From Our Blog
Texas Election Season Heats Up with Upcoming March Primaries
January, 31 2018Even though it is still very early in 2018, the Texas election season is quickly heating up. The March primary elections are only a few months away, and we are… Read more »
NLRB nominee John Ring would ensure Republican majority for labor enforcement
January, 31 2018Earlier this month, President Trump nominated John Ring to serve on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for a five-year term. If confirmed by the Senate, Mr. Ring’s appointment would… Read more »
Do I need to collect hotel occupancy taxes on cancellation fees?
January, 31 2018Do I need to collect hotel occupancy taxes on cancellation fees? We get this question all the time, and the answer is, probably not. A special rule applies to whether… Read more »
What is ‘Revenue Per Available Room – RevPAR?’
January, 15 2018[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text] Revenue per available room (RevPAR) is a metric used in the hotel industry to determine the financial health of the business based on the average daily room… Read more »
What is Occupancy Rate?
January, 15 2018Occupancy rate is the ratio of rented or used space for the total amount of available space. The metric is expressed as a percentage and is often used when determining… Read more »
What is Average Daily Rate (ADR)?
January, 15 2018Average Daily Rate (ADR) is a commonly used financial indicator in the hotel industry to measure your hotel’s statistical performance compared to your competitor’s and to measure your hotel to… Read more »
Our Most Important Stories from 2017
December, 31 2017Changing the calendar at the end of December marks a time for reflection on the past year, and planning for the future. As we look back on 2017 and the… Read more »
National Labor Board Strikes Down “Micro Unions”
December, 15 2017On December 15, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) struck down the ability to use “micro-unions” to organize private workplaces. In the pro-employer decision, the NLRB reinstated the older, traditional… Read more »
Jo Fischer – A Lifetime of 5 Star Service
December, 3 2017Jo Fischer, wife of Ed Fischer for 71 glorious years, was a lifelong supporter of hospitality and THLA (formerly the Texas Hotel/Motel Association). In the late 1950’s the hotel industry… Read more »
Experience the Vibrant Energy of Irving
November, 28 2017With Irving’s burgeoning visitor’s district; it’s a connection, a destination, and a state of mind. Stay & play in the convention-centric visitor’s district Irving, Texas is a whole lot of… Read more »
Texas Boiler Regulations for Hotels
November, 28 2017Sample Employment Handbook, Warnings, and Evaluations
November, 15 2017THLA has sample employment handbooks, employee warnings, and employee evaluations for your convenience. Sample hotel employee handbook Sample employee warning Sample performance evaluation
THLA’s 7th Annual Educational Foundation Online Auction
November, 10 2017View and bid on the gift of travel this season! View and bid on the gift of travel this season! THLA’s 7th Annual Online Auction begins on Thursday,… Read more »
Congress Passes the “Save Local Business Act”
November, 8 2017Earlier this month, Congress voted to pass HR 3441, also known as the “Save Local Businesses Act.” This bi-partisan bill clarifies the regulations within the expanded joint employer rule. Under HR 3441, an… Read more »
2018 THLA Short Course & Advanced Short Course
November, 1 2017Register now for THLA’s 2018 Short Course Monday, January 08, 2018 9:00 AM through Friday, January 12, 2018 2:30 PM Hilton University of Houston 4450 University Drive Houston, TX 77204 Register… Read more »
Houston Hospitality Employee Relief Funds Seeks Donations
October, 31 2017Thousands of Houston area residents were affected by Hurricane Harvey, including many hotel and hospitality industry employees. In response, Visit Houston, the Hotel & Lodging Association of Greater Houston (HLAGH),… Read more »
The Impact Of The Gig Economy On The Hospitality Industry
October, 30 2017By Pamela Williams and Lariza Hebert What Is The Gig Economy? When many employers hear the term “gig economy,” they immediately think of popular services such as Uber and Lyft.… Read more »
Hotels Reevaluate Safety & Security Protocols After Las Vegas Shooting
October, 30 2017Safety & Security Protocols After Las Vegas Shooting Nearly a month after Mandalay Bay Hotel guest Stephen Paddock opened fire on a crowd of concertgoers from his hotel suite on… Read more »
FEMA’s Lodging Assistance Program Extended until November 27, 2017
October, 15 2017FEMA’s “Emergency Lodging Assistance (ELA) Program” provides temporary lodging assistance to disaster evacuees. FEMA also refers to this program as the “Transitional Shelter Assistance (TSA)” program when communicating with evacuees… Read more »
City Council approves Visit Austin’s Budget for 2017-2018
October, 13 2017Thanks to all of you for taking action this week to send a message to Austin City Council in support of Visit Austin’s budget. Your efforts paid off. Last night,… Read more »
Crisis Preparedness: Having a Plan of Action for When the Unthinkable Happens
October, 11 2017Posted by: Ellen Meyer in Lodging Crisis situations—whether natural disasters or man-made tragedies like last month’s mass shooting in Las Vegas—require hotels to have an established plan of action. While many hotels already… Read more »
Guest Safety: After Las Vegas Shooting
October, 2 2017Dear Hoteliers: Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims of this tragic shooting in Las Vegas. As an industry, no issue is more important to us than… Read more »
Hurricane Preparations and Response
September, 28 2017From the hotel industry’s perspective, the challenge and the need for communications, was this: In a natural disaster, there is no central governmental agency or authority to disseminate targeted, useful… Read more »
Things To Do in Marfa Texas
September, 27 2017This month we take a long, strange trip West. Marfa is an unlikely mixture of art, culture, and creativity located in the high desert of the Trans-Pecos in far West Texas. The… Read more »
Suspension of State and Local Hotel Occupancy Taxes
September, 22 2017Updated 9/22/2017 Governor Abbott extended the state and local hotel occupancy tax exemption for guests affected by Hurricane Harvey through October 23rd. Note that FEMA is continuing to pay hotel… Read more »
Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax Exemption
September, 15 2017There are often questions about whether the permanent resident exemption to the state and local hotel occupancy tax applies to a given situation, and at what point in time… Read more »
Hurricane Harvey Resources
September, 15 2017[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.7.1″] Information for hotel guests: Obtaining financial assistance for lodging: Are you a Hurricane Harvey evacuee in need of financial assistance for lodging? We suggest contacting the… Read more »
Know the Law on Gift Cards and Gift Certificates
September, 10 2017Texas Hotel & Lodging Association Be sure you are familiar with the laws on selling and redeeming gift certificates. Texas and the federal government have several laws on point with… Read more »
A Message from TABC
September, 4 2017A Message from TABC Legal Experts Martin Frost & Hill Effective immediately, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission has stopped mailing out paper renewal application forms. Instead, the TABC is… Read more »
Can a Hotel Refuse to Accept Cash?
September, 1 2017Is it lawful for a hotel to go to a “credit cards-only” policy for payment?