Washington, July 24, 2003—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) recently teamed up with The Real Estate Roundtable (RER) by joining its Real Estate Information Sharing and Analysis Center (REISAC) — a coalition that works with the U.S. real estate industry and federal homeland security officials.
Through this alliance, AH&LA executives share vital information about the nation’s hotel community to prevent, detect, and respond to terrorist and malicious threats on lodging guests.
The joint venture also facilitates response-planning on warnings, incidents, and vulnerabilities — ultimately, counteracting terrorism as well as protecting buildings and its occupants. REISAC is currently establishing incident-reporting criteria and thresholds for the lodging segment. These guidelines will aid hoteliers in identifying incidents that warrant reporting to local, state, and federal agencies.
“In reaction to White House-issued statements citing hotels as possible terrorism targets, AH&LA’s participation in this group is vital for continued evaluation of unexpected crisis situations. At the end of the day, we believe this alliance helps ensure the safeguarding of our guests and employees,” said AH&LA President and CEO Joseph A. McInerney, CHA.
In addition, other REISAC partners include the American Resort Development Association, Building Owners and Managers Association International, National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, Institute of Real Estate Management, International Council of Shopping Centers, National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, National Association of Realtors, and Real Estate Board of New York.
“RER is pleased to work with AH&LA on this important project. The experience and expertise of the organization’s broad membership will add immeasurably to the effectiveness of our joint industry effort,” stated RER President and COO Jeffrey DeBoer.
For additional information on this national initiative, visit the groups’ Web sites at www.ahla.com (AH&LA); www.rer.org (RER); and www.reisac.org (REISAC).
AH&LA is a 93 year-old federation of state lodging associations throughout the United States with some 11,000 property members worldwide, representing more than 1.5 million guestrooms. AH&LA provides its members with assistance in operations, education, and communications, and lobbies on Capitol Hill to provide a business climate in which the industry can continue to prosper. Individual state associations provide representation at the state level and offer many additional cost-saving benefits.
The Real Estate Roundtable is the organization that brings together leaders of the nation's top public and privately-held real estate ownership, development, lending and management firms with the leaders of major national real estate trade associations to jointly address key national policy issues relating to real estate and the overall economy.
