AHLA: New NYC Hotel Bill Threatens Business Operations – Travel And Tour World

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On July 18, members of the New York City Council introduced a bill that imposes additional licensing requirements for hotels operating in the city. This legislation mandates that non-union hotels eliminate the use of subcontractors for core functions, effectively enforcing unionization through government intervention.

Furthermore, the bill requires that all hotel owners be treated as joint employers along with hotel operators, setting strict regulations for various hotel staffing functions.

“This abrupt and destructive bill would permanently alter how hotels operate and threaten the jobs of thousands of New Yorkers,” said AHLA Interim President & CEO Kevin Carey. “If it becomes law, thousands of hotel jobs could be lost, hotels will shutter, and New York City’s economy – especially small business retailers, restaurants, and other hotel service providers – will suffer substantially. The bill imposes workplace rules that should be negotiated at the collective bargaining table, and fast-tracking a proposal of this magnitude in the dead of summer without input from hoteliers is policy malpractice.”

“What’s more, the legislation creates a one-size-fits-all model that fails to take into account the unique staffing and operational needs of the city’s nearly 700 hotels. The legislation’s proposed ban preventing non-union hotels from subcontracting certain functions will ruin the ability of many small-business hotels to maintain consistent operations in this tough labor market. The American Hotel & Lodging Association urges councilmembers to take a more deliberative approach to this bill, which would have a widespread negative impact on the city’s workforce and economy.”

Statement

Kevin Carey, Interim President & CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), issued the following statement regarding the bill:

“The New York City Council’s proposed legislation imposes arbitrary operational mandates on hotels, threatening their ability to stay in business. This bill unfairly targets non-union hotels by forcing them to adhere to unionization requirements through the elimination of subcontractors for essential functions. Additionally, the new joint employer provisions and stringent staffing regulations will place undue burdens on hotel owners and operators, ultimately harming the hospitality industry in our city.”