Upcoming Events

In this Issue...

• Thank you for attending! - OHLA Annual Conference & Gala
  • Recap
  • Silent Auction
  • OHLA's Membership Committee's Give Back
  • Survey
  • Sponsors
• Important Notice - Hotels in Danger of Missing License Deadline
• Government Affairs
• Upcoming Events
  • I&T Webinar
  • Holiday Reception
• Looking for locations, topic, and speakers for 2024!
• Allied Council Corner 
• Women in Lodging CONNECT
• Education & Workforce Development
• Emerging Professionals
• Unique Lodging of Ohio
• Sedgwick Monthly Newsletter

2023 Annual Conference & Gala Presented by Morgan Stanley
Thank you for attending!

November 20-21, 2023
Hyatt Regency Columbus

A Celebration 130 Years in the Making

And just like that we are looking back on yet another OHLA Annual Conference & Gala in the books. This time honoring our 130th birthday and our many years of continuous operation as YOUR association. However, this year's conference education did not look back, but forward as we pressed on into the Future of Hospitality. With nearly 480 in attendance, connections were made, professional development thrived, and the industry recognized the best of the best once again. 

Monday morning began with a delegation of over 50 hospitality students from across the state networking and learning from one another and our Education & Workforce Committee in their session "Your Story/Your Journey" which helped students work on their elevator pitch. Attendees joined students in the Opening Session: The Lightening Round: The First 90 Days where subject matter experts spoke for seven minutes on their specialty surrounding the hot topic of employee retention. 

In between our captivating breakout sessions this year stood our Exhibitor Experience where more than 25 of our Allied Member & Premier Partner organizations looked to make connections with our attendees. Our partners showed off this year with photo booths, interactive stations, and even a live podcast! If you didn't get to see them all see a complete list of our exhibitors and their contact information here.

Tuesday picked up right where Monday left off with sessions relating to culture, mindfulness, sustainability, and more thought-provoking topics for attendees to take in. Speakers included Debra Puke, Concord Hospitality; Cat Esperanza, Ceres; and Krista Powers with Potere Coaching. Wrapping up the Conference this year was two-time OHLA speaker Ryan Minton, Best Selling Author of Thanks for Coming In Today, and former Ohio Hotelier. He wowed attendees with impactful ideas, heartfelt stories, and plenty of audience interaction.

The OHLA Conference would not be complete without the Ohio Stars of the Industry Gala. On November 21 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus, the Stars were out and we celebrated those industry professionals who go above and beyond in their roles. Spending the evening with us was international speaker, Penny Zenker, Focusologist, and our keynote for our Gala Dinner this year. Penny has been featured on TEDx, NBC News, and ESPN among others. She spoke about the importance of Mastering Reset Moments, focusing attention, and realigning our thoughts & actions to what matters most!

Of course, the shining jewel of the evening was our Stars of the Industry Awards presentation. Included were the recognition of our nominees from across the state, the awe-inspiring narratives of our winners, and the celebration that ensued among those in attendance. All of the winning narratives can be found in the Stars of the Industry Awards booklet given out after the event. If you didn't get your copy, request one by emailing emily@ohla.org. 

An enormous thank you to the host venue, sponsors, volunteers, and attendees for making this conference possible.

Congratulations to our 2023 Ohio Stars recipients!

Silent Auction & Lucky Squares nets more than $7,000 for Industry Professional Development

A HUGE thank you to those who participated in our 2023 OHLA Silent Auction & Lucky Squares game benefitting our Education & Training Fund & Hospitality Helping Hands efforts! Your contributions have raised more than $7,000 which will help supplement furthering education for hotel & lodging associates across the state & by providing financial assistance to those who have experienced unexpected challenges and hardships. Look for more opportunities to raise funds for these initiatives throughout the year & remember scholarships are available year round!

OHLA's Membership Committee Gives Back - 750 hygiene kits produced

The OHLA Give Back hosted by OHLA's Membership Committee produced nearly 750 hygiene kits to be distributed across 7 local shelters & missions statewide! Thank you to all who contributed to the cause.

We need your feedback - 2023 Annual Conference Event Survey

Thank you to those who attended the 2023 OHLA Annual Conference & Gala and helping us celebrate 130 years! We hope you enjoyed the education, connections, & celebrations the conference had to offer. Please take a brief moment of your time to complete this online survey to provide your confidential, honest feedback about the event program, sessions and details. 

Take Survey Here.

Thank you to our Sponsors who support this event & our industry!

Important Notice – Hotels in Danger of Missing License Deadline

Officials with the Ohio State Fire Marshal have shared information with OHLA which indicates that annual hotel license renewals due at the end of this month are lagging.

Annual hotel license renewals are due on or before December 31, 2023!

