CHLA Lodging News March April 2021

2 CALIFORNIA LODGING NEWS 414 29th Street Sacramento, CA 95816 916-444-5780 www.calodging.com EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR Bijal Patel, CHA Coast Redwood Hospitality VICE CHAIR Tom Patton, CHA Ramada Santa Barbara IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Michael Pace InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel SECRETARY/TREASURER Hee-Won Lim Pacific Palms Hotel GOVERNMENT & LEGAL RELATIONS CHAIR Javier Cano JW Marriott at L.A. LIVE AUDIT & INVESTMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR Laurenne Douglas Pacific Plaza Hotels, Inc. 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bhupen Amin Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Javier Cano JW Marriott at L.A. LIVE Vipul Dayal Days Inn San Francisco Airport West Laurenne Douglas Pacific Plaza Hotels, Inc. Jeff Durham Redwood Fortuna Riverwalk Hotel Paul Gibbs, CHA Sonesta Redondo Beach and Marina Ross Gimpel Encore Terri Haack Terranea Resort Jon Handlery, CHA Handlery Union Square Hotel Niles Harris InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown Wendy Heineke Pebblebrook Hotel Trusts Todd Hersperger Sunstone Hotel Investors Nic Hockman Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel Daniel Kuperschmid Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego Elvin Lai Ocean Park Inn Mark LeBlanc Aimbridge Hospitality Hee-Won Lim Pacific Palms Resort RJ Mayer The Mayer Corporation Michelle Millar University of San Francisco Michael Pace InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel Bijal Patel, CHA Coast Redwood Hospitality Bimal Patel, CHA Hotel Zico Dhruv Patel Ridgemont Hospitality Pragna Patel-Mueller Samata Management Tom Patton, CHA Ramada Santa Barbara Joe Piantedosi Park Hotels & Resorts Chip Rogers American Hotel and Lodging Assn. Pam Ryan The Inn at the Mission John Spear Hotel Drisco Cecil P. Staton AAHOA Jeffrey Thurrell Fisher Phillips Wes Tyler, CHA Chancellor Hotel on Union Square Scott VandenBerg Hyatt Regency Sacramento Bobby Walia Hyatt Hotels Corporation ADVERTISING & DESIGN LLM Publications 503.445.2220 | 800.647.1511 www.llmpubs.com Design & Layout Sales Representative Stephanie Pendell Grandt Mansfield grandt@llmpubs.com Copyright © 2021. All Rights Reserved THE START OF A NEW YEAR is always a time for reflection and, as I think back on 2020, one word comes powerfully to mind: Fortitude. The definition of fortitude is the strength to continue and the ability to last despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions. Fortitude represents toughness of spirit, strength of mind, and firmness of purpose. These are precisely the qualities that every hotelier will need to survive in 2021—economically and emotionally. There’s absolutely no doubt that for hoteliers, 2020 brought more than expected tragedies and turmoil—more than enough challenges and uncertainties. The way we do business changed completely and we may never return to whatever “normal” used to be. Even in the best of times, our industry is an obstacle course of constant change and stress. But, in 2020 we had to keep our nose to the grindstone, our shoulder to the wheel, our eye on the ball, and our ear to the ground. All at the same time. Every day. Of course, when times are tough, it’s tough to stay tough—it’s tough to show fortitude. So, we must all remember that tough times don’t last—tough people do—and hoteliers are tough people. We understand the cycles of our industry. We accept risk. And we firmly believe that hospitality is still one of the best ways to earn a living in America today. None of us knows what’s coming in the year ahead—my crystal ball is certainly not crystal clear. But I do know that in 2020, we did “complicated.” We stretched to our limits. So in 2021, we’re all ready for some “easy”—or at least “easier.” Right about now, you may be asking yourself: “How can you be so positive, Bijal?” 2020 IN A WORD: FORTITUDE Open Letter To Hoteliers MESSAGE FROM CHAIR Bijal Patel CHLA Chair continues on page 4 