Changes to Labour Legislation Benefit Hospitality Employers
Several new changes to Alberta labour legislation will benefit hospitality employers and reduce red tape surrounding employment standards. Bill 32, the Restoring Balance in Alberta’s Workplaces Act, was passed on July 28, 2020, and will include the following changes: Effective August 15, 2020 Termination & Layoffs: [...]
AHLA Calls on Government to Increase VLT Commissions for Hotels
The Alberta hotel industry, which had already been experiencing financial difficulties as a result of reduced activity in the oil & gas sector, has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The AHLA sent a letter to Travis Toews, President of the Treasury Board and Minister [...]
Summer Energy Saving Tips
By ENMAX Energy Get the most of your electricity this summer using these tips: Air conditioning: Set central air conditioners a couple degrees warmer than usual to reduce the use of air conditioning systems. Use the sunlight: Consider installing automatic timers, controls, or dimmer switches [...]
Safe Operation of Hotel Swimming Pools During COVID-19
In addition to the Government of Alberta’s Guidance for Swimming Pools and Whirlpools, Alberta Health Services (AHS) has answered some frequently asked questions about safe operations of swimming pools during the pandemic: Does each facility need a satisfactory water sample prior to opening? You should [...]
Temporary Layoffs Extended & New Grants Available
Temporary Layoffs Extended to 180 Days After ongoing dialogue with government over the past several weeks, the maximum length of temporary layoffs has been extended from 120 to 180 days. The bill received royal assent on June 26. This is great news for hotels that [...]
AHLA Advocates for More Support for Hotels
After the launch of the Alberta Recovery Plan, the AHLA sent a letter to Premier Kenney to thank the government for their efforts to support liquidity for Alberta hotels, and to encourage them to: Advocate for the extension of the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). [...]
How Alberta’s Struggling Energy Industry Affects Hotels
By Gas Alberta Energy March 2020 brought about the closest thing to a knock-out punch the energy industry has ever seen. North America was already on the verge of a pandemic when a dispute between Russia and Saudi Arabia about supply quotas brought the energy [...]
Using Data to Help Business Recover from COVID-19: Webinar
COVID-19 has devastated the hotel industry, and we are seeing lower occupancy rates, RevPAR rates (Revenue Per Available Room), and ADRs (Average Daily Rate) than ever before. But what does this mean for the Alberta hotel industry? How long will it take to bounce back? [...]
Advocating for Alberta Hotels: Advocacy Priorities 2020-21
The AHLA’s new Board of Directors came together in early June to discuss the challenges facing Alberta hotels and how the association should respond. Based on the current state of the industry, the Board has identified the following advocacy priorities for 2020-21: 1. Advocating for further liquidity [...]
Government Announces Regional Relief Recovery Funds
The Government of Canada has announced more than $962 million in funding for the Regional Relief Recovery Fund (RRRF) to mitigate the financial pressure faced by businesses, including hoteliers. This new fund may provide some relief to hoteliers who have had difficulty in accessing existing [...]
Hotels Permitted to Keep Tourism Levy for Remainder of 2020
The Government of Alberta has announced that hotels and other lodging providers will be allowed to keep the tourism levy they collect between March 1 to December 31, 2020. This measure will free up between $16 and $27 million in additional cash flow for the [...]