2024 CHLA Annual Report

Welcome to the California Hotel & Lodging Association Annual Report

A MESSAGE FROM OUR LEADERSHIP

“2024 was a year of progress, resilience and collaboration for California’s lodging sector. This year, we celebrated legislative wins, delivered innovative resources for our members and supported California’s hospitality industry.”
– Lynn S. Mohrfeld, CHLA President + CEO

LEGISLATIVE AND ADVOCACY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In 2024, CHLA successfully championed several legislative efforts to protect hotels, foster business growth and benefit communities statewide:

  • Website Accessibility Bill (AB 1757): Prevented costly and unfeasible website accessibility standards.
    • Potential Savings for Hotels:
      • Legal fees from noncompliance lawsuits
      • Web development and training costs
  • Coastal Commission Bill (AB 3192): Preserved billions in economic activity and guest traffic by defeating a bill that threatened California’s iconic golf courses and connected hotels.
  • PAGA Reforms (AB 2288 and SB 92)): Reduced employer liability for minor infractions, improved employee compensation and streamlined case resolution processes.
  • Fee Transparency Laws (SB 1524, SB 478, AB 537): Advocated for fairness in fees among hotels, OTAs and short-term rentals. This effort promotes direct bookings and reduces OTA commissions.

ADVOCACY AND PAC IMPACT

CHLA’s advocacy work continues to shape the future of California’s lodging industry. Through our Political Action Committee in 2024, CHLA was entrusted to manage $255,500 in candidate contributions, strategically allocating funds to:

  • 62% state campaigns, ensuring key policies align with industry priorities.
  • 38% local campaigns, protecting member interests in regional markets.

HOTEL CARING: SOCIAL IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS

California hotels demonstrated their commitment to social responsibility in 2024, as revealed by our partnership with Oxford Economics to quantify industry philanthropy:

  • $68 million in charitable giving and 328,000 volunteer hours to community causes in 2023.
  • Contributions included in-kind donations, fundraisers, food drives, and employee volunteer initiatives, showcasing how hotels give back to their communities.

OPERATIONAL RESOURCES FOR MEMBERS

CHLA delivered essential tools and resources to help members navigate complex regulations and improve daily operations. Highlights from 2024 include:

  • Fee Transparency Compliance Guidance
  • Workplace Violence Prevention Plan
  • California Hotel Law (Fourth Edition—Now Digital)
  • AI Policy Guidelines
  • Digital Tipping Sample Policy

COMMUNICATIONS HIGHLIGHTS

Engaging and informative communication remained a cornerstone of CHLA’s efforts in 2024. Key achievements include:

  • Publications: Expanded reach through Hotel Weekly, Advocacy Weekly, and California Lodging News magazine.
  • Alerts: Timely updates with Member and Industry Alerts.
  • Webinars and Guest Speaker Events: Fostering education and connection.
  • Social Media Growth:
    • 47% YOY LinkedIn follower increase.
    • 110,000 organic LinkedIn impressions, extending CHLA’s influence.

EVENTS: NEW AND IMPROVED

CHLA hosted impactful events designed to inspire, educate and celebrate the hospitality industry:

  • Trends + Insights Hotel Conference: A forward-looking event with some of the industry’s leading hotel minds discussing emerging industry trends.
  • Hotel All Stars: A celebration of excellence, recognizing 144 outstanding hospitality professionals.

WHO WE SERVE

We proudly serve a diverse membership base from independent boutique properties to large conference hotels. In 2024, we achieved a 5% property member growth and 18% allied and vendor member growth.

  • 88% Hotel and Lodging Members.
  • 12% Allied/Vendor Members.
  • 14 group member accounts.

Notable milestones:

  • Welcomed San Francisco Peninsula Tourism Marketing District as a new group member.
  • Introduced enhanced marketing opportunities to spotlight member milestones and achievements across CHLA’s communications channels.

TRAINING MILESTONES

CHLA continued its dedication to workforce development and training in 2024, achieving significant results:

  • Over 2,000 members trained in human trafficking awareness.
  • Life-to-date: Over 12,000 members trained, reinforcing industry-wide commitment to safety and ethical practices.

FINANCIAL OVERVIEW

CHLA maintained robust financial health in 2024, ensuring stability and growth:

  • Annual Budget: $4.65 million.
  • Cash Reserves: $2.2 million, demonstrating fiscal responsibility.

CHLA LEADERSHIP

Strong leadership guided CHLA’s impactful year. The 2024 Executive Committee included:

  • Chair: Dhruv Patel, Ridgemont Hospitality.
  • Vice Chair: Cormac O’Modhrain, Sunstone Hotel Investors.
  • Secretary/Treasurer: Daniel Kuperschmid, Hyatt Hotels Corporation.
  • Audit & Investment Chair: Laurenne Douglas, Pacific Plaza Hotels.
  • Advocacy Chair: Javier Cano, Marriott International.
  • Past Chair: Hee-Won Lim-Grosvenor, Pacific Palms Resort.

CHLA HOSPITALITY FOUNDATION

The CHLA Hospitality Foundation achieved new milestones in 2024:

  • Awarded $175,000 in scholarships to 62 students from 14 accredited California colleges and universities.
  • Welcomed Dr. Eric Lane as Director of Development to enhance the foundation’s initiatives.

INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS AND INVOLVEMENT

CHLA’s network of partnerships supports our mission to empower members and advance the industry:

Partner Associations:

  • American Hotel & Lodging Association.
  • Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA).
  • International Society of Hotel Associations (ISHA).

Managed Associations:

  • California Association of Boutique & Breakfast Inns (CABBI).
  • Hotel Association of Los Angeles.
  • San Diego County Lodging Association.

Partners by Tier:

  • Diamond: ACE Hospitality Solutions.
  • Platinum: Visit California, Petra Risk Solutions.
  • Gold: Acquire, Code4 Private Security, Encore, Fisher Phillips, Red Roof, Sonder, ThinkReservations, United Healthcare.
  • Silver: American Resort Development Association (ARDA), rezStream.
  • Bronze: Atlas Hospitality Group, Ecolab, HD Supply, Miller Law Group, SiteMinder, Tayst Coffee.

Thank you for making 2024 a year of impact and innovation. Together, we continue to elevate California’s lodging industry.