3236 Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:54:00 +0200 There was one final task to complete before putting the toll of DC’s worst snowstorm in 100 years behind us – celebrating Mardi Gras. It’s an annual tradition for Ruth and I to head to Spotsylvania to celebrate with friends, and while the snow pushed back the date, it was still a New Orleans-style event. On the way, home, we stopped at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia. It’s one of the most well done museums I’ve been to, and I strongly recommend visiting if you’re ever in the area. http://www.hsyndicate.org/news/154000320/4045598.html http://www.hsyndicate.org/news/154000320/4045598.html Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:15:56 +0200 The U.S. Senate tonight passed the Travel Promotion Act (TPA), sending this important industry priority to President Barack Obama’s desk for his signature. “This vote is significant, for it is the final legislative hurdle to pass before this bill is sent to President Obama for his signature,” said AH&LA President and CEO Joseph McInerney. “Achieving this victory was the result of years of hard work by many individuals in the travel industry and Congress. http://www.hsyndicate.org/news/154000320/4045510.html http://www.hsyndicate.org/news/154000320/4045510.html Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:27:11 +0200 AH&LA has released its official guidelines for Doing More with Less in 2010 to assist hoteliers in rebounding after last year’s challenging business climate. This strategic campaign identifies six key areas where hoteliers can easily reduce costs and maximize revenue with little or no investment. Building off of last year’s award-winning 10 Things You Should do to Protect Your Bottomline, this informative campaign provides best practices, tips, case studies, and more. http://www.ahla.com/blogs.aspx?id=29795&blogid=3236 http://www.ahla.com/blogs.aspx?id=29795&blogid=3236 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:54:00 +0200 It felt a little undeserved to have a three-day weekend with the office being closed four days last week, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. For Valentine’s Day, Ruth and I had dinner at Stars Bistro, notable for its singing wait staff, and then crossed the street for a nightcap at the Palomar’s Urbana bar. But my valentine fled for New York the next day, in fear the snow would prevent her from being with our daughter who is expecting her third child – our fifth grandchild – in the next couple of weeks. http://www.hsyndicate.org/news/154000320/4045159.html http://www.hsyndicate.org/news/154000320/4045159.html Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:35:50 +0200 During yesterday’s awards luncheon at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), two of hospitality’s most significant deals, as well as an investment executive, were honored with prestigious ALIS awards. http://www.ahla.com/blogs.aspx?id=29245&blogid=3096 http://www.ahla.com/blogs.aspx?id=29245&blogid=3096 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:54:00 +0200 When this year began, I did not think this was possible, but it has been an unbelievably exciting month to watch the United States Senate.  The Senate, normally the paradigm of stability, is surprising a lot of Washington veterans like me with its turbulence.  http://www.hsyndicate.org/news/154000320/4045100.html http://www.hsyndicate.org/news/154000320/4045100.html Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:45:30 +0200 Economist Douglas Holtz-Eakin will be the featured luncheon keynote speaker on Tuesday at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), January 25-27, 2010, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. Dr. Holtz-Eakin, who has had a long and distinguished career of public service as an economic advisor to policy makers, will share his expertise and views on the economy and where things are headed. http://www.hsyndicate.org/news/154000320/4045015.html http://www.hsyndicate.org/news/154000320/4045015.html Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:31:32 +0200 2010 is shaping up to be a crucial election year for Congress. AH&LA’s Legislative Action Summit (LAS), March 15-16, 2010, in Washington, D.C at the J.W. Marriott Hotel located nearby the White House, is set to make an impact right at the beginning. http://www.hsyndicate.org/news/154000320/4044994.html http://www.hsyndicate.org/news/154000320/4044994.html Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:32:35 +0200 Organizers of the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), January 25-27, 2010, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, recently surveyed more than 3,000 ALIS delegates about the state of the hotel industry, with results showing an increase in optimism over a similar survey taken before the 2009 event. Detailed survey results will be presented at ALIS, which is co-hosted by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) and Burba Hotel Network (BHN). http://www.hsyndicate.org/news/154000320/4044755.html http://www.hsyndicate.org/news/154000320/4044755.html Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:02:00 +0200 The H-2B Workforce Coalition believes that it is important for Congress to address comprehensive immigration reform, including much needed relief for many seasonal industries that use the H-2B program to supplement their year-round domestic work force during peak seasons when too few American workers are available. http://www.ahla.com/blogs.aspx?id=29055&blogid=3096 http://www.ahla.com/blogs.aspx?id=29055&blogid=3096 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:54:00 +0200   Last week, I had the opportunity to travel to Las Vegas, Nevada, for the International Society of Hotel Association Executives’ (ISHAE) winter conference.  