Monthly Coffee Meeting

Connect with other operators each month at the IHLA’s member coffee meeting. Each month has a featured presenter as well as association updates and plenty of discussion and networking time. Starting in June a virtual meeting option will take place immediately after the in-person meeting. Questions? Contact Faith Dorn.

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

Hilton Garden Inn | Johnston, Iowa

Featured Speaker:

Shawn Miner, SFM Insurance

Thank you to the sponsor of our May meeting:

Upcoming Monthly Coffee Meetings:

June 14

9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

Guest Speaker: Amy Ziegler, State Tourism Manager | Iowa Tourism Office

Iowa Tourism Office | Des Moines

July 12

9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

Guest Speaker: Greg Edwards, President & CEO | catchdesmoines.com  

Catch Des Moines Office | Des Moines

August 9

9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

Guest Speaker: Jessica Dunker, President & CEO | Iowa Hotel & Lodging Association

Hotel Julien | Dubuque

September 13

9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

Guest Speaker: TBD

Location:TBD

Help Build Support for Elimination of Double Sales Taxes

Charged to Ready a Room

This past state legislative session, the IHLA worked with Senator Carrie Koelker and Rep. Craig Johnson, to introduce SF 394 and HF 544. These bills would exempt hotels from sales tax on certain expense categories, specifically those items required to prepare a room for a guest. Similar tax relief was passed several years ago on the manufacturing “inputs” required to build a product. This legislation removes the sales tax obligation for hoteliers on everything from toilet paper and shampoo, to linens and laundry soap. Expenses shared across nonsleeping rooms would be determined based on square footage, a percentage of square footage, or the number of sleeping rooms. 

SF 394 and HF 544 actually reinstate sales tax exemptions hotels once had, that were left out of tax reform passed in the early 90’s. This year, the bills were drafted, introduced, and passed out of subcommittees in both chambers. A fiscal note was published late in the session estimating a $6 million impact to the state. 

While the bill did not make it over the finish line this year, the Association has a running start on next session. Because Iowa’s legislative sessions are two years, we will use the interim to review the fiscal note for accuracy, answer questions, line up support and prepare for movement on the bill next session. We will not have to seek sponsorship to redraft and reintroduce the bills. 

Please take the time to read and familiarize yourself with the concepts and language in these bills as individual hoteliers across the state will play a crucial role in solidifying support from legislators. 

Express Your Support for H-2B Returning Worker Exemptions Today!

The H-2B temporary worker program is essential to many seasonal employers who cannot find local temporary workers to fill jobs during their peak seasons. Please ACT NOW to express your strong support of H-2B Returning Worker Exemptions in the upcoming hearing for the Appropriations bill. This bill would allow returning seasonal workers to be exempt from the federal cap of 66,000 H-2B visas per fiscal year. 

AHLA is working hard to garner support for this bill, but we need your help! Please send this letter to let Members of Congress know that the hotel industry needs cap relief now and that returning workers should be exempt from the H-2B cap.

Meet in Iowa Increases Iowa Hotel Night Stays by 4,500+

2023 Program Now Underway

The inaugural year of the Meet in Iowa Meeting and Event Incentive program has wrapped up and by all measurements it was a huge success. Developed and administered by the team at the Iowa Restaurant Association and Iowa Hotel & Lodging Association, in response to an RFP from the IEDA and Iowa Tourism Office, the program approved 80 applications for 2022 events. 

While there were several criteria for qualification, the primary approval and success measurement was an increase in paid hotel night stays. The required increase was based on community size. By the end of the year, Meet in Iowa had a confirmed impact of an additional 4,566 hotel nights in 2022, leveraging properties in 35 communities across the state. In all, more than $715,000 was reimbursed to qualified applicants. 

The success of the 2022 program led the IEDA and Iowa Tourism Office to renew for 2023. The 2023 Program is more laser focused on business conferences and group travel. It continues to be a fantastic sales tool for hotel sales teams competing for business groups and conferences. For details on how to put Meet in Iowa to work for you, visit www.meetinia.com or call Katelyn Adams, Program Administrator, at 515-276-1454.

Teladoc for All Employees & Their Families for $9 per Month, Per Household

The Iowa Hotel & Lodging Association is excited to announce a new member exclusive benefit. IHLA members can now provide telemedicine services including expert general medical services, mental health, dermatology, expert medical services and nutrition for $9 per month, per employee. Full and part-time employees are eligible for unlimited visits with $0 copays through this service.  What’s more, the $9 per month includes coverage for all members of the employee’s household including children, spouses and domestic partners. While this is not a replacement for group health insurance, it is a cost-effective way to provide high quality healthcare services to your employees. Available in Spanish and English. 

Iowa Hotel & Lodging Association State Awards Luncheon

Monday, October 2, 2023

11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Rewind Hotel | West Des Moines, Iowa

Watch Your Emails for Ticket Information

Interested in Serving on the Board?

The Iowa Hotel & Lodging Association is a member-driven professional association of state’s hotel and lodging industry. The Association is governed by an elected, volunteer Board with representatives from each of the various segments within the industry and from across the state. The IHLA Board of Directors serves as the Association’s policy-making body and meets quarterly with committee and team meetings throughout the year as necessary. If you know someone who would make an excellent representative of the industry on the Association’s Board, or if you’re interested in serving, please contact Jessica Dunker at jessica@hotellodgingiowa.com . You may nominate yourself for consideration.