Why join as a
Basic Member? If you have been in business less than a year, or you
believe that you are not in a position at this time to pass the inspection
for Full Membership, becoming a Basic member will allow you to participate
in all HAT functions as a member and will give you all of the
organization's opportunities to learn more about the business of
innkeeping. It will also allow you to have mentors, current Full members,
who will be available to closely work with you to fine tune every aspect
of your operation.
What is included in my Basic Membership? You will be able to
participate in all HAT workshops, regional meetings and conventions at
member prices. You will receive the HAT newsletter, discounts for TH&LA
membership, advertising discounts in state-wide publications and vendor
product discounts. You will also be able to participate in HAT's
Reciprocal Lodging program.
What is the Mentoring Program designed to do? This year-long program
will assist you in learning and in getting your questions answered in a
timely way. You will be assigned two or three Full members who match well
with your property in terms of size, characteristics and location. Each
mentor will be encouraged to visit your property at least once each year
to give you opportunities for in-depth discussions. In turn you will want
to visit their property to see how they operate. All mentors are, of
course, available by phone for more immediate help. They will also
introduce you to other HAT members at regional meetings and our annual
convention.
What is the Reciprocal Lodging Program?
For a $50 fee,
this program enables members to receive 7 nights lodging at other participating
inns in the association (or 3 for $25). They may be used by innkeepers, their
family or staff. It's a great way for members to reward staff...and an
economical way to give great holiday gifts!
This program enables you to
receive 3 nights lodging at other participating inns other than your
mentors. They may be used as a getaway for you or just to meet another
innkeeper; either way, it's just one more way to learn about the business
of innkeeping.
You, in turn, are asked to
host up to three innkeepers at your property. There is a two-night limit
of stay at any one inn during the year. Members receive the best available
room upon check-in.
Click
HERE for a copy of the Basic
Member Application in Microsoft Word format.
Click
HERE for a copy of the Basic
Member Application in Adobe Reader format.
FULL MEMBERSHIP
Have you been considering joining
Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas (HAT)?
Please allow us to tell you about some of the
benefits of membership in this prestigious statewide organization.
Member inns are published
in "The Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas" guidebook every year...the "Official
Guide" to Texas' finest lodging. Members never pay to be included,
and a new edition is published each year.* The guidebook is
advertised nationally and distributed internationally. It is often
recommended by travel writers and editors in articles about Texas lodging.
Members are included on
this high-traffic Internet web site that receives thousands of
top-quality hits each month. Plus each property has a free
hyperlink to its own home page through the reciprocal link program.
Members are included in
press releases and media coverage on a regular basis throughout the year.
Special advertising rates are available to
Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas (HAT)
members in major media such as Texas Monthly magazine, Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine, Inside Houston magazine, Ride Texas magazine, and Texas Hill Country Magazine.
Members also receive
discounts on
Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas (HAT)
conferences, which provide extremely valuable
networking opportunities.
Members who also belong
to the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association receive $50 off dues to both
organizations each year ($100 total).
New members joining Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas (HAT) and the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association receive a waiver of the $100 Marketing Fee and a $50 discount from TH&LA -- a $150 total first year discount.
Members are kept informed
about industry trends and news from "INN Texas," the quarterly
newsletter from
Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas (HAT)
. This newsletter often includes important
legislative updates from the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association.
Members can take the
state-required Texas Food Manager's Certification Course (for properties
that do not undergo health department inspection) together with other
innkeepers, at various times, hosted by
Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas (HAT)
.
Link to Texas Food Safety
Certification courses...
Most important is the
camaraderie and networking our members enjoy with their peers &
colleagues. The friendships and personal resources you can develop
as a member will be invaluable to your success as an innkeeping
professional in Texas!
Click
HERE for a copy of the Full Member
Application in Microsoft Word format.
Click HERE for a copy of the Full
Member Application in Adobe Reader format.
MEMBERSHIP STANDARDS & CRITERIA
Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas (HAT)
is known for its premier
properties and exacting standards of hospitality. A premier property is one that assures the highest levels of
service, accommodation and comfort. Premier properties incorporate uniqueness, quality and professionalism
according to the criteria listed in this document.
To apply for
Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas (HAT) membership:
1. The present owner must have been open and operating for at least one
year within the last three years. The
property can also qualify for membership if the owner has operated another
lodging property for at least one year.
2. The property must have architectural integrity inside and
outside in keeping with the property’s aesthetic setting. Aesthetics include décor, setting, ambiance, furnishings, and
service.
