The Iowa Restaurant Association led and managed the launch of a new trade group representing hotels and lodging establishments in Iowa.
According to a news release, the Iowa Hotel and Lodging Group, a non-profit trade association, was formed earlier this month. The association will endeavour to promote and advocate for the state’s roughly 700 hotels and lodging companies. The foundation of the association coincides with the industry’s endeavour to revive.
According to data from the American Hotel and Lodging Association, the newly established group’s national partner, Iowa hotels lost over 10,000 jobs and $420 million in room income. State industry employment has fallen by 9%, with approximately 2,000 pre-pandemic hotel jobs still unfilled.
“When COVID travel limitations were implemented, Iowa’s hotel and lodging industry were one of the most hit business sectors,” Paul Rottenberg, president and CEO of Orchestrate Hospitality Group and chairman of the IHLA board, said in the announcement.”As we fight our way back to pre-pandemic occupancy rates, we need a unified voice.”
It also wants to take an active part in preventing human trafficking as an inaugural member of Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate’s Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking.
The group’s first educational outreach will focus on assisting the industry with a new rule that went into effect on January 1 that requires all hotel personnel to be trained on how to detect and report human trafficking offences. Hotels must be compliant in order to host and receive payments for overnight stays by state employees or for state meetings hosted on hotel grounds.
“A healthy hotel business is vital to robust local economies, and thriving hotel associations are critical to a successful hotel industry,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of the national group.For the time being, Jessica Dunker, president and CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association, will lead the IHLA.
The IHLA board of directors is chaired by Paul Rottenberg of Orchestrate Hospitality in Des Moines, and vice-chaired by Ravi Patel of Hawkeye Hotels in Coralville. and Catch Des Moines’ Greg Edwards as director.
