Why NMHA?

The Legislative Session can be chaotic. Legislation can move through the legislative process at unpredictable rates, and it can be nearly impossible to track while focused on all of the responsibilities that come with our professional and personal lives. The New Mexico Hospitality Association has invested in one of the most credible and comprehensive legislation-tracking tools on the market to best guarantee that you can stay up-to-speed on all of the industry-related legislation during each Legislative Session.

You can view our legislative tracker here.

Gubernatorial candidates Key legislators State department leadership

The New Mexico Hospitality Association hosts a government affairs committee, which discusses contemporary issues and strategies germane to our industry. The Government Affairs committee helps shape the legislative priorities of the New Mexico Hospitality Association, and determine the legislative solutions that best ensure the hospitality and tourism industry can continue to succeed and grow. Participation on the Government Affairs Committee is reserved exclusively for NMHA members. Membership with the New Mexico Hospitality Association is the best available opportunity to ensure the concerns of anyone who works in the travel, tourism and lodging industry are properly considered, and that a solution can be pursued with the necessary amount of attention and effort.

Business Day in Santa Fe with ACI, SFCC
Staying committed to our mission to serve as the unified voice to influence and inspire a growing New Mexico hospitality industry, collaborating with strategic partners to further develop the industry is a major focus of the New Mexico Hospitality Association. NMHA developed a partnership with the New Mexico Association of Commerce & Industry and the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce to host Business Day in Santa Fe, a collaborative, multi-day program during the Legislative Session focused on growing business, creating jobs, developing our workforce, and ultimately helping communities thrive.

Tourism Day in Santa Fe
In 2018, upon conclusion of the TRENDS Conference & Annual Meeting, the New Mexico Hospitality Association facilitated a day of advocacy at the State Capitol Building. NMHA coordinated office meetings and chamber floor connections to ensure that elected officials heard from their own constituents as to why preservation and expansion of the tourism industry is so important to the future economic success of New Mexico.

In early 2017, the New Mexico Hospitality Association commissioned an economic impact study on the short-term rental economy and the effect it has on the lodging industry. The results found that due to the lack of a statewide solution to create an equitable system for collecting lodgers' tax that includes short-term rentals, a significant amount of revenue dedicated to destination promotion was going uncollected. The short-term rental impact study identified the estimated amount of short-term rental properties throughout New Mexico and determined the amount of lost revenue in both lodgers' tax and GRT for every county. The results of the short-term rental economic impact study further validated the need for a statewide solution to address this discrepancy, and has guided some of our legislative priorities since. The short-term rental economic impact study is available to members for a nominal fee.

Even if one does not have the time commitment to serve on the Government Affairs committee, members of the New Mexico Hospitality Association have the opportunity to submit their question and concerns directly to the committee for consideration and deliberation. Members of the committee and/or members of NMHA staff will consider all concerns and determine if a legislative solution is appropriate and viable to address those concerns. Active NMHA members can submit their policy concerns through our simple online form.

Rocky Mountain Lodging Report (50% discount)

Travel TRENDS data dashboard (launched Jan. 2018)

Legislative industry survey (2015)

The New Mexico Hospitality Association's largest signature event serves as the greatest opportunity for continued learning, professional development and networking for hospitality and tourism professionals across New Mexico. Hosted in late April or early May every year, the Conference on Hospitality and Tourism offers attendees the chance to learn from local, regional, and national experts on how to better grow sales, marketing, operations and tourism development for lodging and tourism businesses. The 2-day conference features various opportunities to also engage in networking so hospitality and tourism professionals can maintain and grow those important connections that make our industry thrive. As an added benefit NMHA members receive discounts to all levels of conference registration and sponsorship packages. NMHA members can save up to $100 per conference registration, and up to $5,000 on sponsorship packages for the Conference on Hospitality and Tourism. The Conference on Hospitality and Tourism concludes with the New Mexico Tourism Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which is held during the Hall of Fame Dinner. The New Mexico Tourism Hall of Fame is reserved for those in travel and tourism who have dedicated their career to developing the industry in New Mexico and have served as lifelong stewards for New Mexico tourism.

