Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Just wrapping up yesterday, I'm happy to report that this year's Legislative Action Summit was a huge success. A record turnout of approximately 250 partner state executives, CEOs, and other active members was evidence enough to merit my congratulations for the active role you're all taking in shaping legislation in this critical election year. Almost 40 delegations of AH&LA members met with Congressional leaders on Capitol Hill to discuss the industry's position on key issues including H-2B visas, card check legislation, U.S. travel and tourism promotion, and other issues pertinent to the lodging community.
Monday was highlighted by the informative briefing at the White House, featuring Ed Gillespie, counselor to the President; Tony Fratto, deputy press secretary; and Jason Thomas, special assistant to the president for economic policy, National Economic Council. Later that night, there was a huge turnout at the HotelPAC dinner at the Hotel George which featured Representatives Mary Bono Mack (R-CA), James Clyburn (D-SC), and Dan Boren (D- OK), from which totals raised are still being calculated.
Tuesday morning kicked off as lobbying leaders shared with members tips for effectively communicating with legislators, and influential Senators Lindsey O. Graham (R-SC) and Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) and Representative Ric Keller (R-FL) expressed their candid perspective on H-2B visas and other pending issues. For the first time, we held a CEO panel on Capitol Hill for the legislators and their staff where Robert Alter, executive chairman, Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc.; Geoffrey A. Ballotti, president and CEO, Group RCI; Yvonne La Penotiere, chief branding officer, Carlson Hotels Worldwide; and Stevan Porter, president, The Americas, InterContinental Hotels Group answered questions on the future of our industry. The panel began with a welcome by Congressman Jon Porter (R-NV).
For several images of LAS highlights, please visit the Governmental Affairs page of the AH&LA Website.
Last week, our Educational Institute finished up another successful event with the close of its Lodging Management Program National Competition at Walt Disney's Shades of Green Resort. Students from 13 schools from around the country solved real-world challenges to many issues facing the hospitality community today. My congratulations to the winning team from Oakridge High School in Orlando, whose presentation I thought was particularly innovative.
Looking forward to Earth Day and our continued green initiative development, we are attending the first meeting of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Hospitality Advisory Group on April 21-22. The group, comprised of about 15 hospitality companies and multiunit companies, including Marriott, Starwood, Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG, will meet to refine the suite of LEED rating systems, including design, construction, and operations to better suit the hospitality market. This first step consisting of a needs-assessment will determine the technical rating system changes, which USGBC will then track through its consensus-based process. It is anticipated that this process will take a year to complete.
Thanks to all our members for their continued enthusiasm and participation in our events, which are organized to best advance your needs. To ensure that the activities and programs we coordinate are of the utmost benefit to you, I also encourage you to take our new, three-minute member survey, and give us your thoughts on how we can shape future member benefits.
I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you all again soon as a busy summer is on the horizon.
Sincerely,
Joseph A. McInerney, CHA
April 16, 2008
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