NHLA Information
Benefits of AHLA
Why Join AH&LA?
AH&LA is a 95-year-old dual membership association of state and city partner lodging associations throughout the United States with some 10,000 property members nationwide, representing more than 1.4 million guest rooms. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., it provides members with advocacy on Capitol Hill, public relations and image management, education, research and information, and other services to ensure a positive business climate for the U.S. lodging industry. Individual state associations provide representation at the state level and offer many additional cost-saving benefits.
If you're not a member of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), and your state lodging association, you and your hotel are missing out on countless ways to save valuable time and money every single day! Right now, thousands of hotel owners, general managers, and franchisees all across the country - your colleagues and your competitors - are taking advantage of terrific benefits that help their properties run more efficiently and profitably.
Below are just some of the cost savings benefits our members receive from federal lobbying alone:
| Description | Cost Savings/Financial Benefit |
| FEDERAL LOBBYING | |
| Helped ensure passage of a comprehensive federal tax package. | - As much as $25,500 in first year tax savings on business equipment expensing. - Up to $20,400 in first year tax savings on business equipment depreciation. |
| Helped ensure the appropriation of $50 million in federal funds to promote travel to the U.S. and the creation of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Promotion Advisory Board (which includes four AH&LA members). | A 1% increase in travel to the U.S. could generate:
- $910 million in new travel spending; |
| Worked for the passage of legislation to ensure the availability of and reduce the cost of terrorism insurance. | - Up to thousands of dollars in savings on terrorism insurance premiums (one chain reported a $70,000 annual savings). |
| Working for passage of the ADA Notification Act, which would prevent unnecessary lawsuits in cases of inadvertent noncompliance. | - Up to thousands of dollars in savings (it is estimated that the average settlement is $20,000 plus compliance costs). |
| Helped the passage of legislation to increase funding of Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. | - $1.5 million increase in the amount a small business can borrow through the SBA's loan program. - Increased availability of the SBA's 7(a) Guaranteed Loan Program. |
| Averted burdensome one-size-fits-all ergonomics regulations. | - $14 billion in initial compliance cost savings; and - $4 billion in annual savings, thereafter. |
| Supported the visa waiver program to make it easier for travelers from certain countries to visit the U.S. | - $91 billion annually is spent in the U.S. by overseas travelers, including $23 billion on lodging. |
| Helped avert excessive safety and health rules. | - 504% of annual profits (estimated compliance costs for a small business). |
| Helped avert excessive and unnecessary workplace violence rules. | - $71,000 in initial compliance costs and $7,000 annually, thereafter, per property. |
| Averted certain work-at-home rules that would have imposed high compliance costs. | - $500 per site per hour of consulting to ensure compliance. |
| Helped stop new rules that would have required significant changes to the design and construction of golf carts. | - $1,000 in additional cost per cart. - $500,000 in redesign and retooling expenses per manufacturer. |
| Working to continue keeping Internet transactions free from unfair and excessive taxation. | - $6 billion in online room sales, annually (expected to triple by 2006). |
| Working to increase the business meal tax deduction. | - A 13% increase in sales will result if the deduction rises to 80% from its current level of 50%. |
| Working to reinstate the spousal travel deduction. | A 1% increase in business travel spending could generate: - $1.2 billion in spending. - 17,000 travel industry jobs. |
| Averted increases in the minimum wage that could have cost jobs and harmed businesses during difficult economic times. | - $3,000 per employee, per year. |
| Supported the implementation of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. | - $2,400 credit per qualified worker. |
| Supports the permanent repeal of the estate tax. | - $453,937 per estate (average, 2001). |
| Supports the repeal of the Special Occupational Tax, imposed on all businesses that serve alcoholic beverages. | - $250 per property per year. |
| COMMUNICATIONS | |
| The Directory of Hotel & Lodging Companies (print & digital format) | 20% discount; a savings of up to $100 |
| Subscription to Lodging magazine | Free to members |
| Subscriptions to newsletters: Lodging HR, Lodging Law, and Lodging SmartBrief | Free to members; (formerly $513 per year) |
| Crisis Communications Management Video & Manual | $25 discount ($75 for nonmembers) |
| Access to members-only section of AH&LA.COM | Not available to nonmembers |
| Broadcast-quality version of AH&LA's new Guest Safety Video | Free to members; a $25 value |
| WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT | |
| AH&LA Career Center | 20% internet recruiting discount; a $50 savings, and ads run concurrently at Hcareers.com |
| Checkinn career kit | $15 discount per kit ($40 for nonmembers) |
| Recruiting/Hiring/Retention workshops | 20% discount to members |
| AH&LA Career Center | 30% discount to members |
| VENDOR DISCOUNTS | |
| ASCAP/BMI licensing fees | 1% discount |
| Bubbleshack Wireless Internet | 30% off any Wireless Internet system |
| Convention PlanIt | 10% discount off all advertising |
| Employment Guide (and affiliated publications) | 10% discount for recruitment ads; a savings of $13 per ad |
| FTD.COM | 20 % discount on FTD.COM online and toll-free orders |
| HBO contract | $5 per room discount for a 5-year contract; a savings of $500 per 100 rooms |
| Hcareers | 20% Internet recruiting discount; a $50 savings, and ads run concurrently at AH&LA Career Center |
| Hertz Car Rental | Up to 10% discount for employees of member hotels, plus upgrades and additional discounts. |
| HotelGEST guest satisfaction too | 45-day free trial and 15% discount with a one-year subscription. |
| AH&LA's 2004 Lodging Survey | The most comprehensive study of the size, scope, and emerging trends of the U.S. lodging industry. Cost Savings: Free to members ($1,000 for nonmembers) |
| Real Estate Information Sharing and Analysis Center | Classified advisories from the Department of Homeland Security, accessible through AH&LA's membership in the Real Estate Information Sharing and Analysis Center -- a coalition working with the U.S. real estate industry and federal homeland security officials to prevent, detect, and respond to terrorist and malicious threats. Cost Savings: Free to members |
| Soft Heat Saunas | 15% off MSRP pricing. |
| Staples Business Advantage | Discounts averaging 40 % off list prices on items in Staples' full line catalog, and an average of 60 % off list prices on items in Staples' Pre-Priced Unbelievably Low Priced Catalog. Free shipping on orders of $25 or more. |
| Wage Watch | Individual hotels receive a 10 % discount and hotel management companies receive a 30 % discount on vital wage and compensation benchmarking data. |
| Wild at Work | 20% new-advertiser discount. On average, sales generated produce a 4:1 return on investment. Employees can also access an array of discounts. |
| CONVENTIONS & EVENTS | |
| Multiunit Lodging Operators & Owners Forum Registration Fee | $200 discount ($550 for nonmembers) |
| Legislative Action Summit Registration Fee | $200 discount ($450 for nonmembers) |
| AH&LA Fall Conference with International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show | Free to members ($25 for nonmembers) |
| RESEARCH AND INFORMATION | |
| Loss Prevention Database | Free service funded by AH&LEF |
| Access to Information Center resources and researchers | Free to members; a $100 savings per request |
| EDUCATION | |
| Educational Institute resources: professional certifications, seminars, textbooks, and videos | Minimum 20% discount; a savings of $100 on executive level certifications; $75 on professional level; $45 on videos; and $50 on seminar kits |
Membership in AH&LA is a guaranteed return on your investment!