Ranked with the leading associations in the hospitality and tourism industry, the Pennsylvania Tourism and Lodging Association sees its mission in advocating, supporting and promoting tourism industry within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by providing education and professional development opportunities to its members to ensure the ongoing success and growth of the industry.
Like other associations in this field, the Pennsylvania Tourism and Lodging Association works towards keeping its members informed with a trade magazine or newsletter about business matters and industry issues, trends and employment, as well as providing them with the opportunity to network with others in the industry and keep up to date with the latest developments, including market pricing, sales trends, foreign and domestic competition among others.
Established as a result of merger of the PA Attractions and Travel Association and the PA Hotel Motor Inn Association, the Pennsylvania Tourism and Lodging Association is a non-profit trade organization, governed by the Board of Directors, which is elected annually by membership. In September 2001, the Board of Directors approved the new plan of the Association's activities that contains a new mission statement and recommendations in the following areas: specific goals, strategic objectives and primary challenges 2001-2004.
A continuously growing membership of the Pennsylvania Tourism and Lodging Association is comprised of resorts, motels, hotels, bed and breakfast inns, tourist promotion agencies, retail facilities, amusement parks, colleges and universities, and businesses offering services and products for the travel industry. The PTLA members are provided with communications, marketing and educational services, in addition to governmental affairs representation.
Other benefits of PTLA membership include industry relevant training, education and conference events, including AH&LA Legislative Action Summit, PTLA Annual Conference and Trade Show and more; publications in the field of industry and complimentary issues of the quarterly printed newsletter the Source and bi-weekly Info Blast e-mails, as well as membership discounts on such publications as the Hospitality Compensation Survey, Pennsylvania Meeting Profile and Pennsylvania Hospitality Laws; access to bottom line savings programs, a national health insurance program and credit card programs, networking opportunities at the Annual Conference and Trade Show, committee meetings and Board meetings; free access to Pennsylvania's premier hospitality web site - PaHospitalityCareers.com; operational support through PTLA Library and staff; and much more.
Since 1985 the Pennsylvania Tourism and Lodging Association has been acting as a major management services provider for the Greater Pittsburgh Hotel Association, and in 2005 it was selected to provide such services for the Dauphin County Lodging Association.
Since 2001 it has been an administrator of the Wayfinding Signage Program in the Laurel Highlands Region.