| FAQs |
| Q. |
What is the difference between a hotel and a motel? |
| A. |
For statistical purposes, there really is none. The term "motel" is derived from the term "motor hotel," which originally meant that the hotel provided parking (circa 1950s). The term motel today generally is used for a "limited service" property with exterior corridors (i.e., a hotel that provides a limited number of amenities and does not provide food service). |
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| Q. |
How many hotels are there in the United States? |
| A. |
AH&LA’s Lodging Industry Profile (LIP) provides the answer to this and many other U.S. lodging industry general data questions. |
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| Q. |
I'm not finding the statistics I need in the Lodging Industry Profile. Where else can I find data? |
| A. |
STR Global’s news website, Hotel News Now is jam packed with current facts and figures on the U.S. and global lodging industry. Data on construction, occupancy trends, and market performance and forecasts are posted on Hotel News Now on a daily basis. STR Global and PKF Hospitality Research both sell specialized lodging data. |
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| Q. |
Where can I get a list of hotel taxes around the country? |
| A. |
There is not a singular, publicly available, and continuously updated source for this type of data. AH&LA’s 2008 Room Tax Report is available for purchase from the Educational Institute and has a state-by-state comparison for early 2008. The National Business Travel Association released its 2009 Travel Tax Report of U.S cities. Click here for information on how to purchase the study. |
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| Q. |
Where can I get a set of Job Descriptions for hotel personnel? |
| A. |
A set of executive job descriptions can be found in the AHL&A Member's Only section, under “Running Your Business”. |
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| Q. |
How can I get figures to benchmark my hotel’s financial performance? |
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AH&LA does not track this information. STR Global's HOST Study and PKF Hospitality Research's Trends in the Hotel Industry contain financial benchmarking data at the property level. |
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| Q. |
Where can I find information on hotel construction in the USA? |
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AH&LA Allied Members can access monthly Construction & Modernization Reports in the Member’s Only section, provided by STR Global. Lodging Econometrics posts lodging forecasts for the U.S. and other regions of the world on their Website. |
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| Q. |
Where can I find a source or list of vendors who service the lodging industry? |
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Search the Ultimate Hotel Buyers Guide and Lodging magazine's Source Book that is published every August and is also available online. |
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| Q. |
Where can I find information on smoking laws related to hotels? |
| A. |
The Americans for Non-Smokers’ Rights (ANR) has a “smoke-free travel” section on their Website specifically regarding hotels, and is continually updated with non-smoking legislation. |
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| Q. |
I have a question about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), who can I talk to? |
| A. |
The U.S. Department of Justice, ADA Office, has the final say in ADA matters. The department has an ADA Hotline on technical assistance issues, call 1-800-514-0301. Additional links from U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division - Disability Rights Section regarding lodgingconstruction and the ADA include:
Common ADA Problems at Newly Constructed Lodging Facilities
5 Steps to Make New Lodging Facilities Comply With The ADA
ADA Checklist for New Lodging Facilities
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| Q. |
How many people are employed in the lodging industry and what is the expected job growth for the future? |
| A. |
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ “National Employment Matrix” is a 10-year industry forecast using the years 2008-2018. |
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| Q. |
Where can I get a breakdown of lodging industry employees by gender and ethnic group? |
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The Current Population Survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics breaks down the percentage of women, African American, Asian, and Latino workers in various industries. Click here to download the document, and scroll down to the 4th page and look under “Leisure and Hospitality”. |
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| Q. |
Where can I find information about operating a hotel? |
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The Educational Institute of AH&LA is the premier industry resource for information on property management, employee training, certification courses and much more. Simply choose the department or area of interest you need help with: www.ahlei.org. |
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| Q. |
What are the criteria for hotel ratings in the USA? |
| A. |
The two primary lodging rating systems in the USA are Forbes Travel Guide's (formerly Mobil Travel Guide) star ratings and the American Automobile Association’s diamond ratings. Contact each organization directly for their rating criteria.
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