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| | Our 2026 Sponsorship & Advertising Guide is almost here! This will be distributed very soon and Sara will be scheduling appointments to review engagement opportunities this year. |
Top | | Your property’s OHLA membership provides access to one of our most valuable benefits for your organization and your team members—the Stars of the Industry Awards program.
OHLA’s Star Awards give you an easy, free way to provide prestigious recognition to your employees. Awards and recognition opportunities are an important part of validating, thanking, encouraging, and retaining your best performers and boosting morale within your staff. Experts agree that adding industry recognition to your employee programs can help improve team culture, increase performance, and even reduce turnover.
Submissions open April 1, 2026, but it's never too early to begin writing those nominations! Will you help us recognize our industry’s best by nominating candidates from your property? |
| | Take part in the one and only Columbus Hotel Games happening February 24 from 12-4pm at the Greater Columbus Convention Center!
Started in February of 2017, this field day-like event presents a series of hospitality-related games and relays in which hotel teams compete against each other. The event brings together our lodging community to participate in an afternoon of friendly competition focused on the Travel & Tourism industry.
Who will be the Grand Champion this year? |
| | OHLA would like to thank everyone who participated in #WearBlueDay, attended trainings, and requested anti-trafficking materials. Your participation is helping our industry remain at the forefront of trafficking prevention in our state and communities. Just because the month is over doesn’t mean our efforts should stop. There are many ways you can continue to get involved and help in the fight against trafficking.
Click "Read More" below to find out how you can continue to get involved! |
Top None at this time. Top | | Updated minimum wage notice, license renewal reminders, key issues in second year of legislative session and more – find details in the full Government Affairs Update.
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Top | | The Association of Lodging Professionals (ALP) — the national trade association serving independent lodging professionals (inns, B&Bs, boutique hotels, etc) — invites OHLA members to attend ALP Unlocked 2026, March 2–5, 2026 at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown. |
Top | | Throughout the Fall, OHLA’s Women In Lodging (WIL) collected personal care items to support the American Red Cross’s Totes of Hope initiative. Totes of Hope is a nationwide campaign led by the American Red Cross’s Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) program.
At the OHLA annual conference, volunteers packed over 260 totes and over the last two months, they were delivered to representatives for the Cleveland, Dayton, Chillicothe, and Cincinnati VA Medical Centers. |
| | You’re invited to join nearly 1,000 women in hospitality (and allies!) for two immersive days of leadership development, authentic connection, and conversations you won’t find anywhere else, taking place on April 16-17, 2026, in Atlanta, GA at Signia by Hilton Atlanta.
It’s an experience designed especially for hospitality leaders who are serious about solving one of our industry's most critical challenges: attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional women talent in an increasingly competitive landscape. |
Top | | Build momentum this February with OHLA’s Emerging Professionals (EP) program—connecting rising talent in Ohio’s lodging industry through networking, growth, and leadership opportunities.
Join a community shaping the future of hospitality!
Register for our February Third Thursday at Playa Bowls!
Join fellow emerging hotel pros for a low-pressure, high-connection networking night designed for real conversations, not rigid goals.
February 19 from 8:30 - 10:00 AM at Playa Bowls OSU |
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Effective Stress Management Tips for Hotel Managers During High-Demand Periods
Hotel managers face constant challenges navigating fluctuating occupancy and unpredictable demands, which can lead to significant stress and burnout.
This article offers practical strategies—such as prioritizing clear communication, leveraging checklists, encouraging breaks, delegating tasks, and securing reliable staffing support—that help managers maintain focus, reduce pressure, and lead their teams more effectively.
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| | How Eco-Friendly Practices Are Driving Guest Expectations and Boosting Ohio’s Hospitality Industry
As travelers become increasingly eco-conscious, sustainable lodging has evolved from a trend to a business necessity in the hospitality industry. Across generations, guests now expect hotels to implement visible, effective green practices such as energy conservation, waste reduction, and local sourcing. In Ohio, this shift presents a significant opportunity for hotels to gain a competitive edge by adopting environmentally responsible measures, improving guest loyalty, and supporting the state’s booming tourism economy.
Keep Ohio Beautiful highlights the crucial role of sustainability in attracting today’s mindful travelers and offers resources to help Ohio’s lodging sector lead the way in green hospitality.
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| | I’m honored to share that I’ve joined the OHLA Board of Directors! As the founder of Greenluxe and a passionate advocate for sustainable hospitality, I’m excited to help shape resources that reflect the unique needs and strengths of our Ohio and Midwest region.
From our local biodiversity to the expectations of today’s travelers, our market has distinct opportunities—and I’m committed to tailoring support that’s both relevant and actionable. |
| | What Cogwheel’s Saying: Smart Takes Worth Reading
Google’s Performance Max (PMax) campaign type offers a highly automated way to reach customers across all of Google’s channels, including Search, Display, YouTube, Gmail, Discovery, and Maps.
What is Performance Max (PMax)?
PMAX is a separate Google Ads campaign type that uses Google’s AI to optimize ad delivery across nearly every part of the Google ecosystem. Unlike traditional campaigns, PMax operates without needing keywords.
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| | January Workers' Compensation & Safety Updates
This month, Sedgwick is spotlighting cost-saving opportunities and critical compliance deadlines for employers heading into 2026. Their latest articles cover Group Retrospective Rating as an alternative premium recovery option for employers who missed Group Rating enrollment, along with a detailed guide to OSHA and PERRP recordkeeping requirements, exemptions, and upcoming reporting deadlines. Review these updates to help maximize potential savings and stay compliant in the new year.
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Top | | The next committee meeting is virtual on Thursday, February 12 from 11 am – Noon. If interested in learning more about the committee, please reach out to Amanda at amanda@ohla.org. |
| | Ohio DECA, which is an organization that prepares high school students for careers in marketing, finance, management, hospitality, and tourism, is having their career development conference on February 24 & 25, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Columbus. |
| | On the Road with OHLA: Empowering Hospitality Students
In an effort to build stronger connections to the colleges and universities in Ohio with hospitality programs, OHLA began visits to the programs this Fall, meeting with Baldwin Wallace and Lorain County Community College in November. At the meetings, the schools shared that their priorities are increasing enrollment, developing and strengthening relationships with industry partners, and training career-ready students.
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Top | | Save the date for the 2nd Annual OHLEF Golf Classic, taking place on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at the beautiful Golf Club of Dublin.
Join industry colleagues, partners, and supporters for a day of friendly competition, networking, and community impact as we come together to support OHLEF’s mission. More details, including registration and sponsorship opportunities, will be shared soon! |
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Upcoming Events
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February 19, 2026
8:30AM - 10:00AM | Playa Bowls (OSU)1952 North High St. Columbus, OH 43201 |
| February 24, 2026
12:00PM - 4:00PM | Greater Columbus Convention Center400 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215 |
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