The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) has unveiled its Pro-Growth Policy Agenda for 2014, highlighting the areas on which the U.S. lodging industry will concentrate its advocacy efforts.
AH&LA and its members will focus particular attention on several points, including reforming the country’s immigration system so employers have access to a seasonal workforce; ensuring that any new federal tax proposals are pro-business and do not restrain the lodging industry’s ability to grow; and securing an extension of the terrorism risk insurance (TRIA) program, a backstop for economic continuity and recovery.
The lodging industry will also work closely with partners at state and local levels to oppose extreme living wage initiatives and advance policies that will create tax parity between hotel and their online booking competitors.
“With 14 straight quarters of economic growth and 1.8 million employees, the U.S. lodging industry is strong and growing,” says Katherine Lugar, AH&LA president and CEO. “However, just as strong is the need to educate policymakers at every level of government that their actions have a direct bearing on the ability of hoteliers to continue this growth.”
