More than 300 hotel owners, operators, general managers and suppliers visited Washington, D.C., this week to urge congressional leaders to support and strengthen the hotel industry. American Hotel & Lodging Association members addressed the industry’s top concerns regarding the mounting challenges that continue to impact U.S. hospitality—from regulatory uncertainty around franchising to staffing shortages and rising operating costs.
“America’s hoteliers checked-in to Washington this week with a clear message: our industry is vital to the U.S. economy, supporting more than nine million jobs, but we need partners in Congress who understand the challenges we face and are ready to work with us to deliver travel-friendly policies,” AHLA President & CEO Rosanna Maietta said in a statement. “From franchising to workforce to global competitiveness, the policies we discussed with U.S. leaders are good for hotels, the communities they operate in, and underpin the broader economy.”
AHLA urged Congress to pass the American Franchise Act (H.R. 5267/S. 3525), which would codify the traditional joint employer standard to preserve the franchise business model. AHLA members also advocated for measures to modernize the H-2B visa program in order to provide a predictable workforce shortage solution for hotels struggling to reach necessary staffing levels during peak seasons.
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