The Hyatt Regency Miami is the headquarter hotel for the 2012 Annual Conference in Miami. Stay in the middle of the action. Indulge in the spirit of the “American Riviera” at Hyatt Regency Miami. Just 15 minutes from South Beach and two miles from the Port of Miami, this downtown hotel is easily accessible to everywhere you want to be. It’s not too late to book your room at the Hyatt Regency Miami at the guaranteed rate of $220 per night (plus tax). Quick and easy reservations can be made directly from the CHPA website.

Why should I book at the CHPA 2012 Annual Conference headquarter hotel?  Here are just a few reasons:

1. Staying at the Hyatt Regency Miami will save you money!
   When you factor in cab fares and travel time to an alternate hotel, you may discover the costs are greater than you originally planned and end up spending more money. You also have the convenience of charging any meals, beverages, or incidentals to your room.
2. Networking can happen when you least expect it!
   By staying at the Hyatt Regency Miami, you gain the opportunity to better network with your peers and remain in the center of the activity surrounding the meeting. As many past attendees can attest, networking happens at both official CHPA functions AND unplanned, impromptu meetings.
3. I can find a lower rate on the Internet!
   Negotiated hotel rates incorporate many benefits for you and CHPA. Based on the number of rooms in CHPA’s block, the hotel provides complimentary or reduced rates for meeting room rental, staff accommodations, and food and beverage. If CHPA is unable to achieve its room block commitment because attendees are making reservations at other hotels or canceling/shortening their length of stay at the headquarter hotel, the hotel charges CHPA an attrition fee to make up for its lost sleeping room revenue. CHPA may have to increase registration fees to cover the expenses and cut back on services provided.

Make your reservations now to ensure you receive the guaranteed rate!

Don't forget to register for the Annual Conference!  Time is running out to save money!!

In 2012, you’ll notice a new approach to CHPA communications.  Each month will focus on a key area of important to the industry and all CHPA messages will focus on these monthly ‘themes’.  January’s newsletter focuses on legislation in the industry and its impact on CHPA members.  CHPA supports members in their need to be aware of legislation, an update on current legislative initiatives, recent Board decisions and more.

Below are the topics for the year.  If you would like to share an article on a particular topic, write a blog posting, share a reference via one of the Association’s social media outlets or just plan to send a team member to a CHPA webinar on a particular topic, this will help you better plan. 

• January: Legislation
• February: Prospecting, Sales & Marketing
• March: Data
• April: Inventory Challenges
• May: Standards, Expectations & Trends
• June: Credit card fees best practices
• July: Insurance
• August: Bed Bugs
• September: Safety
• October: Operations
• November: Specialty Housing
• December: Better Understanding the Industry

We will also begin pulling together content experts on some of these topics to create industry white papers.  If you are interested in contributing your knowledge on any of these subjects, please let me know at map@chpaonline.org.

As we finish 2011 and start 2012, we’re both looking in our rearview mirrors and our crystal balls.   At this time of year, we review where we’ve been and strategize on where we want to go.  In October in Miami, the CHPA Board of Directors did this for CHPA.  I am excited by the enthusiasm and dedication volunteers bring to CHPA each year.  Since its inception, CHPA has evolved from a completely volunteer organization to today’s professional association supported by 2 full time and one part time staff, backed by another team of professionals from an association management company.  Wow, we have come a long way in the past few years.  Why is this important to you as you consider your company’s future?  Because in addition to all CHPA’s current valuable programs and services,  CHPA leaders strengthened their commitment to develop professional relationships with other trade organizations like WERC and NAA to ensure your future success. 

Can CHPA save you a million dollars in 2012?  You bet! 

As you may or may not be aware, a few years ago, corporate housing providers operating in New York City were alerted by local legislators that tax laws had been reinterpreted, resulting in their companies owing back taxes.  Through CHPA, these providers joined together to fight these unfair penalties.  They won and even though the cost of the battle was hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal costs, no one company bore this financial burden alone.

Currently in Texas, another group of members have filed a constitutional challenge against unfair tax regulations that could make or break these companies.  CHPA is leading this effort as well, pooling resources to ensure these companies continued success.  With legislators looking for new revenue resulting in new or revised tax regulations, housing laws, etc., it is essential for members to know about these proposed changes as soon as possible.  Through CHPA, we are proactively seeking this information to track and inform our members of potential changes in their markets.

