BOSTON — The nation’s two largest hotel and lodging associations, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) and the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), launched the American Hospitality Alliance (AHA) at the International Society of Hotel Associations (ISHA) Summer Meeting. Working with ISHA and more than 40 leading state associations, the AHA’s advocacy efforts will focus on issues to drive the hospitality industry’s recovery from the pandemic as the country reopens.
“We recognize that bringing together AHLA, AAHOA, state lodging associations, brands and owners will significantly amplify our industry’s efforts and messaging. Now more than ever, we need to speak to policymakers with one clear voice. This alliance will help us do just that,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
The new alliance comes as hoteliers continue to grapple with COVID-19 liability, illegal hotels masquerading as short-term rentals, lawsuits, tax reform and workforce development. STR and CBRE predict the lodging industry won’t fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic until at least 2023.
The stated goal of the American Hospitality Alliance (AHA) is:
- Promote the hospitality industry at the national and local levels by harnessing the power of industry leaders for more effective advocacy.
- Operationally, the AHA will serve as an additional tool to provide resources to support our industry at the national and local levels.
Related. 2021 Legislative Action Day a Resounding (Virtual) Success
AHLA and AAHOA will co-chair the AHA, and an advisory board of 17 industry and staff representatives will serve a one-year term and guide the alliance’s priorities and policy initiatives while the Alliance Advisory Board, with input from members, will help determine issue priorities and make decisions on financial support.
“This was an important week for AAHOA as we launched the creation of the American Hospitality Alliance (AHA) at the International Society of Hospitality meeting. I believe this new alliance will help hoteliers get the best possible representation. The strategic partnership between AAHOA, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and the major state hotel associations helps all constituencies in many ways,” Ken Greene, AAHOA Interim President and CEO, said: “On the one hand, sharing and pooling resources will allow us to streamline efforts to educate legislators at the national and local levels. This collaboration gives us the tools we need to keep hotels safe and operational. The AHA will promote the hospitality industry at the national and local levels by harnessing the power and influence of industry leaders and directing it toward advocacy and policy engagement.
Contact Chip Rogers at (202) 289-3100 orcrogers@ahla.com.