Hotel & Motel Management - May 19, 2008 - (Page 40)

40 News H&MM May 19, 2008 | HotelMotel.com www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition Summit Continued from page 1 what our ofﬁce is trying to ﬁgure out.” Stewart Verdery, partner and founder of Monument Policy Group LLC, said educating travelers is a must. “A big problem is we have all of these security programs, but no outreach programs.” Another key issue on AH&LA’s agenda is H-2B visa relief. Returning-worker exemption provisions, which dramatically increase the number of visas issued and help hotels and others get seasonal help, expired in September. Further legislation has been introduced, but there is some resistance because of the misinformation that it allows foreigners to take jobs from Americans or that employers are mistreating H-2B workers. “With a new president, there is a huge risk,” said Bob Alter, executive chairman of Sunstone Hotel Investors and chairman of the AH&LA Governmental Affairs Committee. “We need to band together and raise money and get out there.” Stevan Porter, president, The Americas, InterContinental Hotels Group, said it’s an emotional issue. “A concern is the belief that [hoteliers] are bad employers, and if we were better employers the problem would be solved,” he said. “That is not the case. And for the few exceptions, we don’t need legislation to sort that out. … It’s up to us without the government to improve the industry.” Card check also has been misrepresented, according to Yvonne LaPenotiere, chief branding ofﬁcer, Carlson Hotels Worldwide, who said it’s a travesty. “It opens up employees to coercion and intimidation,” she said. “The issue is below the radar and we need to make it famous. … If they knew what this bill was really about, people would be upset about giving up their civil liberties.” Rep. Ric Keller, R-Fla., told attendees, “Card check is going to go nowhere, I am happy to report.” Stepping up in ’08 This year’s LAS was dramatically different than years past, according to Marlene Colucci, executive v.p. for public policy, AH&LA. “The urgency of the issues and the level of attention and sophistication of the arguments is different this time,” she said. “These hoteliers understand.” Mike Dickens agreed. “The landscape has changed,” the president and co-founder of Hospitality Partners said. “The larger companies didn’t use to support [the Summit] and now they’re stepping up. Marlene [Colucci] and Joe [McInerney, c.e.o. and president of AH&LA] have changed the tenor.” shiggins@questex.com American Hotel & Lodging Assn. Chairman Tom Corcoran moderates the State of Travel & Tourism panel, where panelists discussed airport and border security issues and promoted risk management and education as ways to overcome security problems. Top issues at the summit included: seasonal labor (H-2B Program), employee workplace rights (card check), U.S. tourism, sustainability/environmental responsibility, immigration, Social Security no-match letters, ADA changes and the Family and Medical Leave Act. [From left] Corcoran, chairman, AH&LA and chairman of the board, FelCor Lodging Trust; Bill Connors, executive director and c.o.o., National Business Travel Assn.; Al Martinez-Fonts Jr., assistant secretary for the private sector ofﬁce, Department of Homeland Security; and Stewart Verdery, partner and founder, Monument Policy Group LLC. “After converting, our occupancy is up, street recognition is up, and, most important, revenues are up. In addition, GuestHouse o ers a lower fee, a better value, plus service that’s much more e ective than anything I’ve seen and I also work with ﬁve other franchisors. I like to say that my customers come as guests and leave as friends. 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Tap into our passion, energy, expertise and dedication — qualities that set us apart from other operators. As one of the nation’s top 20 management companies, Crescent has the size, geographic distribution, operating systems and management depth to consistently deliver superior results. Our commitment to guest satisfaction is matched only by our drive to provide exceptional financial results for our owners. Accredited Contract FIND OUT HOW CRESCENT CAN HELP YOUR HOTEL BREAK OUT OF THE PACK IN ANY PHASE OF THE REAL ESTATE CYCLE 703.279.7820 | WWW.CHRCO.COM . Accredited Franchise American Association of Franchisees & Dealers . . | . CIRCLE NO. 130 CIRCLE NO. 141 AH&LA http://HotelMotel.com http://www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition http://WWW.CHRCO.COM http://www.guesthouseintl.com http://www.settleinn.com http://WWW.FRIENDLYFRANCHISING.COM http://WWW.CHRCO.COM http://www.guesthouseintl.com http://www.settleinn.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Hotel & Motel Management - May 19, 2008

Hotel & Motel Management - May 12, 2008 Contents Hotelier of the Year Leads Team to Victory Sheraton Builds on International Success Slower, Smaller Transactions in First Quarter Perspective Legal FAQ What Women Want Sales Clinic AAHOA Update Franchise Law Family Business Travel Trends Guest Column HotelWorld Update Trends & Stats Cleaning and Maintenance H&MM's 2008 Franchising Fees Guide FACs Evolve to Meet Brand, Owner Needs The Importance of Branding When Buying Ad/Editorial Index Marketplace Classifieds Checking Out

Hotel & Motel Management - May 19, 2008

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