USAE
THE WEEKLY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER OF ASSOCIATIONS, CVBs AND HOTELS VOLUME 43, ISSUE 28
SEPTEMBER 22, 2025
Dallas Hotel Manager’s Murder Garners National Attention Room Cleaner Arrested for Shockingly Violent Attack By Jordan Bradley
Visit Seattle took media members on a Wild Haus Floating Sauna cruise on Lake Union on September 18. Left to right: Susan B. Barnes, freelance journalist; Cory O’Born, Public Relations Manager, Visit Seattle; Leroy Radford, Wild Haus; and Sierra Takushi, Public Relations Specialist, Visit Seattle.
San Diego Approves Phased-In Wage Increase for Hospitality Workers
By Jordan Bradley
The San Diego City Council on September 16 unanimously approved a phased-in wage increase for hospitality workers in the city. Currently, the citywide minimum wage in San Diego it $17.25 an hour. With the passage of the Hospitality Minimum Wage Ordinance, a group of hospitality and tourism workers— including employees at hotels with at least 150 guest rooms—will see their
wages increase to $25 an hour by 2030. According to the new ordinance, hourly wages will increase over the next five years for hotel workers at hotels with at least 150 guest rooms, and at amusement parks and event centers, with increases beginning next year. The first increase will raise minimum wages for workers in hotels and amusement parks to $19 on July 1, 2026; $20.50 in 2027; $22 in 2028; $23.50 in 2029; and, finally, to $25 in 2030. San Diego has 385 hotels within the
ASAE Research Foundation Seeking Applications for 2026 Scholarships By Todd McElwee
The ASAE Research Foundation is accepting applications for three of its major scholarship programs: the AMC Leaders Scholarship, Future Leaders Professional Development Scholarship, and John H. Graham Fund Scholarship. November 9 is the deadline. ASAE said the scholarships are designed to empower association professionals at all career stages to advance leadership skills, connect with ASAE’s dynamic community, and ac-
cess unique opportunities for professional growth. “These scholarships represent ASAE’s ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of association leaders,” said ASAE President & CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE. “Whether you’re just starting your leadership journey or ready to take the next big step, these programs provide the resources and connections you need to succeed.” ASAE said the AMC Leaders Scholarship is a groundPlease turn to page 6
city, and 103 meet the parameters of the ordinance to require an increase in minimum hourly wages for employees, including the Manchester Grand Hyatt and Marriott Marquis hotels. The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) applauded the exemption of smaller hotels from the wage increase. The association said the exemption is “a huge win” for AAHOA members because small and independent hotel
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A Dallas hotel manager’s brutal murder on September 10 has gained attention from the United States Department of Homeland Security and President Donald Trump. The hotel manager of a the Downtown Suites hotel, Chandra Nagamallaiah, was beheaded with a machete after he allegedly told a man, identified as Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, cleaning one of the property’s rooms with an unidentified woman not to use a broken washing machine. According to an affidavit an d re cords obtained by NBC News, Cobos-Martinez became upset because Nagamallaiah did not speak to Cobos-Martinez directly and instead was speaking to him through the woman, using her as a translator. Video footageshowed Cobos-Martinez leaving the motel room, producing a machete, and striking Nagamallaiah with the weapon several times, according to the affidavit.
Joseph Popolo Jr. Named U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands By Jonathan Trager
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Page 2 Caesars Entertainment Launches Guide on Wellness at Events Page 4 IGLTA Honors Richard Gray with 2025 Pinnacle Award Page 4 Dallas Starts Eminent Domain Proceedings for Convention Center Expansion Page 5 AHLA Backs Bill That Creates Joint Employer Standard
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Former Freeman Company leader Joseph Popolo Jr. has been appointed as U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands and will be confirmed by the Senate for the post this month. Popolo served for eight years as President and 11 years as CEO of Freeman, the global events management agency ubiquitous in the exposition and trade show arena. Since 2019, he has served as CEO of Charles & Potomac Capital, a private investment firm he founded. The Dallas-based busi-
nessman told USAE it’s “an incredible honor to be asked by President Trump to serve our country.” “I chose the Netherlands because they are an incredibly important national security and economic partner, and one of our longest standing allies globally,” Popolo said. “Our very first ambassador to the Netherlands was John Adams, so there’s a lot of history between our two countries.” Having been active in Republican politics for some time, Popolo also assisted with the last presidential campaign. After the elecPlease turn to page 6