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2010 AH&LA Lodging Survey Identifies Key Trends

2010-09-07

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AH&LA The new American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) 2010 Lodging Survey, the most comprehensive industry-wide survey of its kind, polled 9,000 U.S. hotel properties regarding in-room amenities, security and technology features, food and beverage options, guest services, sustainability, property offerings, and much more to give hoteliers an detailed analysis of the industry at large.

Funded by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF) and conducted by STR, the survey is conducted every two years to track notable trends in all segments of U.S. hotels in more than 100 areas.

Among the many major findings, the survey revealed the following:

New technologies are becoming more common:

For the first time hotels were asked if they utilize social networking sites for marketing purposes; although upper-end hotels appear more apt, 75 percent of respondents do;

Wireless Internet access rose to 94 percent, up from 91 percent in 2008;

Hotels are getting healthier:

The number of hotels with exercise equipment in rooms nearly tripled to 17 percent, from six percent in 2008; 83 percent have an exercise room/health and fitness facility, up from 63 percent in 2004;

Fifty-six percent have 100 percent non-smoking rooms, an 18 point increase from 2008; 38 percent make allergy free rooms available, up from 24 percent;

Properties are becoming greener:

Properties using energy-efficient lighting jumped from 68 percent in 2008 to 88 percent;

Appearing on the survey for the first time, 44 percent of participants said they have or are working toward a green certification.

“Due to its large sample size and the sophisticated analytic breakdown by market segment, the 2010 Lodging Survey provides the largest representative sampling and view of trends in the American lodging industry,” said AH&LA President/CEO Joseph A. McInerney, CHA. “Not surprisingly, there were large upticks in both technology and sustainability as hotels continue to cater to guests’ interest in these two areas.”

AH&LA members can download a copy of the 2010 Lodging Survey via the Members Only section of the AH&LA Website, www.ahla.com. Individual data points are available for sale for $250 each from the AH&LA Information Center at (888) 743-2515. Comparisons can be made dating back to the first AH&LA Lodging Survey in 1988. Press interested in an index of research questions and more detailed statistics can contact Kathryn Potter at (202) 289-3131 or kpotter@ahla.com.

AH&LEF is the charitable fund-raising and endowed fund-management subsidiary of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Founded in 1953, AH&LEF is the premier organization for scholarships, professional certification, and instructional material as well as funding for hospitality industry research. For more information, visit www.ahlef.org.

Serving the hospitality industry for a century, AH&LA is the sole national association representing all sectors and stakeholders in the lodging industry, including individual hotel property members, hotel companies, student and faculty members, and industry suppliers. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AH&LA provides members with national advocacy on Capitol Hill, public relations and image management, education, research and information, and other value-added services to provide bottom-line savings and ensure a positive business climate for the lodging industry. Partner state associations provide local representation and additional cost-saving benefits to members.

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