The Voice of Innkeeping Issue 1 Vol. 1 January 2016 | Page 5

Happy New Year – I am excited about what 2016 will bring for all of us that are a part of Innkeeping. For me 2016 is off to a great start – on January 4th it was a privilege to join the Association of Independent Hospitality Professionals (AIHP) team. I have spent the last nine years as CEO of the Pennsylvania Association of Travel and Tourism and enjoyed working with our many amazing travel and tourism partners to promote Pennsylvania as a destination. The innkeepers in Pennsylvania are such a big part of our travel and tourism experience and now to have a chance to work with Innkeepers from across the country is a real honor and privilege and I am very excited about the future.

I am thrilled about the launching of AIHP's new E-Magazine - The Voice of Innkeeping. This online publication will provide a tremendous format for AIHP to share with you what is happening throughout the innkeeping world. We will focus on sharing compelling information and knowledge that will help you in your day to day business, highlighting best practices for innkeeping around North America and connecting you with our Allied

Partners who can assist in making your property a tremendous success through the expertise that they have in their businesses. The Voice of Innkeeping will be your must read."

AIHP is committed to creating excellence and leadership within our industry. Bill Bradley once said, “Leadership is unlocking people’s potential to become better.” For those not as familiar with the Association of Independent Hospitality Professionals (AIHP), we are a non-profit organization created by our members to focus on best practices for success, for independent hospitality professionals and their allied partners. We will do this through professional development, progressive business practices, advocacy and networking.

As an organization we will lead the charge to elevate the awareness and importance of independent small lodging owners by providing collaborative networking opportunities, strong advocacy efforts on issues critical to our industry, compelling professional development opportunities and promoting progressive business practices.

I am a big admire of Steve Jobs and what he was able to do through his leadership, innovation and his ability to create a learning environment for Apple. In my opinion his business model really works within any organization or business – Vision, Passion and Collaboration.

Jobs said – “If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The Vision pulls you.” AIHP is committed to being a visionary organization that leads Innkeeping into the future.

Passion – Steve framed it this way, “In your life you only get to do so many things and right now we have chosen to do this, so let’s make it great.” There is not any industry anywhere that has more passion than innkeeping. Those involved in AIHP have passion. They love what they do; they love their guests and are committed to us collectively telling “our” story with passion.

And lastly, Collaboration – Steve Jobs said, “Great things in business are never done by one person, they’re done by a team of people” innkeeping makes up that team - AIHP will bring us together as an industry to make a difference.

I look forward to a great 2016 and taking this journey with you. If you are not already involved in AIHP please consider becoming a member and getting involved. We can only change the “our corner” of the world if we do it together. My door is always open to talk Innkeeping.

All my best -

[email protected]

844-622-6941 x. 406

From the desk of

Rob Fulton, CEO