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The Milwaukee Business Journal has named the Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association the 24th largest association in Wisconsin. The list is ranked by the number of members in Wisconsin (ties are broken alphabetically). WH&LA was also ranked #24 last year.

The top five associations include:

1. Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation (previously ranked #2)
2. State Bar of Wisconsin (previously ranked #3)
3. Wisconsin Realtors Association (previously ranked #4)
4. Wisconsin Medical Society (previously ranked #5)
5. Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants (previously ranked #6)

The complete list can be found at milwaukee.bizjournals.com (subscription required).

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WH&LA honored Bob Dhir, DHIR Group LLC, Milwaukee as its 2011 Innkeeper of the Year and Keran Farrell, Steinhafels Commercial Interiors, New Berlin as its 2011 Associate of the Year at the Wisconsin Lodging Conference on November 7 at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel, Appleton.

Bob Dhir is the Owner/President & CEO of the DHIR Group LLC, whose portfolio currently consists of the recent award-winning Quality Inn Milwaukee/Brookfield; Best Western PLUS Milwaukee Airport; and Super 8 Milwaukee Airport. Dhir and his wife, Anita, are a well-known team in the Dhir Group, continually striving to make their properties the best from the inside to the outside in operations, appearance and service.

Dhir has served for the past six years on the WH&LA Board of Directors, and was instrumental in gaining approval for the change of the organization’s name from the Wisconsin Innkeepers Association to it’s current name.  He has also served as president of the Wisconsin Coalition of Asian-Indian Organizations, and serves on the advisory boards of franchisors Wyndham Hotels Group/Super 8, and Choice Hotels International.

Keran Farrell is the Director of Contract Sales for Steinhafels Commercial Interiors, with responsibilities including directing the sales efforts for furniture, fixtures and equipment, including mattress sales to Wisconsin lodging properties, hospitals, universities, and commercial applications in general.

Farrell served on the WH&LA Board of Directors from 2005 – 2010, was recently elected to a new term starting in 2012, and he regularly participates in WH&LA committee and task force meetings.

For their service to the lodging industry, both honorees also received a special commendation from Governor Scott Walker.

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Occupancy was up in Wisconsin in July 2011 compared to July 2010 and most market areas saw an increase in occupancy, with the largest increase in Madison. ADR was also up statewide compared to July 2010, with the largest increase in Milwaukee.

To view Smith Travel Data for your region for July 2011, click here. (Password protected for lodging members only – e-mail Michelle in the WH&LA Office if you need help logging in.)

Data is provided by Smith Travel Research, an independent research firm founded in 1985. Smith Travel offers WH&LA members discounts on various STR reports and products. For more information, visit strglobal.com.

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Congratulations to the following WH&LA members on their recent awards and recognition!

The Iron Horse Hotel, Milwaukee was honored by the American Hotel & Lodging Association at its Stars of the Industry Awards ceremony, held during the Summer Summit at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, GA. The hotel was a winner of the Guest Relations, Small Property award and the Special Events, One-time Only, Small Property award for its celebration of the 77th anniversary of the repeal of prohibition, where the property was transformed into a 1933 speakeasy.

Bob & Anita Dhir of DHIR Group LLC, Milwaukee were recognized at the Choice Hotels International 2011 Convention as 2011 Premier Alliance Winners, which recognizes exceptional franchisees that develop properties with Choice Hotels, live up to the brand promise through excellent property performance and are active in the franchise community.

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Occupancy was up in Wisconsin in April 2011 compared to April 2010 and all market areas saw an increase in occupancy, with the largest increase in Madison. ADR was also up statewide compared to April 2010, with the largest increase in Milwaukee.

To view Smith Travel Data for your region for April 2011, click here. (Password protected for lodging members only – e-mail Michelle in the WH&LA Office if you need help logging in.)

Data is provided by Smith Travel Research, an independent research firm founded in 1985. Smith Travel offers WH&LA members discounts on various STR reports and products. For more information, visit strglobal.com.

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The May 5 WH&LA Capitol Insider provided a round-up review of several issues relevant to the lodging industry, including:

- Passage by the Joint Finance Committee of the proposed increases in Tourism Marketing Funding over the next two years;

- Reductions in funding and realignment of the Arts Board;

- SB 59, which would extends the deadline for registration with the DNR of a grandfathered pier from April 1, 2011, to April 1, 2012;

- Wisconsin Act 16, which prevents local ordinances from exceeding the state family and medical leave act relating to employer requirements on paid or unpaid leave; and

- SB 85, which would treat lack of payment for services rendered by a service provider the same as retail theft, which would be a misdemeanor or felony depending on the value of the service.

The entire Capitol Insider can be accessed here by clicking on the May 5 link. This link is password protected for lodging members only – contact Michelle in the WH&LA office if you need access to your password or help logging in.

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The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) will ask the Court of Appeals to reconsider the ruling released yesterday finding the Mandated Paid Sick Leave Ordinance approved by voters in the City of Milwaukee in 2008. For more about the ordinance implementation timeline and Senate Bill 23 and Assembly Bill 41, read the March 25 issue of Capitol Insider here. This page is password protected for lodging members only. For help logging in, e-mail Michelle in the WH&LA office or call 262/782-2851.

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This morning the Wisconsin Court of Appeals released their ruling upholding the controversial Mandatory Sick Leave Ordinance in the city of Milwaukee passed by referendum in November of 2008. The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) filed a lawsuit right after the referendum passed challenging the legality of the mandate, which was won in Milwaukee County Circuit Court. An appeal filed by 9 to 5, the National Association for Working Women, was deferred to the state Supreme Court, which deadlocked in a 3-3 vote last October, sending the case back to the District IV Court of Appeals.

Why is this important not only to Milwaukee properties, but to others around the state? What does the Mandatory Sick Leave Ordinance require? To find out, read the March 24 issue of Capitol Insider here. This page is password protected for lodging members only. To get help logging in, e-mail Michelle in the WH&LA office or call 262/782-2851.

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Congratulations to the following WH&LA member properties & associate members for their recent awards:

The Hyatt Regency Milwaukee was named “Hotel of the Year” at the Noble Investment Leadership Conference in Raleigh, N.C. in March. The property also received three additional awards, including “Most Outstanding Food and Beverage Performance,” “Most Outstanding Financial Performance” and recognition in community support.

The DoubleTree Hotel of Madison won a corporate service award as one of the top five overall performing small hotels (under 224 rooms) within the brand.

A-1 Textiles has been honored in the following categories by DiversityBusiness.com: Top 500 Women Owned Business in the US, Top 100 Diversity Owned Business in California, Top 100 Women Owned Business in California and Top 100 Privately Held Business in California.

Congratulations also go to Ed Lump of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association on his being honored with a Tourism Legacy Award. Below Ed is pictured with his award and members of the Tourism Federation of Wisconsin.

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Congratulations to the following WH&LA member properties for their diamond ratings from AAA:

Four Diamond – The Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee; The Iron Horse Hotel, Milwaukee; Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, Lake Geneva; and The Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake

Five Diamond – The American Club, Kohler

Only 4.4 percent of AAA-rated hotels and 2.7 percent of restaurants receive four diamonds. Only one-third of 1 percent of rated establishments receive five diamonds.

The entire list of diamond-rated properties and restaurants can be found here.

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