OHLA
July 2024 Newsletter

OHLA's Cindy Sams Retires


Significant Change in OHLA History: Cindy Sams Retires as Director of Education, Workforce & Programs

Significant Change in OHLA History: Cindy Sams Retires as Director of Education, Workforce & Programs

The true magnitude of the impact Cindy had cannot be easily discerned by those who have come into and gone out of the orbit of OHLA in that time. But those who have witnessed the organization’s growth, evolution, and transformation during her service know that it could not have happened without her.

Having supported and nurtured three different OHLA executives, 14 OHLA Presidents, and countless members of the board and committees, Cindy left her mark on the organization in part by setting the standard for so many of us. Upon her hire, she was immediately recognized as a natural when it came to customer service and hospitality.

Mark Your Calendar


Thank you for your regional nominations!

Thank you for your regional nominations!

Thank you for yet another successful Regional Stars of the Industry Nomination season! We are so honored that we can share the amazing stories of your associates with the entire industry!

Be sure to save the date for your upcoming regional Stars of the Industry luncheon! Registration will open soon!

August 29 – Hilton Garden Inn Dayton Beavercreek

September 5 – Marriott Cleveland at Key Tower

September 12 – Renaissance Columbus Downtown

September 17 – Hilton Netherland Plaza



Thank you to our Stars of the Industry Program Sponsors...

IGS Energy August 2020

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OHLA & HSMAI Ohio Lunch & Learn - Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of Revenue Optimization

OHLA & HSMAI Ohio Lunch & Learn - Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of Revenue Optimization

Have you seen this at your hotel? Sales managers calling the revenue management team the ‘sales prevention department’? Front office complaining about low opaque rates? Event managers unprepared for pick-up meetings? It doesn’t have to be this way.

Athena Hospitality’s speakers will show your team how better communication can drive revenue and boost performance. Join us next Wednesday to learn how to work smarter, ask the right questions, and enhance your property's reputation.

July 17 | 11:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Sharonville Convention Center

11355 Chester Rd, Sharonville, OH 45246

Click here to register



350,000 + Cardiac Arrests Happen Outside Hospitals Annually

350,000 + Cardiac Arrests Happen Outside Hospitals Annually

Encourage your associates to take part in this life-saving training with OHLA & Cardio Partners. You never know when someone will need CPR, whether inside or outside of the workplace. Through a mix of traditional in-person and virtual education, participants will gain essential knowledge and put it into practice, earning themselves a Child/Adult/AED Certification. Be prepared and ensure everyone is equipped to act in an emergency.

Take part in this exclusive OHLA member rate and opportunity.

Sign Up Deadline: July 10

Click here to register



Save the Date for the 2024 Annual Conference & Gala

Save the Date for the 2024 Annual Conference & Gala

Join the largest annual gathering of hoteliers in Ohio! Featuring educational sessions on front desk safety, onboarding, remote work and MORE. Experience our Allied Network tradeshow with solutions to help make properties and those in them more successful. And as always, we are excited to celebrate associates at the Stars of the Industry Gala.

We will have something for everyone - the possibilities are endless!

Date: November 25 - 26

Location: Champion Mill Conference Center & Warehouse Hotel

Add Conference to Your Calendar

Government Affairs Update


Advocating For You & Your Hotel

Advocating For You & Your Hotel

Monumental Supreme Court Decision Means Better Regulatory Environment

A U.S. Supreme Court decision made limited headlines but will fundamentally alter how the federal government regulates employers and businesses.



Illinois Requires Online Travel Companies to Pay Taxes Fairly

The state is the latest to require full remission of third-party online travel companies of taxes based on the retail room rate paid by guests.



Overtime Rule Takes Effect but Still Challenged by Industry

A positive indication that new, higher overtime thresholds could be invalidated were issued by a federal court last week.



Click here to see more details on these and other items in the full OHLA Government Affairs Update

Membership Insider


Are your property's dues up to date?

Are your property's dues up to date?

As of July 1, if you haven’t paid your 2024-2025 dues, your payment is past due. If you don’t know your status,Click here to login to myOHLA.

If you need assistance paying or have any questions, contact melissa@ohla.org or call 614-461-6462.



Love your membership with us?

Love your membership with us?

Submit a testimonial to emily@ohla.org for use on our website and marketing materials.

The Community Corner


What's Up With WIL

What's Up With WIL

Thank you for the wonderful 2024 WIL CONNECT Annual Leadership Luncheon!

The Annual Women in Lodging Statewide Leadership Luncheon, moderated by Lisa Garner, featured panelists Becky Krieger, Frank Arena, Colleen Montagne, and Celia Anderson, who shared how personal backgrounds shape their leadership.

