Podcasts about lodging association

Episode 699: Summer golf, dining options, a special school for women and more at Treetops Resort (May 10-11, 2025)Behind the Mitten is Michigan's premiere travel radio show and podcast, celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025. Co-hosted by Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez, the show has released nearly 700 episodes and been recognized by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters as best weekend speciality show. It airs on 22 radio stations over 15 markets in Michigan. More information on amyandgonzo.com.This weekend they spotlight Treetops Resort in Gaylord, which was recently named Resort of the Year at the Pure Michigan Governor's Conference on Tourism. General Manager Barry Owens speaks on leadership, the emphasis on overall guest experience and introduces two key members of his team who make Treetops Michigan's Most Spectacular Resort.Learn more at treetops.com.Segment 1: GM Barry Owens talks about the start of a busy golf season and creating lasting memories. He also emphasizes some of the priorities that make Treetops successful - attention to detail, which “is crucial in guest services,” as well as learning from mistakes.Segment 2: Treetops Director of Recreation Doug Hoeh stops by the podcast to talk about how driven his team is to maintain all 81 holes on five golf courses, as well as some of the new initiatives like Ladies Golf School that coincides with National Women's Golf Day (June 1). Ladies Golf School is a multi-day experience (June 1-July 9) designed for all levels. Learn more at https://www.treetops.com/summer/golfing/golf-academy/ladies-golf-academy/.Segment 3: We celebrate Michigan's vibrant culinary scene with Brian Smith, the new Food and Beverage Director at Treetops Resort. We discuss the new menu offerings, including award-winning dishes and local partnerships, as well as the upcoming launch of a signature beer, Legendary Tees. Yes, it's our Beer of the Week! Brian adds that the new menu focuses on quick, hearty options for guests, such as bourbon pork belly and tater kegs, which are liked a loaded baked potato in a tater tot. The conversation also highlights the importance of local ingredients and catering to diverse dietary preferences, all while enjoying the beautiful backdrop of Gaylord, Michigan.Segment 4: Barry Owens returns to the show to talk about Treetops' major award as Resort of the Year by the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association during the Michigan Governor's Conference on Tourism on Wednesday, April 16 in Novi, Michigan. The annual MRLA Stars of the Industry Awards recognizes outstanding members of all roles within Michigan's hospitality industry who have demonstrated professionalism and creativity while going above and beyond their role to contribute to the positive image of the industry. Owens said he was humbled by the recognition, but added “it was great validation for what we've been doing” and showed the “importance of having passionate staff" when you're in the hospitality industry.Learn more about Treetops at https://www.treetops.com/.

April 16, 2025 ~ The Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association emphasizes the critical link between the restaurant and lodging industries and the tourism sector. Justin Winslow, president & CEO of Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association, joins Lloyd, Jamie, and Chris Renwick live at the Governor's Conference on Tourism to discuss the ongoing challenges for the restaurant industry.

Terry Hopkins | President & CEO, Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce: Grants Pass native Terry Hopkins has returned to his roots after a diverse hospitality career across five states. With over 25 years of business ownership and management experience in Southern Oregon, Terry recently spent 5 years as a business advocate with the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. Married for 20+ years with two sons, Terry is passionate about community service, having served on numerous Chamber and city committees. He's excited to join the Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce team to advocate for local businesses and enhance community development. thopkins@grantspasschamber.org  |  541-956-4100  

In this episode, Cody sits down with Dina Belon-Sayre, the President of Staypineapple Hotels and fellow Board Member of the Independent Hotel Show Miami, to dive into the future of hospitality, leadership, and industry advocacy.

Tune in to this quarterly episode to hear from Chirag Shah of the American Hotel & Lodging Association to get the state of the hospitality industry. As EVP, Federal and Political Affairs & Counsel, Chirag, gives immense insight into challenges, patterns, and trends impacting the hotel industry and how the AHLA is helping hoteliers overcome the economic environment. Ryan Embree: Welcome to Suite Spot, where hoteliers check in, and we check out what's trending in hotel marketing. I'm your host, Ryan Embree. Hello everyone. Welcome to another episode of the Suite Spot. This is your host, Ryan Embree. As you can see, we are here with another industry check-in with AHLA. And we have a first time guest with us Chirag Shah, Executive Vice President, Federal and Political Affairs & Council at the American Hotel and Lodging Association. Chirag, thank you so much for joining me on the Suite Spot today. Chirag Shah: Absolutely. Thanks Ryan. Appreciate you having me. Ryan Embree: Well, welcome to the Suite Spot. This is your first time. Before we get rolling, talk about some of the topics that AHLA and issues that AHLA is obviously advocating so ferociously for hotels all around the country. Maybe give us a little bit of background, your journey to AHLA and give our Suite Spot audience, just a brief glimpse of the role that you do there. Chirag Shah: I appreciate it. So I've been in the lodging industry, lobbying on behalf of hotels and hoteliers for about a decade and some change, 12-13 years. And previously my background is actually as a campaign and elections attorney. It's what my training is, and not perhaps a skill that folks are, a ton of folks are always looking for especially when you get relatives that want help getting outta a speeding ticket or something. But I spent time on Capitol Hill, worked on a number of political campaigns, and 2012, 2013 after finishing up my last campaign, got a call from a group. They were looking to open a DC office. And when I was on Capitol Hill, I used to meet with them quite frequently, and it was a group called AAHOA And, uh, they were looking to, to open their DC office. And it was great because I, uh, literally spoke the language that many hoteliers speak and, and figuratively spoke the language, of Washington DC. And so, uh, it, it was a, it was a great fit. And I came in and opened their DC shop and worked there for, for eight years. And, uh, then came over to AHLA and has been fantastic to represent a lot of the same people physically, actually the same people, but also the industry. It's such a wonderful industry where hotels, everybody loves going to hotels. Most public officials don't fully understand what the hotel industry is all about, but they love talking about their travel experiences. And so now at AHLA, I get to oversee the federal affairs shop, the political shop where we meet with members of Congress, have got one of the greatest jobs where we tell the story of the lodging industry to members of Congress, their staff, the presidential administration, every single day. And so getting time to understand what the challenges are that hotel leaders are facing, where the industry is going, what the economic footprint is, that's what we do. And so it's been a lot of fun. Ryan Embree: You know it's funny, Chirag, we have so many industry leaders on this podcast, and we talk to them about their kind of beginnings and they talk about maybe jumping from brand to brand and still having that tight-knit family. Because it all comes back to hospitality. It seems like a very similar path with you and the associations, right, starting with the AAHOA and then transitioning to AHLA. But at the very end of the day, it's all about hospitality and the hotels that you're advocating for from those small, independent hotels all the way up to the major brands. And here we are at the Q1, beginning of, 2025. Great time to reflect on,

February 24, 2025 ~ Justin Winslow, President and CEO at Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association discusses how the new tipped wage and sick leave laws might affect the restaurant industry.

