Iowa Hotel & Lodging Association

In honor of the IHLA's 2nd Annual Industry Awards Ceremony on October 2nd, we'd like to introduce you to each of our 2024 Industry Award Winners! 🏆 Come celebrate with us! ➡ https://hotellodgingiowa.com/product/awards-ceremony-ticket/

2024 IHLA Sustainability Award Winner Hotel Millwright, in the historic Amana Colonies, exemplifies how sustainability and preservation can work together. Once a vital part of the community, the Amana Woolen Mill complex sat mostly empty for years. In 2018, the Amana Society took action to save it, transforming the site into Hotel Millwright, which opened in 2020 despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This project preserved the mill's history while embracing sustainability. Hotel Millwright partnered with Iowa Valley Resource Conservation & Development and Trees Forever to implement eco-friendly features like permeable pavers, native landscaping, and a bioretention cell to manage stormwater and protect local waterways. The hotel also uses green electricity from the Amana Farms methane digester, reducing its carbon footprint.

For these efforts, Hotel Millwright is being honored with the IHLA’s 2024 Sustainability Award, sponsored by WoodRiver Energy, for creating a sustainable hospitality experience that respects both heritage and the environment.

Join us as we celebrate Hotel Millwright and the rest of Iowa's hotel & lodging industry on October 2nd! ➡ https://hotellodgingiowa.com/product/awards-ceremony-ticket/

In honor of the IHLA's 2nd Annual Industry Awards Ceremony on October 2nd, we'd like to introduce you to each of our 2024 Industry Award Winners! 🏆 Come celebrate with us! ➡ https://hotellodgingiowa.com/product/awards-ceremony-ticket/

2024 IHLA Employees of the Year Janice Brooner and Jill Locke exemplify Iowa hospitality. Sisters who have worked at the Holiday Inn Des Moines-Airport/Conf Center for 49 and 47 years, their dedication is a testament to their deep connection with the hotel, the teams they lead, and the guests they serve. Their mother, Joan Stanley, also worked at the Airport Holiday Inn and passed down her love for the industry, inspiring Janice and Jill to continue the family legacy.

Janice began her career in 1975, working in accounting and payroll before moving to the front desk, where she became the manager in 1993. Jill joined in 1977, working alongside their mother in catering before becoming the catering and restaurant manager. Together, they’ve mentored countless employees and launched numerous hospitality careers.

Join us as we celebrate Janice, Jill, and the rest of Iowa's hotel & lodging industry on October 2nd! ➡ https://hotellodgingiowa.com/product/awards-ceremony-ticket/

In honor of the IHLA's 2nd Annual Industry Awards Ceremony on October 2nd, we'd like to introduce you to each of our 2024 Industry Award Winners! 🏆 Come celebrate with us! ➡ https://hotellodgingiowa.com/product/awards-ceremony-ticket/

2024 IHLA General Manager of the Year Matt Traetow’s love for hospitality began early when he would accompany his father, an elevator technician, on hotel service calls. Matt attended the University of Northern Iowa and took his first hotel job at the University Inn in Cedar Falls. This laid a foundation for a 25-year career in hospitality.

Today, Matt leads the 288-room Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center. Under Matt's guidance, the hotel has undergone a significant renovation with updated guest rooms, a new restaurant and bar, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. With over 80,000 square feet of event space, the property has become a destination for corporate and leisure travelers.

Matt’s leadership also extends to the community, where he’s a passionate advocate. He supports organizations like the Ronald McDonald House and serves on the Think Iowa City Board of Directors.

Come celebrate with Matt and the rest of Iowa's hotel & lodging industry on October 2nd! Reserve your tickets here ➡ https://hotellodgingiowa.com/product/awards-ceremony-ticket/

Yesterday, IHLA President & CEO Jessica Dunker joined Quad Cities for their AccelerateVCQ event to discuss challenges and opportunities in Iowa's lodging industry and tourism space.

Thank you for having us, Quad Cities!

