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Connecticut Lodging Association
November Bulletin
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AHLA presents Tourism Economics US International Inbound Travel: Perspectives on 2017 and 2018
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During the
Exclusive New Inbound Travel Analysis by Tourism Economics webinar we heard from Adam Sacks, President of Tourism Economics, who provided us with the latest data related to inbound travel and the key findings of his report. Adam also gave us his valuable insights into the current landscape of travel to the United States and what trends he expects going forward.
Key takeaways:
- Revised data on international visits to the US align closely with previous Tourism Economics estimates and show moderate growth across most regions
- A brisk global economy and weakening US dollar supported growth
- International travel to the US is expanding across most world regions in 2018
AHLA Members can view full webinar
CLICK HERE. To view the report that was presented, click
HERE.
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Issue Update: CT Human Trafficking Awareness
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Manchester hotel owner arrested on child sex charges; state police find 'sex dungeon'
courant.com
Connecticut Man Sentenced to more than 15 Years for Trafficking of Teens
"He transported the girls to various Connecticut hotels where they worked in prostitution for Davis."
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Human Trafficking is in CT, how can you help?
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LOVE146 has seen traffickers use casinos and hotels and has also cared for survivors of child trafficking that were exploited in these venues. Together we have an opportunity to help make sure our community is exploitation-free and a place to visit that is as safe as it is entertaining.
This packet contains a menu of different tools you can use to ensure your establishment is exploitation-free.
Please consider the tools contained here—and the help Love146 can offer as a resource.
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Blue Campaign: Traffickers often take advantage of the privacy and anonymity accessible through the hospitality industry. Hotels and motels can be especially attractive locations for all forms of trafficking; however, human trafficking also occurs at sporting events, theme parks, cruise ships, and many other areas in the tourism industry. Staff are not necessarily educated on how to recognize and report signs of trafficking.
Our
Hospitality Toolkit offers tips and resources that can help you inform and educate hospitality employees about human trafficking. It includes posters of human trafficking warning signs for hotel and motel staff; housekeeping, maintenance, and room service staff; concierge, bellman, front desk, security, and valet staff; and food and beverage staff. (
Spanish Hospitality Toolkit)
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It is CT law for all lodging employees to be trained on Human Trafficking Awareness annually. For further questions or resources please feel free to reach out to CLA at
info@ctlodging.org
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DOL Announces Plans to Update Overtime Regulations
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The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced that they are planning to issue new regulations to replace the 2016 overtime rule released by the Obama administration. As you may recall, a federal court invalidated the Obama-era rules last fall. AHLA participated in a listening session with the DOL Wage and Hour Division on October 17 to urge the Department to introduce a salary threshold that was reasonable and did not exceed their statutory authority. AHLA looks forward to providing comments on the proposed rule when they are released.
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Momentum Continues with Joint Employer, H-2B
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The Department of Labor announced in the federal regulatory agenda that they "will propose to clarify the contours of the joint employment relationship" under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Earlier this month members of Congress sent a letter to Labor Secretary Acosta urging the Department to act on joint employer. This announcement, and the National Labor Relations Board's effort to clarify joint employer under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), are positive steps toward mitigating the harmful effects of the 2015 Browning-Ferris Industries -decision that significantly increased joint employment liability.
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More funding for tourism means more tax revenue for the state. And we have the data to prove it.
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We at the Office of Tourism are using an exciting new marketing measurement tool that shows the economic impact our marketing investment is having in driving visitors to the state. This new tool, called
Arrivalist, uses cell phone data to capture how many consumers view our ads or social media posts on their smart phones—which is how 75% of our marketing is viewed today.
You can review the facts in the
attached handout. Please feel free to share it with whomever might help us get our message to the state legislature.
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Gov.-elect Ned Lamont names diverse group, including Republicans, to transition panel
courant.com
A New Breed of Innkeepers for the Airbnb Era
: featuring Nehemiah Brainerd House Bed and Breakfast.
mansionglobal.com
New Haven, CT city planners approve Pirelli hotel conversion amid ‘turf war’
hotel-online.com
MGM Springfield revenues in line with expectations, company tells investors,
hotel-online.com
Airbnb poses competition, boosts business for two B&Bs up for sale in New London,
theday.com
New state panel aims to shift Connecticut tourism industry from ‘nice’ to ‘wonderful’,
nhregister.com
Meyer Jabara Hotels Retains Management of Marriott Stamford Hotel Under New Ownership,
hotel-online.com
Pennsylvania Closes OTC Tax Loophole "Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation on October 24 to close the online travel company (OTC) tax loophole..."
pasenategop.com
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URGENT Issue: AHLA - Music Licensing Update
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As you know, hotels are required under copyright law to obtain licenses for music being played in the common areas of the property, including music coming from televisions as part of standard programming and commercials. There are currently four organizations that offer music licenses – ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR.
AHLA is aware that ASCAP has recently sent notices to individual hotels that have copyright music licenses with ASCAP regarding the status of those licenses, and we want to provide you with some background information and context. In part, these notices state:
Due to concerns expressed by some of our licensees regarding certain of the provisions of the License Agreement and changes in the marketplace over the past five years, we believe it is time to update our license for the lodging industry. Accordingly, this will serve as notice, pursuant to Section 1(b) of the License Agreement that the License Agreement will terminate on December 31, 2018, and will not automatically renew for another five-year term.
As we understand it, ASCAP has offered an interim "stand-still" agreement to each hotel so that if a new industry-wide template is not negotiated by December 31, 2018, the terms of the current license will govern until either a new template has been agreed upon.
AHLA does not have sufficient information to determine whether any individual hotel's license in being properly terminated and cannot recommend to you what course you should take with respect to the interim agreement. You should consider checking with your counsel. However, AHLA sees no downside to signing the interim agreement if your license is being properly terminated. As AHLA sees it, the interim agreement will keep the status quo in place and prevent ASCAP from claiming copyright infringement. Moreover, if you wish to get out of the interim agreement at any time, our understanding is that you can terminate it on 30 days' notice whenever you wish (as can ASCAP). However, there may be other factors that inform your decision.
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STR Report September 2018
In Connecticut, current month Sept. 2018 vs. Sept. 2017, occupancy increased 1.7%, ADR increased by 3.0%, and RevPar increased by 4.8%.
In Connecticut, for year to date Sept. 2018 vs. Sept. 2017, occupancy increased 1.4%, ADR increased by 2.5%, and RevPar increased by 4.0%.
For personalized reporting contact STR Global: Melissa Holm | 615-824-8664 x3468 |
mholm@str.com
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- Monday, November 19, 2018, 5:00–7:00 pm, Hilton Hartford, 315 Trumbull St. Hartford, CT 06103
CRA: Sexual Harassment Prevention Seminar Training: Tuesday, November 27, 2018, 9:00-11:00 am at the CT Convention Center. CRA Members - Free | Non-Members - $25.
REGISTER HERE
ISHA 2018 Winter Conference: December 3 - 5, 2018, Denver CO.
REGISTER HERE
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The Connecticut Lodging Association is a trade association representing and promoting the lodging industry in Connecticut. Want to know about CLA benefits and membership? Visit us at
ctlodging.org/membership
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Connecticut Lodging Association
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