Change is constant, and the need to keep up is ever present. That
is one reason to belong to a trade association. The Metropolitan Memphis
Hotel & Lodging Association (MMH-LA) fits the bill for local
hoteliers and their vendors.
Each month the MMHLA holds a luncheon meeting for its members. This
meeting serves two purposes: to provide an opportunity to network with
other hoteliers and to present a program that will be of interest to the
hotel community. Some examples of programs held during 2007 include:
* Sports Panel, with a representative from the AutoZone Liberty
Bowl, Mike Rose Soccer Complex, Regions Morgan Keegan Tennis
Championship, Stanford St. Jude Golf Tournament, Memphis Grizzlies and
the Memphis Motorsports Park.
* "Summer of Soul in the Birthplace of Rock & Roll"
presentation by the Memphis Convention Visitors Bureau.
* Allied Member Panel, which spotlighted Allied Members and their
products and services.
* Housekeeping Panel, which spotlighted the not-so-glamorous aspect
of the industry. The behind-the-scenes employees of each hotel are
essential and need to be encouraged and applauded. In conjunction with a
monthly meeting, the MMHLA also hosts the World Series of Housekeeping,
which is a fun competition for the housekeeping staff. More than nine
hotels compete annually for prizes and lots of laughter.
* Presentation of future developments in the community, such as
what will be happening in eastern Shelby County with the construction of
the new interstate system.
Each year the MMHLA also offers more in-depth programs on the
industry:
* The Annual State of the Industry program which takes place in
February. This half-day seminar features an industry speaker as well as
a statistical presentation regarding
* The Annual Lodging Industry Summit offers a more varied program,
with topics of interest to the industry. Executives from major brands
give their views on the future of the industry as well as statistical
reports. This annual event takes place in August.
Education is seen as a great need in the hospitality industry. The
MMHLA supports scholarships at the University of Memphis Kemmons Wilson
School of Hospitality and Resort Management and at Wooddale High School.
Funds are raised from an annual golf tournament. This event provides an
opportunity to network outside the office, while raising funds for
educational and political endeavors. The MMHLA recently endowed a
scholarship at the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality through funds
raised at this tournament.
The MMHLA is also very involved in the political arena. The MMHLA
political action committee's (PAC) mission is to help elect
qualified individuals who recognize the importance of the lodging
industry to the economy and who will give our concerns a fair hearing.
The MMHLA needs to be politically aware when it comes to issues that
relate to Lodging Taxes, Immigrant Employment and Seasonal Labor,
Uniform School Start Dates, Tourism Marketing, Hotel Operations,
Health/Safety, and Food and Beverage issues. The MMHLA, along with the
strength of the Tennessee Hotel & Lodging Association PAC and the
American Hotel & Lodging Association PAC, provides the lodging
industry with an influential voice in government.
The 132-member MMHLA includes over 65 local hotels. The Allied
Members are from companies that do business with the hotel industry. The
MMHLA lodging members are encouraged to "Buy Allied First,"
supporting those companies that are actively involved in their industry.
The MMHLA is not alone in serving the local hotel community, it
also partners with the Tennessee Hotel & Lodging Association and the
American Hotel Lodging Association. With the state and national
associations, the MMHLA is able to provide better resources to its
membership.
As the unifying force within the hospitality and tourism industry,
the MMHLA can affect issues that impact the hospitality industry.
Through this united voice of the lodging industry, the associations
benefit from an outspoken advocate and an indispensable resource for the
$113-billion sector. Members benefit from product and service discounts,
world-class training, in-depth information, fast research support, and a
wealth of other resources.
The MMHLA supports the Memphis community through the involvement of
member hotels in such projects as Ronald McDonald House Share-A-Night,
St. Jude, Memphis In May, United Way, AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Food Bank,
and many others.
The hospitality/travel industry is the second largest industry in
Tennessee, with annual direct spending exceeding $12.4 billion. In 2005,
the federal, state, and local tax collections from domestic travel
exceeded $2.7 billion. Employment generated by travel accounted for
1,778,100 jobs within the state of Tennessee and generated payroll
exceeding $4.9 billion. This collective impact demands representation
and respect.
by Peggy Callahan, Executive Director, The Metropolitan Memphis
Hotel & Lodging Association
Peggy Callahan has been the Executive Director of the MMHLA for
almost ten years. Recently, Peggy was also hired to serve as the
Executive Director of the Coalition for a Better Memphis. Originally
from California, Peggy moved to Memphis in 1989 with Calgene, Inc., an
agricultural biotechnolgy company.
COPYRIGHT 2007 University of
Memphis Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.
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