Group Retro Program

The Washington Lodging Association launched a Workers' Comp Group Retro Program in 2006 with a pledge to safeguard members against the skyrocketing costs of workers' compensation insurance by providing scrupulous management of claims and proactive programs that result in a decrease in on-the-job accidents and injuries.  The performance results recently released from Labor & Industries demonstrate that WLA continues to deliver on that pledge: the average group refund for 2008 is 39.6%; 2009 is 19.5%; and 2010 is 12%, making WLA one of the top performers among all Washington group retro programs.

Recovering higher refunds is important, because it puts money directly back into members' pockets.  Refunds are an important first step toward the ultimate goal of lowering the amount members spend on workers’ compensation insurance premiums at the outset. That's achieved by consistently working toward a safer workplace. The WLA Group Retro Program is unique among Washington state programs in bringing members valuable -- and in most cases, free -- resources to do just that.

Click the links below to learn more about how your business can benefit from the WLA Group Retro Program.

You can also contact WLA at 877-906-1001 and WLA's professional partner at Approach Management Services, Jennifer Johnson, at 800-626-0846.

• Cutting-edge safety training programs:  Each member property gets four free classes a year!
   
• Upcoming Claims Management Workshop:  Essential info at no charge.
   
• What's an On-Site Loss Control Review and how can I benefit?
   
• What are the criteria for joining the WLA Group Retro Program?
   
• Contact me with more info on how my business can benefit.

WLA's Greening Washington's Lodging Industry Program: Background and Update

In 2009 Washington Lodging Association received a Public Participation Grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology to underwrite WLA's Greening Washington's Lodging Industry Program. Working with Cascadia Consulting Group, WLA implemented a pilot program from March 2010 through June 2011 which demonstrated the benefits of green lodging.  Columbia Hospitality and Best Western Peppertree Inns of Washington were selected as the project's two pilot companies and working with Cascadia, they implemented at least three environmental practices at each of their properties, measured the business and environmental impacts and shared the results and lessons learned with industry peers, guests and the public.

"Through this program, we demonstrated that green lodging is good business practice, even in these challenging economic times.  Many green practices result in utility savings and sometimes leverage financial incentives, such as utility rebates and tax breaks," said Gerry Link, CHA, WLA Green Team Co-Chair. 

Both pilot companies experienced cost savings, marketing benefits and enhanced employee engagement. For highlights of the companies' successes and lessons learned click here for Columbia Hospitality's Green Pilot case study and here to see Best Western Peppertree Inns of Washington's case study. For more detailed results, check out Columbia Hospitality's presentation from the March 7, 2011 WLA luncheon or Best Western Peppertree Inns of Washington's presentation from the June 9, 2011 WLA luncheon.  With the assistance of our PR and communications partner, Colehour+Cohen, WLA and its pilot companies have received media attention for their Greening Washington's Lodging Industry Program. 

In 2012 Washington Lodging Association's application for a 2nd Public Participation Grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology to support and expand the Greening Program came in third place.  Unfortunately due to funding issues, no Public Participation Grants were awarded in 2012, and the Greening Committee continues to look for ways to enhance and grow the Greening Program.

Learn more!  The documents below were used to guide the two pilot company efforts and intended to assist any hotel interested in enhancing their environmental performance:

• Where to start? Assessing  green lodging practices at your hotel.
• Auditing your property for opportunities.
• Tapping into employee enthusiasm and ideas.
• To what extent do our guests want green lodging options?
• What gets measured gets managed: a data needs checklist to set a baseline and track progress.
• Communicating to management/ownership: Peppertree Inns and Salish Lodge examples.

See who else is going green. As a part of the Green Program, we challenged other hotels around the state to pledge to undertake at least one new green initiative. 22 properties pledged to complete a total of 44 new green actions. See who took the pledge here. 

Visit AH&LA for more information on American Hotel & Lodging Association's Green Guidelines which provide a national, three-tiered, self-certification structure.  And click here for even more valuable resources and advantages to greening your hotel. 

To share your ideas for the Greening Program, or to volunteer on the Greening Committee, please email or call us at 877-906-1001.

The Washington State Visitors’ Guide has been an essential resource for millions of travelers and prospective travelers since it was first launched by Washington Lodging Association in 2000 to strengthen the state’s tourism industry. Beginning with the 2012 edition, the popular Visitors’ Guide will be published in partnership with the newly established Washington Tourism Alliance and SagaCity Media, Inc., publishers of Seattle Met, Portland Monthly and other award-winning magazines.

This strategic partnership builds on WLA’s leadership in the hospitality industry and WTA’s position as Washington State’s official tourism marketing organization, as well as SagaCity Media’s considerable expertise in custom publishing for the tourism industry. By joining forces, these leaders in statewide tourism are building a unified industry that will benefit all of Washington State. As the only official publication for marketing Washington State, the Visitors’ Guide will have a circulation of 375,000, reaching over a million travelers in 2012. It will be mailed to interested travelers through Washington's official state tourism website, ExperienceWA.com, distributed in visitors centers and tourism locations throughout Washington and other western states, sent to subscribers of Seattle Met and Portland Monthly magazines, and available in select retail locations. It will also be available online in a digital format on ExperienceWA.com and on StayInWashington.com, WLA’s consumer site, and in applications for iPads, Android tablets and smartphones. 

WLA members receive significant discounts on advertising rates in the Visitors’ Guide and member advertisers receive a customized page on StayInWashington.com which they can update throughout the year. For information on advertising in the 2012 edition, please contact Jeff Adams, SagaCity’s Vice President of Custom Publishing, at 206-957-2234 ext. 107 or jadams@sagacitymedia.com or click here for a faxback form.

