American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) Releases 2006 Lodging Survey
	The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) has released its 2006 Lodging Survey, considered the most comprehensive of its kind. The survey tracks the size, scope, and emerging trends of the lodging industry.
More than 9,300 U.S. hotel properties were polled on more than 100 areas, including types of in-room amenities, security and technology features, food and beverage options, number of beds, guest services and property offerings. The 2006 survey includes new categories on branded amenity products, upgraded bedding, flat screen TVs, early or 24-hour check-in policies, and electronic locks/key cards. Popular and returning categories include high-speed and wireless Internet access in meeting and guest rooms, pet policies, children's activities, non-smoking rooms, air purifiers, complimentary breakfast, mini bars, fitness/exercise facilities, and resort fees. Among the many major findings, the survey revealed the following: • The percentage of hotels with cable of satellite TV in the room has grown steadily since 1990, from 69 percent to 99 percent in 2006. • Voice mail continues to become a common amenity in hotel rooms. Eighty-six percent of all hotels now offer voice mail, up from 72 percent in 2004. All hotels in the luxury chain scale indicated they offer voice mail. • High-speed Internet access has grown substantially. Of all responding properties, 50 percent offered this service in 2004, which grew to 89 percent in 2006. • Wireless Internet access is likely the fastest growing in-room amenity. The number of hotels that offer this service more than doubled over the last two years. In 2006, 82 percent of all hotels offered this service compared to 35 percent in 2004. • In 2006, the upgraded bedding amenity was surveyed for the first time. Sixty-nine percent of all hotels indicated they had upgraded the bedding in their rooms last year. • Branded bathroom amenity products proved to be a popular item for all hotels. In 2006, this amenity was surveyed for the first time and found that 85 percent of all hotels indicated they provide branded amenity products in bathrooms. • Ninety-eight percent of all respondents in 2006 indicated they use the Internet to obtain a booking, which was up from 89 percent in 2004. Comparisons can be made dating back to 1988 when AH&LA began conducting a biennial survey of members. In 1998, AH&LEF funded the survey and broadened the study's respondents to include nonmembers. The 2006 study was conducted by Smith Travel Research. 'Due to its sample size and updated questions, the 2006 Lodging Survey provides the largest representative sampling and view of trends in the American lodging industry, as well as an exceptional summary analysis comparing results and key findings.' said AH&LA President & CEO Joseph A. McInerney, CHA. 'This information provides members with essential information on the trends that impact their guests, properties, and bottom line. In addition, the survey assists members in benchmarking their properties, and vendors in determining segments that have growth opportunities for their products.' AH&LA members can download a copy of the 2006 Lodging Survey via the Members Only section of the AH&LA Website, www.ahla.com. Individual data points are available for sale for $250 each from the AH&LA Information Center at (888) 743-2515.