Last month I hosted a cool event (Anthony was a judge) for the Nevada Hotel and Lodging Association during their Tech Conference dubbed the Shark Pool, a hospitality innovation competition. So many great teams but only one could win. Today we have that winner, Rich Sloan of WAVR Technologies, to tell us how atmospheric water harvesting technology could revolutionize places like Las Vegas but transform communities throughout the globe. This is crazy cool!

Last month I hosted a cool event (Anthony was a judge) for the Nevada Hotel and Lodging Association during their Tech Conference dubbed the Shark Pool, a hospitality innovation competition. So many great teams but only one could win. Today we have that winner, Rich Sloan of WAVR Technologies, to tell us how atmospheric water harvesting technology could revolutionize places like Las Vegas but transform communities throughout the globe. This is crazy cool!

We have a conversation with Greg Astley, Director of Government Affairs for the Oregon Restaurant Association, about Oregan Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer and his team's working relationship with the new Cabinet member. What has been her record in Congress? What are her priorities? And what's her relationship with the Teamsters? We'll get the view from back home in Oregon. And then we'll talk about another major employer, Walmart, joining the growing group of companies pivoting on their DEI policies. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

Today, we're revisiting a conversation with a guest who has profoundly impacted me and, I believe, represents the true potential of hospitality. Craig Poole, a three-time Hilton Connie Award winner and the American Hotel and Lodging Association's General Manager of the Year, has set an incredible example at the DoubleTree in Reading, Pennsylvania. His hotel excels financially and has redefined what it means to be a community cornerstone.Craig's story offers a powerful reminder of how hospitality can drive transformation—not only for guests but for employees and entire neighborhoods and cities. His work shows us that when we genuinely care for people, we inspire loyalty, change lives, and create long-lasting impacts on communities. Craig hires locally, often bringing in people who others might overlook, including those with past challenges. His approach to “second chance hiring” and deep community engagement has turned his hotel into a place of opportunity and pride for the city.Listen in to hear how Craig has created a culture of selflessness, where “loving people where they're at” goes hand-in-hand with business success. His vision is about more than just a hotel; it's about creating a place where people feel a part of, valued and supported. His words remind us that hospitality is about more than beds and meals—it's about hearts and lives. Craig's journey shows us that when we lead with purpose and stand behind our people, we create waves of positive change that ripple far beyond the walls of our businesses.Also see: Follow Me and I Will Be Behind You (Craig's documentary)Send Josiah a text A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free. Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram. If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together. If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Naomi Cooper, Interim Executive Director of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association.  In this podcast Naomi talks about her career path that led to her current position, the main goal of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, the importance of connecting local businesses in an island economy, how the approach of the MHLA has changed through the pandemic and fire recovery, how the MHLA offers scholarship and educational opportunities in local schools, the success of the annual Charity Walk and how that money raised is distributed back into the Maui community, details on the upcoming Rice for the Holidays & Na Kupuna Appreciation events, and how to learn more about the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association online. 

Native Los Angeleno Javier Cano wears many hats, from overseeing 10 hotels in Greater Los Angeles, including LA LIVE's JW Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton, to being chair of the Los Angeles Tourism Marketing District and on the executive committee of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board as well as the California Hotel & Lodging Association. In addition, he's on the board of directors of the California Travel Association, Hotel Association of Los Angeles and Central City Association, among others. Cano has also been recognized among the 500 most influential people in L.A., GM of the Year for Marriott and GM of the Year for Los Angeles. We also named him a 2024 Meetings Trendsetter. Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson somehow got worked into Javier's busy schedule for a podcast interview. Discover the unique perspectives, encyclopedic knowledge and inspirational advice this 45-year Marriott veteran brings to meetings and hospitality, and by all means share it with someone who may be considering a career in this dynamic industry!

An increase in minimum wage and required sick leave is set to take effect in February. MichMash host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Services Zach Gorchow sit down with individuals on either side of the law. Chris White, Michigan director of the Restaurant Opportunities Center, and Justin Winslow, president and CEO of the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association, share their positions on the new law.

An increase in minimum wage and required sick leave is set to take effect in February. MichMash host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Services Zach Gorchow sit down with individuals on either side of the law. Chris White, Michigan director of the Restaurant Opportunities Center, and Justin Winslow, president and CEO of the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association, share their positions on the new law.

Join the Suite Spot in this quarterly series to hear from American Hotel & Lodging Association President & CEO, Kevin Carey, on the state of the hospitality industry and recent developments being made by the AHLA to move the industry forward. Episode Transcript Our podcast is produced as an audio resource. Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and human editing and may contain errors. Before republishing quotes, we ask that you reference the audio. Ryan Embree: Welcome to Suite Spot, where hoteliers check in, and we check out what's trending in hotel marketing. I'm your host, Ryan Embree. Hello everyone. Welcome to another episode of The Suite Spot. This is your host, Ryan Embree. As always, thank you for listening. We've got a fantastic episode for you today. Another industry check-in with Kevin Carey, interim president and CEO at the American Hotel and Lodging Association. Kevin, thank you so much for taking the time and joining me today. Kevin Carey : Hi, Ryan. Good day. It's good to see you as well. Ryan Embree: Yeah, we're excited to have you. You know, we're gonna jump right into it. We spoke last in the spring season, right before a busy summer travel season. Listen, the travelers have been busy traveling to hotels. Hotels have been busy hosting, but AHLA has been busy as well, advocating for hoteliers and everything that you guys do for our industry. Let's catch up with some of those big accomplishments and some of the most pressing issues right now. We know we, there's always those issues that rise up. What are some of those that hotels should be most aware of right now? Kevin Carey : Oh as you said, it's been an incredibly busy period of time. Certainly first and foremost for the industry. The support and the service our member companies provide for guests and the environment they create for our associates and workers is certainly first and foremost, our team here, both in AHLA and, uh, the foundation have been incredibly busy as well. Um, over the first half of the year, it's been, uh, a, a peak period of activity at a state and local level with state legislators and legislatures in session, uh, and certainly in Washington here, uh, as, uh, the Congress starts to look towards end of the year in the election. So, we've been advancing our work, uh, at a state level on short-term rental sets of issues in Washington here around the passage in the house, uh, of the Hotel Fees Transparency Act. Um, and, and also work to ensure that we defeated the, the joint employer rule as well. There's just a number of areas that we feel proud about as a team and that are really meaningful on behalf of the industry as well. Ryan Embree: Absolutely. And but there's still with all those wins, and congratulations to your team, there's always work to do as you know, and some of those pressing issues that are at the forefront right now for our hoteliers. What, what are some of those that, again, hoteliers, even though it might be something regional, they still should be aware of because it has, it's gonna have an impact on the entire industry. Kevin Carey : Absolutely. And really to identify two that are certainly getting a lot of our team's attention and the industry attention. So first and foremost, in New York City, a bill was introduced in the city council several weeks ago, approaching about a month ago at this point. And this bill, the so-called Safe Hotels Act, has been positioned by his proponents as a simple licensing bill. And the bill sponsors have represented that hotels are unregulated, and that there's an increase in crime occurring in hotels. This bill would do grave damage, not only to the hotel industry, to travelers, to workers, who represent and are employed by the industry and the city economy and the tourism economy itself. So this is bad for everyone. And we've been very actively involved in New York several times, meeting with members of the city council organi...

