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Alaska Hotel & Lodging Association
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AkH&LA Staff
Gretchen Kenney
Executive Director
Kendra Hamilton
Administrative Assistant
Mailing Address
330 E. 4th Avenue, Suite 201
Anchorage, AK 99501
Contact Information:
Tel: (907) 272-1229
Fax: (907) 272-1289
www.akhla.org
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AkH&LA Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Immediate Past Chairman
Yvette Hebard/Fairbanks Princess Lodge
Chair
Craig Pester/ARAMARK
Vice Chair
Barbara Swenson/Quality Suites Convention Center, Clarion Suites & The Rodeway Inn - Voyager Inn
Secretary
Terry Wanzer/Best Western Landing
Treasurer
Steve Zadra/Princess Tours
PAC Chair
Tammy Griffin/The Hotel Group
At-Large
Terry Latham/Longhouse Alaskan Hotel
Regional Board Members
John Ewing/Crowne Plaza
Sharlene Berg/CIRI Tourism
Nick Hammond/Seward Windsong
Jack Johnson/Best Western Kodiak
Bill Rodasky/Arctic Caribou Inn
Dustin Adams/Regency Fairbanks
Jamie Fullenkamp/Sheraton Anchorage
Dave Arnott/McKinley Princess
Jill Pawson/The Hotel Alyeska
Ron Hewitt/Breeze Inn Seward
Steve Hamilton/Baranof Hotel
Gerd Krause/Westmark Anchorage
Allied Board Members
Walt Leffek/Hospitality Resources & Concepts
Dick Wells/Automated Laundry Systems & Supply
Clayton Halverson/Halverson Commercial Real Estate
Past Chairs
Dennis Lavey/Days Inn Anchorage
Jeff Butcher/Hotel Halsingland
Darren Nolan/Princess Alaska Lodges
Randy Comer/Parkwood Inn |
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Industry News | |
ADA Title III Final Rule Highlights
- The 2010 Standards cover, for the first time, a number of recreational facilities often found at lodging facilities, including exercise facilities, swimming pools, wading pools and spas, steam rooms and saunas, golf and mini-golf courses, fishing piers, and shooting ranges.
Time to comply
The NPRM (Notice of Proposed Rule Making) did not specify a timeframe to come into compliance with the new rules for these existing elements, which meant that AH&LA's members could be exposed to lawsuits as soon as the Final Rule became effective. At AH&LA's urging, the Department has given public accommodations an 18-month period in which to comply with these new requirements, if compliance is readily achievable (easily accomplishable without much difficulty or expense, taking into account the financial resources of the business).
Swimming Pools
Most owners and operators that have swimming pools will likely have to provide a pool lift or some other means of accessible entry within 18 months, unless they lack the financial resources to do so.
Exercise Rooms
AH&LA had expressed the concern that providing a clear floor space adjacent to one of each type of exercise equipment would reduce the number of items that can be included in small exercise rooms. AH&LA obtained a very helpful clarification from the Department on this issue. The Department stated that, for equipment that must be used in a standing position, clear floor space adjacent to the equipment for a side transfer is not required because the person must be able to stand up and walk to use the equipment. Accordingly, the Department stated that the clear floor space can be at the end of the equipment and can overlap with the 36" accessible route through the exercise facility. This commentary is extremely helpful to the lodging industry and will substantially mitigate the effect of this new requirement.
Steam rooms, saunas, and wading pools
These existing facilities will have to be retrofitted to comply with the 2010 Standards if doing so is readily achievable. Because the readily achievable standard is the least demanding of all the standards from an owner/operator's standpoint, many facilities may not have to perform substantial work in order be in compliance with the ADA. No work would be required in small wading pools where creating a sloped entry would neither be readily achievable nor technically feasible.
Employee Work Area Common Circulation Paths
The 2010 Standards require, for the first time, that common circulation paths in employee work areas be accessible. In response to comments by AH&LA and others, the Department clarified in its commentary to the Final Rule that the requirement will not apply to existing facilities unless they are altered, and even then, only one common circulation path in each area would have to be accessible. The Department further noted that it may not be technically feasible to provide one accessible common circulation path in some areas if walls have to be moved or if providing such a path results in a loss of space for inventory. The commentary thus appears to provide some flexibility in applying this new requirement in existing facilities.
This is one area where the Department did not provide relief to AH&LA's members. The 2010 Standards require a 5' wide space around the toilet, and does not allow anything to be placed in that area. The 1991 Standards allow a vanity to be placed in the area provided that there is still at least 36" of space around the toilet. AH&LA explained that having to comply with the 2010 Standards for these elements in a future alteration would require a reconfiguration of existing guest room baths involving the relocation of plumbing and electrical fixtures, in addition to the possible moving of walls and loss of room count.
