The USALI (Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry) has long been an important financial reporting guide within the lodging industry. As the industry’s business practices change, of course updates to the USALI follow.
In March, the HFTP Research Institute distributed a survey pertaining to the current edition of the USALI, asking participants to provide feedback on the guidelines set forth in the book. The survey looked at account recording and classification practices and was sent out to members of HFTP and HAMA (Hospitality Asset Managers Association), as well as clients of PKF Colliers and STR.
Survey Results
Overall, respondents indicated that they are content with the current edition but provided specific feedback on items, such as service charges and condominium hotel accounting. For example, over half of the respondents (57 percent) indicated that the USALI should not dictate that the entire service charge should be recorded in revenue if all, or even a set portion, is being passed on to banquet employees as supplemental pay or gratuities.
Another area of debate is how to include condo hotel rooms in occupancy. Most respondents (64 percent) indicated that they want to see condo rooms included in overall occupancy for the hotel, with 23 percent indicating that it should not be included.
Look for the full results of this survey in the August/September issue of The Bottomline.
Tanya Venegas, MBA, MHM, is the executive director of the HFTP Research Institute located at the University of Houston’s Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. The HFTP Research Institute offers free routine research inquiries for HFTP members, and also publishes valuable research in HFTP’s journal The Bottomline.
