The National Energy Procurement Program enables participating members to receive the following benefits:

• Discounted (preferred) electricity and natural gas pricing not otherwise available on an individual basis. 
• Deeply discounted procurement service fees. 
• Cost savings or control opportunities are presented to members before they have to commit to participate. 
• Advisory assistance from E&Y and the benefit of E&Y's experience in multi-state competitive energy procurements, market assessments, supplier prequalification, and favorable business terms. 
• Monitoring of energy markets to identify future savings opportunities for members. 
• Access to web-based information providing specific procurement and market information that aids in preparing budgets and making procurement and energy efficiency decisions. 

E&Y was selected to execute the energy procurement program because of the practice's national presence, breadth of experience, and knowledge of the hospitality industry. E&Y will assist AH&LA to negotiate favorable business terms and pricing for members and will help monitor applicable energy markets for future opportunities to reduce and control energy costs. 

"The timing of this program is terrific. The energy markets have matured significantly since their beginning in the 1990s and we have finally reached a point where suppliers are more capable of handling large multi-state customer aggregations like we are planning with AH&LA," said Daniel Levin, National Energy Procurement Manager of E&Y Energy Advisory Services. "We have worked with AH&LA to help design a program that is simple for the members. It begins with each property completing an "Information Survey", and then when an electric or natural gas procurement opportunity becomes available, the property will receive an assessment of individual market opportunities for energy cost savings and control benefits."

For more information about the National Energy Procurement Program, visit www.AHLA.com/energy/.

AH&LA is a 95-year-old dual membership association of state and city partner lodging associations throughout the United States with some 10,000 property members nationwide, representing more than 1.4 million guest rooms. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., it provides members with advocacy on Capitol Hill, public relations and image management, education, research and information, and other services to ensure a positive business climate for the U.S. lodging industry. Individual state associations provide representation at the state level and offer many additional cost-saving benefits.