AH&LA urged the Department to create an exemption for existing hotel guest rooms in the future alterations of these elements. While the Department did not grant this request, other changes in the Final Rule and the Department's commentary may mitigate the impact of this rule in future alterations. For example, the Final Rule eliminates the existing rule that if enough elements are altered in any given space, then the entire space has to be made fully accessible. Thus, assuming that their bathrooms comply with the 1991 Standards, hotels may be able to make soft-goods renovations in their guest rooms and even make changes in the bathroom without triggering an obligation to comply with the new toilet clear floor space or vanity requirements, provided that these specific elements are left intact. In addition, some of the Department's commentary suggests that compliance with the 2010 Standards may be considered technically infeasible if plumbing stacks, mechanical equipment, and walls cannot be moved.
On this subject, the Department was, for the most part, not responsive to AH&LA's comments. The Final Rule requires reservations systems to identify the accessible features of the hotel and guest room. AH&LA requested greater specificity about the information that should be included. In response, the Department declined to identify the specific information that must be provided in the regulation itself. However, its discussion in the accompanying commentary does provide some guidance about what that information might be. One disturbing aspect of the commentary is the Department's suggestion that hotel reservations systems must include aspects of the hotel that are not accessible.
The new regulations also require hotel reservations services to hold back the accessible rooms in each room type for use by a person with a disability until they are the last to sell. AH&LA did not oppose this concept generally, but insisted that if the accessible room is the last room of its type, or the only room of its type, that it can be sold to a non-disabled guest. The Department did make this clarification in its commentary.
The new regulations also require that, once reserved, accessible rooms be blocked and removed from all reservations systems to eliminate the possibility of double booking. This requirement was not in the NPRM so AH&LA did not have an opportunity to comment on it.
Finally, the Final Rule exempts from the "last sell" and blocking requirements stated above guest rooms that are owned and controlled by individual owners and only rented out for some portion of the time to the public. This is a meaningful benefit for the hotel industry and the individual owners of guest room units.
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From the Front Desk | |
Alaska Hotel and Lodging Association is now on Facebook!
We've gone social!
Like our Facebook Page and join in the conversation with other members just like you. We will also share your posts that can be beneficial to others in the hospitality industry.
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Membership | |
2011 Hotel Data Conference
August 3-4
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
The Hotel Data Conference will be hosted by STR, the global leader in hotel market data and performance benchmarking, and HotelNewsNow.com, the definitive digital news provider of vital information for hotel decision makers.
The Hotel Data Conference provides leaders of the hotel, destination-marketing and education industries with data-supported information that enhances the daily decision-making process. The data sessions, discussions and networking opportunities provide attendees of the Hotel Data Conference with relevant information to further individual, property and company success and to strengthen the entire hotel industry.
For more information and to register, visit www.hoteldataconference.com.
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Government Relations |
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11 Minimum Guidelines for Going Green |  |
Below is a list of actions properties of any size should take to stake their claim as an eco-friendly establishment. Each step contains further tactics, including case studies, statistics, and additional resources. AH&LA members who have further questions may get one-on-one advice from the Green Guru.
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Education | |
New Concierge Book Highlights All Aspects of Profession
The Art and Science of the Hotel Concierge, which made its debut last week at the 58th International Congress of the Union Internationale de Concierges Hôtels Les Clefs D'Or in Toronto, is available for purchase from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI). Author Holly Stiel, a veteran concierge, provides everything readers want to know about excelling in this profession-and more.
The new edition of this one-of-a-kind textbook (formerly titled Ultimate Service) details every aspect of being a hotel concierge-from the esoteric to the practical. Whether readers are considering it as a career, managing a concierge team, or personally serving guests, they'll find the information and insights needed to take on this challenging, but rewarding, work. This valuable reference is enhanced with illustrative true stories, immediately implementable tips, and occupational hazards.
Using her 17-year career behind the desk, subsequent consulting experience, and conversations with concierges and service experts worldwide, Stiel reveals what goes on behind the scenes to create the magical experiences hotel guests have come to expect. This comprehensive text includes topics such as:
- The qualities needed to be successful and enjoy one's role as a hotel concierge.
- Ways to develop positive relationships both inside and outside the hotel.
- Handling guest requests-from the routine to the outlandish-with skill and artistry.
- Using creativity to solve problems.
- Turning complaints into compliments.
- Using today's technology to the fullest to organize the desk and serve guests with a personal touch.
- Staying calm under fire.
- The benefits of involvement in Les Clefs d'Or and local associations.
The book contains equal parts information and inspiration, as Stiel writes not only from the head, but also from her heart. In her words, "Concierges express their love for their cities and resorts and thereby create positive, lasting memories for their guests-all the while enjoying their day as they create a positive and enriching experience for themselves."
The Art and Science of the Hotel Concierge is available from AHLEI for $30.95 for AH&LA members and $60.95 for nonmembers. To order, visit www.ahlei.org or call 800-752-4567 or 517-372-8800. Outside the U.S. and Canada, call 407-999-8100.
