9 Smart Ways for Hospitality Properties to Promote Advocacy

Advocacy has become important for the hospitality industry in the wake of recent challenges experienced in the industry.  Properties are still recovering from the past few years as they are getting back to normal operations and appropriate staff levels following the pandemic.  A new challenge impacting the industry has been the rise of competition among various lodging businesses.  With easy access to the internet and well-known websites like Airbnb, it has never been easier for customers to have such wide access to so many places to stay with just a few clicks.  This easy access makes it much more important for properties to step up their game to promote their advantages if they want to continue getting a steady flow of bookings and reservations.  Local governments have also gotten involved to help with managing the increase in properties like short-term rentals and regulating it.  This is why hospitality advocacy is so important for the industry.

What is Advocacy?

Advocacy is an action that argues for something, makes a recommendation, defends something or someone, and can make a plea on behalf of others. It also involves sharing different perspectives about a certain issue to give others a different way of looking at it. Advocacy is important to make people more aware of a situation, solve problems, and pass new laws. Across many local towns, property owners and managers have been coming together to discuss various issues.

Advocacy Issues Being Addressed

Virtual town halls have been occurring throughout the year to address current issues that hospitality properties are dealing with.  The primary issues have been how different local areas are coping with the rise of short-term rentals in their areas. Others are concerned about a small group of short-term rental owners that are refusing to pay hotel taxes. Some current and long-time rental owners have expressed concern over general tax increases that are placing a burden on their overall budget.  Like personal housing throughout the country, members across the country have stressed that short-term rentals are becoming unaffordable for many travelers in certain areas.  Finally, certain communities are looking to forbid anyone who sells a short-term rental within the community from being able to buy another one.

Advocating for Short-term Rentals

Property owners must take the initiative to become more engaged in the community before issues arise. The hospitality industry, including short-term rentals, needs to be seen as a positive influence by members of the community to build up a positive reputation and gain trust.  Some ways to accomplish this can include getting to know your local elected officials and getting involved in the community.  This way, members of the community will hopefully take your needs more seriously if challenges or problems do develop, and you need to make a recommendation or argue for a change.  There are several ways that properties can help promote advocacy in their local communities.

How to Promote Advocacy in Hospitality

1. Get to know your local representatives by introducing yourself and telling them about your role in the community.
2. Attend local township meetings and express any challenges you may be facing.
3. Run for local office or get involved on a committee.
4. Get your property name out to the community by sponsoring local sports teams and supporting local charity events.
5. Organize community improvement days like picking up litter to help promote sustainability.
6. Donate leftover food like pastries to a local shelter or volunteer to serve food.
7. Encourage co-workers to volunteer for local causes that they are passionate about and wear something like a t-shirt with the property name to engage with the community.
8. Use social media pages to get your messages across to your audience.
9. Submit a letter to your local newspaper expressing challenges being experienced in the hospitality industry.

InnStyle is Here for Your Hospitality Needs

Hospitality advocacy is a great way for properties to stay in the loop by sharing challenges and stories with one another.  The primary goal of all properties is to provide their guests with a relaxing and memorable experience.  Properties that offer good quality bedding and other hospitality supplies can help give their guests a more positive experience.  InnStyle offers a wide range of bedding, towels, amenities, lodging accessories, dining linens, and much more.  Please give them a call and speak with one of their account managers about any questions you may have.  They would be happy to offer their own feedback and recommendations that are customed towards the specific needs of your property.  InnStyle can be reached at 267-354-6020 or 800-877-4667.  Their website is https://www.innstyle.com/.