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Your Daily AAHOA Update for Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021

Today's Top Stories

The Latest from Washington D.C.

A week after inauguration, President Biden is slowly seeing his administration’s cabinet trickle through the confirmation process. Thus far, the Senate has confirmed Secretary of State Antony Bilken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines. Pete Buttigieg, Biden’s pick for Transportation Secretary, passed a committee vote earlier today, clearing the way for a fifth cabinet confirmation.

However, there are several key cabinet positions that the Senate has not yet confirmed, a nuisance to the Biden administration which has tried to expedite the confirmation process to effectively launch the Biden pandemic recovery plan among other policies. These vacancies in the administration include leadership in the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, and the Central Intelligence Agency. For the Biden administration to cohesively respond to the pandemic and deliver meaningful relief and vaccination rollouts, it is critical that his administration receive confirmations on its nominees.

STR, Tourism Economics Slightly Downgrade Latest U.S. Hotel Forecast

Worsened pandemic metrics and assumptions of limited early-year travel led STR and Tourism Economics to slightly downgrade their latest U.S. hotel forecast. Full recovery of demand remains on track for 2023, while close-to-complete RevPAR recovery is still projected for 2024. “While the recent COVID-19 surge has made for a challenging start to the year, our expectation that a strong rebound in travel activity will occur in the second half remains intact,” said Adam Sacks, president of Tourism Economics. “As we emerge from the stiffest periods of the public health crisis and virus-related conditions improve, our collective appetite for travel will kick-start the recovery.”

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AP: Biden More Bullish on Vaccines, Open to 1.5M Daily Shot Goal

President Joe Biden on Monday appeared to boost his goal for coronavirus vaccinations in his first 100 days in office, suggesting the nation could soon be injecting 1.5 million shots on an average per day. Biden signaled his increasing bullishness on the pace of vaccinations after signing an executive order to boost government purchases from U.S. manufacturers. It was among a flurry of moves by Biden during his first full week to show he’s taking swift action to heal an ailing economy as talks with Congress over a $1.9-trillion stimulus package showed few signs of progress.

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CDC: Requirement for Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test or Recovery from COVID-19 for All Air Passengers Arriving in the United States

On Jan. 12, 2021, CDC announced an Order requiring all air passengers arriving to the US from a foreign country to get tested no more than 3 days before their flight departs and to present the negative result or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 to the airline before boarding the flight. Air passengers will also be required to confirm that the information they present is true in the form of an attestation. This Order went into effect as of 12:01 a.m. EST yesterday, Jan. 26, 2021.

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What Members Are Saying...

“I would highly recommend the [CHIA] course to any operator that wishes to increase their utilization of the reports. The course was beneficial in providing additional perspective on various markets and segments in the industry. The information learned in the course will be beneficial in the operations of my portfolio and assist in the growth of my company.”

– Lifetime Member, New Mexico

Upcoming AAHOA Events & Webcasts

Webcast

TOMORROW | Understanding Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation

This session will provide a detailed overview of human trafficking and its impact on children in particular. You will learn what it is, how it happens, and why it is so prevalent, as well as what makes certain groups more vulnerable to exploitation and how you can identify and respond to individuals in need. Experts will also discuss important red flags for hotel staff to help spot human trafficking.

3 p.m. EST Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021

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Webcast

Update on Hotels in CMBS Special Servicing: What's Next in Round Two?

The recently passed second round of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security Act may provide some financial assistance to hotels suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic impact. What will recovery look like? What happens with an "uneven" recovery? How are CMBS special servicers reacting to the volume of distressed hotel loans and maturities on the horizon? What will special servicers do as the first and second rounds of forbearance expire? Join us as we give an update on CMBS special servicing and what’s next.

3 p.m. EST Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021

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Virtual Event

TOMORROW | Navigating the Road to Recovery in a Post-COVID-19 World: A Conversation with Hyatt Hotels

Join Washington DC Area Regional Director Sandip Patel as he hosts Navigating the Road to Recovery in a Post-COVID-19 World: A Conversation with Hyatt, where the ongoing recovery of the hotel industry amidst a continuing pandemic will be the top-of-mind topic of discussion. HotStas’ David Eisen will moderate a panel of Hyatt leaders, including Jim Tierney, Melissa Masitto and Brian Contreras, with appearances by AAHOA Lifetime Member and Past Chairman Mehul Patel of Newcrest Image and Steven Nicholas of Noble Investment Group.

Email your questions at least 24 hours in advance to franchise@aahoa.com

2 p.m. EST Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021

Link to Join

Upcoming Industry Events & Webcasts

Live Webinar

Mandatory COVID Vaccination for Hotel Workers: What Can (and Should) Hotel Employers Do?

As we anxiously await widespread availability of an effective and safe COVID-19 vaccine, many are wondering how hotel employers should deal with the question of mandatory COVID vaccination for some or all hotel employees. Tune in for a Zoom roundtable with JMBM Labor & Employment Partner Travis Gemoets, moderated by Global Hospitality Group® Chairman Jim Butler and featuring incisive questions to lay out vital, practical answers on the timely issue of mandatory vaccinations.

12 noon EST Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021

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Live Webinar

eCornell: Reframing and Innovating Through the Pandemic

As third-generation owners of their family’s business, Mark and Brian Canlis have strengthened the restaurant’s legacy and community connections and reframed the restaurant industry’s human resource model of investing in the aspirational career goals of its employees. Hoteliers can themselves find inspiration in how the Canlis brothers launched 11 business models in nine months, raised a quarter of a million dollars for charity, and kept their team employed during a pandemic that ravaged the restaurant industry.

3 p.m. EST Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021

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