Join AAHOA's Hotel Owners Academy for "Smarter Distribution, Stronger Profits: Balancing OTAs and Direct Bookings" and learn how to build a smarter channel mix that supports occupancy while protecting your margins. This virtual learning session explores practical ways to optimize OTA performance, strengthen direct bookings, and use hotel technology systems to manage distribution more strategically.

When: Thursday, May 7 | 2–2:45 p.m. EDT

The 2026 Hotel Owners Conference & Trade Show (HOC) season might have kicked off in March, but we're about to hit the ground running with this year's schedule! Between May and November, we'll host more than 20 HOCs across the country. Between a trade show featuring regional vendors, networking, education opportunities, and the latest industry updates, these are events you don't want to miss. Be sure to check out the schedule and register for an HOC in your region!

This month, we're celebrating 10 years of Today’s Hotelier – the award-winning official monthly magazine of AAHOA. For a decade, it has delivered stories, insights, and industry perspectives that inform, connect, and elevate hotel owners across the hospitality community. Since its first issue in April 2016, Today's Hotelier has become a trusted source for news, trends, and voices shaping the industry. Here's to the impact it's made, the conversations it continues to spark, and the years ahead.

The City of El Monte recently recognized former Greater Los Angeles Area Regional Director Naresh (ND) Bhakta for his service to the hospitality industry and his community. The honor reflects ND's leadership, and it also highlights the dedication of hoteliers like him who support their teams, serve their guests, and strengthen their communities.

AAHOA was proud to participate in a successful Advocacy Day at the Oklahoma Capitol, engaging directly with lawmakers on key issues impacting the hospitality industry. From discussions on credit card swipe fees, tourism development, and short-term rental policies to coalition efforts on SQ 832, a ballot measure to raise the state's minimum wage, this was a valuable opportunity to ensure hotel owners' voices are heard early in the legislative process.

AAHOA Members were on the ground in Arkansas for a productive legislative day with the Arkansas Hospitality Association, where they engaged directly with policymakers – including Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders – on the issues that matter most to hotel owners. Through strategic meetings with advocacy leaders, AAHOA advanced key priorities, including short-term rental policy, rising insurance costs, and ongoing collaboration on human trafficking awareness. These conversations are critical to lay the groundwork for the 2027 legislative session.

While economic pressure, global tensions, and shifting travel policies are not new, they are showing up more often and rapidly shaping travel decisions and thus, demand. For hotel owners, this is not always a clear pattern. Rather, it's an unpredictable shift. What worked last year, or even last quarter, does not always provide the same level of clarity. An online exclusive article for Today's Hotelier explores what volatility means for owners, and how they can best prepare for it.