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| | The nominations may be complete, but the excitement is just beginning. Join us this fall as we recognize the exceptional people who make Ohio's hospitality industry thrive at the 2026 Regional Stars of the Industry Luncheons.
Hosted in Dayton, Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati, these gatherings are an opportunity to honor excellence, reconnect with colleagues, and celebrate the individuals whose dedication leaves a lasting impact on our industry every day.
Whether you're supporting a nominee, applauding a coworker, or simply looking to celebrate the remarkable people who define our industry, we hope you'll join us for an inspiring afternoon of recognition, connection, and celebration.
To register for your city click "Read More"!
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| | Did you know? If you are not located in the Dayton, Cleveland, Columbus, or Cincinnati Lodging Councils you could still be nominating your associates!
From associates who consistently go above and beyond for guests to leaders who inspire excellence across their property, the OHLA Stars of the Industry Awards celebrate the people who elevate Ohio's hospitality industry every day.
Take a moment to consider the team members who make a lasting impact on your guests, colleagues, and operations. Their dedication, professionalism, and commitment deserve to be recognized.
Deadline is September 28. To nominate, click "Read More"! |
| | The Unique Lodging of Ohio (ULO) community is a sector of OHLA. ULOs are independent properties of all kinds – truly, unique lodging. We have members from hotels & inns to cabins & yurts!
Does this sound like you? Make sure you are self-nominating for our Unique Lodging of Ohio (ULO) Property of the Year award!
This award celebrates an exceptional member of the ULO Community whose property exemplifies uniqueness and excellence, setting a new standard within the industry.
Deadline is September 28. To nominate, click "Read More"! |
Top | | Save the date for the Annual Conference, bringing together industry leaders for education, networking, and insights that help shape the future of hospitality.
2026 OHLA Annual Conference & Gala
November 23 & 24, 2026
Hyatt Regency Columbus
Interested in Volunteering? Please contact michele@ohla.org or Committee Chair, Holly Hollingsworth at holly@cogwheelmarketing.com. |
Top | | Southeast Regional Mixer is Tomorrow August 6th!
3-5 PM Eclipse Company Store
11309 Jackson Dr, The Plains, OH 45780 |
Top | | Hotel employers can expect a significant dividend check from the state in the coming weeks. The annual Sales Tax Holiday has been scaled back and won’t include food consumed on premises as it has in recent years. Changes to property tax values could lead to sizable tax bill increases, and changes to immigration status will impact employees and employers in Ohio. With so much happening, be sure to see the details in the full Government Affairs Update for August. |
Top | | Go beyond the standard benefits package—use your wholesale costs to provide your employees with unique perks to set your hotel apart. Trade your empty rooms for benefits and incentives like dental care, massage therapy, restaurant gift cards, and more!
Reach out to Regional Manager Mark Lindeman today and discover how trading your unsold room nights can help you elevate employee perks while protecting your bottom line. |
| | As a member you gain access to essential resources, expert advocacy and a dynamic statewide network dedicated to your success. Whether it’s staying ahead of regulatory changes, celebrating industry excellence, or growing your professional connections, your membership ensures you remain informed, empowered and positioned for continued growth in an ever-evolving industry. |
| | If you love connecting with people and have ideas about how we can grow and engage our association, this is a great way to get involved.
Membership Committee is open to all OHLA members. If you are interested and want to learn more or if you have a suggestion of potential committee member, please reach out to Sara@ohla.org |
| | Has your team grown or recently changed? Have you welcomed new managers, sales professionals, or department leaders to your property?
Help us keep our membership database current so your team receives the latest OHLA news, event invitations, educational opportunities, and member benefits. |
Top | | Each year, OHLA celebrates the front-line stars who define hospitality excellence with our Stars of the Industry Regional Award Luncheons. Align your brand with a meaningful event that shines a light on the true heart of the industry: its people. These are OHLA’s second largest events with the most diverse audiences. Sponsorship includes all four regions (Dayton, Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati).