Here are 3 big things you need to know—   One — Kamala Harris voiced support for both Israel and the Palestinian people at the Democratic National Convention.  In her nomination acceptance speech, Harris said she will always stand up for Israel's right to defend itself.  She said she also supported the Palestinians, and said what has happened in Gaza over the past ten months is devastating.   Two ----  Former President Trump is reacting to Vice President Kamala Harris' speech Thursday at the DNC.  On Truth Social, Trump posted in real-time during the speech, questioning why Harris hadn't already accomplished policies she was promising.  He said she's had three and a half years, and has done nothing but harm.   And number three — The Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association is warning one in five restaurants could close due to the Michigan Supreme Court ruling eliminating the tip credit for servers and bartenders and paying them a minimum wage.  They met with lawmakers in Grand Rapids asking them to try to prevent the change from taking effect in February.  

Welcome to the #ShareYourHotness Podcast episode 137! Jeri Mae Rowley, Speaker ~Trainer~ Saddle Maker's Daughter, shares precious life and leadership lessons from her family's world-famous saddle shop.  She has been invited to present keynotes and concurrent sessions in 39 states, Canada, and the US Virgin Islands. Provide leadership, communications, and customer service training for businesses and organizations. Jeri Mae's clientele covers an intriguing variety of industries and organizations: from the Federal Reserve to National Wildlife Preserves; municipalities to multi-media; semiconductor to pet cemeteries; drill bit manufacturing to tropical island resorts. Her resume includes successful experience as a manager, salesperson, state-wide training program administrator, college workforce training director, and college instructor. Jeri Mae has been president of “almost every organization I've belonged to since Lively Livestock 4-H.”  She is a past president of the National Speaker's Association's Mountain West Chapter, serving professional speakers in Idaho, Utah, Montana, and Wyoming.  She has also served as president of her local Chamber of Commerce, Faculty Senate, Convention and Visitor Bureau, Society of Human Resource Managers, and National Speakers Association. She served on the Boards of the National Speakers Association DC Chapter and the DC Metro Association for Talent Development. Jeri Mae taught Small Business Entrepreneurship, Human Resource Management, and Hospitality Management for sixteen years at Flathead Valley Community College in Kalispell, Montana. She is a Certified Instructor for the Montana Department of Commerce NxLeveL Entrepreneurship Course, Travel Montana Superhost Customer Service Training, and the American Hotel and Lodging Association in Management and Marketing. In addition to her teaching duties at Flathead Valley Community College, she served as the college's Workforce Training Director and Statewide Coordinator for Travel Montana's Superhost Customer Service Seminar program. Jeri Mae has received regional, state, and national recognition for her success as a leader and educator, including Montana's Glacier Country Person of the Year, Montana State SHRM “Above and Beyond Award,” and the prestigious “Visiting Scholar Award” from the National Tourism Foundation. Support The #ShareYourHotness Podcast by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-syh-podcast Find out more at https://the-syh-podcast.pinecast.co

Episode Notes Marriott executives are optimistic they'll see growth throughout the year despite emerging headwinds, writes Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O'Neill. CEO Anthony Capuano said the company saw strong travel demand during the second quarter. Marriott said it expects its revenue per available room — a key hotel industry metric — to grow between 3% and 4% this year. But that's down slightly from a previous forecast of up to 5%. And O'Neill notes Marriott faces several challenges, such as China's struggling economy and the U.S. presidential election's likely impact on travel patterns in November.  Next, a U.S. Senate committee has advanced a bill that would create a national standard for hotel pricing in the U.S., writes Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O'Neill.  The Hotel Fees Transparency Act would require hotels, short-term rentals and online travel agencies to display the total price of a stay, including all mandatory fees, upfront. The bill now awaits a full Senate vote, which would bring it one step closer to becoming law.  The American Hotels & Lodging Association has come out in support of the bill, which O'Neill notes is a reversal of its long-time stance opposing legislation around so-called junk fees.  Finally, Norwegian Cruise Line executives haven't seen a reduction in guest spending, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam.  Spending on Norwegian Cruise ships remained strong in large part due to onboard amenities such as specialty restaurants while pre-cruise bookings for amenities were up 15%. Chief Financial Officer Mark Kempa said the company benefits from having more time to sell products to guests than hotels do, for example.  In addition, guests tend to book cruise trips much further in advance, making it easier for Norwegian Cruise to market onboard activities.  For more travel stories and deep dives into the latest trends, head to skift.com.  Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ X: https://twitter.com/skift Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Looking for the perfect venue for your wedding or event?  Tune in Today at 3:40pm PT, 6:40pm ET for special guest Sonesta General Manager Swietlana Cahill as we discuss Sonesta Redondo Beach & Marina and Sonesta Irvine locations. Moments with Marianne airs in the Southern California area on KMET1490AM & 98.1 FM, an ABC Talk News Radio affiliate! Swietlana Cahill is the General Manager of Sonesta Redondo Beach & Marina and Sonesta Irvine, bringing 30 years of hospitality experience. She has worked with renowned brands like Hilton and Millennium, and boutique properties such as The Peabody Memphis. Her leadership at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Irvine Orange County Airport earned her multiple awards, including "General Manager of the Year." Swietlana has served on executive boards, including the Central City Association of Los Angeles, and holds certifications from the American Hotel and Lodging Association. With a mathematics degree from Moscow State Forest University, she is also a dedicated volunteer for the American Red Cross, Midnight Mission, and Orangewood Children's Foundation. In her free time, she enjoys gardening and traveling.  https://www.sonesta.com/sonesta-hotels-resorts/ca/redondo-beach/sonesta-redondo-beach-marina  https://www.sonesta.com/sonesta-hotels-resorts/ca/irvine/sonesta-irvineWEDDING SPECIAL: Mention Moments with Marianne Radio Show to receive 15% off your wedding package at Sonesta Redondo Beach & Marina if you book before February, 2025! HOLIDAY EVENTS: Holiday Event Weeknight Promo at Sonesta Redondo Beach & Marina, Book your event Sunday thru Thursday and receive a 15% discount when you mention Moments with Marianne Radio Show!