Could adapting your food & beverage concept boost your lodging establishment’s performance growth? 🤔 Check out these food & beverage trends from Hotel Dive that could shape the hotel industry in 2024 ➡ https://bit.ly/4ecHIVP

📆 Next week, don’t miss the Quad Cities AccelerateVQC event at Rhythm City Casino, where IHLA President & CEO Jessica Dunker will discuss the current state and future outlook of Iowa’s lodging industry. 💡 Be a part of the conversation! Register now ➡️ https://bit.ly/3XvDh2F

Have you registered for our next AccelerateVQC yet?

On Thursday, September 12th, you'll be joined by Jessica Dunker (Iowa Hotel & Lodging Association, Iowa Restaurant Association) and Michael Jacobson (Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association) Rhythm City Casino. They'll discuss the current state and future outlook of lodging industries in Illinois and Iowa. It's a conversation you don't want to miss.

Register Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScgnb-sVtReR6qwP0fgIrVxWNg_OtsVljYU2vaD8TOu89mBng/viewform


Enjoy Illinois Travel Iowa Iowa Hotel & Lodging Association Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association

We’re just 1 month away from the 2nd annual IHLA Industry Awards Ceremony! 🏆 Join us on October 2nd as we celebrate the amazing people and establishments that make Iowa’s hotel and lodging industry great! 🌟 Grab your tickets today
➡ https://hotellodgingiowa.com/product/awards-ceremony-ticket/

Who are your star employees? Nominate the best and brightest for the American Hotel & Lodging Association - AHLA's 2025 Stars of the Industry Awards! 🏆 Show your appreciation, encourage excellence, and spotlight your team on a national stage.

Don't wait! ⏰ Nominations are due Friday ➡ https://ahla.com/nominate

THANK YOU to the 65,000+ employees who work hard every day to make Iowa’s hotel and lodging industry a vibrant, innovative, and dynamic business! 🙌

Thank a hotel employee today!

Looking forward to the conversation!

Save the date for our next AccelerateVQC event on September 12, 2024, at Rhythm City Casino!

Jessica Dunker (Iowa Hotel & Lodging Association, Iowa Restaurant Association) and Michael Jacobson (Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association) will discuss the current state and future outlook of lodging industries in Illinois and Iowa. Gain valuable insights into how these leaders navigate industry challenges, their strategies for collaboration, and the shared vision for the future of hospitality in the Quad Cities. Don’t miss this chance to understand regional trends and opportunities!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScgnb-sVtReR6qwP0fgIrVxWNg_OtsVljYU2vaD8TOu89mBng/viewform


Enjoy Illinois Travel Iowa

Congratulations to the Iowa Hotel & Lodging Association’s 2024 Industry Award Winners! 🥂 Come celebrate these outstanding businesses and individuals at this year’s industry awards ceremony on Wednesday, October 2nd! Tickets are on sale now ➡ www.hotellodgingiowa.com

Kinseth Hospitality
Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center
Holiday Inn Des Moines-Airport/Conf Center
Hotel Millwright
Hotel Pattee
Travel Iowa
Open Door Hospitality

Looking for new revenue streams for your lodging establishment? 💲 Consider parking & EV stations.⚡️

According to a recent HOTELS magazine article, parking revenues have increased by 23.1% in the past 5 years. 📈 Expanded offering of EV charging stations at hotels meets a growing need for hotel guests and municipal requirements.

Check out the full article here ➡ https://tinyurl.com/3euk39vh

Parking and EV stations charge U.S. hotel performance - HOTELSMag.com Parking revenues have increased by 23.1% from 2019 to 2023, notes CBRE’s “Trends in the Hotel Industry” database.

The Iowa Restaurant Association recently announced its 2024 class of 40 Women to Watch in Iowa’s hospitality industry! 👏👏👏 Congratulations to the incredible women selected for this year’s awards! And a huge shoutout to the 5 women making waves specifically in Iowa’s Hotel & Lodging Industry:

*Connie Schlichting, Kinseth Hospitality (IHLA member!)
Kasi Tenborg Carroll, The Hotel at Kirkwood Center
Madeline Trumm, Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo
Sherry Zeigler Waner, Des Lux Hotel
Chef Tessa Crookshanks, The Merrill Hotel, Muscatine, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel

Welcome to the newest IHLA Allied Member, SERVPRO! SERVPRO provides comprehensive disaster restoration and cleanup services for commercial property owners on a national scale. Visit www.servpro.com to learn more about our newest member!

