How Can Indies Compete Against Brands?

SERVING THE COMMON INTERESTS OF LODGING OWNER/OPERATORS SINCE 1946

July 28, 2021

Upcoming Events

CLIA Becomes a Distribution Partner for Free N95 Masks

On June 17, the Occupational Health and Safety Board approved amendments to the Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) for COVID-19 prevention. The new language states: Upon request, employers shall provide respirators for voluntary use in compliance with subsection 5144(c)(2) to all employees who are not fully vaccinated and who are working indoors or in vehicles with more than one person.

To order your free N95 masks, visit https://saferatwork.covid19.ca.gov/n95-distribution/, select your county and you will be able to arrange pick-up of the masks at one of CLIA's distribution centers

Anonymous Donor Contributes $5,000 Matching Grant to CLIA Dollars for Scholars

An anonymous donor has stepped forward to match the $5,000 in donations for the CLIA scholarship fund raised by CLIA Dollars for Scholars recently.

When asked why he was willing to contribute especially during such difficult times for our industry, he replied:

"I have seen the huge difference that a scholarship can make in a person's life. I have seen this first hand within my family and within my work family. I feel doubly blessed that I can pay it forward with this matching grant to CLIA Dollars for Scholars. The rewards of giving far exceed those of receiving!"

You can experience the joy of giving by contributing cash or items to the online auction scholarship fundraiser scheduled for September 7, 2021 to September 19, 2021. Visit www.biddingforgood.com/CLIAdollars or contact Chris Middleton, cmiddleton@clia.org or 925.478.0929.

Independent hotels have the key ingredients to steal share from branded hotels

By Mailys Pensivy, ehotelier.com

The top factors influencing a guest’s choice in hotel accommodation according to STR Research in May 2021 are: location, price and value for money, cancellation policy, previous stay, positive reviews/personal recommendations.

Although most factors have been in the top 5 before COVID-19, the way each affects the booking decision has changed.By focusing on these five factors, independent hotels have the competitive advantages to steal share from branded hotels.

State Labor Law and Payroll Tax Seminars

These interactive video seminars are presented online by the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) in conjunction with the Employment Development Department (EDD).

You will receive information from DLSE and EDD on:

Record keeping
Reporting requirements
Employer obligations
Wage payment requirements
Common wage and hour violations
Employer and employee rights and responsibilities
Paid Sick Leave & Covid-19
Employee vs. independent contractor

There is no charge for these seminars. Reservations are highly recommended as the seminars are often full to capacity.

US Hotel Performance Unlikely To Continue Upward Trajectory Post-Summer

By Robert McCune, hotelnewsnow.com

Business Travel Shows No Signs of Replicating Summer Leisure Demand

The trajectory of U.S. hotel performance for the first half of 2021 will not continue through the second half, but the recovery is clearly underway, according to Jan Freitag, national director for hospitality analytics at CoStar Group.

How to Avoid a $100 Million Dollar ADA Verdict and Other Lessons Learned at Wal-Mart’s Expense

By Aaron Gelb

Last week, a federal jury ordered Wal-Mart to pay Marlo Spaeth, an employee with Down syndrome, $125 million in punitive damages and $150,000 in compensatory damages for failing to accommodate her disability and terminating her employment. While it would be easy to write-off this verdict as a runaway jury trying to send a message to a company which is, by far, the largest private employer in the United States,...