WEEK OF May 4, 2020
Visit the WH&LA website  for Room Tax Tools including: 

DOR Room Tax Report Access - 2019 Reports now available 


How Can Room Tax Be Spent  - One page overview

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. 
Future of Work Series: Return to Hospitality 
Presented by Paul Hastings
May 8 @ 2pm EDT
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May 12 @ 3pm EDT
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Getting Back to Business: Supply Chain Guidance 
Presented by Avendra
Recording
This issue is brought to you by... 


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WISCONSIN NEWS
2019 Was The Best Year In Recent History For Wisconsin Tourism, Then Coronavirus Hit
WPR
Visitors in Wisconsin spent $13.7 billion last year, capping off the state's best year for tourism in the last decade. But this year, the state has already lost more than $1.2 billion in visitor spending over the last seven weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic. 
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Wisconsin tourism industry prepares for tough summer
The Capitol Times
In Madison, tourism industry professionals say the busy season kicks off with the four-decades-old Crazylegs Classic every spring that draws thousands to its scenic course beginning at the state Capitol and ending at Camp Randall Stadium..
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State tax collections take $870 million hit as lawmakers debate reopening the economy
Wisconsin State Journal 
Recently released tax data show an $870 million drop in state tax collections last month - due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic and the state's efforts to shut down nonessential businesses to mitigate transmission of the virus.
      READ MORE 
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Business Owners: 'We Need Certainty'
Town Hall
After several weeks of being told what to do, business owners finally had an opportunity to tell lawmakers, Gov. Tony Evers, and his bureaucrats what they need to do to get Wisconsin working again. 
   READ MORE
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Northwestern Mutual will not stage annual meeting in Milwaukee due to coronavirus. The event draws 12,000 people.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. will not stage an in-person 2020 annual meeting because of concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic - another blow to Milwaukee area hotels, restaurants and attractions.
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Tommy Bartlett Show cancels 2020 season due to pandemic
Chicago Sun Times 
It's been a Wisconsin Dells family entertainment fixture for 68 summers, but there will be no Tommy Bartlett Show extravaganza in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Green Bay Packers Schedule Released; Opener at Vikings 
Spectrum News 1 
As fun as it was to see the Packers schedule revealed Thursday night, like everything else in our world these days, it's all tentative.  Nobody knows for sure what things will look like this fall because of the pandemic. So the usual rush for Green Bay hotels may be tempered.
NATIONAL NEWS
SBA Updates PPP Forgiveness Guidance For Employees Refusing to Return to Work
Bar & Restaurant 
Yesterday, the SBA issued new guidance on the PPP loan program that owners and operators have both welcomed and criticized for the accessibility of the funds and rules regarding compliance to make the loan fully forgivable.
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Hotel Industry Working on New Health and Safety Standards
Travel Pulse
As the hotel industry prepares for a post-coronavirus boom in visitors, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) announced the introduction of its new "Safe Stay" standards.
           READ MORE
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Hotels roll out new initiatives designed to boost reservations and cash flow
The Washington Post
Travelers are experiencing a double whammy of urges: They want to plan a trip and support businesses struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.
   READ MORE
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Seven Steps to Survival for Hotels Staying Open During COVID-19
Lodging Magazine
Hotels planning to "stay the course" in the current environment need a game plan. Keeping the doors open likely won't be enough-hotels staying open will need to drive business as things continue to tighten in the coming weeks.  
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Airbnb Cuts 1,900 Jobs, 25% Of Its Workforce, As Pandemic Freezes Travel
NPR
Airbnb says it's cutting 1,900 employees - about 25% of its workforce - in one of the largest layoffs to hit Silicon Valley as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
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Airbnb hosts are building their own direct booking websites in revolt
CNBC
Short-term rental hosts are launching their own direct-booking websites in an effort to diversify their business after years of mounting frustrations with companies such as Airbnb.

Wisconsin Lodging Insider

The Wisconsin Lodging Insider is a weekly publication of the Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association.

1025 S. Moorland Road, Ste. 200
Brookfield, WI 53005
Phone: 262/782-2851
Fax: 262/782-0550
Publisher: Monica Goeke, Director of Marketing, Services & Events
Editor: Lexie Mallary, Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Copyright 2020

Be sure to add us to your address book or safe sender list so our emails get to your inbox.

WH&LA is not responsible for the content, accuracy or opinions in linked articles, but instead would like members to be aware of media comments and information published relating to Wisconsin's lodging industry.