Celebrate Iowa’s hotel and lodging industry at the 2nd Annual IHLA Awards Ceremony! 🥂 Grab your tickets or reserve a table ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/5etx5c4b

📅 Wednesday, October 2nd
⏰11:30 AM
📍 Hilton Garden Inn Des Moines-Urbandale

Payment issues can significantly impact a guest’s overall experience when booking with a lodging establishment. Personalize each guest’s experience by optimizing payment options! Check out this article and infographic from Hotel Dive to learn how more payment options, real-time payment data, and security can improve the guest experience ➡ https://bit.ly/3YIhRAK

AAHOA is seeking member input to support their advocacy efforts for the Loans In Our Neighborhoods (LIONS) Act, which proposes increasing Small Business Administration loan limits from $5 to $10 million. 💲 Your insights are crucial for influencing policy and will bolster the case for enhanced financial support. Complete their 3-question survey ➡️ https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RXCGK2R

Attention AAHOA Members: Your Input Needed on SBA Loan Limits!

We're calling on you to support our advocacy efforts for the LIONS Act (H.R. 7242), which proposes increasing SBA 7(a) loan limits from $5M to $10M.

Your insights are crucial! By completing a brief 3-question survey by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Saturday, August 31, 2024, you'll help us advocate for greater financial support, benefiting our community and entrepreneurs across America.
Your responses are confidential and vital to our collective efforts. When we each play a small role, we can make a big impact.

Take the survey now and be a part of positive change! https://bit.ly/3LZvSCm

This week, IHLA staff attended the AAHOA Upper Midwest Hotel Owners Conference and Trade Show in Elmhurst, IL to connect with influential decision-makers, learn from industry leadership, and engage with local elected leaders.

Congratulations to IHLA member Kinseth Hospitality on the opening of the new Home2 Suites by Hilton Ankeny! 🥳 IHLA board member Ben Kinseth was in attendance for the ribbon cutting. ✂️

I wanted to share a news announcement from the Iowa Department of Public Safety below. They will be reaching out to hotel and lodging properties soon with information on how to complete human trafficking recertification. Hotel properties MUST complete this to receive public funds – state employee overnights, conferences, meetings, etc. This also includes Iowa high school sports teams and tournament stays. We are encouraging properties to complete recertification by the end of 2024.

The following will be in our next E-Traveler newsletter, but do not feel like you need to wait to reach out to properties:

Human Trafficking Recertification for Lodging Properties

Effective January 1, 2022, Iowa lodging providers must have completed the Department of Public Safety’s Human Trafficking Prevention Training certification to receive public funds for any state-funded event. This includes state employee lodging, conferences, meetings, or banquets.

These certifications must be renewed every three years. Many properties completed their certification in late 2021 and must now complete the certification process again to stay in compliance. Lodging properties can update their certification with the Department of Public Safety at any time to reset the three-year certification. The process remains the same for certification and the steps are described here: https://stophtiowa.org/iowa-lodging-providers

TAKE ACTION:
Lodging Partners: Please visit the www.stophtiowa.org website to complete your recertification before December 31, 2024.
All Tourism Partners: Please help communicate this information to lodging partners to ensure they remain in compliance.

Questions about this recertification can be directed to the Department of Public Safety at [email protected] or 515-725-6330.

FAQ:

Do I have to wait for certification to expire before submitting recertification?
NO. Properties can recertify at any time; once they recertify the three year timeframe resets. Example: A hotel was certified on 1/10/2022 and their certification expires 1/10/2025. If they recertify today, on 7/12/2024, their new certification will expire 7/10/2027.

Does a hotel brand’s (Marriott, Hilton, etc.) own human trafficking courses still comply with Iowa’s regulation?
The large brand/chain properties MUST CONTACT DPS to ensure they are still covering Iowa’s regulations correctly. For example, human trafficking penalties are now higher than they were in 2022 (human trafficking was a B or C class felony, now they are A or B class felonies. This must be updated in training materials).

Has anything changed about the certification process?
No, the process is still the same. All steps are outlined on here: https://stophtiowa.org/iowa-lodging-providers

Who do I contact if I need assistance?
Please email [email protected] or call 515-725-6330.