Keynote speaker Lachandra Baker captivated the audience with "Unlocking the Power Within: A New Era of Women's Leadership," focusing on self-advocacy, authentic leadership, creating support networks, and overcoming obstacles. The event emphasized the impact of personal experiences on leadership and provided actionable insights for advancing women's leadership in hospitality.



Save the Date for upcoming WIL Cocktail Connections!

September 25 | 4:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Registration to open soon!



Taking a Peek Into Unique Lodging of Ohio

Taking a Peek Into Unique Lodging of Ohio

NEW ULO BENEFIT

Make sure to check out your listing on the Unique Lodging of Ohio website to make sure your information is up to date.

Please also submit up to three pictures so we can keep our content fresh and use them for our social media channels. Email your pictures to emily@ohla.org



Missed our last webinar? Creating your Authentic Sustainability DNA

Check out our Sustainability Corner for a full recap and the presentation. Our speakers would love to answer any follow-up questions you may have.



Emerging Professionals Corner

Emerging Professionals Corner

Start your day by fueling your ambition and connecting with like-minded individuals over coffee at June's EP Third Thursday event. Join us for networking and meeting like-minded individuals during this cocktail hour get-together!

July 18 | 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Goodale Station at the Canopy Columbus Downtown

Click here to register



Can’t Join us in July? How about August? Grab a coffee with us.

August 15 | 8:00 – 9:30 a.m.

Parable Café

Click here to register

Allied Member Network


Allied Council Corner

Allied Council Corner

New sponsorship and advertising opportunities are available! Check out these upcoming options here!

Reach out to melissa@ohla.org with any questions and increase your company visibility today!



The Sustainability Corner

The Sustainability Corner

In this inspiring episode of the Sustainable Hospitality Podcast, host Amy Wald interviews Anna Blue, president of the AHLA Foundation's Forward initiative.

Anna shares her journey from political campaigns to social impact work and her vision for the Forward initiative. Listeners will gain insights into the Foundation's history, the rapid growth of the Forward initiative, the importance of including men, and the role of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) in diversity efforts.



Sedgwick Monthly Newsletter

Sedgwick Monthly Newsletter

Private employers true-up deadline approaching - August 15th

BWC provides workers’ compensation coverage based on estimated payroll. Therefore, at the end of the policy year, BWC asks employers to report their actual payroll for the prior policy year and pay any shortage (or receive a refund for any overage) in premiums. This process is called a true-up.

Education & Workforce Development Updates


Hoteliers! You have been invited!

Hoteliers! You have been invited!

Pyramid CDC - SMARTNet Summer Camp STEM Program

Pyramid CDC is particularly interested in having a Speaker from the Hospitality Industry engage with our students. Your expertise and firsthand knowledge would provide valuable insight into this dynamic and diverse field.



OHLA Educational Foundation

OHLA Educational Foundation

In late 2023, OHLA established, for the first time, the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (OHLEF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity specifically for the benefit of Ohio’s hotels, the professionals that work in them and the individuals interested in entering our industry.

Click here to donate

Thank You To Our Premier Partners!


 IGS Energy, a trusted Ohio-based company, has been a leading independent natural gas supplier in the U.S. for over 30 years.

IGS Energy, a trusted Ohio-based company, has been a leading independent natural gas supplier in the U.S. for over 30 years.

Whether you have one hotel or multiple locations, IGS Energy can help you control your energy costs with their fixed-rate products. By locking in a fixed rate versus variable pricing, they are here to help eliminate your exposure to market price fluctuations.



Lasting Impressions is Ohio's largest one-stop-shop event rental solution.

Lasting Impressions is Ohio's largest one-stop-shop event rental solution.

No matter the occasion, scope of your vision, or size of your budget, Lasting Impressions will help you bring your event to life. They are the experts in all things events, tents, linens, and rentals. Let them make a lasting impression on you, your guests, and your event in central Ohio by getting in contact with one of their event specialists today.

Upcoming Events

July 17, 2024
11:00AM - 1:00PM

OHLA & HSMAI Ohio Lunch & Learn - Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of Revenue Optimization

Sharonville Convention Center

11355 Chester Rd, Sharonville, OH 45246

July 18, 2024
4:00PM - 6:00PM

Emerging Professionals Third Thursday Networking

Goodale Station at the Canopy Columbus Downtown

77 E Nationwide Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215

August 6, 2024

Greater Columbus CPR/AED Blended Training & Certification with Cardio Partners

TownePlace Suites Columbus Hilliard

4079 Lyman Drive, Hilliard, OH 43026