Hospitality is Working May Newsletter

HOSPITALITY IS WORKING NOW – AND STRIVING TO DO MORE

Creating Opportunities, Supporting Communities

Safety Summit

Photos were taken on May 1, 2019 at the Conrad Hotel in Washington D.C. at AHLA’s Second Annual Safety Summit.

On May 1, 2019 AHLA hosted the second annual Safety Summit in Washington, D.C., building on decades of investments in safety and security by bringing together security experts, national partners and industry leaders. At the Safety Summit, experts shared best practices, hoteliers shared real-world experience and our national partners gave exclusive updates on new training tools. Safety is a never-ending challenge for every industry, and the hotel industry has long been committed to being part of the solution. Our industry strives to create safe work environments that foster both life-long careers for our associates and memorable experiences that make our guests feel welcome. The safety and well-being of our employees and guests are the top priority for our member companies. Learn more about AHLA’s ongoing commitment to safety by visiting:  www.ahla.com/safetysummit.

Empowering Youth

Dallas

Photo was taken on April 30, 2019 at AHLA, AHLEF, the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association and the Hotel Association of North Texas at their Empowering Youth event with Dallas Mayor Michael Rawlings to announce a $75,000 grant to train youth for hospitality careers.

Dallas Mayor Michael Rawlings joined the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Foundation (AHLEF), the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association (THLA), and the Hotel Association of North Texas (HANTX) to announce two local grants totaling $75,000. Both the grant to CitySquare, a Dallas community-based organization, and the grant to Richardson High School will assist in recruiting and training individuals to join the growing and dynamic hotel industry. As a result of the AHLEF grant, CitySquare will be able to expand its WorkPaths program which provides intensive pre-employment training programs designed to increase functional skill levels to prepare students for careers in the hospitality industry. Additionally, Richardson High School will be able to expand its Hotel Internship Program, which provides skills development, job training, technological tools, resources, and mentoring for students both during school and after graduation.

Baltimore

Photo was taken on May 1, 2019 at an Opportunity Youth hiring fair in Baltimore hosted by co-hosted AHLEF.

AHLEF co-hosted an Opportunity Youth hiring fair in Baltimore with Grads of Life, MHLA and Center for Urban Families. We are proud to report 18 youth received offers for a second interview. Congratulations! Thank you to the employers for helping youth on the path to career success.

Orlando

Photo was taken on April 29, 2019 at an Empowering Youth Program meeting in Orlando with local hotel hiring managers.

AHLEF and Grads of Life were thrilled to welcome 30 hotel hiring managers to our project kickoff meeting for the Empowering Youth Program in Orlando today. We look forward to connecting Opportunity Youth to your hotels for dynamic careers in our industry. #DreamsHappenHere

Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA, and Carol Dover, president and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) published a column in the Orlando Sentinel highlighting the recent Empowering Youth grant announcement in Orlando. They shared the inspiring story of Johnny, a graduate of AHLA’s community-based partner Second Harvest, who now is working as a cook in an area hotel.

Read more here: Orlando hotel industry must be powered by Orlandoans | Commentary Orlando Sentinel:

“As the first American city to surpass 70 million annual visitors, the city of Orlando has the opportunity to expand what has already been an impactful partnership and synergy between the hotel industry and opportunity youth. With hospitality and tourism bringing over $70 billion to the city annually, our ability to continue building on this progress hinges on bridging the gap and connecting our youth to meaningful careers in the hotel industry. Johnny grew up in a local housing project with absentee parents. Often surviving by illegal means, at one point, Johnny sadly found himself in a juvenile detention center. What was a rare light in an otherwise difficult life, Johnny spent Sundays cooking with his grandmother. He was a natural cook and decided to pursue a culinary career. But, Johnny was hindered by his past record and was unable to afford private training, making his transition difficult. Eventually, he found Second Harvest, which provided training and the skills necessary for Johnny to begin a career that he was passionate about as a cook at an area hotel.”

Orlando Sentinel: Second Harvest teaches aspiring cooks the ropes, job search skills

“Many of the program participants are single mothers or just down on their luck and need a little extra help, Second Harvest leaders said. ‘People need a hand-up — not a handout,’ said Idalia Nuñez, a life skills education manager at the food bank. The program, which is funded by donations and grants, is free to participants. Recently, the American Hotel and Lodging Association gave $25,000 to the program, which costs about $5,000 per student. ‘They can literally graduate and start working at the hotel the next day and be ready,’ said Shelly Weir, a senior vice president at the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Foundation.”

Photo was taken on April 24, 2019 at Peace Over Violence’s 20^th annual Denim Day press conference and rally in Los Angeles, CA.

In April, AHLA launched a month-long campaign along with member companies and national partners to raise public awareness about sexual assault and reaffirm the hotel industry’s commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all employees and guests.

Even though Sexual Assault Awareness Month has come to a close, our work is far from over. AHLA and the hotel industry will continue to expand on our strong legacy of training and policies around other critical safety and security issues, including Human Trafficking, and will work to broaden partnerships with wide-ranging national organizations that target sexual violence, sexual assault and trafficking and promote workplace safety.

All of this activity builds on the ongoing efforts of AHLA and the hotel industry, which include an unprecedented announcement last year of the 5-Star Promise, which is a pledge to provide hotel employees across the U.S. with employee safety devices (ESDs) and commit to enhanced policies, trainings and resources that together are aimed at enhancing hotel safety, including preventing and responding to sexual harassment and assault.

DATA POINT YOU SHOULD KNOW

 188,000

Hotels have created 188,000 new jobs in the past five years.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Denim Day

Photo was taken on April 24, 2019 at Peace Over Violence’s 20^th annual Denim Day press conference and rally in Los Angeles, CA.

 As part of a continuing effort throughout Sexual Assault Awareness Month, AHLA was an official sponsor of Peace Over Violence’s Denim Day activities on April 24, joining millions of individuals in wearing jeans for the purpose of supporting survivors and educating others about all forms of sexual violence. AHLA’s donation will allow Peace Over Violence to continue to lead and expand critical violence prevention education campaigns.

AHLA was proud to partner with Mayor Garcetti and Peace Over Violence to further our shared commitment of supporting victims, educating the public in an effort to end sexual violence. The hotel industry is committed to working alongside our national partners, such as Peace Over Violence, National Sexual Violence Resource Center, National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, DC Rape Crisis Center, National Domestic Violence Hotline, RALIANCE, RAINN, ECPAT USA, Polaris and BEST, to continue to build on our work to support survivors and help end sexual violence.

“Domestic violence touches every gender, age, zip code, and race — and it has no place in our society,” said Mayor Garcetti. “Denim Day is a call to action, but we must act every day to end the scourge of sexual assault and harassment wherever it exists. With partners like AHLA and Peace Over Violence, Los Angeles will always stand with survivors and ensure that they know: they are never alone.”

Members Participating in Denim Day

@AHLA: AHLA staff proudly supported @PeaceOvrViolnce’s #DenimDay by wearing jeans to work! #SAAM

@TheHotelGroup joined AHLA in celebrating #DenimDay. @PeaceOvrViolnce #SAAM

Town and Country Hotels @towncountrysd: Wearing Jeans for Denim Day! What is that? Check out https://www.denimdayinfo.org to find out more #denimday #travel #sandiego #calfornia #denim #jeans

Crowne Plaza KC‏ @CrownePlazaKC: Today, we pledge to support survivors of sexual abuse and assault, and put an end to sexual violence on #denimday and every day. #hospitalityworks

Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association: Join us in participating in @PeaceOvrViolnce Denim Day tomorrow April 24th and wear jeans in support of sexual assault survivors. Find more info here: https://www.denimdayinfo.org/  #SAAM #SupportSurvivors #DenimDay @AHLA

Employee Safety Spotlight

Fox 13: Panic buttons give hotel workers added protection

“As a housekeeper at the Tradewinds Island Resort, it’s Sharina Patillo’s job to make guests feel comfortable. There are also safeguards at work to help her feel more comfortable. Protecting workers from sexual harassment has become a hot topic in the hotel industry. ‘I think it stems from perhaps the ‘Me Too’ movement and some of the issues that went on in Hollywood and in and around the country,’ Overton explained. Just last year, Tampa police arrested a registered sex offender for attacking a worker at a Marriott hotel. Now, some major hotel chains are giving workers extra security with portable panic buttons. ‘The industry is testing a lot of that right now to determine what is the best strategy to get information back to someone quickly if there is an emergency situation where a room attendant’s safety is at risk,’ said Overton.”

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Sloan Dean, COO Remington Hotels: Life is about contribution, not accumulation… Very proud to have Remington Hotels so well represented at the kick off Opportunity for Youth for Dallas with Mayor Mike Rawlings, American Hotel and Lodging Association, American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation, G6 Hospitality LLC, Aimbridge Hospitality & many others. Great to see all the young faces from Richardson High School!

Aimbridge Hospitality: Six students from the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, at Dr. Emmett J. Conrad High School of Dallas ISD with LaGregory Scruggs, participated in a 10 week work-based learning internship program. Students interned at our Sheraton Suites Market Center Dallas, and were exposed to various departments such as Front Desk, Food & Beverage, Human Resources, Accounting, Sales, Housekeeping and Engineering. We are so proud of these #futureleaders! #AimbridgeHospitality

Chip Rogers, AHLA President & CEO: Orlando is a bustling hub for tourism, welcoming more than 70 million visitors each year. To continue building on this progress and serve out guests, hoteliers are focused on connecting young adults to meaningful careers in our industry. By investing in workforce development and training, we are helping ensure the next generation can thrive in meaningful careers in the city’s hotel industry. Read more in today’s Orlando Sentinel: https://lnkd.in/e7xJNb5 #HospitalityWorks #hotels #lodging #hotelindustry #tourism

@AHLA: Kentucky Representative James Comer participated in AHLA’s Heart of the House tour Program, a program that gives Members of Congress the opportunity to see how hotels in their districts operate.

@hotelbusiness: If you have a really good attitude and a great work ethic, you can go anywhere in this industry, says @AHLA CEO Chip Rogers. #myplacecon

@AHLA: Congressman @VanTaylorTX toured the Courtyard Dallas Plano Legacy Park with @THLAnews representatives as part of AHLA’s Heart of the House program. https://bit.ly/2kqeD0j 

@HospitalityWins: As an official sponsor of #DenimDay, @AHLA stands with @MayorOfLA and @PeaceOvrViolnce to support survivors of sexual violence. AHLA’s donation will help Los Angeles expand critical violence prevention education campaigns.

@AHLA: Our CEO @ChipRogersGT is on the cover of the latest issue of @HotelBusiness to launch “On the Hill,” a new co-branded quarterly video series. Go to their website to see his updates on the hotel industry’s national advocacy agenda.

@OrlandoSentinel: Second Harvest teaches aspiring cooks the ropes, job search skills. Read more here.

IN THE NEWS

Investing In Our Workforce

AHLA Press Release: Mayor Rawlings Joins Hotel Industry To Announce Grant To Dallas Groups To Train Youth For Hospitality Careers

“Today, Dallas Mayor Michael Rawlings joined the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Foundation (AHLEF), the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association (THLA), and the Hotel Association of North Texas (HANTX) to announce two local grants totaling $75,000. Both the grant to CitySquare, a Dallas community-based organization, and the grant to Richardson High School will assist in recruiting and training individuals to join the growing and dynamic hotel industry. In Dallas, more than 104,000 young adults are looking for employment. Yet, the Dallas hotel industry has more than 3,500 job openings annually. Grant funds will connect youth to employers in the hospitality industry and provide training to help them succeed. ‘Dallas is quickly becoming one of the nation’s fastest growing cities, with more than 27 million people visiting each year. As a result, our hotel and lodging industry is thriving and with that comes the need for a trained workforce to fill open jobs,’ said Mayor Michael S. Rawlings. ‘I am proud to partner with AHLA, AHLEF, THLA and other hoteliers committed to investing in the lives of Dallas residents by providing the tools and resources needed to succeed.’”

Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association: Hotel Industry Announces Grant To Train Youth For Hospitality Careers In Orlando

 “Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer joined the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Foundation (AHLEF), the foundation arm of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), to announce a $75,000 grant to help Orlando community-based organizations – Second Harvest and After-School All-Stars – recruit and train individuals to join the growing and dynamic hotel industry. In Orlando, more than 190,000 young adults are looking for employment.  Yet, the Orlando hotel industry has more than 7,600 job openings annually and nearly 400 positions open currently. As a result of the AHLEF grant, After-School All-Stars will be able to expand by at least two additional high schools in the Orlando area its after school training program, which will focus on developing job readiness skills to train youth for jobs in the hospitality industry.  Additionally, Second Harvest will host culinary focused trainings for job seekers.”

HospitalityNet: AHLEI Offers Unconscious Bias Training Suite for Employees, Managers

“Welcoming all kinds of people is the heart of hospitality, so awareness of unconscious bias is necessary for hospitality operations to build a positive business reputation and retain workers. Understanding Unconscious Bias in Hospitality is a new online training suite developed by the National Restaurant Association in conjunction with the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA) and the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI). As part of the ServSafe Workplace platform, this training educates learners about unconscious bias with hospitality industry-specific examples presented through modules for employees and managers.”

Protecting Our Employees & Guests

Lodging: AHLA Joins Mayor Garcetti, Peace Over Violence, and Local Advocates To Recognize Denim Day

“On Wednesday, the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) joined Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Peace Over Violence, local leadership, survivors, and advocates at the 20th annual Denim Day press conference and rally to raise awareness around sexual violence. As part of a continuing effort throughout Sexual Assault Awareness Month, AHLA is an official sponsor of Peace Over Violence’s Denim Day activities on April 24, joining millions of individuals in wearing jeans for the purpose of supporting survivors and educating others about all forms of sexual violence. AHLA’s donation will allow Peace Over Violence to continue to lead and expand critical violence prevention education campaigns throughout the Los Angeles metro area.”