Iowa Lodging Providers | Iowa Office to Combat Human Trafficking Human trafficking uniquely impacts Iowa given our proximity to areas like Chicago and Kasas City - and the intersection of two major interstate systems I-35 and I-80. That’s why increased efforts to stamp out these horrible crimes now includes a new statewide training initiative within the lodging...

For next e-traveler:

Human Trafficking Recertification for Lodging Properties

Effective January 1, 2022, Iowa lodging providers must have completed the Department of Public Safety’s Human Trafficking Prevention Training certification to receive public funds for any state-funded event. This includes state employee lodging, conferences, meetings, or banquets.

These certifications must be renewed every three years. Many properties completed their certification in late 2021 and must now complete the certification process again to stay in compliance. Lodging properties can update their certification with the Department of Public Safety at any time to reset the three-year certification. The process remains the same for certification and the steps are described here: https://stophtiowa.org/iowa-lodging-providers

TAKE ACTION:
Lodging Partners: Please visit the www.stophtiowa.org website to complete your recertification before December 31, 2024.
All Tourism Partners: Please help communicate this information to lodging partners to ensure they remain in compliance.

Questions about this recertification can be directed to the Department of Public Safety at [email protected] or 515-725-6330.

AMY ZEIGLER​​​​
|
State Tourism Manager, Team Lead
IOWA TOURISM OFFICE | IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
1963 Bell Avenue, Suite 200
|
Des Moines
,
Iowa

50315
+1 (515) 348-6259
|
[email protected]
Travel Iowa

Homepage | Iowa Office to Combat Human Trafficking All Iowans can play a part in stopping human trafficking. Together, using knowledge and tools, we can prevent human trafficking because even one victim is too many. Human Trafficking is happening in communities across Iowa. It is a crime that can happen behind closed doors, in plain sight, at a work...

https://www.dmcityview.com/lunch-with/2024/07/03/angela-harrington-at-panka-peruvian-restaurant/

Angela Harrington at Panka Peruvian Restaurant Angela Harrington is a developer, hotelier and civic promoter of the I-80 corridor from Des Moines to Iowa City. We asked her to lunch and met at Panka Peruvian Restaurant, a marvelous, minority- and female-owned café on Ingersoll. Mariella Maya’s restaurant upgraded recently after she closed he

Each month the Iowa Hotel & Lodging Association hosts a coffee which includes both networking opportunities and guest speakers. July's meeting will be virtual and feature a guest speaker from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute. She will cover the various staff training resources they have for industry. There will also be an open conversation/networking activity. This meeting is virtual and registration is required. Register at the link below!

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: IHLA July Virtual Coffee Meeting: AHLEI Overview of Training Programs. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: IHLA July Virtual Coffee Meeting: AHLEI Overview of Training Programs. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association joined 12 business groups in a lawsuit against the Department of Labor’s new overtime rule. The overtime regulation would ultimately dramatically increase the overtime exemption amount for executive, administrative, and professional employees to nearly $60,000. This would increase certain employee-labor costs for hoteliers by more than 60% and significantly threaten thousands of jobs. AHLA hosted a webinar with Littler Mendelson on the overtime rule and its impact on the hotel industry. Watch the full webinar below.

DOL Overtime Rule Webinar 6/5/2024

According to a Workforce Report from the American Hotel & Lodging Association - AHLA, hotels are more than 190,000 jobs short of pre-pandemic levels amid an economy-wide labor shortage. According to the latest government data, nationwide workforce shortages continue to make it difficult for hotels to fill open jobs. Visit the link below to read the full story.

AHLA workforce report: Hotels add 700 jobs in May | AHLA WASHINGTON (June 7, 2024) – U.S. hotels added 700 jobs to their payrolls in May, according to the latest government data that shows the nationwide workforce shortage continues to make it difficult for hotels to fill open jobs.

Biden Overtime Pay Rule Challenged by US Business Groups A coalition of U.S. business groups has filed a lawsuit seeking to block a Biden administration rule that would extend mandatory overtime pay to 4 million

Hosting security expert Michael Goldberg today at monthly IHLA coffee meeting. Thanks to our host VKB Management.

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