Hotels which do not renew in time can face late fees, penalties and even the possibility of having to reapply for a new license.

The State Fire Marshal wants to help licensed hotels avoid business interruptions and unnecessary expense, and make it as easy as possible to continue licensure. As of a few days ago:

- Only 719 of 1,708 licensed hotels had completed their renewals

- 587 additional hotels have paid for renewal but have not completed paperwork, or have an open violation that needs to be reinspected

- 402 hotels have not filed their renewal at all

Is your hotel license renewal process complete or underway? With the large number of incomplete renewals close to the deadline, OHLA urges all hoteliers to check and verify. If you have questions about the license and renewal process, contact OHLA at 614-461-6462 or info@ohla.org, and visit this hotel license FAQ/info page.

Government Affairs Update

Ohio Minimum Wage Increases Jan. 1

Nontipped employee minimum wage will increase statewide from $10.10 to $10.45 as of Jan. 1, 2024. Tipped employee minimum wage will increase from $5.05 to $5.25. Minimum wage requirements apply to businesses with annual gross receipts of $385,000 per year or more. To download an updated state minimum wage notice, click here.

Joint Employer Rule Delayed

The federal National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is delaying the implementation of the new joint-employer rule to February 26, 2024. The delay is due to a lawsuit filed by major national business organizations including the American Hotel & Lodging Association challenging the legality of the change to joint employment standards. You can join in this effort. OHLA has information to help create messages to urge your members of Congress to support a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn the new rule.

Supreme Court Defers on ADA Case but Says Issue Still Alive

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that an important case that OHLA and other industry groups hoped would provide relief from frivolous or meritless Americans with Disabilities Act cases would not be heard because the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit against a hotel ownership company. However, the court said the issue of whether such plaintiffs have legal standing or not to sue over accessibility information on businesses' websites is still "very much alive." Hotel industry groups, including OHLA, had filed briefs with the court arguing that the plaintiff should not have standing to file lawsuits against hotels since she didn’t intend to stay at the establishments or book a room in hotels that are sued.

See additional information about these stories and more in full Government Affairs Update

Upcoming Events

Exclusive OHLA Webinar for Hotel Owners & Operators - Register Here

Friday December 8 | 11:00 a.m.

Hotel Cyber Security: Lessons from MGM & Caesars, Compliance & Insurance

What's on the Agenda:

• Deep dive into the MGM and Caesars cyberattacks: what went wrong?
• Cybersecurity best practices tailored for the hospitality industry
• Essential compliance regulations every hotel owner must know
• The vital role of cyber insurance: Why it's a must-have for your hotel
• Engage with industry leaders, cybersecurity gurus, and insurance experts

Why Attend?

• Real-world scenarios that expose potential threats
• Comprehensive coverage of regulatory mandates
• Practical tools and strategies for a resilient cybersecurity framework
• Network, learn, and exchange ideas with the best in the business

Greater Columbus Holiday Reception - Register Here

December 12 | 4pm - 6pm

The Junto
77 Belle Street, Columbus OH, 43215

Join us on December 12 at the all-new Junto and help us celebrate these individuals that help make your association the best it can be -- our volunteers!

OHLA committee and event volunteers are the reason OHLA can provide so many offerings and programs throughout the year. We rely on our volunteers and leaders to help generate new and impactful ideas programming, advance partnerships, bring new technologies to our industry, help support our government affairs initiatives, and so much more.

Joining us as a special guest will be David Paitson, CEO of Columbus Fury, the new professional women’s volleyball team. He will be providing a short update about the team's plans for 2024 and into the future. As an additional expression of thanks OHLA volunteers in attendance will get the chance to receive some Columbus Fury gear for their own!

Registration Information:

Property Members - Complimentary

Allied Members - $40

All Volunteer registrations will be complimentary. Allied member volunteers email michele@ohla.org for your promo code before registering.

2024 OHLA Events
Recommend your property, suggest a speaker or request a topic

It is that time of year - OHLA & the events committee are diving into planning for 2024! Using the form below we encourage you to recommend your property to host an event, identify speakers you would like to hear, and propose new, innovative topics for you and your team to engage in. We are YOUR association and we want to hear from you!

Give Us your Input Here! or email michele@ohla.org

Interested in being a part of the Allied Member Working Group?

Join other Allied members as part of our Membership Committee. Have a voice regarding events, education for Allied Members, and engagement through the year. If interested, email Lauren@ohla.org.

Allied Industry Insights

An Allied Member-focused event driven by what our partners are seeking most… news on development, major management company & ownership group changes, portfolio acquisitions, and general industry updates.

We need your feedback! How do YOU want to intake this information? Webinar series? In-person event with your fellow Allied Members? Email lauren@ohla.org with your thoughts. More information to come!

