DISCLAIMER:  The opinions and comments of individual franchisees expressed herein are solely the opinions of those individual franchisees and do not necessarily state or reflect the opinions of the Owners 8 Association or its attorneys.  The  information in this website is the sole property of the Owners 8 Association and any duplication or reprint cannot be made without the consent of  Owners 8 Association. 




   An independent association of  North American Wyndham Hotel Group franchisees
                                                        www.O8A.org     
                       Member of the CFA - The Coalition of Franchisee Associations 
                                                               www.thecfainc.com
                                                               www.CFAvotes.com
           


Updated  June 20, 2009

MEMBERSHIP NEWS:              
  1,295  O8A MEMBERS FROM ALL WYNDHAM HOTEL GROUP BRANDS 

We continue to welcome all Wyndham franchisees to join the association. Working together we will accomplish our goals.  It is essential that we create an exceptional working relationship between the franchisees and Wyndham where both groups with prosper.  Continue to join the association and spread awareness of the group to your colleagues.  Registration is always free and your support of our issues and concerns is always welcomed.

The Owners 8 Association (O8A) is the voice of Wyndham owners, an outspoken advocate, and an indispensable resource for the  hotel owners of these franchising systems.  We are the unified voice that collectively represents the Owners and their issues. 

The O8A identifies the most significant issues facing the owners and focuses on objectives and tactical initiatives needed to serve the members and create a group where owners can operate cooperatively.  The Association keeps members informed regarding laws, regulations, industry trends, and trade news through communication.  The O8A informs members about continuous changes in franchise requirements and also provides members with an overview of hotel owners top concerns.  O8A identifies key issues and develops action items that are specific to the franchisees / Owners. 


LINK TO FREE MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION PAGE:
http://owners8association.org/Registration_Page_.html



NEWS UPDATES:

6/20/09 Letter to WHG

To:  Mr Danziger - WHG President
From:  Jay Patel - Interim President O8A

As we move forward, we continue to focus on Wyndham Rewards sign up issues.  I thank you for your response last month regarding the timing on the discontinuance of the opt out rather than opt in process.  However, of continued significant concern is the fact that many of my colleagues continue to send us email's that they are finding WR (Wyndham Rewards) numbers being added to reservations after receiving the initial reservation.  They receive a change notification that only adds a WR number to the guest's reservation.  We continue to have guest's notify us at check in and check out they they did not sign up for the WR program and opted out, yet they are being assigned a number and added into the WR program.  Please read the email below:

 

From: MIKE PATEL
Subject: WYNDHAM REWARDS SIGN-UP
To: info@owners8association.org
Date: Saturday, June 20, 2009, 4:45 PM

Hi Jay,   Well Wyndham has started again and are now signing up guests for the rewards even if they dont want to sign up. The customers have even mentioned being asked to sign up and they have said no, but Wyndham still signed them up. When the guests make their reservations, an hour or two later there will be a change and the only change to the reservation is Wyndham signing the guests up for Wyndham Rewards.   Thank you, Mike

 

I wish to reiterate that I speak for most of the O8A members when I say that we would like for the WR program to work to its fullest abilities.  However, in the current state this is not true and until the change is made to opt in we will continue to see this as a 5% royalty addendum rather than an effective marketing program.  More significant is the fact that of all the members that are currently in the program, we are unable to determine the legitimacy of these members.  We cannot determine the true validity of any WR billing that takes place for our sites and we do not see an end to this for several months.  The entire process helps WHG add members to the program and create extra revenue for the marketing portion of the WHG budget at the expense of the franchisees. 

 

These are very trying economic times for most of the franchisees and members of O8A and the entire lodging industry.  Franchisors should not be adding a continued additional expense burden on the franchisees as we are finding extreme difficulties in making ends meet.  We continue to be frustrated with this program and hope that you can bring a more expediant change to this program.
 

Jay (Jimmy) Patel - Interim President O8A

www.O8A.org

The Owners 8 Association Website

Owners Working Together

POSITIVE CHANGES BROUGHT BY WYNDHAM HOTELS GROUP:

O8A has helped bring about the following positive changes for the membership:

1.  O8A has been able to begin direct communication with Wyndham Corporate  Officials in an effort to represent the concerns of the franchisees.  Until just recently, WHG officials were not communicating directly with O8A board members.   There is also a scheduled meeting  later this summer with the Super 8 FAB and Mr. Valletta in order to discuss current franchisee issues.

2.  Best Rate Guarantee:  As of April 1, 2009, WHG has changed the BRG from giving guests a free room to discounting the room rate by an additional 10%.  Many franchisees were loosing extensive amounts due to the BRG and O8A and several other franchisees through communication have helped bring about this change.

3.  Wyndham Rewards Enrollment:  Mr. Danziger announced that WHG will no longer make guests opt out of the WR registration but rather make them decide to opt into signing up for WR.  Many of our over 7 Million WR members were auto enrolled and many without their knowledge.  Further, we continue to pay 5% for fees when the guests are proactively matched through our PMS.  Currently, WHG has less than 10 percent of the email addresses of these members and WHG is loosing the ability to cost effectively reach these folks. 

4.  Communication:  WHG has announced improvements to their customer service with the franchisees.  They have reduced the number of contacts in an effort to get answers to us quickly.  They wish to respond to you within 24 hours.  As franchisees, we have continually addressed this problem as we were continually ignored and never received answers. 

5.  QA:  We have over the last year and a half brought to WHG's attention the fact that many of the inspectors were inconsistent and in some cases were unprofessional in conducting their inspections.  WHG has announced that they have created a QA self inspection video to help us prepare for the inspections.  More importantly, they have focused on making the inspection process more consultative in nature.

6.  Customer Service:  One of the improvements to QA that O8A had requested involved allowing the franchisees to open a file and create a response in advance of a guest calling in or emailing an issue to Customer Service.  WHG will now let the franchisees access MyPortal and create a file with the guests names and issues with a response thus giving the guest an immediate answer rather than having to following the standard procedures which may take days. 

OTHER INFORMATION

UNIONIZATION AND ITS IMPACT
Franchisees and Franchisors must work together as costly unionization of ecomony   segment looms Many of us have received post cards in the mail in the last few weeks from what appears to be a franchisee organization called UNITE HERE.  It addreses concerns that appear to be those of Motel 6 franchisees.  O8A attempted to contact the group in an effort to clarify the intent of their mailing.   After conducting further research into this matter, we have found that this is an effort of the labor union Unite Here to expand it's presence in the ecomony segment.   O8A has contacted both Wyndham Worldwide and Accor to let them know that as franchisees, we realize the extreme costs associated with union staff and the detrimental affect wide-spread unionization would have on the lodging industry.  It is the best interest of both franchisors and franchisees to keep our labor costs under control as many experts point to high union labor expenses as the pitfall of the airline and auto industry.  

In the upcoming Congress, Democrats will have control of both the Senate and the House of Reps.  Further, The Office of President will also be under democratic control.  It is public knowledge that the unions are heavily supported by the Democratic Party.  The Employee Free Choice Act which as we have mentioned before is a deceptive name for a bill that the unions are aggressively pushing for the purpose of unionizing most of America's businesses.  This includes the lodging Industry that is currently suffering from low occupancy and low revenues due to the current economic environment.  However, as things improve through the upcoming year and the economy rebounds in its typical manner.  The Union issues will begin to creep back into politics.  The franchisors better take heed and understand that the franchisees and the franchisors are and will need to remain on the same side of this issue.  The franchisors need to begin to work with franchisee associations in an amicable manner on these issues.   Wide-scale unionization would be devistating to the industry.   To let your voice be heard contact your elected officials through the CFA Votes website  and oppose the employee free choice act!!  http://capwiz.com/cfavotes/home/

 

With their recent mailing, Unite Here is attempting to present itself as a group that works to better the Motel 6 flag.  This clearly is not the case as their goal is strictly to increase the wages and benefits of their members at the expense of franchisees.  With the economy which we're faced with, franchisees have little room for any additional operating expense, particularly a 20-30% increase in payroll. If United Here is successful in their cracking Accor, who's stopping them from expanding to other brands?

 

O8A encourages it's members and all lodging owners to be aware of this critical hurdle we may face and contact your franchisor to let them know we must work together on this issue.

 

Jim Miller - interim Secretary

Owners 8 Association

CFA UPDATE

The CFA Unveils Political Action Committee

At the Inaugural CFA Day Forum, the CFA unveiled the Franchisee Association Coalition Political Action Committee (FAC PAC) and presented its first contribution to a member of Congress who understands the importance of small-business owners—Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR).

A PAC is a political committee organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect political candidates. Why is it important that the CFA formed a PAC? Because having a PAC gives the CFA legitimacy in government relations and is an integral part of activism. It also allows franchisees to have direct influence in the electoral process.

CFA’s FAC PAC is the only franchisee-formed PAC with the purpose of representing the interests of franchisees—and franchisees only. Right now, pro-business members of Congress are at the lowest level they have been in years, and with the FAC PAC, the CFA can utilize monetary donations received from its members to elect and support legislators that have your best interest of in mind.

In today’s economy and a new Congress in session, it is now more than ever important that franchisees come together to make sure our voices are heard in our nation’s capital. The FAC PAC is one way to accomplish this. Remember, the CFA represents more than 14,000 franchisees, employing more than 1.2 million people. Those numbers command respect to lawmakers.To learn more about FAC PAC, contact the CFA Government Relations Department at (202) 416-0277.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU...from the CFA Consortium Magazine

CFA Member Spotlight – Owners 8 Association (O8A)

The Owners 8 Association (O8A) is an independent association of North American Wyndham Hotel Group (WHG) franchisees. WHG is the franchisor for hotel brands such as Super 8, Days Inns, Ramada, Howard Johnson, Travelodge, Microtel Inns & Suites, Baymont Inn & Suites, Knights Inns, AmeriHost Inn, Hawthorn Suites, Wingate and Wyndham. O8A was officially formed on May 7, 2007 in Minnesota as a non-profit organization.

"The association was formed originally as a Super 8 Motel franchisee group...this association has now incorporated membership to allow owner members from all Wyndham Hotel Group brands," said Jay Patel, interim president of O8A.

According to Patel, the O8A was created because there was a need for an independent group that could act as one voice to represent the concerns of the franchisee owners. Patel also said there were some early growing pains which continue today because it is a newly-formed association and is facing resistance from the franchisor.

"Initially, we had been called a small group of disgruntled owners who should not be heard and that we represented only a small minority of all owners," said Patel. However, the association has grown to 1,281 members as of March 1, 2009 with new members joining as awareness of O8A grows. Board members include Patel, interim president; Vikram Bhartia, interim VP; James Miller, interim secretary; Pragna Prema, interim treasurer; and Percy Pooniwala, interim communications officer.

The O8A found it important to join CFA because it gives the group representation in Washington, D.C.

"We continue to make our members aware of political issues that affect them in their business," said Patel. "CFA plays a significant role is providing us with this information."

To learn more about Owners 8 Association, please visit www.O8A.org.


BIRD HOTEL CORPORATION VS. WYNDHAM CA UPDATE
The legal case between Bird Hotel corporation and Wyndham CA continues to push forward.  The firm of Johnson, Heidepriem, Janklow, Abdallah & Johnson, LLP represents the plantiffs in this class action suit against Wyndham.   In the near future, they expect that the Court will issue a Notice that will be sent to all 225 class members telling them about their rights in the pending class action.  http://www.jhjaj.com/


PLEASE BECOME FULL MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION:
The board has finalized membership dues as stated in the by laws for our association.  Your yearly membership dues are $148 for full members.  1-4-EIGHT  As we accomplish changes in any of Wyndham’s practices, not only will Super 8 owners all benefit but other Wyndham brands will also benefit.  So, the benefits will be system wide regardless of who pays a membership fee or contributes to our association.  The association continues to accept any contributions to the group as we pursue our goals. http://owners8association.org/Contribution_Page.html

O8A FORUM
We have a forum available for our members to ask questions and seek answers from other forum members.  Please register in the forum and then you may post your issues, questions, or comments.
http://o8a.owners8association.org/user/categories.aspx

 

 

Founding Sponsors of Owners 8 Association:

Financing


                          "BRIDGING BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY"
   A FULL SERVICE BANK AND YOUR NATIONWIDE LENDING PARTNER
605 W. Airport Freeway,  Irving, TX 75062   
Contact: Sushil Patel  ph: 972.252.6000  fax: 972.252.6014    
www.statebnk.com


Legal Assistance

PATEL & ASSOCIATES Attorneys 
Obtain Assistance with legal issues with you franchisor
CONTACT: MAHESH PATEL  301 S. Central Expressway, Richardson, TX 75080
Tel. : (972) 643-1813  Fax : (972) 231-0104   E-mail: mpatel@patellaw.net
WWW.PATELLAW.NET

GIAMBRONE & SALTZMAN, LLC Attorneys 
Obtain Assistance with all hospitality law issues including legal issues with your franchisor by experienced hotel franchise attorneys
CONTACT: RICHARD SALTZMAN  710 Rt. 46 East, Fairfield, New Jersey 07004
Tel. : (862) 210-8137  Fax : (973) 227-6616   E-mail: rs@giambronesaltzman.com

www.GIAMBRONESALTZMAN.COM


REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE

NANCY PATEL - HOTEL / MOTEL BROKER - FICKLING & CO.




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