WEEK OF May 11, 2020
Visit the WH&LA website  for COVID-19 resources including: 

The Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association has maintained an active partnership with STR for many years. As the leader in data benchmarking and analytics for the hotel industry, STR plays an integral role in our ability to track hotel performance here in Wisconsin and support our members in every way that we can.
 
Now, more than ever, we need our members to contribute their data. If your property does not currently participate in the STAR Program please follow this link  to enroll in the  Hotel Survey Program. A rep from STR will reach out to you to complete the setup process and then you will start receiving complimentary monthly performance reports for your market. 
 
We appreciate your willingness to provide data in support of WH&LA and the eventual recovery of the hotel industry in our state.

UPCOMING WEBINARS
This webinar will review effective strategies for protecting your culture of direct dealing within a union-free workplace, along with proactive measures to recapture badly needed management flexibility within a unionized working environment. 
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WISCONSIN NEWS
Business groups cheering Supreme Court order while owners assess reopening
Wisconsin Business
Many business groups in Wisconsin are applauding the state Supreme Court for overruling the stay-at-home order, though a top labor official is slamming the potential negative effect on worker health and safety. 
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13 of 72 Wisconsin counties and the city of Racine have extended stay-at-home orders
The Journal Times
Wisconsin cities and counties were scrambling Thursday to decide whether to issue local stay-at-home orders after the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down Gov. Tony Evers' statewide order that had closed down many businesses to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Related: Counties, municipalities that reopened & remained closed
WISN Milwaukee 
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Coronavirus Immediate And Long Term Effects On Tourism And Hospitality
Wisconsin Public Radio
While the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic is still being measured, it's clear the tourism and hospitality industry has taken a hit. We discuss the ripple effects of halting travel with two industry experts. We also take a look at how consumers may change future travel behavior.
      READ MORE 
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Tourism secretary: COVID-19 impact on Baraboo, Dells large, but 'reasons to be optimistic'
Baraboo News Republic 
Local and state tourism officials acknowledged "significant losses" in Baraboo, Portage and Wisconsin Dells brought by the coronavirus pandemic but said they're hoping residents will rally for local businesses until regional travel can begin to pick up this summer or fall.
   READ MORE
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Tourism industry scrambling to adjust to million dollar losses due to COVID-19
Wisconsin Business
Despite a record-setting year for Wisconsin tourism in 2019, the industry is now scrambling to adjust to the shock of coronavirus while hoping for a comeback to mitigate millions of dollars in losses.
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DNC Committee Votes To Allow Organizers To Change Convention Format
UWWM 
This year's Democratic National Convention (DNC) was supposed to bring thousands of visitors to Milwaukee in July. But the coronavirus pandemic has pushed the event back a month - and raised questions about what the gathering will actually look like.
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Green Bay Is Preparing For A Football Season During Coronavirus Pandemic 
WPR
The Green Bay Packers are slated to open their upcoming season against the Minnesota Vikings, the NFL announced Thursday.
NATIONAL NEWS
Hotels' challenge: Balance hospitality with sanitizing initiatives
Travel Weekly 
Once a relatively invisible part of the guest experience, health and safety standards have been thrust into the spotlight as hotels prepare to resume operations in the wake of Covid-19.
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Hygiene And Other Risk Considerations For Hotel Managers Emerging From Pandemic
Hotel Business
The coronavirus has resulted in a year like the hospitality industry has never seen before and hopes never to see again. Yet as a glimmer of light shows through cautiously reopening doors, hotel operators are doing all they can to hedge against a repeat closure.
           READ MORE
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Poll: Record-Shattering 95% Of Americans Will Stay Home For Memorial Day This Year
Forbes
As if the travel industry needed more bad news, new research indicates that the vast majority of Americans will stay home this Memorial Day weekend.
   READ MORE
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How hoteliers can be proactive in time of uncertainty
Hotel News Now
How hoteliers handle the ongoing downturn will influence how much of a bounce back they enjoy during the recovery, according to sources.
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New York Times
For years, home sharing has put pressure on hotel rates and occupancy levels. Social distancing, hygiene and refund policies may be the new game changers.
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STR: U.S. Hotel Occupancy Continues Modest Gains in First Full Week of May
Lodging Magazine
STR data for May 3-9, 2020 showed continued modest gains in U.S. hotel occupancy compared with previous weeks, but a similar level of year-over-year declines across three key performance metrics.