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.
TRAVEL CHANNEL TV personality and Argeo Hospitality CEO Anthony Melchiorri has made a career out of “fixing” troubled hotels, is now bringing his celebrity status to bear on Congress in a bid for more federal stimulus. The aid is needed to address a liquidity crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic Melchiorri said in a video statement.
In the video, Melchiorri explains the need for programs like as a second round of the Paycheck Protection Program, relief for those with commercial mortgage-backed security loans, access to the Main Street Lending Program for commercial real estate, and increased resources for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. And members of Congress should remember, Melchiorri said in the video, hotels are not actually the giant corporations some people think.
“America's hotels are small businesses. The majority are local businesses owned and operated by friends and neighbors in our communities,” said Melchiorri, host of Hotel Impossible and the Anthony Melchiorri Live podcast. “The economic fallout of this pandemic hit the hospitality industry hard. Without travelers, without heads in beds, there's no cash in the register. The men and women I work with every day, like the hotel owners at AAHOA, are facing a dire financial crisis that threatens to shutter thousands of businesses across the country. Congress needs to do right by these small businesses and help preserve the millions of jobs they create.”
The pandemic’s effects on the travel and hospitality industries have put many hotels in financial peril, facing foreclosures or mass layoffs. Nearly half of respondents in a recent survey said they are at risk of losing their property. The hospitality industry has also lost more than 4.8 million jobs since the onset of the crisis in February.
Nearly 90 percent of hotels furloughed or laid off workers, and over one-third have not been able to hire back any employees. Forecasts from STR and CBRE Hotels Research say the industry will not return to full strength until 2023.
“Hotel owners and their employees need real relief, and they need it now,” said Cecil Staton, AAHOA president and CEO. “Our leaders in Washington must work together and create a stimulus package that addresses the reality facing hotel owners. Another round of PPP will help ensure employees can continue to be paid. Granting hoteliers greater flexibility with EIDL, access to the Main Street Lending Program, and CMBS relief will ensure that these businesses can come out on the other side of this crisis. People will travel again, and when they do, we want our hotels to welcome them into our communities once more.”
Sonesta launched Americas Best Value Studios, an extended-stay version of ABVI.
The model targets owners seeking limited front desk and housekeeping.
The brand meets demand for longer-term, value-focused stays.
SONESTA INTERNATIONAL HOTELS Corp. launched Americas Best Value Studios by Sonesta, an extended-stay version of its franchised brand, Americas Best Value Inn. The model targets owners seeking limited front desk and housekeeping, optional fitness center and lobby market along with standard brand requirements.
The brand aims to address the growing demand for longer-term, value-driven accommodations, Sonesta said in a statement.
"Americas Best Value Studios by Sonesta represents a strategic evolution of our trusted Americas Best Value Inn brand," Keith Pierce, Sonesta’s executive vice president and president of franchise development, said. "We are expanding our offerings to directly address the increasing demand within the extended-stay segment, providing a practical solution for travelers seeking longer-term lodging at value. This new brand type allows our local franchised owner-operators to tap into a growing market while maintaining the community-focused experience that Americas Best Value Inn is known for."
ABVI has a majority presence in secondary and tertiary markets, the statement said.
The extended-stay brand’s operational model features a front desk, bi-weekly housekeeping, on-site laundry and pet-friendly accommodations, Sonesta said. Guests can also earn or redeem points through the Sonesta Travel Pass loyalty program.
In August, Sonesta named Stayntouch its preferred property management system after a two-year review of its ability to support the company’s franchise model. The company operates more than 1,100 properties with more than 100,000 rooms across 13 brands on three continents.
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