ISHAE’s membership consists of the chief staff executives and their staff members who run the many state and local lodging associations found in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. http://www.hsyndicate.org/event/3002440.html http://www.hsyndicate.org/event/3002440.html Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:55:04 +0200 As one of HotelPAC’s top-earning events, the golf tournament is one of the most successful methods for raising vital funds which support industry-friendly candidates for federal office. http://www.hsyndicate.org/news/154000320/4044723.html http://www.hsyndicate.org/news/154000320/4044723.html Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:51:21 +0200 The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) is hosting a variety of industry events in 2010, ranging from fundraisers, industry trade shows, and annual meetings of the industry’s top executives, including: http://www.hsyndicate.org/news/154000320/4044688.html http://www.hsyndicate.org/news/154000320/4044688.html Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:47:52 +0200 On February 2, 2010, hoteliers across the country will take the opportunity to introduce high school students to more than 200 diverse industry job opportunities via National Groundhog Job Shadow Day. Sponsored within the lodging community by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), this national program allows students to ‘shadow’ hospitality professionals’ daily work experiences, familiarizing themselves with the wide array of job opportunities within the industry. http://www.hsyndicate.org/news/154000320/4044561.html http://www.hsyndicate.org/news/154000320/4044561.html Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:23:46 +0200 The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) sent a letter to President Barack Obama detailing a number of areas of focus where this week’s White House jobs summit can help build employment opportunities in the U.S. lodging and travel industry. http://www.ahla.com/blogs.aspx?id=28975&blogid=3096 http://www.ahla.com/blogs.aspx?id=28975&blogid=3096 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:54:00 +0200  Last Monday, I had the pleasure of traveling to the Colorado Hotel & Lodging Association and addressing their annual conference at the Broadmoor. President Christine O’Donnell and her staff did an outstanding job putting together an action packed agenda and Cindy Johnson of the Broadmoor was on hand to be sure everything went smoothly at the hotel.  http://www.hsyndicate.org/staffmovement/79000603.html http://www.hsyndicate.org/staffmovement/79000603.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:03:51 +0200 David Kong has been named 2010 Chairman at [[American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA)]] in Washington - DC, United States. During his inaugural speech last night at New York’s Waldorf=Astoria hotel, American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) incoming chair David Kong, president/CEO of Best Western International, told an audience of industry leaders that his priorities lie in using the collective power of the industry players to emerge stronger and better in 2010. The evening was also the kick-off to a year-long celebration of AH&LA’s centennial (1910-2010). Kong noted that before the association was founded in 1910, it was every man for himself. At the first meeting of the American Protective Association, a group of 60 maverick hoteliers met because they saw the need to collaborate. “With so many specialized organizations having formed since then, we need to find a way to harness our power, to be better aligned, coordinated, and integrated for the voice of the industry to be heard in Washington. There are many important battles ahead of us at the local and national level, and we need to synergize and find ways to work together more effectively to protect our industry,” said Kong. /file/152003970.pdf /file/152003970.pdf Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:17:53 +0200 For 2008, the U.S. lodging industry posted pre-tax profits of $25.8 billion – down from $28 billion in 2007 – and $140.6 billion in sales – a rise from $139.4 billion in 2007, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) Lodging Industry Profile (LIP), an annual statistical analysis of the industry. This $140.6 billion contributed to an overall $770 billion in tourism sales*, with resident and international travelers’ expenditures in the U.S. estimated at $2.1 billion/day; $88 million/hour; $1.5 million/minute; and $24,500/second.