Rwanda hotelier puts Canada’s woes in perspective

Some of the members of the 2009 AHLA board of directors. Back row, L to R, Perry Wilford, Blair Christianson, Thomas Barknowitz, Richard Main, Adam Ledwon, Steven Watters, Tina Tobin, Steven James, Barry Zwueste and Michael Sieger. Front row, L to R, Barb Kosterski, Dave Kaiser, Doug Shandro, Mike Shymka and Lina Venchiarutti. This year, the board includes three new directors—Steven James, Richard Main, and Tina Tobin.

LAKE, LOUISE, AB—“You could hear a pin drop in the room when Paul Rusesabagina, the hotel manager from Rwanda, spoke. It was pretty intense.  For anyone who thinks things are tough now—he puts it all in perspective.” So says Dave Kaiser, president and CEO of the Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association, commenting on the keynote presentation at the group’s AGM held April 5-7 at Chateau Lake Louise.

“It was as smooth a conference as we ever had. There were 400 delegates from about 200 properties—down a bit from last year because of the economy, but the number of properties was very close.  The trade show was well attended—it was sold out with 88 booths.”

Conference highlights included speeches by Cindy Ady, Minister of Tourism for the province, and Quincy Smith, the chair of the board of the new Travel Alberta Corporation, which started operations April 1 (see story below). “AHLA is squarely behind the new corporation, and has played a major role over a number of years.  The new structure is more independent from government—more responsive, less political,” says Kaiser, adding that it will be overseen by a board composed of individuals who have key governance competencies and experience.  There is a good blend of business, legal and marketing expertise, and even one ex-hotelier on the board—David Bayne who was general manager of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

This year, the AHLA welcomed members of the Southern Alberta Chapter of the Hospitality Finance & Technology Professionals to the convention. Although Kaiser doesn’t have figures on how many HFTP members attended, he says they were pleased to be included and definitely want to be involved next year.

This year, the association presented two Awards of Distinction, one to Gerry Barteluk of the Lake Louise Inn, a past president of the Greater Vancouver Hotels Association, and the British Columbia and Yukon Hotels Association. The other went to Marc Rheaume, general manager of the Delta Calgary South.

Kaiser celebrates four years with the AHLA this summer.  One of the biggest challenges the association has faced is keeping relevant with the industry.  “Property changes and changes in ownership and management are top of mind, as we try to be as relevant as we can be,” he says.  “Ninety-four per cent of the guest rooms in Alberta belong to our members. This truly allows us to speak for the industry.” AHLA has seen a major rebranding of the association, and changes to governance, communications vehicles, convention and regional meeting formats.

Member value programs include the Western Hospitality Insurance Program, the largest hospitality insurance program in Canada.  Hotel associations in the four western provinces all participate in this program. Part of the transition froman Alberta-based insurance program to a regional one involved a surplus—meaning that the AHLA could distribute $450,000 in rebate cheques to eligible members.

And the ALHA will be expanding its offices—just before the AGM, workers were drilling piles for a new 15,000 square foot office building that should be completed by November 2009.

StayGreen hotel program

EDMONTON—“Many of our members already have green programs in their properties,” says Dave Kaiser, AHLA president & CEO, in announcing the association’s new StayGreen initiative. “Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, StayGreen will leverage existing products, services and information to serve our members.”

The AHLA StayGreen program will:

• Focus on increasing the penetration of the Green Key program in Alberta,
• Use a single website where properties can measure their carbon footprint and access tools to help them implement and sustain green programs, and
• Implement a process to audit and verify Green Key ratings.
• The energy efficiency levy generated by the AHLA’s current electrical energy program will cover the cost of developing StayGreen, which will align with and complement the Hotel Association of Canada’s Green Key program.

Travel Alberta budget provides boost to hotels

EDMONTON—Travel Alberta is now a legislated corporation with a healthy first-year budget that will provide many benefits for the province’s lodging sector. The tourism marketing agency of the government of Alberta said at the AHLA conference that it now has $57 million to support domestic and international marketing.

In addition, budget 2009 allocates $14 million to tourism development, to generate economic activity and support expansion of tourism attractions and destinations in Alberta. Funding for tourism marketing and development is based on collections under the four per cent Tourism Levy.

“With a new corporate structure, and with a sound business plan in place, I am confident that Travel Alberta will use this funding to aggressively market our province as a must-see tourism destination, to travellers in Canada and around the world,” said Cindy Ady, Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation. “That’s absolutely crucial at this point. We need to keep building on the successes Alberta has had over the past few years, and remain top-of-mind with travellers.”

Created under the authority of the Travel Alberta Act, Travel Alberta is now governed by a 10-member board of directors headed by chair Quincy Smith of Calgary and vice-chair Bob Normand of Edmonton. The agency will continue to seek input and advice on marketing plans through the industry-led Strategic Tourism Marketing Council.

