Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - (Page 14)

14 AAHOA Update IN THE details Effect of local issues Pay attention to local laws Staying involved is important Activism helps business H&MM December 8, 2008 | HotelMotel.com www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition Activism starts in your own community O By Ashwin ‘Ash’ Patel H&MM Columnist n the national front, there are several issues that have the attention of the hospitality industry, including the Employee Free Choice Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment. Although these federal-level issues have an unquestionable effect on the hospitality industry, it is important not to neglect matters closer to home. There are problematic laws on the state and local fronts that have the potential to harm the growth of hotels as deeply as federal issues do. Across the nation, hotel owners and other industry players should take concrete steps in their communities to speak for or against certain regulations. The following are a couple examples of the importance and power of local activism: In Ohio, hoteliers celebrated the passage of Senate Bill 237, which changed the law that limited guests in hotels to a 30-day stay. Under the new law, hotels in Ohio are allowed to have their transient guests stay for up to 270 days by applying to the ﬁre marshal and complying with certain ﬁre safety conditions. Nashville’s hotel taxes were the third highest among the top 100 most traveled-to cities. This is not surprising to the hoteliers in Nashville, who have faced substantial tax increases over the last few years. Approximately a year ago, the city of Nashville increased the 15.25-percent hotel and motel tax by imposing an additional ﬂat tax of $2 on every hotel room. Less than a year later, the city proposed an additional 50 cents be added to the existing $2 tax. Many in the industry came together to voice their opposition to the increase of the occupancy tax. The results stemming from local activism may not always be favorable, but staying involved is what is most important. Such involvement also can open the door to valuable connections in the local government. If you are unsure how to get involved in your community, here are some ways to begin: Contact your elected ofﬁcials and tell them where you stand on key issues. Remember that, as a constituent, you can vote for or against them. Write to your local newspapers. Letters to the editor, for example, are effective ways to call attention to an issue. Join a group or an association that concentrates on the issues that concern you. Organize a lobbying trip to the local ofﬁces of your elected ofﬁcials or to the state capitol. Remember not to lose sight of the issues in your community just because of the time and level of attention devoted to federal legislation. By getting back to basics with local activism, you will inﬂuence the policies at home and promote and protect your business. hmm@questex.com Ashwin “Ash” Patel is 2008 chairman of the Asian American Hotel Owners Assn. Contact him at (404) 816-5759 or visit www.aahoa.com CIRCLE NO. 126 http://www.HotelMotel.com http://www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition http://www.gaylordhotels.com http://www.valleycrest.com http://www.aahoa.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008

Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 Contents Best Western Sets Spending Strategy Courtyard Turns 25, Unveils New Lobby New Division of MGM Goes Beyond Gaming Perspective Legal FAQ Marketing Matters Family Business On Finance AAHOA Update Satisfaction Trends HotelWorld Update Consultant’s Corner Trends & Stats IH/M&RS Editors’ Choice Award Winners Insurance Ad/Editorial Index Marketplace Classifieds Checking Out

Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008

Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 (Page 1) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 (Page 2) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Contents (Page 3) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - New Division of MGM Goes Beyond Gaming (Page 4) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - New Division of MGM Goes Beyond Gaming (Page 5) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Perspective (Page 6) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Perspective (Page 7) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Marketing Matters (Page 8) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Marketing Matters (Page 9) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Family Business (Page 10) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Family Business (Page 11) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - On Finance (Page 12) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - On Finance (Page 13) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - AAHOA Update (Page 14) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - AAHOA Update (Page 15) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Satisfaction Trends (Page 16) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - HotelWorld Update (Page 17) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Consultant’s Corner (Page 18) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Consultant’s Corner (Page 19) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Consultant’s Corner (Page 20) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Consultant’s Corner (Page 21) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Trends & Stats (Page 22) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Trends & Stats (Page 23) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Trends & Stats (Page 24) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Trends & Stats (Page 25) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - IH/M&RS Editors’ Choice Award Winners (Page 26) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - IH/M&RS Editors’ Choice Award Winners (Page 27) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Insurance (Page 28) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Insurance (Page 29) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Insurance (Page 30) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Insurance (Page 31) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Insurance (Page 32) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Insurance (Page 33) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Ad/Editorial Index (Page 34) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Marketplace (Page 35) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Classifieds (Page 36) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Classifieds (Page 37) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Classifieds (Page 38) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Classifieds (Page 39) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Classifieds (Page 40) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Classifieds (Page 41) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Checking Out (Page 42) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Checking Out (Page 43) Hotel & Motel Management - December 8, 2008 - Checking Out (Page 44) http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm_20091123http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm_20091109http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm_20091019http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm_200910http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm_200909http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm_200908http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm_200907http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm_20090615http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm_200906http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm_200906_voichttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm_200905http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm_200904http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm_200903http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm_200902http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm011909http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm122908http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm120808http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm111708http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm110308http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm102008http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm100608http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm091508http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm090108http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm0808http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm072108-voichttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm072108http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm070708http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm061608http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm060208http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm051908http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm050508http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm042108http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm040708http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm031708http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm030308http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm021808http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm020408http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm010708http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm122707http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm121007http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm111907http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm110507http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm101507http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm100107http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm091807http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm090307http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm080607http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm071607http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm070207http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm061807http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm060407http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm052107http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm050707http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm041607http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm040207http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm031907http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm030507http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm021907http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm020507http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm010807http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm121106http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm112006http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm110606http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm101606http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm-minibarhttp://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm100206http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm091806http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm090406http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm080706http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm071706http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm070306http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm061906http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm060506http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm051506http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm041706http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm040306http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm032006http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm030606http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm022006http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm020206http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hmm010906http://www.nxtbookMEDIA.com

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.