Joined for the 1st time this year... I have been like you PT - I felt like my money could be spent in far better ways.
Our state association is a far cry from being used as a marketing venue, although I do see it improving. The way our state association 'sells' itself to the industry is primarily based on keeping an eye on legislative issues, laws, etc. as to how they affect our industry. Generally they do not get into matters on the local front - at least that I have heard. For the cost of membership, I felt like I was not getting any value from this at all. And given the vast numbers of B&B's across this state, I would say they have a very small percentage as members. Several of us have commented on the fact that they could grow their membership significantly if they would drop the fee to a resonable level...
And that is just what PAii has done, by dropping their annual membership fee they are raking in the new members by the droves and will be the voice of the industry! - Jay has finally brought a vital purpose to the association. He has taken on the task of discussions with Tripadvisor for our industry and has had some input with the latest NYC ban. They do provide some very interesting webinars and have some othe educational information available to their members. I have read many mixed reviews of their yearly conventions... most negative was that it was just a big sales event that cost an arm and a leg. But for those that really participated in the presentations, they really came away with some new and fresh ideas. I have not heard of any convention that does not have vendors showing off their products... that is how they are able to keep the cost down to what it is..
copperhead said:
And that is just what PAii has done, by dropping their annual membership fee they are raking in the new members by the droves and will be the voice of the industry!
If you read the new IQ, I think Jay says they are NOT raking in the new members by the droves, but they are still keeping the membership level payments low this year.
To me this is both good and bad. Good because more innkeepers can join (even tho they didn't join last year); bad because it means that big corporations (think TA and BB.com) have way too much influence with their 'platinum key partnerships'. That just smacks of 'hostile takeover'.
Too many emails this year were 'sign up for TA!' or about 'our platinum key supporter- BB.com.'
.