About Us
The Boulder Hotel and Motel Association (BHMA), a nonprofit, serves 24 members who offer a diversity of distinctive lodging accommodations. The association represents Boulder hotels, Boulder motels, Boulder bed and breakfasts, and other Boulder accommodations.BHMA, founded more than 30 years ago, has parallel missions to serve its hospitality industry members and to serve the greater Boulder community.
Monthly meetings for members vary in content including business meetings, educational meetings and lunches and socials held at members’ properties and at some of Boulder’s finest restaurants. Educational meetings topics range from Best Practices information; updates from organizations such as ADA, NLRB, the Colorado Tourism Office, University of Colorado Economic advisors; motivational speakers, an annual presentation on National, State and Local Hospitality Economic trends, and a bi-annual luncheon for City Council Candidates. Responses to our luncheon questions from those candidates in 2009 and 2011 may be found in links on this page.
Many of these topics are of interest to a broader Boulder audience and community leaders. Complimentary invitations are frequently offered to the Mayor, the City Council, Boards of the Chamber of Commerce the Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, and the Restaurant Association.
In addition, BHMA has a history of engagement in community improvement. As an industry, tourism is both one of the largest single contributors to the city budget in terms of economic impact, including lodging, restaurants, and arts, part of retail, attractions and festivals. In 2011, it is estimated that Boulder’s hotels will contribute over $4.9 million dollars to the city’s un-dedicated sales tax collections – a major portion for the budgeted amount. Visitor spending, often referred to as a “silent tax contributor”, brings additional dollars to our community without incurring any expenses for infrastructure such as city services. Tourism tax dollars flowing to the undedicated funds category directly support libraries, police, fire departments, parks, arts, trash collection, open space, human services and many other residential amenities.
In 2010 the BHMA supported an initiative which increased the Accommodation Tax form 5.5% to 7.5% on January 1, 2011. This initiative brought new unrestricted funds to the City’s General Fund helping to address the projected shortfall in the City’s budget and to increase the marketing budget for the Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Over the years, BHMA has sponsored programs enriching the community including:
ProStart, an educational program for high school students who are interested in hospitality management careers was introduced to Boulder Valley schools in 2001 with the help of BHMA. The ProStart program is a national hospitality education program that offers junior and senior high school students the opportunity to work in mentored industry internships, to receive college credit and scholarships.
9 News Health Fair was sponsored and administered by BHMA volunteers in 2005 and 2006 making free health evaluation services to over 1000 Boulder residents.
The Boulder Shelter for the Homeless receives frequent donations by
BHMA members of blankets, pillows, and personal care products.
In July, 2011, BHMA initiated and organized a Silent Auction benefit to help Four Mile Fire District to replace its fire engine destroyed in the September 2010 wildfire in the Boulder foothills. More than $15,000 was collected. Bret Gibson, Fire Chief, Four Mile Fire Protection District, said that by adding the new cash donations to the engine’s initial payment, ore than $40,000 will be saved in reduced interest payments over the long term.
Finally, the members of the BHMA are good neighbors and constituents. An estimated $1 million is donated by our hotels through “in kind” contributions, volunteer hours and complimentary rooms. All members participate in water conservation through a “green laundry program” in which linens are laundered only at checkout unless specifically requested during their stay by guests.
2009 City Council Candidates
2011 City Council Candidates
