The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) joined forces on May 17-18 as nearly 500 hoteliers from across the country arrived in Washington, D.C. for a joint hotel day on Capitol Hill. During the two-day Legislative Action Summit (LAS), hoteliers plan to raise awareness with Congressional leaders and hold some 250 meetings about the strength of the industry.
This is the third year AHLA and AAHOA have partnered to underscore the industry’s strength and unity, with a theme focusing on how hotels are creating jobs, serving guests and supporting communities.
“Located in every congressional district, hotels are interwoven into the fabric of each community across the country, creating jobs, serving guests and supporting communities,” said AHLA President and CEO Katherine Lugar. “As a guest-centric industry that focuses on opportunities and experiences, we are an industry of people, from our guests to our workers. The power of our industry lies in the opportunities hotels create for men and women seeking pathways toward upward mobility, fast-track promotions and lifelong, successful careers."
Supporting nearly eight million American jobs, driving $600 billion to the U.S. economy each year, and contributing $170 billion in federal, state and local taxes, the impact of the hotel industry is apparent.
AHLA and AAHOA also plan to advocate for policies that encourage travel and tourism promotion, business growth and entrepreneurial opportunities while urging more transparency on the rise of commercial activity fostered by short-term rental platforms and protecting consumers from online hotel booking scams.