In this episode of the Sustainable Hospitality Podcast, host Amy Wald interviews Jen Collins, co-founder and president Female founded, Procure Impact. You will hear about Jen's journey from basketball player to hospitality finance and social impact. We will introduce you to the groundbreaking company Procure Impact's whose innovative model connects social enterprises with the hospitality industry.Jen explains how Procure Impact serves as a bridge between high-quality, scale-ready social enterprises and corporate buyers, offering a tangible way for hotels to achieve social impact goals through procurement. Our discussion covers various impact communities they work with, including trafficking survivors, veterans, and adults with disabilities.Learn about the "Dignity of Work" campaign in partnership with the American Hotel and Lodging Association, aiming to create 100,000 shift hours for underestimated populations. Jen also discusses partnerships with major hotel brands and the importance of impact tracking in the hospitality industry.Dive into this episode to learn how hotels can easily incorporate social impact into their operations, from VIP guest amenities to art curation, while maintaining product quality and enhancing guest experiences. Jen's passion for creating meaningful change through business practices shines through, making this a must-listen for anyone interested in sustainable hospitality solutions. Key Takeaways: ●      Aiming at 100,000 shift hours of work through the hospitality industry●      How Procure Impact bridges the gap between social enterprises and corporate buyers, particularly in the hospitality industry. ●      How The company offers a marketplace of products made by individuals who've experienced barriers to work, including trafficking survivors, veterans, and adults with disabilities. ●        Hotels can easily incorporate social impact into their operations by purchasing items they already need, such as coffee, amenities, and art. ●      Procure Impact provides impact tracking, allowing hotels to measure their social impact in terms of shift hours created. ●      The "Dignity of Work" campaign, launched with AHLA, aims to create 100,000 shift hours of work through the hospitality industry. ●      Major hotel brands and management companies are embracing this model, including Sage Hospitality, Davidson, and Four Seasons. ●      This approach can increase revenues by appealing to socially conscious guests and decrease expenses by improving employee loyalty and inspiration. ●      Procure Impact offers customization options, allowing hotels to brand products and create unique guest experiences. ●      The model aligns with the hospitality industry's values of creating spaces of belonging and providing opportunities for growth. ●      This initiative allows hotels to fulfill their ESG commitments, particularly in the often `   challenging area of social impact. Show Notes: www.procureimpact.usBook:  Tattoos on the Heart  Newsletter: https://www.greenluxeinc.com/newsletter Hashtags:  Separate with commas  #SocialEnterprise #HospitalityImpact #MidLifeSherpa #HumanTrafficking #MakingSpaceForOpportunity #SurpriseandDelight #GuestSatisfaction #ESG 

With 16,000+ Dining establishments and 1,400+ lodging facilities, hear how Michigan's hospitality businesses contribute over $28 billion to the state's economy while supporting 650,000 jobs.Join us as we discuss Michigan's hospitality industry with Justin Winslow and Emily Daunt of the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association (MRLA) and hear how the MRLA provides essential services to its members. The Michigan Restaurant Association (MRA) was originally founded in 1921 to serve, enhance and nurture the growth and development of Michigan's food service industry. In 2018, the MRA expanded its reach to become the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association to advance the entire hospitality industry. 

Segment 1: Michael Jacobson, President and CEO, Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, to talk about the health of the Chicago area hotel industry. With NASCAR, Lollapalooza and the Democratic Convention (plus conventions!) coming to town, can we expect hotel occupancy be near capacity for the summer? Segment 2: Bree Fowler, Senior Writer, CNET, joins John to talk […]

June 13, 2024 ~ The Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association surveyed over 200 members and found the pandemic could result in Michigan losing up to 20% of its restaurants in the next year. Justin Winslow joins Tom do discuss this survey.

We're joined by Justin Winslow, the President & CEO of the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, who will discuss his organization's successful legal battle before the state supreme court to remove a pending ballot measure to increase the minimum wage and eliminate the tip credit. But the issue is far from over and we talk about what's coming next. And California is at it again - this time creating a Fast Act for Janitorial Workers. We'll talk about the SEIU's continued focus on sectoral bargaining and what that could mean down the road for other industry players. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

June 4, 2024 ~ Justin Winslow, President and CEO of the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association discusses the Michigan Supreme Court Reaffirming the State Board of Canvassers' Rejection of the One Fair Wage 2024 ballot proposal.