2024 Sponsorship & Advertising Guide

Our 2024 Sponsorship & Advertising Guide is almost here! This will be distributed soon and Lauren will be scheduling appointments to review engagement opportunities this year. If you’d like to be proactive, simply shoot Lauren an email directly to schedule your 30-minute meeting.

WIL Connect Updates

2024 OHLA’s Women in Lodging CONNECT
WIL CONNECT’s Lucky 13^th year!
What to expect!

1) WIL Advisory Council Realignment

• The Advisory Council will formulate seats on the council by regions of the state, to better serve OHLA members.

2) Planning for the Annual Statewide Women in Lodging Leadership Luncheon

• Theme, Speaker, and some fun & excitement!

3) Options for giving to charity

• Choosing WIL CONNECT activity for 2024

4) Coffee Chats & Cocktail CONNECTions are to continue throughout the year

• Member properties may offer to host one of these casual events

5) WIL CONNECT Volleyball Team?

• More to Come! Practice Now!

6) OHLA Annual Conference & Gala Women in Lodging CONNECT Session

• The Annual Conference Committee will come up with a theme for the conference that WIL CONNECT can relate to.

Sponsorship Opportunities to be offered soon.

2024 ForWard Annual Conference

Are you ready to elevate and celebrate the women leading hospitality? Join us for the ForWard conference and hear from hospitality leaders, learn and grow through tailored sessions, and build community with peers. All champions of women welcome.

DATE & TIME | April 29, 2024 – 10am to May 1, 2024 – 3pm

LOCATION | Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, 2233 S. Martin L King Drive, Chicago, IL 60616

Room block is available.

REGISTRATION | Contact Cindy Sams, cindy@ohla.org to place your name on a list to attend as an OHLA WIL group member.

In 2024, there will be a split fee, with the OHLA Education Training Fund (ETF) paying 50% of the registration fee. Participants will pay the registration fee of $187.50 to attend.

Travel & Overnight stay are on your own.

WIL CONNECT Anti-Human Trafficking Tip of the Month - December 2023

Watch for Refusal of cleaning services for multiple days and a “DO NOT DISTURB” sign used constantly.

Education & Workforce Development Updates

2024 OHLA’s Education & Workforce Development Committee Update

The OHLA Education & Workforce Development Committee will begin work on the newest piece for education funding to assist hotel employees reach their goals. The newly formed Ohio Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation, 501 (c) (3), OHLEF.

2024 Hotel Summer Camp

Planning is underway for the inaugural Hotel Summer Camp for high school students in June 2024. This is our next step to providing education to those interested in the lodging and hospitality industry to learn in-person and see sights on tours.

OHLA is working with AHLEI to offer the attending students the opportunity to take the Guest Service Gold Certification.

A Sponsorship Program will be available soon.

Ohio University Spring 2024 Career and Internship Fair

The OHIO Spring Career and Internship Fair
February 21
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Save the date for the Spring 2024 OHIO Career and Internship Fair!

Network with hundreds of Ohio University students during the bi-annual Career and Internship Fair. The Career Network offers a university-wide fair open to all industries during September and February of each year. Maximize your time and connect with students from all academic backgrounds.

Learn more & register here!

OHLA Emerging Professionals

Upcoming Third Thursday

Join EP for a walk thru the Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo! Emerging Professionals is meeting up at the event and we want you there.

Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo

December 21, 2023
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
4850 W Powell Road, Powell, OH 43065

How to participate??

1) Purchase Tickets Here
Ticket and parking purchases are made by the individual and we will meet as a group at the entrance to walk thru together.

2) Let us know you are coming
Email michele@ohla.org to let us know that you intend on meeting us at the Zoo. 

3) Follow instructions in our Know Before You Go Email
An email will be sent out the day before with information on where to meet & when.

Help us expand the Community! - Who are your EPs?

Introduce us to them! We would love to be an opportunity for your associates to further their education, widen their network, and help them grow as a leader.

Who can you recommend on your team? Email michele@ohla.org

Unique Lodging of Ohio Updates 

Sedgwick Monthly Newsletter

Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensations Monthly Learning

The Division of Safety & Hygiene’s Education and Training Services Center offers a wide variety of in-person & virtual continuing education courses that emphasize the practical application of safety principles, development of a safety culture, current and proposed standards for regulatory compliance, risk reduction, and BWC programs.

Click here to review December opportunities from OSHA recordkeeping to health hazards.

Thank you to our Premier Partners for their support of the hotel & lodging industry!

Each month will will highlight a few of our Premier Partners & demonstrate how they can help YOU with your daily operations! Questions about services provided? Contact michele@ohla.org.

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