3. The décor must be compatible with the architecture and
furnishings demonstrating an exacting standard of excellence.
4. If
you own, operate, and/or advertise more than one property in Texas, all
guest rooms will be subject to inspection for membership approval. In this
context "operate" and "advertise" are intended to mean to do so in a way
that gives the prospective guest the impression that the room or property
is approved by HAT.
Contact the
HAT office if you have been operating for
one year and would like to receive a full application package. It
includes all
criteria that will be inspected prior to acceptance into Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas (HAT) membership.
SPECIAL MEMBERS-ONLY
PROGRAMS
Members are able to participate in
one or all of the following marketing opportunities. These
opportunities are offered exclusively for
Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas (HAT)
members!
Reciprocal Lodging Program
Participation in
this program is voluntary.
For a $50 fee,
this program enables members to receive 7 nights lodging at other participating
inns in the association (or 3 for $25). They may be used by innkeepers, their
family or staff. It's a great way for members to reward staff...and an
economical way to give great holiday gifts!
This program enables you to
receive 3 nights lodging at other participating inns other than your
mentors. They may be used as a getaway for you or just to meet another
innkeeper; either way, it's just one more way to learn about the business
of innkeeping.
You, in turn, are asked to
host up to three innkeepers at your property. There is a two-night limit
of stay at any one inn during the year. Members receive the best available
room upon check-in.
Gift Certificate Program
Participation in this program is voluntary.
Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas (HAT)
sells gift
certificates to the traveling public, which can be used at participating HAT
properties throughout the state.
Guests are
instructed to notify the innkeeper that they are using a gift certificate at
their time of reservation and to verify you accept them.
The guest will present the certificate to the innkeepers in place of cash.
Innkeepers then submit the certificates to the Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas (HAT)
office for reimbursement less
a 10% commission.
This program can
expand your base of potential guests as recipients have an incentive to
explore areas of the state which may be new to them.
Although there
is a 10% commission, because the certificates are used as cash, you don’t have
to worry about credit card transaction fees in addition.
Magazine and TV Advertising
Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas (HAT)
has
established relationships with several major consumer magazines that allow our
members to advertise in special "headline" sections and with better rates than
they could get on their own. Partnerships currently include Texas
Monthly magazine, Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine, Inside Houston
magazine and Ride Texas. Programs with other publications are being
developed at this time. Plus, Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas (HAT)
runs ads in magazines to promote the
entire membership.
Members are eligible for valuable ad opportunities with the "Show Me Texas"
TV travel magazine, syndicated statewide, and inclusion on their high-traffic
website and on travel maps.
Online Advertising/Promotions
Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas (HAT)
has also
established relationships with most of the major on-line directories and
Internet marketing companies that serve the bed & breakfast industry.
Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas (HAT) members enjoy discounts on rates and, in many cases, special bolded or
highlighted listings.
About Dues...
Annual dues
are based on the number of guest rooms at each property: 1-6 rooms $275;
7-15 rooms $325; 16-30 rooms $375; 31-50 rooms $425; 51+ rooms $475. Dues
are payable each year on November 15. (Properties that join mid-year pay
pro-rated dues for the first year.)
There
is a $25 application fee to begin the process of joining. A full
inspection is required, and the fee for this service is $120.
(Members agree to re-inspections every two years at a cost of $75 each.)
There is also a one-time Marketing Fee of $100 assessed after membership
approval is determined. This covers each property's inclusion in all
Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas (HAT) promotional materials and programs (website, database, guidebook, newsletter,
gold seal certificates, gold weatherproof plaques for signage, and more.)
This fee is waived for new members that also join the Texas Hotel & Lodging
Association.
Properties operating for one year
may request a complete application package
by contacting
Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas (HAT)
at 800-428-0368
or by e-mail:
info@HAT.org
We look
forward to hearing from you!
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP (Vendors and Businesses Only- Not for Innkeepers)
Associate membership is for those that embrace the purposes of
Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas (HAT) , support Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas' (HAT) standards of excellence, and wish to be affiliated with this organization.
Associate members are promoted in the quarterly newsletter, "INN Texas,"
and on the Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas (HAT) Web site. They also have access to members-only programs and receive discounts on conferences, trade shows and newsletter ads.
Associate
Member dues are $150 per year, and include hyperlinks to members' Web sites.
Click HERE for an
Application Form.
*
Note:
The "Hospitality Accommodations
of Texas"
guidebook is updated and printed each year in November. Only
properties that apply prior to September 15 can be guaranteed to be included in
the following year's edition (after inspection and approval takes place).