In partnership with the Visitor Engagement Academy, the New Mexico Hospitality Association launched the Visitor Journey A2D (Arrival to Departure) program to assist with workforce training the acknowledges the importance of the visitor experience. The A2D program is a customized program that details the role that all community members play in the visitor experience by leveraging examples from the local community. A2D programs are created through collaboration between the New Mexico Hospitality Association, the Visitor Engagement Academy, and individual destinations in New Mexico. We currently have A2D programs active in four communities:

• Farmington
• Gallup
• Santa Fe
• Las Cruces

If interested in bringing a Visitor Journey A2D program to your New Mexico destination, please contact us directly.

previous conference presentations

Smith Travel Research

UHLA research

USTA research

Co-op marketing program historical data

Beginning in Fall 2017, the New Mexico Hospitality Association embarked on a statewide roadtrip to destinations across the state to bring together industry stakeholders and public officials to address local issues pertaining to hospitality and tourism. The 2017 circuit brough NMHA to 11 communities across New Mexico where NMHA staff provided:

1. A deep dive into the tourism data of the local destination
2. The chance to build capacity through collaborative opportunities
3. Amplification of local voice during Tourism Day in Santa Fe (hosted Jan. 2018)

The Regional Tourism Economic Summit Series served as an important step in the ever-evolving process of affecting growth through grassroots efforts. NMHA will again tour New Mexico for the Regional Tourism Economic Summit Series in 2018 with the intended purpose to gather input and shape a legislative agenda that benefits hospitality and tourism businesses from all corners of New Mexico.

The TRENDS Conference is the New Mexico Hospitality Association's annual conference that focuses on economic and legislative trends that may impact the hospitality and tourism industry in New Mexico. Since it's inception, TRENDS has operated as a collaborative effort between other strategic partners to bridge a wider coalition to focus on economic growth. TRENDS begins with the Legislative Reception, hosted by the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce. This event brings elected officials and New Mexico businesses together for a reception to acknowledge and celebrate the importance of a healthy relationship between businesses and legislators. TRENDS also features the Business Day in Santa Fe program, hosted by the New Mexico Association of Commerce and Industry. This event, which preceds the TRENDS program, brings public officials and representatives from the business community together to highlight the status and direction of the New Mexico business environment, and what legislative solutions are being considered during the Legislative Session. The TRENDS program, hosted by the New Mexico Hospitality Association, provides workshops and presentations to NMHA members and other attendees interested in the latest trends of the industry. The New Mexico Hospitality Association also hosts its Annual Meeting during the TRENDS Conference, where NMHA staff and Board members provide updates on the programs and membership of the Association. As an added benefit NMHA members receive discounts to all levels of conference registration and sponsorship packages. NMHA members can save up to $30 per conference registration, and up to $2,500 on sponsorship packages for the TRENDS Conference.

The Hospitality and Tourism Scholarship Fund, powered by the Albuquerque Community Foundation, is an endowed fund that provides a $1,000 scholarship for hospitality and tourism students in New Mexico each year. From 2015-17, the New Mexico Hospitality Association built the scholarship fund into a self-sustaining state, and was able to award its first-ever scholarship at the 2017 Top HAT Awards Gala to the School of Hotel, Tourism, and Restaurant Management at New Mexico State University. NMHA members and industry professionals can contribute to the Hospitality and Tourism Scholarship Fund through our online donation system or by participating in the Annual Hospitality Golf Tournament.

An important part of staying true to our vision to serve as the No. 1 resource for the hospitality and tourism industry is to provide industry professionals with useful and timely information regarding hospitality and tourism, and the greater New Mexico economy. The New Mexico Hospitality Association distributes an industry newsletter on a weekly basis that curates the latest information and resources to help and inform industry professionals.

The NMHA newsletter features helpful news links, updates and event from members, job openings from members, notifications on NMHA programs, events, and initiatives, reminders on membership benefits, and a variety of additional information.

Subscription to the NMHA newsletter is availbale to both NMHA members and non-members. If you wish to subscribe to the NMHA newsletter, please click here.

