The Asian American Hotel Owners Association, financial operations and procurement platform Folio and procurement company Avendra International have officially launched the new AAHOA Marketplace. According to a statement announcing the launch, the new procurement platform is meant to provide AAHOA members with a “faster, easier way to purchase products and services for their hotels,” while taking advantage of the collective buying power and benefits provided by AAHOA and Avendra International. The Marketplace, powered by Folio technology, will be free for eligible AAHOA members.
The platform aims to simplify purchasing for hotel operators through a centralized catalog, unified cart, a single place to track and manage orders and AI-powered auto-coding at the point of purchase. The Marketplace can also be used on smartphones so managers can oversee purchasing away from the office. It also has a “streamlined setup experience” for new users.
“When we announced our partnership with AAHOA in April, our goal was to bring the power and efficiency of modern procurement technology to a much broader segment of the hotel industry,” Folio CEO Kate Adamson, said in a statement “Today, new technology must be fast and intuitive to adopt, or we all move on. Hotel owners, in particular, are incredibly busy. Faster AAHOA Marketplace setups means owners can start shopping for their hotel in minutes. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built with AAHOA and excited to announce its availability to AAHOA owners.”
Collective Buying
For independent hotel owners and operators managing one or several properties, the streamlined setup addresses a longstanding challenge with adopting procurement technology. Platforms designed to accommodate the complexity of large hotel organizations can require extensive implementation, training and change management. The new AAHOA Marketplace provides members with immediate access to modern purchasing technology while eliminating much of that traditional implementation burden.
“This launch represents exactly the kind of practical member benefit AAHOA is committed to delivering,” said AAHOA Chairman Rahul Patel. “By leveraging the strength of our community, the new AAHOA Marketplace brings together valuable procurement opportunities and technology that make it easier for hotel owners to access negotiated savings, streamline operations and control costs. It’s a meaningful benefit our members can put to work right away, giving them more time to focus on their hotels and guests.”
For larger operations with more complex purchasing programs, the company will continue to offer configurability, white-glove implementation and support services. The self-service model developed for the AAHOA Marketplace expands access to Folio’s advanced procurement technology, while allowing larger organizations to retain the customized implementation and service model their operations require.
“The vision for the new AAHOA Marketplace has always been centered on creating greater value for our members,” said AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake. “Working with Folio and Avendra has allowed us to create an experience that combines purchasing power with ease of use. Members can quickly access the platform and begin taking advantage of savings and tools designed around the way hotel owners actually operate. We are excited to see this vision become a reality.”
AAHOA members can now create an account and access the new AAHOA Marketplace at AAHOAmarketplace.com.