WASHINGTON, D.C. – AAHOA President & CEO Cecil P. Staton (pictured) issued the following statement in response to the introduction of the Save Hotel Jobs Act which could provide hoteliers with up to $20 million to assist with payroll costs: “America’s hoteliers are staring down an unprecedented labor shortage just as the industry’s economic recovery is starting to gain speed,” said Staton (pictured). “The Save Hotel Jobs Act provides hotel owners with an option to apply for grants that they can use for payroll expenses. We thank Sen. Brian Schatz and Rep. Charlie Crist for sponsoring this important legislation and supporting hoteliers and their employees as we emerge from the pandemic and its economic fallout. With occupancy rates well-below normal, many hoteliers continue to struggle to break even. The industry will not recover until 2024. That is why AAHOA and our 20,000 Members across the nation will continue to advocate for and support measures to help hoteliers overcome challenges on the long road to recovery.”
Disney Preps Summer 2022 Family Vacations
Disney Wish – Family Dining
CELEBRATION, FL – With Disneyland in California officially re-opening on April 30, Disney officials are now touting the new Disney Wish cruise line, set to sail in summer 2022. The Disney Wish will sail its maiden voyage — a five-night cruise to Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay — on June 9, 2022, followed by an inaugural season of cruises to the same destinations from Port Canaveral, Florida.
“With the Disney Wish, we’re continuing our tradition of delivering the most magical and relaxing vacations at sea, combining legendary service and entertainment with imaginative storytelling and all the care you expect from a Disney vacation,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products via press release. “Our newest ship will celebrate everything that families love about sailing with us, from the incredible dining experiences and character interactions, to dazzling shows and the crew’s thoughtful attention to detail. We can’t wait to welcome our guests aboard the Disney Wish as we expand the reach of our world-class fleet.”
Koddi Touts Rising Room Rates
A recent article on CNBC.com paints a picture of improving hotel rates in recent months. Booking technology company Koddi reports that “nightly rates, while still somewhat lower than a year ago, are slowly rising to match or — in some popular destinations — surpass pre-pandemic prices.”
Deep Kohli, senior director of client services at the Fort Worth, Texas-based firm told CNBC reporters, “Over the last 30 to 45 days, average hotel prices have risen appreciably and are now just 5% lower than one year ago, says Deep Kohli, senior director of client services at the Fort Worth, Texas-based firm. They were as much as 11% cheaper a few weeks earlier.
“We expect it to increase based on the demand uptick we are seeing for summer travel,” continued Kohli, adding that Koddi is seeing airfares rise in concert with hotel rates as demand increases.
According to CNBC, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reports that “the average daily rate at Vegas hotels, along with those in Laughlin and Mesquite, Nevada, for March was $100.11. While that’s a 2.1% rise from February, it’s still down 25% from March 2019. Visitor volume, meanwhile, while down 39.7% vis-a-vis March 2019, rose 45.7% from a year earlier.”