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Security | |
Security Training for Hotel Staff
While training frontline staff to recognize and report suspicious activity may seem daunting, the solution is quick, accessible, and easily accomplished. In less time than an employee's lunch hour, hotels can provide their staff with critical training that could very well save the lives of guests and employees and also preserve the reputation of their property.
From workplace shootings by disgruntled employees and identity theft to sexual assault and potential acts of terrorism, the rise in hotel security-related incidents has increased guests' safety concerns and put hotel properties on the alert for increased liability. As that risk increases, so does the need for high-value, effective, and cost-conscious training for all hotel frontline staff, who serve as the eyes and ears of a property. It takes only one incident at a property to create a loss in customer revenue, increase in liability costs, and negative publicity that will worry potential hotel guests. Safety, not comfort, is the number one priority for business and leisure travelers globally.
The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and homeland consultant Cardinal Point Strategies, has developed an industry-needed and industry-driven product that could save lives. Eye on Awareness-Hotel Security & Anti-terrorism Training™ is an online anti-terrorism and security training course that answers the questions above in a clear and simple manner. It contains interactive, multi-media lessons; is measurable with review questions to assess comprehension; and provides a certificate of completion. In just under an hour, employees can learn how to recognize, report, and respond to suspicious activity on their hotel property. The mission: protecting the lives of hotel guests and staff through preventive measures.
The current climate underscores the need to empower hotel frontline staff to be vigilant and vocal-to be on the watch and to sound the alarm when things are not as they should be. Eye on Awareness™ helps employees answer these common questions:
-What do I look for?
-How do I know it's suspicious?
-Should I report it?
Eye on Awareness delivers a simple message to hotel staff: If you see or hear something suspicious-report it. In the wake of an incident, hotels must ask themselves whether or not they could have done something more to reduce the risk of it occurring. The true key to risk reduction is training. The ultimate question that hotel property owners and managers have to ask themselves is, "How can I not afford to give my staff this training?"
A demo and product pricing information is available at www.ahlei.org/eyeonawareness. Or call AHLEI at 800-752-4567 or 517-372-8800. Outside the U.S. and Canada, call 407-999-8100.
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Contributions | |
Hilton Worldwide Donates
$100,000 Gift To AH&LEF
Hilton Worldwide has made a gift of $100,000 to the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF) to support the educational development of students pursuing an undergraduate degree in hospitality management. The gift will be paid over the next four years in installments of $25,000 annually and benefit AH&LEF's Annual Scholarship Program.
As the Foundation's largest scholarship program, the Annual Scholarship Grant Program is co-administered with 83 universities and colleges nationwide that are affiliated with AH&LEF. Each year, the participating schools are allocated a scholarship grant in which they select the individual students on their campuses to be recipients of the scholarship monies based on a set of minimum eligibility criteria designated by AH&LEF.
"Hilton Worldwide is committed to the growth and development of our future leaders," said Michael C. Ford, vice president, global diversity & inclusion, Hilton Worldwide. "The hospitality industry offers a host of career opportunities both domestically and globally and we're excited to partner with AH&LEF to support interested students."
Periodically AH&LEF requires existing schools to reapply and new schools can submit applications for participation. This year AH&LEF is accepting school applications through June 1, 2011. With this generous contribution, AH&LEF may be able to add to the number of participating schools, as well as increase funding allocations to some existing schools. AH&LEF currently administers 10 scholarship programs. The deadline date for student applications is May 1, 2012. This year, it is anticipated that the Foundation will disburse approximately $400,000 in scholarships.
"We applaud this commitment to the lodging industry and look forward to our partnership with Hilton Worldwide to create a better future for the lodging industry," said Joori Jeon, AH&LEF president and chief operations officer. "These Hilton Worldwide scholarships will have a significant impact for many future hoteliers."
For further information regarding AH&LEF's scholarships or the Annual Scholarship Grant Program, contact Michelle Poinelli, senior vice president of foundation programs, at (202) 289-3181 or mpoinelli@ahlef.org. For information on Hilton Worldwide, visit www.hiltonworldwide.com.
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Information Center | |
One of the benefits to membership is access to the information center of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. If you have a question about the industry, Tamika is a great resource to research the topic for you and find websites, articles and details on what you need. Typically she is able to respond in just 48 hours.
For more details, visit AH&LA's Website.
For questions, please contact AH&LA Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs Kevin Maher at kmaher@ahla.com or (202) 289-3147.
Looking for more? The AH&LA Information Center has a variety of articles and resources covering every area of a lodging property. Contact Tamika Figgs, research manager, at (888) 743-2515 or tfiggs@ahla.com to have resources sent to you or your members.
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AkHLA Classifieds | | From time to time we're contacted by members looking for certain items for their properties, ways to get rid of certain reusable items during remodels, need for employees, etc. This classified section will be included in every newsletter issue to help members get this type of information out to the industry. If you have a need or want us to get the word out on something send them to Kendra Hamilton in the AkH&LA office at kendra@akhla.org |
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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. |
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