• Click here to advertise in the 2012 Visitors' Guide
• Click here for reader demographics.
• Click here to read the 2011 Visitors' Guide online.

The 2012 edition of the Visitors' Guide will be available in March.  

StayInWashington.com

StayInWashington.com, WLA’s dynamic consumer website, is designed to encourage travel throughout Washington and quickly links visitors to accommodation options in all parts of the state. In doing so, it helps fulfill WLA’s mission of strengthening the state’s vital hospitality industry.

As the companion site to the annual Washington State Visitors’ Guide, which WLA has been publishing since 2000, StayinWashington.com extends the power of the print edition to the Internet. It connects visitors with great trip ideas, valuable travel resources, popular attractions and useful Google maps, and features a statewide calendar and the ability to search for accommodations by region and city. In addition, visitors can make reservations on the site through Travelocity.

All WLA lodging members receive a basic line listing on StayinWashington.com, and members who advertise in the print edition of the Visitors’ Guide receive as part of their advertising campaign an individual page on the site that includes photos and detailed descriptions of their properties.

StayInWashington.com also features a state-of-the-art digital edition of the Washington State Visitors’ Guide with hyperlinked ads and live links from every URL mentioned in the popular guide. Visitors to the site can also have a copy of the Visitors’ Guide mailed to them for a nominal shipping and handling fee.

To find out more about advertising in the Washington State Visitors’ Guide or on www.StayInWashington.com, please contact Jeff Adams at SagaCity Media, Inc. (jadams@sagacitymedia.com; 206-957-2234 x132).

• Click here for assistance in planning your ad campaign.
• Click here for Visitors' Guide reader demographics.
• Click here to order your copy of the Visitors' Guide.
• Click here to view the Visitors' Guide online.
   

Workplace Safety Training

WLA launched a Workers’ Comp Group Retro Program in 2006 with a pledge to safeguard members against the skyrocketing costs of workers' compensation insurance by providing the lodging and hospitality industry with scrupulous management of claims and proactive programs that result in a decrease in on-the-job accidents and injuries.

Click here to learn more about the refunds sent to members participating in the WLA Group Retro Program and how can you get involved.

Lowering the amount members spend on workers’ compensation insurance premiums is achieved by consistently working toward a safer workplace.  Below are resources that help you to do just that.

• Valuable and Informative Classes.  Click here to see the current schedule of workshops and seminars, including CPR in English and Spanish, Anti-Harassment and Discrimination, Unemployment Claims Management, Safety Orientation for New Hires and more.  Each member property or business is entitled to four free classes each year, and all classes are available at discounted member rates.
   
• Participate in a Free Claims Management Workshop. Receive your Claims Management Manual and valuable tools and information on managing claims and controlling costs.  Click here for more information and to reserve your place.  Annual attendance at a Claims Management Workshop is required for every member of the WLA Group Retro Program.
   
• Bring a free Loss-Control Review or other accident prevention program right to your property.  Click here to see all the benefits of a Loss-Control Review. 

The more you take advantage of your membership in the WLA Group Retro Program, the more you, your employees and your bottom line will benefit.  Sign up for a program or class today!

To learn more about how your business can benefit from the WLA Group Retro Program click here, or contact WLA at 877-906-1001 or Jennifer Johnson, WLA’s professional partner at Approach Management Services, at 800-626-0846.

American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) Programs

WLA Membership Delivers Benefits and a Bonus:  For properties with 51 or more rooms,  Washington Lodging Association membership delivers double the value:  American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) membership is included with your WLA membership fee. 

Serving the hospitality industry for nearly a century, the Washington, D.C.-based AH&LA provides members with national issues advocacy on Capitol Hill, public relations and image management, education, research and information, and other value-added services that provide bottom-line savings. Members receive answers from its industry-leading Information Center, advanced training materials from its Educational Institute, a free subscription to Lodging Magazine and discounts on conferences, certification, services and products.  (WLA members with 50 and under rooms can join AH&LA for a nominal fee.)

For details on WLA membership, click here. 
Click here to visit AH&LA’S website.

American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AH&LEI)

EI is a premier source for quality hospitality education, training and professional certification.  WLA members save 20-40% on all AH&LEI products and services! 

Take advantage of industry-tested, research-driven, hospitality training programs, available on the Internet or through videos, textbooks, seminars and professional certification.  Train all levelsof hospitality personnel with custom programs to meet your specific training needs.

Download EI’s catalog, or view it directly, by clicking on the link below.  Visit the Educational Institute’s website for more information.
 

• Download the Hospitality Training Resource Catalog
  
• Download the NEW FREE Hospitality iPhone Application
• Access Monthly Member Special Offers
• Save 20% on Compliance Training Online with Promo Code: COMAR
  
  

The AH&LA Information Center

Located at the Conrad N. Hilton College at the University of Houston, the AH&LA Info Center is a full-service research facility dedicated to collecting information about the lodging industry. The Information Center provides members with answers to hospitality questions at no cost, usually within three business days.

Much of the information you may need is already available on the AH&LA Information Center's website.  Members can access the History of Lodging in the USA, a current Lodging Industry Profile, Traveler Expenditure Data, a list of the Top 50 Hotel Companies, an array of Frequently Asked Questions, and Industry Links.  Another excellent research tool is the AH&LA Industry Knowledge Base, containing press releases, articles, reports, trends, and more, which is updated daily from a variety of sources.

To take advantage of this valuable resource, complete an Information Request Form or e-mail Tamika Figgs, research manager, AH&LA Information Center.

Want more info? Email us.