AkH&LA Stars of the Industry

 

Its that time of year again!  It's time to nominate your Star Performers for the 2010 Stars of the Industry Awards Program!  This star studded awards gala, to be held Saturday February 12, 2010 at the Hotel Captain Cook, honors and celebrates outstanding service and achievement in the lodging and hospitality industry during 2010.  It recognizes lodging employees and supplier members who symbolize the highest quality service in Alaska's Hospitality Industry.  We've also expanded our Allied section to include individual awards for vendor employees and managers.  Nominate your Star Performers for this industry award and give us all an opportunity to commend their dedication and star achievements!

 

To help make this event successful we need nominations from you! 

Take a few moments and reflect upon your star performers of this past year.  Pass this on to your Human Resources Director and staff so they can shine light on the superior service providers who made a difference in 2010.   Also consider the vendors you do business with that are members of the organization. We can supply you with posters to display at your property or business so your entire staff can take part in this by honoring a fellow employee. You may also want to consider star performers from other properties or businesses that you would like to see celebrated for their efforts to make our industry shine. 

Nominations can be downloaded from the AkH&LA website by clicking here.

 

We've made a few changes to this years event.  We've expanded our Allied section to add four new nomiantions available to Allied Member Employees and Managers. Details of the new categories are listed in the nomination form.

 

For more information on the program click here. 

 

Deadline to submit all nominations:  Friday December 10, 2010 

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The Visitor Industry Job Fair is back!

 

This is a great opportunity to line up your summer hires or find that perfect person to fill that open position just in time.  We limit this to 30 vendors and in the past year's have received over 500 attendees! These folks are eager to work and come dressed to impress and resumes in hand. 

 

Visitor Industry Job Fair

Wednesday, December 29^th, 2010

Egan Center (lower level)

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

 

Secure your table before October 30^th to receive the early bird discount!

Early Bird Registration Fee: $150 (must be received by October 29th) Registration Fee: $175.00

Fees include 6ft table, chairs, and advertising in local newspapers, flyers, & college newspapers. 

 

RSVP today! You can fill out the attached form, call or RSVP online at: https://www.anchorage.net/472.cfm?event=rsvp&eventid=760

 

Any other questions or to secure your table over the phone please call Karen Coleman with ACVB at 257-2321.

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2010 Grand Adventure Raffle Winners

 

AkH&LA is sending three lucky raffle winners on amazing grand adventure vacations in the annual PAC raffle.  COngratulations to our winners:

 

• Lamont "Monty' Smith - Grand Prize/Hawaii
• Mary Martin - 1^st Prize/Princess Cruise
• Melinda Minsky - 2^nd Prize/Las Vegas




 

(2nd Prize Winner Melinda Minsky)

 

Thank you to the Alaska Hotel & Lodging Association's raffle committee and our Board of Directors for their hard work in this years raffle.  Due to their efforts we exceeded our fundraising goals by raising over $15,000 for the organizations government relations activities.

 

Thank you to all who purchased raffle tickets in support of the hospitality industry!

 

U.S. Department of Labor Proposes Higher H-2B Wages

 

The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration published a proposed rule in the Federal Register which would significantly change the way wages are determined for H-2B workers.

What this means:

The proposed rule would mandate that the prevailing wage for H-2B workers be based on the highest of:

1. Wages established under an agreed-upon collective bargaining agreement;
2. A wage rate established under the Davis-Bacon Act or the Service Contract Act for that occupation in the area of intended employment, or;
3. The arithmetic mean wage rate established by the Occupational Employment Statistics wage survey for that occupation in the area of intended employment. 
   
4. The proposed rule would also eliminate the use of private wage surveys, as well as the current four-tier wage structure.

What you can do:

AH&LA is encouraging members interested in this issue to submit comments on this proposed rule via the federal e-rulemaking portal at www.regulations.gov, type in 1205-AB61 in the search box, and you may access the rule and click on the "submit a comment" button to submit your comments directly.

Direct links:
Proposed Rule from the Federal Register

Department of Labor press release 

Submit a comment letter on Regulations.gov  

AH&LA has submitted comments on behalf of the industry.

If you have any questions, please contact Shawn McBurney, senior vice president, governmental affairs, at smcburney@ahla.com or (202) 289-3123.

 

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Now Available:  Protective Measures for the US Lodging Industry

Below are materials developed by AH&LA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help you plan and manage security at your facilities. The guide, Protective Measures Guide for the U.S. Lodging Industry, and the threat assessment document, are also available on the members only section of the AH&LA Website. In addition, a video, No Reservations: Suspicious Behavior in Hotels, is available on the Website.

 

These materials are a result of a closer relationship we have forged with DHS.  There are additional initiatives underway that we'll update you on in the coming months. For additional information, please contact Kevin Maher at 202-289-3147.

 

In order to reduce the amount of paper used at the association and to provide information to our memebers in a more timely manner, the organization has opted to send our communications via an electronic format.  If you would like anyone from your staff to receive these communications please send us their email address as well as their contact information and we'll get them added to our system.  This is a great way to keep your entire staff up to date on whats happening at the association and within the industry.  Email addresses can be sent to the AkH&LA office at info@akhla.org.