Contact Sara Tennyson-Harlan at Sara@ohla.org to sign up! Click “Read More” to see how you can engage and what each involvement can do for your company. |
Top | | Emerging Professionals Third Thursday Networking & Appreciation Activity
Start your day with purpose at our Emerging Professionals event—connect over fresh coffee in a welcoming, energizing atmosphere. Together, we’ll write heartfelt letters of appreciation to hotel housekeepers, recognizing their hard work just in time for National Housekeeping Appreciation Week. It’s a simple, meaningful way to build community while giving back and showing gratitude where it’s well deserved.
August 20, 2026
8:30 - 10:00AM
Hyatt Regency Columbus - Perks Coffee Shop
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Top | | The Most Expensive Sustainability Strategy? Waiting.
For years, hotels treated sustainability as a “nice to have”—important in principle, but difficult to prioritize against labor, operating costs, and revenue.
That thinking is now costing properties business.
Meeting planners increasingly expect verified sustainability practices. Guests notice when a hotel’s experience feels wasteful or disconnected from its surroundings. Meanwhile, energy volatility, hauling expenses, insurance risk, and changing regulations are turning inaction into a measurable liability.
The good news? Progress does not have to begin with a major capital investment. |
| | Workers' Compensation & Safety Updates
This month, Sedgwick highlights important reminders and program updates to help employers effectively manage their workers' compensation responsibilities. Employers can review Ohio BWC's annual true-up requirements to ensure timely payroll reporting and maintain eligibility for rebates and discount programs, while also learning about upcoming changes to Group Rating discounts and how proactive claims management and workplace safety efforts can continue to reduce long-term workers' compensation costs.
Together, these articles provide valuable guidance to help employers stay compliant, maximize available savings, and strengthen their workers' compensation programs. |
| | What Cogwheel’s Saying: Smart Takes Worth Reading
Cogwheel has collaborated with Zerf to release a comprehensive Google Analytics 4 (GA4) Best Practices Guide designed to help hotels and hospitality businesses transform raw data into actionable intelligence.
Whether you are managing a single hotel or a global brand, this guide provides a roadmap for navigating the event-based landscape of GA4. |
| | Ohio’s hospitality industry has made strong strides with recycling, but today’s guest expectations call for a more comprehensive, zero-waste approach that prioritizes reducing waste first, followed by composting and then recycling. By tackling high-impact areas like food waste, especially in full-service hotels, properties can significantly cut hauling costs while strengthening their sustainability story. |
Top | | Step away from your daily routine and join fellow hospitality professionals for a Women in Lodging Cocktail Connection networking event. These informal gatherings foster authentic connections, professional growth, and meaningful conversations among women across the industry. Come connect, collaborate, and celebrate the strength of women in hospitality. |
| | The WIL Advisory Council is kicking off their collection drive for students transitioning into the workplace by collecting small items that can help them walk into their first interviews and first days with confidence.
Collections will be held at the Regional Stars of the Industry Awards and Annual Conference. Click "Read More" for a list of our collection items. |
Top | | Thank you to everyone who joined us on July 23rd at the Golf Club of Dublin for our second annual OHLEF Golf Classic! Your participation and generosity helped make this year's event a tremendous success. Whether you joined us as a golfer, sponsor, volunteer, or spectator, your support plays an important role in helping us advance our mission and strengthen the future of our lodging community.
We are pleased to report that we made nearly $12,000 for the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation which goes back to the industry through scholarships, grants, and certifications. |
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Upcoming Events
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August 6, 2026
3:00PM - 5:00PM | Eclipse Company Store11309 Jackson Dr, The Plains, OH 45780 |
| August 18, 2026
10:00AM - 11:00AM | Online Webinar |
| August 20, 2026
8:30AM - 10:00AM | Perks at the Hyatt Regency Columbus350 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215 |
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