PAII newsletter October 2015

PAII CONFERENCE KEYNOTE SPEAKER ANNOUNCED
We are so very pleased to announce Katherine Lugar, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Hotel & Lodging Association
(AH&LA) as the opening keynote speaker at the PAII Innkeeping Show in Austin, TX. As the chief executive of the largest
trade association representing the U.S. lodging industry, she implements and directs AH&LA's services and works directly with the
volunteer officers and board of directors in determining the industry's major strategic initiatives.
In the past, the operations of large hotels and relatively small Inns may have seemed light
years removed from each other. Now, the expanding footprint of the internet, the emergence
of players like Airbnb, non-regulated lodging , and such fundamental issues as
ADA requirements and minimum wage laws now find our two sectors focusing on many
of the same issues for the same reasons.
Since joining AH&LA in 2013, Ms. Lugar has been pivotal in transforming the association
and spearheading the rollout of a new membership model and growing its base,
which now represents almost half the properties in the entire hotel industry. In just one
year, she has led the association to grow to its highest point in its 100-year history and
has also achieved record HotelPAC contributions, increased the focus on advocacy and
has achieved overall greater, industry engagement.
She has also led the development of a three-year strategic plan that will guide AH&LA
as it navigates the numerous opportunities and challenges that face the hospitality industry.
With a renewed focus on advocacy, Ms. Lugar’s depth of experience in public policy and Capitol Hill will help shape the agenda
the industry seeks to center its priorities around: workforce issues, technology and distribution and travel and tourism promotion.
We at PAII feel that we are at a critical juncture in the Lodging Industry's history, and laws, regulations, and rules made or changed
today could very well affect the health and livelihood of our industry for years to come.
While we Innkeepers are small fish in the large Hospitality pond, there are a lot of us. We feel that by working closely with AH&LA
and, in turn, having our members work the grassroots campaigns, we will create a powerful team.
Ms. Lugar’s presentation on Monday morning, January 11, will include AH&LA's views on Airbnb, OTAs, Minimum Wage Laws,
and etc. She will also give us a "crystal ball" view of what she sees as issues on the horizon. Following the presentation, Ms. Lugar will
meet with the PAII Board to discuss what we can do going forward.