CHPA’s Board of Directors approved contracting with a legislative monitoring service.  This service will track key areas of interest to our industry, alerting us to legislation that may impact our livelihoods.  This Board decision was made to support members in being better informed before legislation is introduced, alerting members to potential local changes and allowing us to proactively recommend exemptions and adjustments to the laws to preserve the success of our industry.  Our industry is not well understood and as such, is not the direct target for legislation. We are, however, being swept up in legislation meant for other industries.  As the impact and expense of fighting these unintended consequences, one of our goals is to educate legislators about our industry and supporting CHPA’s strategic goal of increasing awareness while helping to keep members profitable.  Starting in 2012, CHPA will partner with MultiState Associates, Inc. to monitor both state and national legislation that could impact the corporate housing industry.  CHPA will keep you posted and will continue to take the lead if action is needed.

Looking forward to 2012, I remain cautiously optimistic.  Increasingly, we hear how essential workforce mobility is to keeping companies strong and profitable, hopefully leading increased relocations in 2012.  In the most recent Board Pulse Survey, 28% of respondents continued adding properties in November, 2011.  87.5% of respondents said revenue was above the year before and 87.5% said business was steady/good.  I am looking forward to the Miami conference to help me better understand national trends and new ideas on how to strategize moving forward.  I have also heard rumors about an amazing Miami Industry Party (think all white).

Short answer:  dynamic discussions about industry realities and the impact on CHPA membership, programs, services, and our financial and people resources.   Leaders reaffirmed CHPA’s goals of increasing awareness of the industry and members, as well as increasing value in everything CHPA offers.  These discussions become our 2012 plan of action and the driver of Association initiatives.

How does this impact CHPA’s programs?

CHPA leader and member consensus is that the majority of the Association’s current programs and services work well.  We spent our time focusing on the programs and services identified as having “growth” or “growth and investment” potential.  Look for changes soon on industry data collection, expanded local events, stronger collaborations with other professions and resources to share with your new hires and customers. 

How does this impact CHPA’s volunteers?

CHPA leaders and members find our volunteers effective, positively impactful and an incredible value to the Association.  Much of this is thanks to your involvement and efforts on all things CHPA!  Soon you’ll see new opportunities with CHPA’s Task Forces to make your involvement a more meaningful experience for you.  New ways to compile industry knowledge and best practices, as well as new ways to connect to the drivers of success for your business are in the works. 

What Happens Next?

CHPA leaders approve an updated action plan.  CHPA communications will highlight ways you can get involved and then together, we put it all into action.  Check back online and connect to CHPA via our social media channels.  Get in the know to be the first to know about what’s happening with CHPA.

A blog post does little to share the energy of the Miami meeting but stay tuned . . . Exciting ways to be engaged in the energy that is CHPA and CCHPA are coming soon.  If you have any questions or want to talk about what interests you, please let me know. 

Thank you for your support of CHPA and CCHPA.  Follow us at Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn!

Our discussion wrapped up with all of us trying to predict the future and answer: What key trends/policies/practices in the mobility industry that have emerged in this economic crisis will permanently reshape it in the years to come? What do you see disappearing as the economy improves?

• Telecommuting increasing for employees.
• This will likely have an impact on relocation volumes.
• Companies will increasingly focus on managing by results not face time.

Government relations: What key emerging legislative or regulatory issues will affect the mobility industry?

• The Homeowners Assistance Refinance Program (HARP): this program is designed to help troubled borrowers restructure their loans, and lenders are interested in participating, but the repurchase risk is too high.
• NAR is mounting a “Homeownership matters” campaign.
• A coalition of organizations has formed to retool the results of the Dodd‐Frank bill to get it closer to the original intent of requiring good mortgage underwriting standards but eliminate riskier kinds of loans without stopping lending altogether. Worldwide ERC, the MBA, and NAR are all members of this Coalition
• AMSA (American Movers & Storage Association) is still dealing with the rogue movers issue, seeking recognition of the “pro‐mover” program. Also seeking a highways bill, and working with Worldwide ERC in monitoring the protection of the moving expense deduction.

General comments included:

• Demand for rental assistance at an all‐time high. RMCs need to manage transferee expectations for how quickly rental properties can be found, and clients need to be prepared to pay fees for services.
• Direct to agent transactions are not always in the best interest of the transferee.
• Seeing an increase in the number of requests for 2nd or e 3rd BMAs as well as predecision BMAs and candidate tours (which some “candidates” abuse as an opportunity for a free vacation even though they’re not seriously considering the move.)
• Talent remains a challenge for appraisers.

What are you seeing in your markets and/or in your relationships with mobility professionals and their “end users”?  How is all this impacting your business with them?  Share your stories here or at Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn!