CECIL P. STATON
AAHOA PRESIDENT & CEO
Whatever you are up against, whether you operate an independent hotel or franchised property, know that AAHOA is working for you, your families, and your business. In times of both industry growth and ongoing crisis, we uphold our mission “to advance and protect the business interests of hotel owners through advocacy, industry leadership, professional development, member benefits, and community engagement.” And beginning this year, AAHOA’s introducing a new Strategic Plan that will serve the organization for the next three years. A key component of that plan is our updated vision statement: To be the foremost resource and advocate for America’s hotel owners.
AAHOA’s pursuit of serving America’s hoteliers – whether branded or independent – has guided our association for more than 30 years. Now, what may be the most challenging obstacle is that after decades of success in small business, further efforts to stay operating and recover are necessary. And AAHOA is here to equip all of our hoteliers with the services, advocacy, and resources to get back to business as usual.
Each of our members have their own unique story, and I can especially relate to our independent hoteliers, who make up more than 30 percent of the hotels in our membership’s portfolios. Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs instilled in me a great appreciation for the passion, dedication, and self-sufficiency needed to pursue a business for one’s self. It was the lessons I learned watching my parents operate a small business that inspired my wife Catherine and me to start our own small business in broadcasting, where we worked in tandem to carve out our slice of the American Dream.
Now, as your President and CEO, I welcome the opportunity day in and day out to serve our 19,500 and counting hoteliers, especially as we navigate the flurry of challenges our industry faces. The American Dream is an ideal unique to our country, yet it is not a guarantee. And over the past year, the viability of entrepreneurial endeavors in our industry have been tested. AAHOA was born out of the adversity faced in America, and we are committed o preserving it.
For the independent hotelier, AAHOA provides the services, resources, and support one might only receive operating a branded property. Through our growing COVID-19 resource center and MyAAHOA.com, I encourage you to check out the vendor deals, webinars, and event opportunities that are specifically designed for the independent owner and operator.