Every November, the New Mexico Hospitality Association hosts the Top HAT (Hospitality and Tourism) Awards Gala to celebrate excellence and high achievement from the industry's most committed professionals. The Top HAT Awards Gala recognizes 17 awards across four categories: Marketing, Product Development, Personnel, and Premier. For our Marketing awards, we issue five awards: Best Print Campaign, Best Broadcast Campaign, Best Digital Campaign, Most Innovative Campaign - and newly issued in 2018, Best Social Media Campaign. For our Product Development awards, we issue three awards: Outstanding Event, Outstanding Attracting, and Best New Experience. For our Personnel Awards, we issue four awards: Front-of-House Hospitality Employee of the Year, Front-of-House Food & Beverage Employee of the Year, Back-of-House Hospitality Employee of the Year, and Back-of-House Food & Beverage Employee of the Year. For our Premier Awards, we issue five awards: Supplier/Vendor of the Year, Hospitality Professional of the Year, Tourism Professional of the Year, Limited Service Hotel of the Year, and Full Service Hotel of the Year. The Top HAT Awards Gala also serves as our opportunity to recognize the future of the hospitality and tourism workforce in New Mexico by issuing our scholarship award, provided by the Hospitality and Tourism Scholarship Fund. As an added benefit NMHA members receive discounts for registration to the gala and sponsorship packages. NMHA members can save up to $30 per ticket, and up to $500 on sponsorship packages for the Top HAT Awards Gala.

The New Mexico has seen incredibly talented, impassioned, and dedicated professionals serve the travel and tourism industry for decades. The New Mexico Tourism Hall of Fame is our way to recognize and celebrate the career accomplishment of travel and tourism professionals who have helped preserve and strengthen our industry.

Inductees are formally recognized and welcomed into the New Mexico Tourism Hall of Fame at a special ceremony that caps off the Conference on Hospitality and Tourism each year.

To view the complete list of New Mexico Hall of Fame inductees, click here.

Beginning in Fall 2017, the New Mexico Hospitality Association embarked on a statewide roadtrip to destinations across the state to bring together industry stakeholders and public officials to address local issues pertaining to hospitality and tourism. The 2017 circuit brough NMHA to 11 communities across New Mexico where NMHA staff provided:

1. A deep dive into the tourism data of the local destination
2. The chance to build capacity through collaborative opportunities
3. Amplification of local voice during Tourism Day in Santa Fe (hosted Jan. 2018)

The Regional Tourism Economic Summit Series served as an important step in the ever-evolving process of affecting growth through grassroots efforts. NMHA will again tour New Mexico for the Regional Tourism Economic Summit Series in 2018 with the intended purpose to gather input and shape a legislative agenda that benefits hospitality and tourism businesses from all corners of New Mexico.

One way to enhance the value of membership with the New Mexico Hospitality Association and increase engagement with the industry is to join one of our committees. Our committees are great opportunities to learn more about NMHA and how the Association develops, plans and implements its various events and programs. You will have the opportunity to share your unique knowledge and perspective to help build value for current and future members by helping to shape our events, programs and operations. Serving on a committee is also a great opportunity to connect with NMHA's highly engaged members. Below are our active committees open for participation:

• Government Affairs
• Membership
• Events (Conference on Hospitality and Tourism, Top HAT, TRENDS)

The New Mexico Hospitality Association Board of Directors is comprised of managers and thought leaders from the lodging and tourism industry throughout New Mexico. There are 14 seats on the NMHA Board - six seats representing the lodging industry, six seats representing the tourism industry, and two seats representing allied industries.

Board members serve 2-year terms, and can serve up to two terms (four years total). Five members of the NMHA Board serve on the Executive Committee: Board Chair, Vice Board Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and the Past Chair.

The NMHA Board provides guidance and oversight to ensure the New Mexico Hospitality Association stays committed to its stated mission and vision.

View the current NMHA Board of Directors here.

Members of the New Mexico Hospitality Association are eligible to receive exclusive discounts to services and products from other NMHA members and industry partners. Below are some of the exclusive discounts provided to all active NMHA members:

• Nambe - 50% wholesale discount
• Rocky Mountain Lodging Report - 50% discount on annual subscription
• American General Media - 15% discount on advertising rate card

In August 2017, the New Mexico Hospitality Association launched the Member Information Center, or MIC, as the go-to digital dashboard for information, resources, networking, and publication opportunities for all NMHA members. NMHA members can register up to 10 individuals to access the MIC. The MIC is the best way for hospitality and tourism professionals to access industry research, publications, previous conference presentations, along with a variety of other helpful links and tools; and the MIC is also the best way to publish upcoming events, member-to-member deals, news and job openings. NMHA will republish member content posted into the MIC in the NMHA industry newsletter, along with our social media channels. Below are the features you can find in the MIC:

• New Mexico Travel Trends Data Dashboard
• Resource library
• Member directory
• Upcoming events
• Industry job postings
• Member-to-member deals
• NMHA member news
• Association Governance