The American Hotel and Lodging Association supports hospitality providers in so many ways from education to policy work. In this episode, Kevin Carey, AHLA's interim president & CEO, joins us to talk about two core areas they're focused on now:Green Key Global: sustainability certification to help hoteliers cater to the quickly growing number of travelers (and businesses) that prioritize thisThe Hospitality Show: to connect industry participants and help everyone do well togetherAlso, be sure to check out new research they've commissioned about travel trends for this summer.Thoughts, questions, suggestions? Send me a text messageThis episode is brought to you with support from Sojern. I teamed up with Sojern to study how hoteliers use data to drive revenue and build stronger guest relationships. You can see what we found in this research report: How Hotel Brands Are Using First-Party Data to Drive Revenue & Build Stronger Relationships. Want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day? Subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Interim President & CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, Kevin Carey, joins the Suite Spot in the very first episode of Check-In with Kevin Carey! Get the latest news, updates, and information on the hotel industry in this series, and find out what efforts the AHLA is getting involved in to impact hoteliers and hospitality at scale. From policy legislation to industry events and the rebranding of the Hospitality Show, this episode is full of content! Episode Transcript Our podcast is produced as an audio resource. Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and human editing and may contain errors. Before republishing quotes, we ask that you reference the audio. Ryan Embree: Welcome to Suite Spot, where hoteliers check-in, and we check out what's trending in hotel marketing. I'm your host, Ryan Embree. Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Suite Spot. This is your host, Ryan Embree, with a very special episode today. We have a first-time guest, but I'm sure, widely recognized by the entire industry, Kevin Carey, interim president and CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. Kevin, thank you so much for joining me on the Suite Spot. Kevin Carey : Good morning. Happy to be with you. Ryan Embree: We're gonna cover a lot today, Kevin, so let's jump into it. Speaking of being busy, we are about to enter a busy summer travel season. I'm sure all the hoteliers listening to this podcast, wherever they're watching or listening from, are excited about that or reaching the halfway point of the year, which is crazy to say. I was there to witness live your keynote at the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference back in March in Atlanta. You shared some really great accomplishments so far, year to date that AHLA has been able to achieve. Could you share with our audience a little bit about some of the efforts and wins so far in 2024? Kevin Carey : Well, I'd be happy to and, I think your assessment is, is right on the mark. Uh, it has been a busy first four months of the year. Certainly, you hear that through, uh, we're in earning seasons now. You're hearing a lot of our member companies report out. Uh, so you'll hear some of the things happening across their scope of their operations in our environment representing the industry. It has been a very significant and busy first four months of the year, whether that's here in Washington, working with the Congress and the administration in so many state capitals, with the legislatures in session, and really across the scope of our activities whether that's, uh, the support we provide to our members through our many committees or events or, or the great work our foundation is, is doing a few key accomplishments. I point to one of real significance was the defeat of the, the joint employer rule. And that was significant, not only with action that the House took but the Senate as well as a favorable court ruling, in the Eastern District Court in Texas, blocking the implementation of that rule, because that posed some real challenges for the industry, and in particular the franchise operating model, and would've created complexities and uncertainty there in this environment. We also, a month ago, announced the rollout of our collaboration with the Hotel Association of Canada and our launch, uh, of the Green Key Global Initiative. And then finally, uh, we rebranded our, our very successful regional set of events as the Hospitality show supporting, uh, our trade show and conference, uh, which will take place in San Antonio this year, October 28th to the 30th. Uh, and we've got a number of those events planned over the coming weeks, uh, alongside the seven that we've held thus far this year. So it's been busy, as you said. Ryan Embree: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Super busy. And we're gonna talk about some of those things that you mentioned. I wanna go back to Green Key Global rather. Uh, we just celebrated Earth Day.

Chip Rogers, former CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, discusses his new role with Ervin Graves and with Job Creators Network.  He talks about the importance of state policies in creating a business-friendly environment. He emphasizes the need for leaders who focus on creating opportunities for small businesses and the negative impact of divisive politics. Rogers also highlights the role of technology and the gig economy in the growth of small businesses. He urges small business owners to get involved in advocating for policies that support their success. Main Street Matters is part of the Salem Podcast Network - new episodes debut every Wednesday & Friday. For more info check out JobCreatorsNetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lauren McCann, founder and CEO of Procure Impact, joined Forbes Chief Impact Officer Seth Cohen in the Forbes studio to discuss the role that socially responsible procurement can knock down barriers for marginalized product designers and manufacturers. Lauren also discussed Procure Impact's new campaign in partnership with the American Hotel & Lodging Association. The “Dignity of Work Pledge” aims to provide 100,000 paid employment hours for overlooked populations via the use of Procure Impact's B2B marketplace platform.Stay ConnectedForbes newsletters: https://newsletters.editorial.forbes.comForbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbesForbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbesForbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbesMore From Forbes: http://forbes.comForbes covers the intersection of entrepreneurship, wealth, technology, business and lifestyle with a focus on people and success.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Former CEO and President of the AHLA, Chip Rogers, joins the Suite Spot to discuss the state of the industry and how hoteliers can make 2024 a successful year. This episode is filled with expert advice, industry insights, and trending topics so tune in to get the 411 on what developments are going to impact your hotel business! Episode Transcript Our podcast is produced as an audio resource. Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and human editing and may contain errors. Before republishing quotes, we ask that you reference the audio. Ryan Embree: Welcome to Suite Spot, where hoteliers check-in and we check out what's trending in hotel marketing. I'm your host, Ryan Embree. Hello everybody and welcome to another episode of the Suite Spot. This is your host, as always, Ryan Embree, welcome and we've got a great guest, a guest that needs little to no introduction. He's checked in with us several times on the Suite Spot. Chip Rogers, President & CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. Chip, thank you so much for being on Suite Spot. Chip Rogers: Yeah, always glad to be with you, Ryan. Thanks for having me. Ryan Embree: Yeah, and last time we were together Chip, was before the new year, so Happy New Year by the way. Very, very busy time for hoteliers. They're getting their budgets together, they're looking at data projections, all that good stuff. I wanna give a little bit of insight to our audience on maybe the planning process from the AHLA team. You guys have, have started off just really, really quickly. Lots of events. Obviously, every issue is important, but how do you kind of prioritize that, put your calendar in place, you know, around this time of year? Chip Rogers: Yeah, the biggest priority for us is always advocacy. I mean that's the core of what we do at AHLA is we're the voice of the hotel industry to make sure that policymakers are doing things that help the hotel industry not hurt the industry. And so this is a critical time of year for us because while we do a lot in Washington D.C., that just kind of keeps churning at a, at a steady pace again and again and again. It's the state and local level that is hyperactive at this very moment because most state legislatures go into session at the beginning of the year, and then most of them are done with session by early spring. And so this is really prime time for us when working on state and local legislation. And again, this year we've got a whole host of issues that we're dealing with at the state level. I'm in Atlanta, Georgia right now, probably two blocks from the capitol. We had a really big event here yesterday, about 300 hotels for our Georgia Hotel conference that we share with the Georgia Hotel Lodging Association. We had the Attorney General, we had one of the key members of the Georgia Senate join us. And we talked a lot about the policies that are impacting people. And we do these type of events really all around the country. We have 20 of these on the road events this year. And so yesterday was the second one we had. The first one was in Honolulu last week, which was wonderful, but we've got 18 more to go. And then of course we have our really big show, the Hospitality Show, which will be happening October 28th through the 30th in San Antonio, Texas. Ryan Embree: I'm sure it's so important, Chip to kind of hear, you know, get feet on the ground and talk to hoteliers face-to-face about some of these pressing issues in our industry. You get a unique perspective there. One of the things that AHLA just released recently, which should be good and and exciting news for everyone, is 72% of American travelers are likely to increase or at least maintain their level of hotel stays in 2024. So excellent news there, right? But there's always those looming, some inflation, economic uncertainty, obviously we got an election year. What can hoteliers do to make sure when they look back at the end of this yea...

