From Our Blog
Sample 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?
2017 Special Session Outcome
August, 30 2017August 16, 2017 The Texas Legislature adjourned the special legislative session “sine die,” which means the first called legislative session of 2017 is officially over. Importantly, the special session ended… Read more »
2017 Special Sessions Bills to the House
July, 31 2017Lt. Governor Dan Patrick continues to move legislation through the Senate, having now sent over ten of Governor Abbott's twenty special session items to the House. To do… Read more »
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) “Drive-By” Lawsuits July 2017
July, 31 2017Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) “Drive-By” Lawsuits Update Changes to Texas laws for actions filed in state court, July 2017 Drive-by ADA lawsuits are a recurring problem for businesses across… Read more »
Special Session at the Texas Capitol 2017
July, 30 2017THLA Legislative Update The Texas Legislature convened on Tuesday, July 18, 2017 for a special session called by Governor Greg Abbott. As set by Governor Abbott’s “call,” the 30-day legislative… Read more »
Frisco Texas, Progress in Motion
July, 28 2017This month’s feature city lives up to its motto! Frisco, Texas got its start from hardy pioneers who came to the north Texas prairie following the Preston Trail (today’s Preston… Read more »
2017 Legislative Report – End of Regular Session
June, 16 20172017 Regular Legislative Session: Texas Hotel & Lodging Association End of Session Report June 2017 Contents: Overview Summer Special Session Short-term Rental (STR) Preemption Transgender “Bathroom” Bills Full Funding… Read more »
Lodging Industry Economic Trends 2017
May, 30 2017Seguin – “It’s Real”
May, 30 2017When you think of the word “real” often times the synonym “authentic” comes to mind. This holds true for our feature city Seguin. Seguin is one of the oldest towns… Read more »
Legislative Action Summit 2017
May, 30 2017The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) joined forces on May 17-18 as nearly 500 hoteliers from across the country come to… Read more »
Child Labor Laws – 2023
May, 30 2017With the Texas summer season comes increased interest in hiring high school aged employees to work in hotel properties. If you are seeking to hire any employees under the age of 18, this brief guide will assist in legal consideration you should take into account.
2017 Hotel Administration Bills
April, 26 20172017 Legislative Session: Hotel Administration Bills April Update Below is a summary of filled bills THLA is tracking that affect various aspects of general hotel operations. ADA related… Read more »