This week, AAHOA Marketplace will be featured on a Times Square billboard, highlighting the resources available to hotel owners. Powered by our partners Avendra International and Folio, AAHOA Marketplace connects members with products and services designed to help hotel owners run their businesses more efficiently and save money. If you're in New York this week, keep an eye out for the billboard!

AAHOA is pleased to announce Simi Shah as the keynote speaker for the 5th Annual HerOwnership Conference. As the founder & CEO of South Asian Trailblazers, Simi has built an award-winning platform and community dedicated to elevating influential voices and stories. Growing up in the hospitality industry and as the daughter of an AAHOA Member, she has developed a unique career and experience advising executives and leaders, making her a sought-after voice on business, media, culture, and leadership.

Join us in Nashville on Monday, September 28, for Simi's keynote session and a conversation designed to inspire what is possible when women lead, build, and create their own paths.

Join the AAHOA Hotel Owners Academy at 2 p.m. EDT, Thursday, September 24, for "Hotel Debt, Refinancing, and Capital Stack Readiness," featuring Dr. Leonard A. Jackson of Kennesaw State University. This session will help hotel owners better understand today's refinancing landscape, including key lender considerations such as DSCR, LTV, NOI trends, PIP exposure, liquidity, and sponsor experience.

You’ll also learn about refinancing timelines, lender-readiness strategies, capital stack options, and additional funding tools available to hotel owners.

AAHOA Mid Atlantic members recently welcomed Pennsylvania state Rep. Joe Emrick to the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Easton for a Back of the House Tour, hosted by AAHOA Member Krish Patel. The visit gave Emrick an inside look at day-to-day hotel operations and an opportunity to discuss legislation shaping the industry.

AAHOA leaders recently took part in the annual MHD Republican Legislative Leadership Summit in Orlando, meeting with key Florida lawmakers to discuss priorities for the state's 2027 legislative session. AAHOA's delegation included South Florida Regional Director Meghna Patel, Past Chairman Bharat Patel (2023-24), member Aakash Patel, North Florida Ambassador Sharan Bhakta, and Ryan Albers, AAHOA Director of State Government Affairs.

AAHOA applauds the U.S. General Services Administration, which has raised its federal per diem rates for FY 2027. Effective October 1, the standard lodging rate will increase from $110 to $113 per night, with additional increases in several markets. This is the first increase in two years.

AAHOA is urging California Governor Gavin Newsom to veto Assembly Bill 2721, which would require hotel operators to post a notice to their employees indicating when a federal immigration enforcement agency reserves rooms at their property, which agency, and the duration of the stay. Hotels would also have to disclose potential agency presence to guests. The bill raises concerns around guest privacy, public safety, operational challenges, and personal liability for operators.

A University of Florida graduate student is seeking responses to a confidential and anonymous survey on hotel brand quality management. The survey is being conducted as part of a graduate professional paper, and its goal is to better understand quality management in hotel franchise systems from the perspective of industry professionals. Hotel general managers, assistant managers, regional leaders, and owners/franchisees are encouraged to take part. Learn more here.

AAHOA is developing an insurance program built specifically for hotel owners – with the goal of stronger coverage, better pricing, and institutional-quality solutions tailored to our industry.

Your participation is critical to helping shape the future of this program, which will target approximately 20 percent premium savings. We're inviting members to authorize the release of their current insurance information to help guide the development of this new program. All participation data is collected by a third-party law firm, is confidential and privileged, and is not accessible to AAHOA internally. Learn more here.