Justin Winslow, president & CEO of the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association. $50 million request for Pure Michigan by New Hospitality & Tourism Alliance

Diane Woodburn speaks with Dena Roady, Area Vice President of Hyatt Hotels Hawaii & General Manager of Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort.  In this episode Dena talks about her path with Hyatt that has spanned 13 properties over 28 years, what an Area Vice President does, how Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort is viewed as one of the flagship properties of the Andaz portfolio, what it has been like ascending in the industry as a female, how decisions were made immediately after the August fires for the Hyatt and Andaz properties to provide housing and support to the Maui community, the current balancing act for the hospitality industry as a whole to both continue to provide resources to the Maui community while also working to support tourism revenue, how visitors to Maui can get involved and help the local community, her outlook for 2024 in the industry, how groups like the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association help industry leaders support each other and learn what others may need, and her advice to anyone looking to start a career or work their way up in hospitality.  

Last week, the Governor proposed a $80.7 billion state budget to lawmakers, including a suggestion to withhold $670 million in intended public school retirement debt payments to be spent on other things.  The team is joined by Research Director Craig Thiel and Senior Research Associate Robert Schneider of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan to discuss the Governor's recommendations.  Also, President Justin Winslow of the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association explains why his group wants the Pure Michigan tourism campaign infused with $50 million this budget-making season.  President Tony Poole of the Document Security Alliance explains how counterfeit driver's licenses – or fake I.D.s – contribute to more than $250 billion in annual losses to American governments and citizens.     

I recently attended an event here in Orlando presented by the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association focusing on the state of hospitality. This event reviewed stats, data, and insights from some of the leaders in the hospitality industry. Where these insights may be focused on the Orlando region, they can easily be extrapolated to your region as it focuses on the hospitality and tourism industry as a whole.

The Business of Meetings – Episode 202 – Voice of the Innocents: Lori Cohen's Battle Against Child and Human Trafficking We are honored today to speak with a remarkable individual at the forefront of a child-protection organization.  Lori Cohen is the CEO of PACT (Protect All Children from Trafficking), the leading policy organization in the nation on child sex trafficking. She has been instrumental in driving change and safeguarding the most vulnerable within our society.  PACT shines as a beacon of hope for combating one of the gravest challenges we face today. Join us to gain a deeper understanding of the essential work that PACT is doing. Lori's Journey Lori's journey into combating human trafficking began unexpectedly during her legal career. Initially focused on public interest work and supporting domestic violence victims, she found herself immersed in an entirely different arena when she began working with immigrant women facing abuse. Their harrowing stories of coercion and exploitation led her to discover that her clients were victims of human trafficking, a reality they often did not even recognize for themselves. That led Lori to delve into the complexities of trafficking and question the failure of the system to identify those cases. Fueled by a deep sense of responsibility, she transitioned from legal advocacy to comprehensive support, creating programs that addressed the needs of trafficking victims beyond legal assistance. Her passion for this cause was ignited by the tangible suffering of individuals seeking help in her office, compelling her to advocate tirelessly for those who could not escape their traumatic pasts. Joining ECPAT USA and the Evolution to PACT While representing her clients, Lori turned to ECPAT USA for information about trafficking. ECPAT USA has high-quality materials that helped her understand the complexities of trafficking. Years later, when the founder of ECPAT USA retired, Lori felt indebted to the organization and saw an opportunity to contribute her first-hand knowledge to their cause. The name change from ECPAT USA to PACT (Protect All Children from Trafficking) reflects their evolving mission and dedication to preventing exploitation. Raising Awareness in the US  Lori explains that trafficking is not just an overseas issue, as it is also prevalent in the United States. She acknowledges that it can be uncomfortable to discuss the topic but stresses the importance of businesses embracing education and training to create safer environments. Taking Action and Free Online Training Lori encourages listeners to take advantage of free online training offered by PACT, developed in collaboration with the American Hotel and Lodging Association and Marriott. The training, which aims to educate hotel staff on identifying and preventing trafficking, emphasizes that recognizing red flags and reporting suspicious activities can make a significant impact in protecting vulnerable individuals.  Challenges of Intervention  Untrained civilians should avoid intervening in trafficking situations as they could face the risk of armed traffickers and the unknown presence of others. Lori explains that victims must choose the right time to escape, so she cautions untrained individuals to avoid jeopardizing their safety.  Training and Data Tracking  The training program incorporates anti-cheat measures and pre/post-training surveys to ensure effectiveness. Data tracking on the website includes information on user logins and completion rates.  Practical Signs of Trafficking Lori highlights the importance of dispelling myths surrounding trafficking. Instead, the focus should be on practical signs, like cash payments, lack of luggage, or inappropriate clothing, to identify potential trafficking situations. She also suggests using hotel video cameras to monitor suspicious activity discreetly. Testimonials and Awareness  It is often challenging to obtain testimonials from organizations that have successfully identified and intervened in trafficking cases. Brands are reluctant to disclose such incidents because they fear getting singled out. However, efforts are underway to find creative ways to encourage organizations to come forward.  Human Trafficking Heatmap and Polaris  A national anti-trafficking organization called Polaris created a heatmap on which Florida has been a hotspot for sex and labor human trafficking. Lori emphasizes the importance of raising awareness of the prevalence of trafficking within the United States, involving both international and domestic victims. Positive Developments Lori feels hopeful about the growing partnerships between private sectors and anti-trafficking organizations and is optimistic about the legislative progress in criminalizing sex tourism.  Bio: Name: Lori L. Cohen Title: Chief Executive Officer, Protect All Children from Trafficking (PACT) Lori Cohen has been serving as CEO of PACT since November 2019. PACT is the leading policy organization on child sex trafficking in the nation, and a member of the ECPAT International network, active in over 100 countries and dedicated to the prevention of child sex trafficking and exploitation.    PACT's mission is to protect every child's right to grow up free from sexual exploitation and trafficking through education, outreach, and private-sector engagement. PACT's work in travel and tourism is renowned and features free, online training to identify and safely report trafficking that has been completed by over 1 million members of the hospitality industry.   Before joining PACT, Ms. Cohen founded a program at a leading domestic violence services organization to offer legal representation and holistic care to thousands of victims of human trafficking and related forms of gender-based violence. Drawing upon her experience in obtaining comprehensive care for her clients and observing ways in which their voices can be engaged to inform effective interventions, Ms. Cohen centers the survivor experience in PACT's work. She has garnered international recognition for her work with child and adult clients. Ms. Cohen is a frequent speaker on trafficking-related matters in the United States and abroad and has served on the University of Michigan Law School and Yale University faculty. She is a graduate of Yale Law School. Connect with Eric Rozenberg LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Website Connect with Lori Cohen LinkedIn PACT ECPAT Training for professionals in the hospitality and travel industry The Toll-Free National Human Trafficking Hotline Number is 888-373-7888

The American Hotel and Lodging Association has a lot planned this year; you'll want to know about it so you can schedule your calendar. We also hear about the state of hotel labor, as well as new trends in this vertical that effect all of us who work in tourism. Chip Rogers is CEO of AHLA.

