CHLA Lodging News May/June 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 MEETINGS ARE APPROVED, counties are opening up for business, and the summer is fast approaching—it is safe to say that our industry is on the road to recovery, and we couldn’t be more proud. In 2020, the lodging industry shut down nearly overnight. Today, hotels are recognized partners in our respective communities and can look ahead to better times once again. However, as the industry begins to open its doors, it is once again time to keenly track the latest legislative issues and mitigate potential liability. Local governments looking for increased income to support local budgets are exploring transient occupancy tax increases, state legislators continue to pursue policies which will affect the lodging industry’s ability to reopen, and serial ADA litigants are beginning to expand the breadth of their claims. Despite all of this, CHLA is excited for the times ahead. We have been working tirelessly over the past several years to prepare for these issues—our policy team has a proven track- record with both local and state officials, and our ADA Protection Program is stronger than ever. Further, with new meetings guidance, increasing vaccination rates, and increasing travel demand—we believe the industry has a bright future ahead once again. Though it will take time for California’s hoteliers to recover and reopen, CHLA will continue to provide the tools to get you back to business. If you need guidance about cleaning practices for your hotel, look to CHLA’s Clean + Safe Guidance. Preparing for the newly reopened meetings and events? We have industry specific resources for that, too. Targeted by a serial ADA litigant demanding thousands in settlement money? Our ADA Protection Program has your back. Though the road to recovery is long, CHLA will continue to provide the resources you need for as long as it takes to get you there.  A Better Year for Tourism, but a Slow Road to Recovery MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT Lynn Mohrfeld CHLA President & CEO