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 of Finance, to thank the government for the measures they [...]
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 to turn lights off when you have adequate natural sunlight. [...]
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 contact your local public health inspector to review the steps [...]
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 cannot yet bring back all their staff, and were facing [...]
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). Repeal and replace the Tourism Levy Act with legislation that [...]
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 market to its knees. By March 18, market uncertainty and [...]
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? STR, a firm that benchmarks and analyzes the global hospitality [...]
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 measures to support Alberta hotels. 2. Extension of temporary layoff [...]
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 liquidity options. RRRF funding in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan will [...]
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 hospitality sector and will help position the accommodation industry for [...]