Craig Poole is the President of Reading Hospitality, which owns and operates the DoubleTree Hotel in Reading, Pennsylvania. He's a three-time Hilton Connie Award winner and was recognized as General Manager of the Year by the American Hotel and Lodging Association. In today's episode, you'll learn how he uses hospitality to create new beginnings for people.Follow Craig on LinkedInListen to our other episodes with CraigWatch the documentary: Follow Me, and I Will Be Behind YouWhat did you think about this episode? Join the Hospitality Daily community on LinkedIn and share your thoughts. If you care about hospitality, check out the Masters of Moments podcast where Jake Wurzak interviews top leaders in hospitality. His conversations with Bashar Wali and Matt Marquis are a great place to start, but also check out his solo episodes such as how he underwrites investment deals and a deep dive into GP fees you know about. Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Craig Poole is the President of Reading Hospitality, which owns and operates the DoubleTree Hotel in Reading, Pennsylvania. He's a three-time Hilton Connie Award winner and was recognized as General Manager of the Year by the American Hotel and Lodging Association. In today's episode, you'll learn how he came to think about the power of hospitality in a new way.Follow Craig on LinkedInListen to our other episodes with CraigWatch the documentary: Follow Me and I Will Be Behind YouWhat did you think about this episode? Join the Hospitality Daily community on LinkedIn and share your thoughts. If you care about hospitality, check out the Masters of Moments podcast where Jake Wurzak interviews top leaders in hospitality. His conversations with Bashar Wali and Matt Marquis are a great place to start, but also check out his solo episodes such as how he underwrites investment deals and a deep dive into GP fees you know about. Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Nationally recognized restaurateur Chef Jim Shirley sat down with VIE Speaks host, Lisa Marie Burwell, to talk all things food and stories about building his brand in Northwest Florida. Chef Jim Shirley is the owner of The Great Southern Café, The Meltdown on 30A, The Bay, Farm & Fire, North Beach Social, The C-Bar, b.f.f., and 87 Central Square in South Walton, Florida. Chef Jim uses Southern culinary accents with great skill and spirit, traveling far afield to graze and glean, absorb ideas, select fine wines, and look for pockets of sustainable farming practices. As a Pensacola native, Chef Jim uses his knowledge of local waters and family farming histories to promote "New Ruralism," a movement to champion sustainable agriculture at the urban edge. Jim is chair of the state board of directors of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, a past president of the association's Northwest Florida Chapter, founder and president of the Society of Great Southern Chefs, and a member of the Southern Foodways Alliance. He is among the five distinguished Celebrity Chefs of Pensacola and has cooked at the James Beard House in New York numerous times. Check out Chef Jim's full episode wherever you get your podcasts and learn more about what this culinary legend is up to. LET'S CONNECT: Instagram: @viespeaks // @viemagazine YouTube: (@VIEtelevision | WATCH VIE Speaks) Website: viemagazine.com CONNECT WITH JIM  Instagram: @chefjimshirley  Website: ChefJimShirley.com A special thank you to @rose_and_co_flowers for sponsoring today's episode. For sponsorship inquiries, please contact kelly@viemagazine.com and hailey@viemagazine.com

In this episode of Good Morning Hospitality with Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk, we are excited to have William "Chip" Rogers, President & CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, as our special guest. Chip will share his thoughts on the current state of the hotel/hospitality industry and discuss some of the latest legislation in LA and NJ. Additionally, he will be talking about the federal joint employer rule. Don't miss this informative episode, where we will delve into some of the most pressing issues facing the hospitality industry today. Tune in and join the conversation! Follow Steve Turk on LinkedIn Follow Sarah Dandashy on LinkedIn Check out Good Morning Hospitality livestreams Hospitality Hotline is open to everyone by using this link!

It's time to catch up on the state of the hotel industry with special guest Chip Rogers, President and CEO of the AHLA!  Ryan and Chip have important conversations around some of the most pressing and relevant current events happening in hospitality and give hoteliers key insights into how staying in touch with these developments directly affects your businesses and travelers.  Tune in now to discover how staffing, work flexibility, new trends, and hotel technology keep evolving and how you can stay one step ahead of the curve. Episode Transcript Our podcast is produced as an audio resource. Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and human editing and may contain errors. Before republishing quotes, we ask that you reference the audio.   Ryan Embree: Welcome to Suite Spot, where hoteliers check in, and we check out what's trending in hotel marketing. I'm your host, Ryan Embree. Hello everybody, and welcome to another episode of The Suite Spot. This is your host, Ryan Embree. Thank you so much for joining, watching us. If you're watching us from our YouTube channel or joining us from any of the streaming platforms that you're listening to, if you did find us, you know, we've got a great guest today, someone that really doesn't need any introduction. Chip Rogers, president and CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. Chip, thank you so much for, being on the Suite Spot with me today. Chip Rogers: Hey, Ryan, it's so good to be with you. Thank you for having me. Ryan Embree: Really technically not your first time on the Suite Spot. Last time we were together, Chip, we were in Las Vegas on a busy trade show floor after a very successful hospitality show. About six months removed from that now, what type of feedback are you getting about that event and maybe give us some insights into what you're looking for from the next one in October in San Antonio? Chip Rogers: Well, first feedback was the opening party, seems to have taken on historic status. As folks who have been, at that property know that the nightclub TAO and we packed it out, there was a line that lasted, some estimates over two hours long to get into it. And so you, you almost created that, fear of missing out. But people absolutely loved the opening party. And from there it went to, an incredible lineup of keynote speakers. And what we tried to do is make sure that we are entertaining you, informing you yes, hitting on those things that are unique to the hotel industry, but also remembering that everyone's a person, they have outside interests too, and, and could we get speakers that are funny, inspiring, educational. And I, and I think we hit all that. In fact, the most popular speaker that we had, Admiral McCraven, it was interesting. I was at an event literally last night and it was a political event and people were talking about, oh, you know, these two candidates that this seemed to be the two candidates running for president. And someone said, if there's a third party candidate, why don't we just get Admiral McCraven? And I'm like, that would be great, because now I know the guy and if he became president, that would be kind of cool. But it's that type of level of speaker that we had that I think really set us apart from many of the other shows that you go to. And so from the trade show floor, that was just amazing. We sold it out in year one to the speakers. And again, starting with that incredible opening party, it, it was quite an event. And, you know, Las Vegas always has something special for everybody. We're gonna try to redo that again in San Antonio. San Antonio, a very unique place. One of the most visited cities in the United States for people that are going on a leisure trip. And so we wanna make sure we're capturing that, that you're coming to the event, you're going to have fun, you're going to be entertained, you're gonna learn something,

