District 2 Jeff Boeka Holiday Inn Express PO Box 788 North Platte, NE 69101-0788 Ph: (308) 532-9500 District 3 Paula Harris Hampton Inn 504 N Diers Grand Island, NE 68803 Ph: (308) 384-9777 District 4 Mel Wichman Holiday Inn I-80 7838 S US Highway 281 Grand Island, NE 68803-9127 Ph: (308) 384-7770 District 5 Lisa Tupper Hampton Inn 1301 W Bond Cir. Lincoln, NE 68521-3636 Ph: (402) 474-2080 District 6 Susan Madsen Embassy Suites Hotel & Conv Ctr 555 S 10th St. Omaha, NE 68102-2803 Ph: (402) 346-9000
At Large John Palmtag Best Western Inn PO Box 460 Nebraska City, NE 68410-0460 Ph: (402) 873-7000 At Large Kent Peterson The Cornhusker, A Marriott Hotel 333 S 13th St. Lincoln, NE 68508-2538 Ph: (402) 474-7474 At Large Robert Watson Hilton Omaha 1001 Cass St. Omaha, NE 68102-1152 Ph: (402) 998-3400 At Large Dave Yates Doubletree Hotel 1616 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68102-1502 Ph: (402) 346-7600
Nebraska Hotel & Motel Association 1335 H St., Suite 100 t Lincoln, NE 68508 Ph: (402) 476-1528 t Fax: (402) 476-1259 Email: info@nebraskahma.com Web: www.nebraskahma.com
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At Large Tony Moody Embassy Suites Hotel & Conf. Ctr. 12520 Westport Parkway LaVista, NE 68128 Ph: (402) 331-7400
District 1 Position Currently Vacant
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DIRECTORS
At Large Steve Hilton Embassy Suites 1040 P St. Lincoln, NE 68508-3617 Ph: (402) 474-1111
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At Large Troy Benavides Holiday Inn Convention Center 3321 S 72nd St. Omaha, NE 68124-3567 Ph: (402) 393-3950
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President Rick Lecy Marina Inn Conference Center PO Box 218 South Sioux City, NE 68776-0218 Ph: (402) 494-4000 Treasurer Ronn Sorensen Country Inn & Suites 5353 N 27th St. Lincoln, NE 68521-1039 Ph: (402) 476-5353
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DIRECTORS CONTINUED
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OFFICERS
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Nebraska Hotel & Motel Association Board of Directors
Message from your President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Front Cover University of Nebraska Tourism Hospitality Training Now Online and FREE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 OpenWays Introduces the Fastest and Greenest Way to Check In and Open a Hotel Room Door. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Fall Harvest Reception Recap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 2009 Nebraska Travel Industry Award Winners Announced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 FY2010 Federal Per Diems Announced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Today’s H1N1 Flu Risks for Hotels and Travelers . . . . . . . . 7 America’s Hotels: Strengthening the Economy in Every State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Smith Travel Research, September 2009. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Health Care Legislation; Which Hotels Might Get Sick?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 & 11 AH&LA Lodging Industry Profile Charts Hotel Profits, Sales, And International Arrivals . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Advertisers American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute. . . . . . . . . 3 Accident Insurance Company of America. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute. . . . . . . . 10 Heartland Payment Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 The INN Sider Be Sure to Hire a Certified & Licensed Pest Control Operator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Hotels’ Tax Valuations Rise as Occupancy Falls. . . . . . . . . . 1 In Memory of Richard “Rick” Milton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Relief at the Pump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Hilton Receives Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Sarpy Board Authorizes up to $26 Million in Ballpark Bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Sheraton Announced Lobby Lounge Concept. . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Fine Lines, Fair Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4 What’s in Store?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 5 Tips for Winter Landscaping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Editor: Robert L. Anderson Lobbyist: Alice Licht Legislative Day Coordinator: Dana Adamy Managing/Advertising Editor: Rebecca Barker Accounting & Fall Harvest Reception: Dorothy Elsey Research & Special Projects: Andy Licht