Listen to Chip Rogers – 24 Feb 24

 
William “Chip” Rogers, Chief Executive Officer
American Hotel & Lodging Association
www.AHLA.com

Representing over 3.2 million hotel rooms, the American Hotel & Lodging Association has in excess of 32 million members and is the largest association in the U.S. representing all segments of the hotel industry.  From major chains to independent hotels, management companies, REITs, B&B’s and more — AHLA’s national advocacy agenda supports policies that include:  promoting/protecting guests and improving the guest experience, job growth/creation as well as empowering employers to foster employee training and career advancement across the hospitality industry.

Chip Rogers is the CEO of AHLA, and over the years we’ve developed a good connection with him.  We appreciate that Chip is a straight-shooter, who says it like he sees it, and provides honest assessments of current happenings in the hotel/hospitality sector of travel.  Having just spent 8 days in Miami Beach and Marco Island, we again noticed first-hand the challenges hotels/resorts are having with staffing and based on the latest analytics from Smith Travel Research (STR)
showing January occupancy being down 1.7% over 2023, while the average daily rate and revenue per room has increased year-over-year, we decided it was time to reengage with Chip for an update.  During our 24 February 2024 live broadcast of America’s #1 Travel Radio Show, besides discussing these realities with him and what they mean for the industry, we also talked about U.S.markets that are hot for travel and what markets are not, we discussed the ongoing Choice Hotels International’s hostile pursuit of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, and got personal with Chip as he celebrates serving in his role now for over 5 years.  Now that the program has transmitted via satellite to the now 575 weekly stations airing RMWorldTravel with Robert & Mary Carey and Rudy Maxa across the USA, an archive is saved here for you to access anytime/anywhere in .mp3 format …

 

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As we just returned from our special “Let’s Go America! Tour” – Maui travels and live remote, and had a chance to see first-hand what the national media isn’t sharing or discussing about that island following the fires of August 8th along with how the subsequent downturn in tourism is impacting tourism there — we knew it was time to reconnect with Show Friend Chip Rogers, AHLA’s CEO.  Additionally, there are 2 serious issues that could soon impact the Hotel Sector of Travel and become law in New Jersey and in Los Angeles that we firmly disagree with and say they need to be combatted now!  The first is New Jersey Bill A1958 that would undo the benefits franchising delivers to property owners and travelers, and the second in Los Angeles is a Unite Here (Local 11) ballot initiative to be voted on in March 2024 that would require hotels in that city to house homeless alongside paying guests.  To here our spirited and honest conversation about these items that aired across the USA via our now 530+ weekly stations airing America’s #1 Travel Radio Show on 14 October 2023 and is now archived here for you to access anytime/anywhere, just click on the play arrow immediately following this text for the RMWorldTravel with Robert & Mary Carey and Rudy Maxa “Chief Travel Leader” conversation to play …

 

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As the Summer travel season gets fully underway, hotel prices are high while labor challenges persist, but Americans continue to travel.  On 17 June 2023, as part of our live national broadcast of America’s #1 Travel Radio Show, we decided to check-in with Show Friend Chip Rogers as part of our sustained “Chief Travel Leader” conversations, to get his report on some current realities and happening across the Hotel/Resorts sector of travel, hear first hand about AHLA’s upcoming Hospitality Show, get his thoughts on the Assistant Secretary of Travel & Tourism being added to the U.S. Department of Commerce and more.  To hear the full discussion that aired across the USA via our now 515+ weekly stations airing RMWorldTravel with Robert & Mary Carey and Rudy Maxa, simply click on the play arrive that’s immediately below this text…

 

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During our live broadcast of America’s #1 Travel Radio Show on 25 February 2023, realizing it had been too long since our last conversation with AHLA’s CEO Chip Rogers, we invited him back for a candid and engaging conversation involving various facets of the hotel sector of travel.  We appreciate Chip’s candor, straight-forward style and ability to paint pictures with words.  To hear our latest “Chief Travel Leader” conversation with him, that aired across the nation via our now 510 weekly stations airing RMWorldTravel with Robert & Mary Carey and Rudy Maxa, simply click on the play arrow beneath this text…

 

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Pre-pandemic, the hotel and lodging sector of the travel world supported 1 in every 25 jobs, and in recent “normal” years it’s been responsible for generating $550 Billion in guest spending, adding $660 Billion to the U.S. GDP and delivering $186 Billion in Federal, State and Local Taxes.  Big numbers!  There are over unique properties nationwide and the American Hotel & Lodging Association is the organization that supports them.

