MEXICO CITY The Latino Hotel Association, a newly formed global organization dedicated to expanding the involvement of Latinos in the hotel industry, has formed a strategic alliance with Asociación Mexicana Hoteles y Moteles, Mexico’s primary hotel association.
The two groups will work together to increase Latino hotel investment and ownership, concentrating on education programs about hotel franchising, investment and development, as well as networking. “This is the first step in our plan to bring together the global Latino hotel industry,” says Angela Gonzales-Rowe, president and founder of LHA. “There are nearly 16,000 hotels in Mexico, the vast majority of which have no international brand affiliation. As the hotel industry becomes more global, branding will play an increasingly important role in a property’s success. Our initial efforts will be on educational sessions with many of the world’s leading brands, as well as conventions where members of our two organizations can network and increase Latino investment in hotels.”
The two organizations will hold their first joint meeting in Mexico this fall. The session will include classes and orientation on franchising, hotel standards, finance and brand support.
“In today’s business climate, quality and awareness are leading factors for success,” says Armando De la Garza, president of Asociación Mexicana de Hoteles y Moteles en Coahuila. “With more informed members and awareness of potential partners within our two organizations, we intend to have a long-range impact on the quality and number of hotels in Mexico. One of the most important milestones for our members is, without a doubt, the decision to form a partnership with LHA.”