Current Designations

The AHLA developed the AHLA Safe Accommodation Promise (ASAP) in response to challenges faced by hotels during Covid-19. We are also excited to be working on a new designation that will reflect the new reality of human resources, health, and safety post-pandemic.

AHLA Safe Accommodation Promise (ASAP)

As the official safety association for Alberta hotels & convention centres, the AHLA has developed the ASAP designation to help properties:

  1. Understand their responsibility to provide a safe environment for guests and staff, and what this entails.
  2. Provide assurance to guests and staff that their property is a safe place to stay or work.

By meeting ASAP requirements and earning the right to display the ASAP logo and certificate, your property is making a promise to staff and guests to prioritize their health & safety.

Past Designations

In light of the impacts of COVID-19 on Alberta’s hotel industry, the AHLA’s Board of Directors paused the following programs.

Employer of Choice

The Employer of Choice (EOC) designation was created to showcase exceptional human resources practices in the accommodation sector. Having an EOC designation allowed hotels to show that their staff was being treated fairly and were working in a safe environment.

EOC helped properties discover areas for improvement and what mattered to their employees. Improving the satisfaction of your team leads to improved satisfaction among your guests. An EOC designation allowed members to distinguish their hotel, motel, or resort from other employers in Alberta’s tourism and hospitality industry.

Housekeeping Awards

From 1983 to 2019, the AHLA delivered Alberta’s Housekeeping Awards in conjunction with Travel Alberta and the Government of Alberta. These awards recognized the highest standards of excellence in cleanliness, maintenance, and state of repair for hotels and motels. Congratulations to the hundreds of member properties that received the award over the years!

In 2020, the Housekeeping Awards were retired. The AHLA now encourages hotels to make the AHLA Safe Accommodation Promise (ASAP) to assure the health & safety of their staff and guests.

Hospitality Safety Leadership Certificate

Exclusive to the hotel industry in Alberta, the Hospitality Safety Leadership Certificate was designed to lead employers through the process of developing and implementing a health and safety management system and create a corporate safety culture that improved the way hotels do business.

Requirements for each level built on the foundations of the previous levels, and the certification was renewed annually.