American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) members – including upward of 300 hotel owners, operators and general managers – descended upon Capitol Hill to persuade the U.S. Congress to modernize the H‑2B visa program, pass the American Franchise Act and provide global tourism funds.
“America’s hoteliers checked into 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,” said AHLA President and CEO Rosanna Maietta.
Priorities: Franchising, Workforce, Global Competitiveness
“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,” she added.
AHLA urged Congress to pass the American Franchise Act, “which would codify the traditional joint employer standard to preserve the franchise business model and finally bring business certainty to this important segment of our economy,” and pushed for reforms to the H‑2B visa program to help hotels address seasonal workforce shortages, the association said.
Boosting Tourism Marketing, Cross-Border Travel
Members also broached issues such as restoring full funding for Brand USA to support robust global marketing and backing the reauthorization of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement to enhance cross‑border travel.
“Hotels on the Hill is a powerful demonstration of what happens when hoteliers come to Washington and speak with one voice,” said Brett Horton, AHLA’s chief advocacy officer.
Highlighting Real-World Challenges
“Our members brought real stories from their properties directly to Members of Congress and their staffs, highlighting the challenges the industry faces and the opportunities to address them,” Horton added.
“Passing the American Franchise Act, securing the Certified Seasonal Employer provision, and restoring Brand USA funding are critical to a thriving hotel industry in an otherwise tough operating environment.”
Recognizing Congressional Champions
In other developments, AHLA bestowed its Spirit of Hospitality Award on key Congressional travel and tourism leaders, including Sen. Susan Collins (R‑Maine), Sen. Angus King (I‑Maine), Congressman Don Davis (D‑N.C.), Rep. Kevin Hern (R‑Okla.), and Congressman Andy Harris (R‑Md.).
Lawmakers Underscore Workforce Needs
Sen. Collins and Rep. Harris remain key champions of workforce solutions, leading efforts to address persistent labor shortages and advocating for the release of additional H‑2B visas, AHLA said.
“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that for every 100 open jobs in Maine, there are only 67 available workers, and each year, ‘Vacationland’ welcomes approximately ten times its population as visitors,” Sen. Collins said. “That is why I strongly support the H‑2B visa program to temporarily fill the seasonal roles that many inns, restaurants, and hotels rely on,” she added.
Hotels as Community Anchors
For his part, Rep. Harris noted that hotels are “interwoven into the fabric of nearly every community nationwide, especially in my district.”
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