Today's podcast guest is Chip Rogers, president & CEO of American Hotel & Lodging Association. He holds one of the most influential roles in all of hospitality. We discuss: -Reading the newspaper as a young child, looking for the box scores, but inadvertently becoming educated on the world -His love for broadcasting and communications -The importance of coaching and using athletics for business lessons -Serving the public to serving an industry -Building teams through empowerment and encouragement Chip Rogers joined the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) as President and CEO in January 2019. AHLA is America's only national association dedicated to serving the interests of the entire hotel and lodging industry. In his role as President & CEO, Chip has led the AHLA team and the lodging industry to achieve tangible results for AHLA members. Subsequently, he has received numerous awards and has been recognized as one of the 25 most influential by Business Travel News, as one of the most influential people in Washington D.C. by Washingtonian magazine, Top 50 Most Influential Leaders in Hospitality, USA, and Global by Hospitality Index, a Freedom Award recipient from ECPAT-USA and three times as a top lobbyist by the Hill newspaper. Under Chip's leadership, AHLA was named as “100 Associations That Will Save the World” by ASAE, was honored with the White House “Presidential Award for its Pledge to America's Workers” and was recognized with the PR Week Purpose Awards 2020. In addition to leading AHLA, Chip is a member of the board of directors for the United States Travel Association, Community Leaders of America, and the California Hotel & Lodging Association. Prior to joining the hospitality industry, Chip served in the Georgia General Assembly. He was elected to office six times and was unanimously elected twice to serve as Senate majority leader. more about AHLA can be found at: https://ahla.com

Today's podcast guest is David Kong, a legendary leader in hospitality.  We discuss embracing challenges and figuring things out. He shares that hard work and dedication is only the entry point for success in any career.  The aspect of differentiation is key, which aligns with the Most People Don't Message.  David had to “figure it out” so many times and had the confidence to know he could and he would.  Listen to his story, his life lessons, and his evolution into a legendary leader.    David Kong is the Founder and Principal of DEI Advisors, an Arizona non-profit organization. David retired as President and CEO of Best Western Hotels and Resorts at the end of 2021. He led the company to unprecedented growth, transforming it and expanding its portfolio from one brand to 18 distinct brands in every chain scale segment and achieving successive new records in RevPAR and EBIDA growth. Prior to Best Western, David held leadership positions with KPMG Consulting, Hyatt, Omni and Hilton.   David has received numerous awards and accolades including the Lifetime Achievement Awards from Business Travel News, International Hotel Investment Forum and HSMAI. He was the recipient of the inaugural Arne Sorenson Social Impact Award in 2022. He was also recognized for his innovation by both Hotel Interactive and Guest Lab (Italy) in 2020. GBTA presented him with the WINiT Best Mentor/Male Coach award in 2021. David served as the Chairman of the American Hotel & Lodging Association in 2010 and was appointed to the U.S. Department of Commerce Travel and Tourism Advisory Board for three years.

Our guest on this week's episode is a wealth of knowledge on all facets of the hotel and hospitality industry. He's a leader who knows how to turn a hotel into something that is truly a destination. Joining the show this week is General Manager at the upcoming Regent Santa Monica Beach, Younes Atallah!Younes sits down with Dan Ryan to discuss his time in the industry, and the role of the General Manager. Younes shares his management strategies, the importance of exceptional programming, and why collaboration is a crucial skill for any member of your team.Takeaways:  Hospitality is an inherent concept of treating others with warmth and care, extending from our homes to the hotel industry. It comes from the heart and is about treating people as you would treat them in your house.  Continuous improvement is essential in any talent, whether it's sports, music, or acting.In the hospitality industry, teamwork and constant challenge are essential for improving the skills and talents of staff. Relationships and being a skilled generalist are crucial in the dynamic world of hotel management. The ability to manage teams, juggle priorities, and reintroduce brands requires constant dedication and expertise. Providing exceptional programming is crucial for hotels to exceed guest expectations and create memorable experiences. Comfortable accommodations are expected by guests, but it's the added features and activities that truly make a hotel stand out. Regularly engaging with people and observing their behavior by walking around is a valuable management practice. It offers opportunities to understand their desires and motivations, leading to impactful insights and positive outcomes. The pandemic has made it increasingly difficult to find good people and talent, especially in industries like hospitality. Management teams should look to foster internal talent, and help employees grow in ways that excites them. Growing up in a family that owned a travel agency, Younes experienced hospitality from an early age. The experience led to a deep connection with the hotel industry and a career pathway shaped by a memorable vacation. Quote of the Show:“There's very, very few, if any, positions in a hotel where individual contributors actually exist.” - Younes AtallahLinks: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yatallah/  Website: https://regentsantamonicabeach.com/  Shout Outs: 00:52 - California Hotel and Lodging Association: https://calodging.com/  01:25 - Beverly Wilshire: https://www.fourseasons.com/beverlywilshire/  01:57 - Regent Shanghai: https://www.ihg.com/regent/hotels/us/en/shanghai/shasd/hoteldetail  02:02 - IHG: https://www.ihgplc.com/en  11:40 - Six Senses: https://www.sixsenses.com/en  11:44 - Intercontinental: https://www.ihgplc.com/en/our-brands/intercontinental  11:46 - Kimpton Hotels: https://www.ihg.com/kimptonhotels/hotels/us/en/reservation  11:48 - Vignette Hotels: https://www.ihg.com/vignettecollection/hotels/us/en/reservation  12:53 - Carlton Cannes: https://carltoncannes.com/en/  13:00 - Cannes Film Festival: https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/ 38:06 - Regent Hong Kong: https://hongkong.regenthotels.com/  38:12 - Regent Phu Quoc: https://phuquoc.regenthotels.com/  43:22 - Minnesota Vikings: https://www.vikings.com/  43:45 - Four Seasons DC: https://www.fourseasons.com/washington/  43:51 - Mark Bromley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbromley/  43:57 - Stan Bromley 44:32 - Four Seasons San Francisco: https://www.fourseasons.com/sanfrancisco/  Ways to Tune In:  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419

State House lawmakers advanced a 39-page rewrite of North Carolina's alcohol laws this week. The bill includes major changes to how liquor is sold at restaurants, bars and ABC stores. To sort through the details, Lynn Minges of the N.C. Restaurant & Lodging Association joins WUNC's Colin Campbell. She discusses the economic value of happy hour and cocktails to-go for restaurants and bars, as well as some of the quirky aspects of the state's alcohol regulations that make it harder for hospitality businesses to get the products they need.