AH&LA's Legislative Action Summit (LAS), will be held March 15 to 16, 2010, in Washington, D.C. at the J.W. Marriott Hotel located near the White House, and is set to make an impact right at the beginning. Attendees will hear from both parties about the top Congressional races and the issues that have the potential to affect them the most. Confirmed speakers include Rob Jesmer, executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and J.B. Poersch, executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. AH&LA is fortunate to have the leadership of both parties' senatorial election committees address LAS, for the Senate is the main battleground of this year's contests.
Congress will take action in 2010 on important industry issues including the Travel Promotion Act, the Employee Free Choice Act, health care reform, Internet booking taxes, and climate change legislation. Each of these issues will affect the industry's financial situation, and AH&LA is urging its members to visit Washington to let their lawmakers know how their work will affect the U.S. lodging industry and individual hospitality businesses. LAS attendees will also gain insights from elected officials and top executives on how impending legislation will impact their business decisions.
The summit's CEO Panel will feature perspectives from InterContinental's Jim Abrahamson, Choice Hotel International's Steve Joyce, Best Western International's David Kong, and Hilton Worldwide's Christopher Nassetta. There will also be two panels discussing tourism and labor issues currently being addressed by Congress, which attendees can use for background information before they travel to Congress on March 16. LAS activities also include a full day on Capitol Hill. With the many state associations making meetings with their state Congressional delegation, there are a number of great opportunities for members to personally talk to their representative and two senators or their staff and share their views about our many industry issues. With the economy, health care, and card check on the table during the election year, AH&LA wants Congress to hear first-hand its members' points of view. Registration is open online at www.ahla.com/LAS . This year's LAS concludes with the annual AH&LEF Dinner Tribute honoring Stewart Bainum, the founder of Choice Hotels International. Bainum will be the recipient of AH&LA's Hospitality Heritage Award, the most prestigious industry honor the association bestows upon an individual, family or company. AH&LA has opened a separate registration website for the tribute, at www.ahla.com/tribute.
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