The 2022 Annual Meeting will be held in conjunction with the Stars of the Industry Awards Luncheon
In Person April 26, 2022 @ the Sheraton Baltimore North 10:30-11:30 A.M. - Registration & Hotel Group Photos 11:30-1:30 P.M. - Program to include Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon
REGISTER HERE Members will vote on proposed bylaws changes and the Nominating Committee's recommended Board slate. More information and notice of the meeting has been sent to members in accordance with bylaws. Please contact our office with any questions.
2021 Annual Meeting Highlights
MHLA’s Annual Meetingwas held on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. Highlights from the meeting are below. If you missed it, the full presentation may be found in the Members Portal at www.MDLodging.org under Compliance & Operational Resources. Members should contact our office if assistance is needed to log in!
Opening Remarks & Hospitality Acts of Kindness
Amy Rohrer, President and CEO of MHLA welcomed attendees and opened the meeting with a special tribute to hotels. A video montage titled Hospitality Acts of Kindness, showed a sample of how hotels in Maryland supported the community and united together during the pandemic.
Presenting Sponsor, Maryland Center for Hospitality, additional event sponsors (listed below), as well as MHLA Annual Partners were recognized and acknowledged for their support.
Federal Updates
Chip Rogers, President & CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) shared updates on how they are supporting the industry. Highlights include:
American Hospitality Alliance (AHA) has recently been created to help promote and defend the hospitality industry at state and local levels. AHA is funded by AHLA, AAHOA and the state lodging associations.
AHLA and Unite Here have joined forces to introduce the Save Hotel Jobs Act, which provides payroll support grants for all hotels. Summer is the goal to have this bill enacted but they need your help. By joining HotelsAct.org, hotels can help to connect with their local legislators and congress to give support to this bill.
Chip also touched upon AHLA’s work in pushing for employee retention tax credit change and freezing per diem rates, similar to the per diem rate freeze AHLA secured in 2021.
State & Local Advocacy
MHLA's Legislative Update was presented by Jim Starke, MHLA Legislative Chair and Executive Board Member, and Frank Boston, MHLA Lobbyist. The following issues were highlighted as MHLA’s involvement was instrumental in legislation that passed:
SB 610 was introduced at the request of MHLA. As a result of its passage, hotels have been given a one-year reprieve for coming into compliance with phased in deadlines related to certain standards for bed heights in accessible rooms. The first compliance deadline will occur on December 31, 2022.
The Recovery for the Economy, Livelihoods, Industries, Entrepreneurs and Families (RELIEF) Act was amended to include $10 million for hotels. Grants of up to $25,000 per hotel are being distributed through counties.
The Maryland Essential Workers’ Protection Act passed with significant amendments, lobbied very hard for by MHLA and others from the business community.
And MHLA’s biggest WIN OF THE YEAR:
$50 million in relief money was allocated by Governor Hogan for hotels, and distributed through counties, to provide relief from the pandemic. This relief was a direct result of MHLA advocacy on behalf of the industry.
Related slides are below.
MHLA Business
Board of Directors
Chuck Chandler, outgoing Chair of MHLA, presented the new Board Slate and called for a member vote. By unanimous approval, he welcomed the new incoming 2021-2022 Chair, Michael Henningsen, as well as the Executive Committee and Board of Directors. Chuck thanked the outgoing board members for their hard work and dedication. Incoming Chair Michael Henningsen presented a plaque to Chuck Chandler, in recognition of his service as MHLA Board Chair from 2018-2021.
Maryland Tourism Education Foundation (managed by MHLA) Two Maryland Tourism Education Foundation (MTEF) scholarship recipients, Canisha Pope and Assiata Kamagate, were announced. The source for this scholarship funding is generated by the MHLA Golf Tournament. MHLA Annual Golf Outing October 6, 2021 @ Whiskey Creek Golf Club Register Now Membership ROI The value of MHLA membership was highlighted. For example, a 105-room hotel (annual MHLA dues are less than $1,000) received $60,000 out of the $50 million secured in hotel relief, due to the efforts of MHLA, which equates to 60 years of contributing to the association. (Please note: Amounts vary by county and hotel.) The meeting concluded with the following remarks by Incoming Chair Michael Henningsen, "Every hotel should belong and sustain their membership with MHLA.…MHLA is here for you and will continue to be here for you. I’m really excited for things like MTEF where we contribute to education, having fun at golf, which helps with education, and we can only do it with member support. I thank everybody and look forward to a very exciting time with MHLA.”
