Ed Brock is an award-winning journalist who has worked for various U.S. newspapers and magazines, including with American City & County magazine, a national publication based in Atlanta focused on city and county government issues. He is currently senior editor at Asian Hospitality magazine, the top U.S. publication for Asian American hoteliers. Originally from Mobile, Alabama, Ed began his career in journalism in the early 1990s as a reporter for a chain of weekly newspapers in Baldwin County, Alabama. After a stint teaching English in Japan, Ed returned to the U.S. and moved to the Atlanta area where he returned to journalism, coming to work at Asian Hospitality in 2016.
AS A NEW president prepares to take office amid continuing political turmoil, Atlanta hotelier and former AAHOA Chairman Mike Patel is taking an active role in recently turned blue Georgia’s politics, including holding a rally for a Democrat candidate. At the same time, a move by the Trump administration that some say is part of an effort to complicate the transition could put billions of dollars in stimulus money out of reach of desperate hotels suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Getting out the vote
Patel, who was AAHOA chairman from 1998 to 1999, hosted a meet-the-candidate event for the Rev. Raphael Warnock, a candidate for the U.S. Senate who, along with fellow Democrat Jon Ossoff, faces a runoff vote in January. The Democrats could gain control of the Senate if they win those races.
A crowd of around 50 gathered in the parking lot at Patel Plaza in Decatur, Georgia, to hear from Warnock on Nov. 19. It was nearly two weeks since the Nov. 3 election in which President-elect Joe Biden won the state, the first Democrat to do so since 1992.
“Can you imagine in our lifetime having Georgia turn blue?” Patel said. ”But, the icing on the cake is January where we get Rev. Warnock and John Ossof into our Senate.”
Patel explained one part of his passion for supporting the Democrats is the party’s position on healthcare. He lost his wife Hasmita in August after she was infected with coronavirus. She beat that infection, but the doctors gave her Pregnezone to suppress her infection, but which also suppressed her immune system, leaving her vulnerable to a second infection.
“Unfortunately, I never knew last year that this year I would be standing here and I lost my wife six months ago to COVID-19,” Patel told the crowd.
He said the Democrat platform would offer better healthcare options, including protections for pre-existing conditions.
“If you have a pre-existing condition, we must have it covered,” he said, citing for example the high rate of diabetes in the Southeast Asian community. “When you go back home, please explain why we must come and vote. Because this is a man that's going to protect inclusivity.”
Warnock said he planned to make sure that everybody in Georgia has access to affordable health care. Part of the problem is what he called Washington’s “incestuous relationship between political backrooms and corporate boardrooms.”
“As I move across the state, people are hurting. Folks are very concerned,” the candidate said. “And they want to know if there's anybody in Washington looking out for that.”
Pulling back CARES Act money
On the same day of Patel’s event, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin asked in a letter to Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors Jerome Powell that $455 billion set aside for funding the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, & Economic Security Act be returned to the treasury since it has not been used.
The funds were used for the Main Street Lending Program and other programs supporting businesses affected by the economic downturn.
“In the unlikely event that it becomes necessary in the future to reestablish any of these facilities, the Federal Reserve can request approval from the Secretary of the Treasury and, upon approval, the facilities can be funded with Core ESF funds, to the extent permitted by law, or additional funds appropriated by Congress,” Mnuchin said.
However, media reports indicated the secretary’s request may have been part of the Trump administration’s ongoing resistance to Biden’s efforts to set up his incoming administration.
“The intent of the Mnuchin move appears to be to prevent the next treasury secretary extending relief to state and local governments, and had been urged by Sen. Pat Toomey, the Republican senator from Pennsylvania who is set to chair the Senate Banking Committee, unless the Democrats win both the runoff elections in Georgia in January,” said a report from MarketWatch.com
Patel also saw Mnuchin’s decision as politically motivated.
“The true colors are showing now, especially how the Republicans are going great lengths to destroy the economy further. This is politically motivated and sour grapes,” Patel said. “Why would you want to pull the rug from small business at a time like this when especially the numbers in hospitals and ICU are maxed? So, I say to hotel owners, especially those with [commercial mortgage-backed security loans] mortgages, don’t hope for the government to bail you out. They are being set up to be sold at a discount to venture funds.”
Hotels may not survive
The disarray in Washington comes at a time when the U.S. travel and hotel industry face increasing pressure resulting from a resurgence of COVID-19 and renewed travel restrictions enacted in many states. It’s a situation many hoteliers responding to a recent survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association say is an existential threat.
According to the survey, 71 percent of respondents said they won’t make it another six months in the current market without further federal assistance, including the Main Street Lending Program and the Paycheck Protection Program. Also, 77 percent said they will be forced to lay off more worker and 47 would be forced to close hotels. More than one third face bankruptcy or being forced to sell by the end of 2020.
“Every hour Congress doesn’t act hotels lose 400 jobs. As devastated industries like ours desperately wait for Congress to come together to pass another round of COVID-19 relief legislation, hotels continue to face record devastation,” said Chip Rogers, AHLA president and CEO. “Without action from Congress, half of U.S. hotels could close with massive layoffs in the next six months.”
