Click here if you are having trouble viewing this message.

Your Weekly AAHOA Wrap-Up for Friday, Jan. 29, 2021

Message from the President & CEO

AAHOA Members,

Earlier this week, we announced that the 2021 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show in Dallas, Texas, has been rescheduled to August 3-6. We are confident that this move will allow us to deliver the safest and best convention experience possible. Our top priority for the convention has, and always will be, the safety of all attendees. I thank you all for your patience and look forward to seeing you in person in August.  

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have wrapped up their first full week in the White House, having taken numerous executive actions to roll out the administration’s policy agenda. The Biden-Harris administration will keep a watchful eye on Congress next week as Democrats notioned that they will pursue President Biden’s “American Rescue Plan,” a $1.9-trillion pandemic relief package. If no bipartisan compromise is reached on the package, Democrats will use the process of budget reconciliation to pass the legislation through both chambers of Congress without Republican support. 

Our AAHOA Education Department continues to produce informative webinars and resource kits to help you and your business navigate the road ahead. Visit the AAHOA COVID-19 resource center to register for upcoming events, view industry best practices, and more. 

We appreciate your engagement and support and will continue to keep you well-informed of political developments and small-business assistance in the coming weeks. Stay well and have a great weekend.

Cecil P. Staton

AAHOA President & CEO

Top 10 Things to Know This Week

Kalibri Labs: Ahead of the Curve Series Examines Impact of Pandemic on Specific Markets 

In an effort to provide essential data to the industry at a critical time, Kalibri Labs has developed the Ahead of the Curve series to take an in-depth look at the impact of the pandemic and potential shape of the recovery in specific markets. By understanding how the pandemic has impacted a market, industry leaders can begin to understand the drivers of the recovery in that market. The Boston report is now available, with reports upcoming for Austin, San Diego, San Francisco, and Philadelphia.

HotStats: After Unanticipated 2020, Hotel Industry Knows What It’s Up Against

The end of 2020 is not the end of the problems for the global hotel industry, but it does bring hope on the wings of a vaccine that, in time, could be a panacea for what ails it: fear. The hotel industry does not perform well without its most significant ingredient: people. The pandemic has removed that element. In its place sit unused guestrooms, vacant restaurants and empty conference and meeting spaces. It’s a recipe for disaster, which is exactly what was concocted last year. But the close of the calendar doesn’t automatically mean a brighter 2021. It will still take time.   

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.”

The Harris Poll: Some Good News for Hoteliers in Latest COVID-19 Tracker 

In its latest survey, The Harris Poll asked Americans if they support or oppose key items in President Biden’s initial policy agenda and found that most Americans - including half or more of Republicans - support the policies. The key takeaway for AAHOA Members is that Biden sees the highest support (78%) for providing $175 billion in low-interest loans to small businesses. The data also found that consumers are anxious to start spending on the things they’ve been denied over the past year—like travel. That’s welcome news indeed for the hospitality industry.

USTA: Weekly Coronavirus Impact on Travel Expenditures in the U.S.

In 2020, the travel sector lost $492 billion compared to the prior year – an unprecedented 42% annual decline. Travel spending improved modestly during the last three weeks of the year. The week leading into the new year registered $14.6 billion in travel spending – the second-best week since March 14th, behind only the week of Labor Day Weekend. While still well below regular levels, the industry has experienced progress since the low of a mere $17 billion in travel spending in April. Recovery began in late May as numerous lockdown measures were lifted and the summer travel season ensued.

Mark Your Calendars for Our Upcoming Virtual Event and Webcasts!

• Webcast: The ADR Pandemic: How to Avoid the Downward Spiral, 3-3:30 p.m. EST, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021

• Webcast: Update on Hotels in CMBS Special Servicing: What's Next in Round Two?, 3-3:30 p.m. EST, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021

• Webcast: Employee Handbook Essentials: What Hoteliers Need to Know to Avoid Lawsuits, 1-1:30 p.m. EST, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021

• Virtual Event: Southwest Region Virtual Event: Albuquerque Tax Incentive, 1 p.m. EST Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021

• Webcast: Increase Guest and Employee Engagement by Confronting and Mitigating Bias on the Front Line, 3-3:30 p.m. EST, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021

• Webcast: How Our Hotels Increased RevPAR Indexes In 2020, 3-3:30 p.m. EST, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021

• Webcast: The State of the U.S. Lodging Industry: CBRE's 2021 Outlook, 3-3:45 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021

   

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 Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021.

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.

AAHOA Reschedules 2021 Convention & Trade Show

On Monday, AAHOA announced new dates for the 2021 Convention & Trade show, giving the AAHOA community the opportunity to reconnect and continue rebuilding our industry together, which includes gathering safely in person for ​our leading event of the year. The 2021 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show will be moving to August 3-6, 2021, in Dallas, TX. 

“We are confident that rescheduling the convention is the right decision for our members, industry partners, and our association so that people can travel and gather safely in Dallas. I look forward to seeing all our friends in the hospitality industry Dallas this August,” AAHOA President & CEO Cecil P. Staton said in a statement released today. 

AAHOA appreciates your unwavering support, enthusiasm, and patience. The road to recovery runs through AAHOA – and we look forward to hosting you this August in Dallas. Stay tuned as registration will be opening soon!

The Latest from Washington, D.C.

It was a busy week on Capitol Hill. On Monday, President Biden signed an Executive Order intended to promote U.S. manufacturing by closing loopholes in the “Buy American” policies for the federal government. On Tuesday, Congressional Democrats reintroduced a bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. The House voted to pass the same legislation last year, but the bill was never brought to the floor for a vote in the Republican-controlled Senate. Democrats now control the Senate, but the prospects of the bill passing remain slim. 

Pete Buttigieg, Biden’s pick for Transportation Secretary, passed a committee vote on Wednesday, clearing the way for a fifth Cabinet confirmation. If conformed, Buttigieg would join Secretary of State Antony Bilken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines.

As of Thursday afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are still negotiating the Senate rules as the filibuster issue remains a sticking point. Despite the ongoing gridlock in the Senate, Democrats notioned that they could pursue President Biden’s “America Rescue Plan,” a $1.9-trillion pandemic relief package, as early as next week. If no bipartisan compromise is reached on the package, Democrats could use the process of budget reconciliation to pass the legislation through both chambers of Congress without Republican support.

Was this email forwarded to you? You can opt in, or opt back in, to receive these directly by signing up at myaahoa.com.

Asian American Hotel Owners Association, Inc.

Atlanta Headquarters

1100 Abernathy Road, Suite 725

Atlanta, GA 30328

404.816.5759

www.aahoa.com

Washington D.C. Office

601 New Jersey Avenue NW, Suite 610

Washington DC 20001

To update your subscription preferences, please email info@aahoa.com.. 

Privacy