“Combining the business expertise and experience of the board with the marketing council’s insight into the industry will give Travel Alberta the edge it needs to navigate these tough times,” said Smith. “Travel Alberta has a strong track record, and we are emerging from this transition poised for even more success.”

Travel Alberta has released a three-year business plan to guide its activities to stimulate increased tourism expenditures in the province and to become Canada’s pre-eminent tourism marketing agency. Goals include encouraging more Albertans to holiday and vacation longer in the province, and working to increase expenditures, visitation and length-of-stay with travellers from key domestic and international markets by building awareness and consumer preference. This will be achieved through a number of strategies including additional direct marketing to consumers via the Internet and marketing support for new air access into the province.

Travel Alberta’s 2009-2012 Business Plan is available online at www.industry.travelalberta.com/businessplan.

Partnership to protect kids

EDMONTON—Like it or not, hotel properties could be used for exploitation of children, and Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association members must be made aware of the possibility.  So says Doug Shandro, board chair of the AHLA in announcing that his association has joined forces with the Alberta government’s Children and Youth Services to help prevent child abuse.

“The face of child sexual exploitation has changed,” said Janis Tarchuk, Minister of Children and Youth Services. “With new technology and predator tactics, child sexual exploitation has increasingly moved away from the street and is happening behind closed doors. We need to work to prevent this horrific abuse wherever it is happening.”

Child sexual exploitation occurs when a child under 18 is involved in a sexual act in exchange for money, food, shelter, or any other consideration. Perpetrators may use hotels and motels to carry out this type of child abuse without the knowledge of the owners, managers or staff. The new campaign provides accommodation industry staff with information about child sexual exploitation, the signs to watch for, and what to do if they see something suspicious – talk to their supervisors and report it to Children and Youth Services or to the local police.

Every AHLA member will receive a resource kit that will help them educate their staff on what to watch for and what to do if they suspect a child is being abused at their property.   The kit includes: posters and door hangers for staff areas, brochures, and a training DVD. Additional resources will be available to members through www.ahla.ca.

A meth lab in your hotel?

EDMONTON AND REGINA—Missing or broken light bulbs? Red stains on towels and linens? Large amounts of garbage from guest rooms? Guests who don’t want their rooms cleaned? These could all be signs that there is a meth lab in your hotel.

It’s a problem that’s been around for a few years, and it’s widespread enough that both the Alberta and Saskatchewan hospitality associations have developed tips for innkeepers on how to identify and deal with the problem. The Saskatchewan Hotel and Hospitality Association in combination with the provincial Service & Hospitality Safety Association, have produced a brochure titled Kitchens of Death, and the Alberta Hotel and Hospitality Association has posted tips on its member website.

According to the AHLA website, “methamphetamine use and production in Alberta is growing at an exponential rate. Hotels, motels, and campgrounds are prime locations for this dangerous activity. Methamphetamine labs and the waste they leave behind may be just seen as a mess, but they present specific health and safety risks that can affect both hotel staff and guests. Arming your employees with information can improve the safety of all involved.

“The processing required to make ‘meth’ from precursor substances is easier and more accessible than ever.

“There are literally thousands of recipes and information about making meth on the Internet. An investment of a few hundred dollars in over-the-counter medications and chemicals bought at the nearest hardware store can produce thousands of dollars worth of methamphetamine. The drug can be made in a makeshift “lab” that can fit into something as small as a suitcase, cooler or backpack.

“Smaller clandestine labs known as “mom and pop” labs are found everywhere. The portability and speed with which this drug can be produced (anywhere from 20 minutes to 12 hours) means that places like hotel and motel rooms and campsites are very attractive locations. Meth labs create a serious risk of both toxic contamination and fires or explosions. Labs are frequently abandoned, and the potentially explosive and toxic chemicals are left behind.

“Methamphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant that is cheaper and more powerful than cocaine, with a longer lasting high.”

AHLA offers DMF advice

EDMONTON—In Alberta, destination marketing funds (DMFs) have been implemented in Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge, Canmore, Medicine Hat and Jasper. Properties collect these fees on a voluntary basis—DMFs are not legislated by the government. The AHLA acts as the trustee for the DMFs collected in some of these communities. If your community is considering a DMF,  AHLA suggests these questions:

• Do you have a strong local hotel group with engaged members?
• Is your community a tourism destination?
• Do you have enough local room nights annually to generate the revenue required to mount a meaningful marketing campaign?
• What are your goals & objectives?
• How will you define & measure success?
• Do you have a destination marketing organization (DMO) with the capacity to develop and execute the marketing plan?
• How will you hold the DMO accountable?
• Who will act as your trustee?