Other findings of the survey of 1,200 owners, operators, and employees included:
34 percent of hotel owners say they can only last between one to three more months at current projected revenue and occupancy levels absent any further relief.
63 percent have less than half of their typical, pre-crisis staff working full time.
82 percent of owners say they have been unable to obtain additional debt relief, such as forbearance, from their lenders beyond the end of this year.
59 percent of owners said that they are in danger of foreclosure by their commercial real estate debt lenders due to COVID-19, a 10 percent increase since September.
52 percent of respondents stated their hotel(s) will close without additional aid.
98 percent of hoteliers would apply for and utilize a second draw PPP loan.
A PETITION FOR a referendum on Los Angeles’s proposed “Olympic Wage” ordinance, requiring a $30 minimum wage for hospitality workers by the 2028 Olympic Games, lacked sufficient signatures, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar. The ordinance will take effect, raising hotel worker wages from the current $22.50 to $25 next year, $27.50 in 2027 and $30 in 2028.
Mandatory health care benefits payments will also begin in 2026.
The L.A. Alliance for Tourism, Jobs and Progress sought a referendum to repeal the ordinance, approved by the city council four months ago. The petition needed about 93,000 signatures but fell short by about 9,000, according to Interim City Clerk Petty Santos.
The council approved the minimum wage increase for tourism workers in May 2023, despite opposition from business leaders citing a decline in international travel. The ordinance requires hotels with more than 60 rooms and businesses at Los Angeles International Airport to pay workers $30 an hour by 2028. It passed on a 12 to 3 vote, with Councilmembers John Lee, Traci Park and Monica Rodriguez opposed.
The L.A. Alliance submitted more than 140,000 signatures in June opposing the tourism wage ordinance, triggering a June 2026 repeal vote supported by airlines, hotels and concession businesses.
AAHOA called the ruling a setback for Los Angeles hotel owners, who will bear the costs of the mandate.
"This ruling is a major setback for Los Angeles' small business hotel owners, who will shoulder the burden of this mandate," said Kamalesh “KP” Patel, AAHOA chairman. "Instead of working with industry leaders, the city moved forward with a policy that ignores economic realities and jeopardizes the jobs and businesses that keep this city's hospitality sector operating and supporting economic growth. Family-owned hotels now face choices—cutting staff, halting hiring, or raising rates—just as Los Angeles prepares to host millions of visitors for the World Cup and 2028 Olympics. You can't build a city by breaking the backs of the small businesses that make it run."
Laura Lee Blake, AAHOA president and CEO, said members are proud to create jobs in their communities, but the ordinance imposes costs that will affect the entire city.
“Even with a delayed rollout, the mandate represents a 70 percent wage increase above California's 2025 minimum wage,” she said. “This approach could remove more than $114 million each year from hotels, funds that could instead be invested in keeping workers employed and ensuring Los Angeles remains a competitive destination. The mandate increases the risk of closures, layoffs and a weaker Los Angeles."
A recent report from the American Hotel & Lodging Association found Los Angeles is still dealing with the effects of the pandemic and recent wildfires. International visitation remains below 2019 levels, more than in any other major U.S. city.
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AHLA Foundation is partnering with ICHRIE and ACPHA to support hospitality education.
The collaborations align academic programs with industry workforce needs.
It will provide data, faculty development, and student engagement opportunities.
THE AHLA FOUNDATION, International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education and the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration work to expand education opportunities for students pursuing hospitality careers. The alliances aim to provide data, faculty development and student engagement opportunities.
Their efforts build on the foundation’s scholarships and link academics to workforce needs, AHLA said in a statement.
"We're not just funding education—we're investing in the alignment between academic learning and professional readiness," said Kevin Carey, AHLA Foundation president and CEO. "These partnerships give us the insights needed to support students and programs that effectively prepare graduates to enter the evolving hospitality industry."
ACPHA will provide annual reports on participating schools’ performance, enabling the Foundation to direct resources to programs with curricula aligned to industry needs, the Foundation said.
Thomas Kube, incoming ACPHA executive director, said the partnership shows academia and industry working together for hospitality students. The collaboration with ICHRIE includes program analysis, engagement through more than 40 Eta Sigma Delta Honor Society chapters and faculty development.
“Together, we are strengthening pathways to academic excellence, professional development and industry engagement,” said Donna Albano, chair of the ICHRIE Eta Sigma Delta Board of Governors.
Fragmented systems, poor integration limit hotels’ data access, according to a survey.
Most hotel professionals use data daily but struggle to access it for revenue and operations.
AI and automation could provide dynamic pricing, personalization and efficiency.
FRAGMENTED SYSTEMS, INACCURATE information and limited integration remain barriers to hotels seeking better data access to improve guest experiences and revenue, according to a newly released survey. Although most hotel professionals use data daily, the survey found 49 percent struggle to access what they need for revenue and operational decisions.
