Dear Friends & Colleagues,

At the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin made the above statement. And now, more than 200 years later, it is especially relevant to our world and the world of hospitality today.

Together we can muster the strength as both a nation and an industry to survive this terrible crisis. Although lodging is experiencing painful economic repercussions since the September 11 attacks, it is critical that we stay united. Your national trade association is here for you. Unity at the city, state, and national levels is important and, as always, there is strength in
numbers.

In a timely coincidence, AH&LA just completed the most successful membership campaign in its history – some 260,000 new rooms (almost 3,000 properties) recently joined our organization. Coupled with the more than 1,000 new vendor members recruited, this marks an all-time record for our organization. As we speak to legislators in every state capital and here in our nation’s capital, the force that we carry as the lodging industry is mightier than it’s ever been. Your membership and participation will ultimately determine our future as an industry.

Specifically, in Washington this week, pursuant to the request of AH&LA’s governmental affairs department, the General Services Administration (GSA) stated that the federal government has not issued directives to limit federal employee travel or cancel meetings in the wake of the barbarous attacks on our nation. AH&LA discovered that while a few federal meetings have been canceled or postponed, this is not a government-wide policy, and GSA, the federal agency responsible for establishing policies relating to federal employee travel, does not anticipate many more such changes. 

Additionally, we have had assurances from Members of Congress on the appropriate committees to support our efforts to encourage federal agencies to keep their planned meetings on the schedule. We have sent suggested letters to both Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, and Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.), chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, to send to federal agencies encouraging them to keep scheduled meetings and travel plans. We will keep you advised as to the progress of this effort.

In addition, GSA confirmed that its recently issued per diem rates for Fiscal Year 2002, which went into effect yesterday, are locked in. GSA also is moving forward with expanding its Premier Lodging Program, which increased the per diem rates in Boston from $105 to $192. GSA will be entering into contracts with individual properties in cities with key federal markets. 

In other related news, we support the Travel Industry Association of America’s (TIA) promotion and marketing campaign being launched this week. Look for full-page ads in major newspapers today including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times encouraging travelers to "See America." Additionally, I’m proud to inform you that AH&LA’s  first "Kitchen Cabinet" meeting will be held at our headquarters on October 11. Top lodging CEOs and executives will be  here to help formulate a formal recovery strategy for our industry.

As stated at the beginning of this letter, we must remain steadfast and united – our forefather Ben was right. Help us help you by "hanging together."

Thank you and God bless America.

Joe McInerney
President & Chief Executive Officer