Chip Rogers is a respected show friend, who doesn’t mince words and we appreciate that he says it like he sees it — with facts to back it up.  During our special RMWorldTravel broadcast on 12 March 2022, where we devoted our entire focus over the full 2-hour show to key sectors of the travel world, we invited Chip back to share the current State of the Hotel/Resort industry, provide real-time info on happenings in the sector, as well as some observations as to what we should all expect moving forward.  If you missed this informative conversation on America’s #1 Travel Radio Show, that was broadcast across the nation live via our 480+ weekly stations, you can access it here now by clicking on the play arrow immediately following this text …

 

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As we travel around the U.S. ourselves on RMWorldTravel’s big “Let’s Go America! Tour” — we’re seeing/experiencing first-hand the challenges hotels and resorts are grappling with everyday to meet expectations.  Since it was back in mid-March when we last connected on-air with Chip — for our live broadcast of RMWorldTravel with Robert & Mary Carey and Rudy Maxa on 28 August 2021, we decided to check-in with him to get his insights on the  Hotel/Hospitality sector of the travel world.  You can hear our honest, wide-ranging and engaging “Chief Travel Leader” conversation that aired across our national network of now 480+ weekly stations broadcasting America’s #1 Travel Radio Show, by simply clicking on the play arrow immediately following this text …

 

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As America works to recover from the Coronavirus pandemic, from what we’re seeing and hearing, plus the data that’s being shared with us — things are improving out there at hotels and resorts in terms of their operations and occupancy levels.  However many hotel workers still remain sidelined and a number of property are still closed.

It’s been more than 5 months since we last connected with Chip Rogers, the CEO of AHLA, and that’s why during our live broadcast of RMWorldTravel with Robert & Mary Carey and Rudy Maxa on 20 March 2021, we invited him back for a check-in to discuss a number of items including the recent Extended Stay America acquisition, current industry occupancy/operations activities, expectations for the coming months and factors in play needed for a successful recovery.  Our program has continued to grow, and if you missed Chip’s “Chief Travel Leader” interview with us or want to catch it again, the full conversation that aired across our national network of now 470 weekly affiliates is archived immediately following this text.  Just click on the play arrow to hear it…

 

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For our live broadcast of RMWorldTravel with Robert & Mary Carey and Rudy Maxa on 3 October 2020, we reconnected with AHLA CEO Chip Rogers to get a first-hand update on what’s happening the hotel/lodging sector of travel, what’s likely ahead in the weeks and months ahead — and we also looked mid and long term with him, sharing our thoughts and expectations while getting his as well.  You can hear the full interview that aired across the country on our national network that’s now reaching over 440+ weekly affiliates by clicking on the play arrow immediately following this text …

 

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More than 5000 U.S. hotels closed their doors in March and April 2020, and as of early June nearly half of them were still closed.  Since March, 70% of hotel employees have been laid off or furloughed, and the Coronavirus pandemic has significantly hurt the hospitality industry about as hard as any sector.  U.S. hotel occupancy levels shrank to less than 25% back in April 2020 — down about 65% when compared to the same time in 2019 according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association — and getting them back is proving challenging.  With summer travel upon us, to get a real-time report on the current state of activities at hotels, resorts and other types of overnight accommodations — plus what travelers can and should expect — for our live broadcast on 13 June 2020, we invited the CEO of AHLA, Chip Rogers to join us and openly discuss what’s happening now and what’s expected in the weeks and months ahead.  To hear the full conversation that aired across the 415+ affiliates nationwide airing RMWorldTravel with Robert & Mary Carey and Rudy Maxa, simply click the play arrow below to access the now archived audio …