Public.: AHLA Supports Peace Over Violence’s Denim Day

“Today, the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) joined Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Peace Over Violence, local leadership, survivors and advocates at the 20th annual Denim Day press conference and rally to raise awareness around sexual violence. Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Industry Relations of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) Troy Flanagan provided these prepared remarks in support of Peace Over Violence’s Denim Day press conference: ‘The American Hotel and Lodging Association is proud to recognize the 20th anniversary of Denim Day by standing alongside strong advocates and community leaders who have worked tirelessly to end sexual assault and violence. We are extremely grateful to partner with Peace Over Violence, Mayor Garcetti and everyone here today to further our shared commitment of supporting victims, educating the public and ending sexual violence.’”

Miami’s Community Newspapers: Clevelander Hotel in South Beach leading global hotel safety efforts

“For over 80 years, the world famous Clevelander South Beach has known the secret to success is their people. Location, service and amenities make a hotel good, but it is the staff that makes a hotel great. The Clevelander Hotel staff have welcomed this technology with open arms. ‘Being that one of our company values is safety, TND seemed the perfect solution as nothing is more important than protecting our team members and our guests,’ Michael Palma, Executive Vice President of Jesta Hotels & Resorts, the owners of Clevelander states. ‘This technology ensures our valued and hardworking Housekeeping team feels safe while also meeting the future State and City legislated mandates for panic button technologies,’ continued Palma. Being prepared for the unknown and the just-in-case scenarios gives piece of mind to everyone. Einar Rosenberg, CIO of Creating Revolutions, states, ‘We are inspired by forward thinking hotels, such as the Clevelander, who are taking a proactive approach towards safety and security of their employees and guests.’”

 SeattlePi: House passes panic button measure for isolated workers

“Legislation requiring panic buttons for isolated workers including hotel housekeepers and janitors has passed its second floor vote in Washington’s Legislature. The bill is intended for workers whose jobs require mostly working alone; the devices would summon help from other workers or management. Along with housekeepers, it would apply to janitors, custodians and other isolated workers. The House approved the bill 57-35 Wednesday, its second floor vote after clearing the Senate in February. Along with the panic button, the bill requires employers to adopt sexual harassment policies, train managers in sexual harassment prevention, and provide employees with a list of resources including contacts for advocacy groups.”

JD Supra: Illinois Hotel & Casino Employee Safety Act On Way To Passage

“More than two dozen Illinois State Senators have signed on to co-sponsor SB0075, a bill to enact the Illinois Hotel and Casino Safety Act (the “Act”). Likely to pass in the coming weeks, the Act will impose new requirements on hotels and casinos operating in Illinois to provide “panic buttons” to certain employees and adopt specific anti-sexual harassment policies.”

Supporting Our Communities

The Philadelphia Tribune: Philadelphia experiences record-breaking year for tourism in 2018

“Philadelphia’s hospitality and tourism sector experienced a record-breaking year in 2018. The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau released its annual report on Tuesday, highlighting the economic gains made within the industry. ‘2018 set new records across most of our industry’s key performance metrics — more visitors came to our city, stayed in our hotels and spent money with local businesses,’ PHLCVB Chairman of the Board Nick DeBenedictis said in a news release. ‘This economic activity drives results for our city and region by generating taxes and supporting the 74,300 hospitality-related jobs in Philadelphia, which has grown by 15% since 2013. Tourism and hospitality is one of the city’s largest and fastest growing employment sectors and the visitors we bring to the city create stability and opportunity for workers across a broad spectrum of jobs.’”

Public.: AHLA Praises Bipartisan Congressional Action To Establish The Secure Travel Partnership

 “Executive Vice President of Government Affairs of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) Brian Crawford issued the following statement in response to the introduction of the Secure Travel Partnership Program, formerly the Visa Waiver Program: ‘Travel and tourism is a critical driver of the American economy, generating $2.3 trillion in economic output and supporting one in nine American jobs. Working with the broader travel community, the hotel industry supports policy initiatives that promote tourism, including the Secure Travel Partnership Program which will increase international business and leisure travel while simultaneously enhancing national security.’”

To learn more about the Hospitality is Working campaign, please visit HospitalityIsWorking.com  or follow us on Twitter @HospitalityWins and on Facebook at @HospitalityIsWorking.