“The Future of Hotel Data” report, published by hospitality data platform Hapi and direct booking platform Revinate, found that 40 percent of hoteliers cite disconnected systems as their biggest obstacle. Nearly one in five said poor data quality prevents personalization, limiting satisfaction, loyalty and upsell opportunities.
“Data is the foundation for every company, but most hotels still struggle to access and connect it effectively,” said Luis Segredo, Hapi’s cofounder and CEO. “This report shows there’s a clear path forward: integrate systems, improve data accuracy and embrace AI to unlock real-time insights. Hotels that can remove these technology barriers will operate more efficiently, drive loyalty, boost revenue and ultimately gain a competitive edge in a tight market.”
AI and automation could transform hospitality through dynamic pricing, real-time personalization and operational efficiency, but require standardized, integrated and reliable data to succeed, the report said.
Around 19 percent of respondents cited communication delays as a major issue, while 18 percent pointed to ineffective marketing, the survey found. About 10 percent reported challenges with enterprise initiatives and 15 percent said they struggled to understand guest needs. Nearly 46 percent identified CRM and loyalty systems as the top priority for data quality improvements, followed by sales and upselling at 17 percent, operations at 10 percent and customer service at 7 percent.
Meanwhile, hotels see opportunities in stronger CRM and loyalty systems, integrated platforms and AI, the report said. Priorities include improving data quality for personalized engagement, using integrated systems for real-time insights, applying AI for offers, marketing and service and leveraging dynamic pricing and automation to boost efficiency, conversion and profitability.
“Clean, connected data is the key to truly understanding the needs of guests, driving amazing marketing campaigns and delivering direct booking revenue,” said Bryson Koehler, Revinate's CEO. “Looking ahead, hotels that transform fragmented data into connected data systems will be able to leverage guest intelligence data and gain a significant advantage. With the right technology, they can personalize every interaction, shift share to direct channels and drive profitability in ways that weren’t possible before. The future belongs to hotels that harness their data to operate smarter, delight guests and grow revenue.”
In June, The State of Distribution 2025 reported a widening gap between technology potential and operational readiness, with many hotel teams still early in using AI and developing training, systems, and workflows.
Hyatt partners with Way to unify guest experiences on one platform.
Members can earn and redeem points on experiences booked through Hyatt websites.
Way’s technology supports translation, payments and data insights for Hyatt.
HYATT HOTELS CORP. is working with Austin-based startup Way to consolidate ancillary services, loyalty experiences and on-property programming on one platform across its global portfolio. The collaboration integrates Way’s system into Hyatt.com, the World of Hyatt app, property websites and FIND Experiences to create a centralized booking platform.
World of Hyatt members can earn and redeem points on experiences booked through Hyatt websites, including wellness programs, cultural activities, ticketed events and local collaborations, the companies said in a statement. Members can also access FIND Experiences, which includes activities and auctions where points can be used to bid on events.
"In our search for an on-brand platform to power experiences and tap into ancillary revenue opportunities, Way's collaboration has been a true unlock for us," said Arlie Sisson, Hyatt’s senior vice president and global head of digital. "After a thorough evaluation of potential solutions, Hyatt chose Way to power the next chapter of our digital strategy by streamlining operations, elevating brand differentiation, enhancing personalization and, most importantly, delivering care at every touchpoint in the guest journey."
The Way initiative spans Hyatt’s portfolio, covering cabana rentals, in-room amenities and partnerships with local providers, the statement said. Way’s technology supports real-time translation, more than 100 currencies, multiple payment methods and data insights to help Hyatt manage operations globally.
"Hyatt set a high bar and Way is proud to bring their vision to life," said Michael Stocker, Way’s co-founder and CEO.
"The platform supports enterprise needs while preserving the guest experience."
U.S. CMBS delinquency rate rose 10 bps to 7.23 percent in July.
Multifamily was the only property type to increase, reaching 6.15 percent.
Office remained above 11 percent, while lodging and retail fell.
THE U.S. COMMERCIAL mortgage-backed securities delinquency rate rose for the fifth consecutive month in July, climbing 10 basis points to 7.23 percent, according to Trepp. The delinquent balance reached $43.3 billion, up from $42.3 billion in June.
Trepp’s “CMBS Delinquency Report July” showed multifamily led the increase, with its delinquency rate rising 24 basis points to 6.15 percent. Lodging fell 22 basis points to 6.59 percent and retail declined 16 basis points to 6.90 percent. Office delinquencies edged down to 11.04 percent after hitting a record 11.08 percent in June.
Loan-level analysis showed $4.4 billion in loans became newly delinquent in July, exceeding $3 billion that cured. Mixed-use, retail and office each accounted for more than $800 million of newly delinquent loans.
The seriously delinquent share, 60+ days, foreclosure, REO, or non-performing balloons, rose to 6.93 percent, Trepp said. Excluding defeased loans, the overall delinquency rate would be 7.41 percent.
A separate report from Lodging Econometrics showed the global hotel pipeline at 15,871 projects, up 3 percent year-over-year, totaling 2,436,225 rooms, up 2 percent.