New laws significantly update Virginia's Retail Franchising Act By Franchise Standards Committee On April 13, 2026, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed into law significant updates to Virginia’s Retail Franchising Act. The identical bills, House Bill 69, introduced by Delegate Dan Helmer, and Senate Bill 240, introduced by Senator Christopher Head, become … [Read more...] about Virginia Rewrites the Rules
Advocacy & Policy Issues
Behind the Scenes, Building Influence
How AAHOA's Back of the House Tours advanced advocacy in 2025 By Olivia Story In 2025, AAHOA’s Back of the House (BOH) Tours continued to demonstrate their value as one of the Association’s most effective advocacy tools. By inviting legislators into member-owned hotels across the country, these tours created opportunities for policymakers to engage directly with … [Read more...] about Behind the Scenes, Building Influence
Our Voice, Our Power: Advocacy That Delivers
By Olivia Story Advocacy is at the core of AAHOA’s mission, and this season has brought a wave of meaningful wins and impactful engagement for America’s hotel owners. From city halls to Capitol Hill, AAHOA ensures the voices of our nearly 20,000 members – who own 60 percent of U.S. hotels – are heard loud and clear. Small Hotels, Big Victory In San Diego, AAHOA … [Read more...] about Our Voice, Our Power: Advocacy That Delivers
Make Your Voice Heard
The value of advocacy for independent hoteliers By Aaryan Patel and Jin Laxmidas Independent hoteliers represent entrepreneurial resilience, community engagement, and personalized guest experiences that branded chains often cannot replicate. Yet, despite their contributions, they often face outsized challenges – particularly when navigating legislation, regulatory … [Read more...] about Make Your Voice Heard
10 Tips for Effective Political Advocacy
In a toolbox of strategies to make your voice heard in a democracy, contacting legislators – by phone, email, letter, social media, or in-person meetings – is one of the most effective. Whether pushing for policy changes, holding elected officials accountable, or voicing the real-world impacts of legislation, strong, clear, and informative communication is key to persuasive … [Read more...] about 10 Tips for Effective Political Advocacy