legislation
U.S. Travel Calls on Congress to Pass Critical Disaster Relief by Thanksgiving Holiday
U.S. Travel Association | November 4, 2024
WASHINGTON - In a letter delivered on Friday, the U.S. Travel Association called on Congressional leaders to pass substantial disaster relief to regions devastated by Hurricanes Helene and Milton as soon as Congress reconvenes. In the letter, U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman writes: “We urge you to swiftly pass a disaster supplemental appropriations bill by Thanksgiving to support communities devastated by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Damage caused by these storms is estimated to total more than $100 billion dollars, with downstream impacts on travel, visitor spending, hotel bookings, tax revenues and employm...
King, Rounds Seeking Maximum H-2B Work Visas to Support Small Businesses in 2025
October 25, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), alongside a bipartisan group of their colleagues, have written to the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to release the maximum allowable number of additional H-2B visas for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. H-2B visas fill needs for American small businesses when there are not enough able and willing American workers to fill the temporary, seasonal positions. As required by law, employers must first make a concerted effort to hire American workers to fill open positions; when the local workforce is insufficient, H-2Bs are seen as ...
U.S. Travel to Congress: Pass Hurricane Disaster Relief as Quickly as Possible
U.S. Travel Association | October 11, 2024
WASHINGTON (October 11, 2024)—U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman issued the following statement calling for Congressional action to fund hurricane disaster relief: "The devastation of Hurricanes Helene and Milton demands that Congress pass disaster relief as soon as possible. Communities, small businesses and workers in the path of the storms—many of whom depend on visitors—are unable to welcome conventions, meetings and leisure travelers until Congress provides the required resources to rebuild. If there are any unnecessary delays, American communities will needlessly suffer.”...
Marriott International Secures Legal Victory Against Fraudulent Robocall Operators
Marriott International, Inc. | October 4, 2024
In a significant legal victory, Marriott International, Inc. (Marriott) has successfully concluded a lawsuit in federal court in Virginia against perpetrators responsible for tens of millions of illegal and fraudulent robocalls to consumers, misusing the Marriott name and the names of its portfolio of brands. Marriott initially filed the case as a “John Doe” lawsuit in May 2021, against anonymous bad actors who were exploiting Marriott’s brands for their own commercial gain and violating both state and federal laws. The entities behind these unlawful robocalls persuaded consumers to purchase vacation and timeshare promotions, false...
More Than 75 Hospitality Groups Urge Senate Passage of Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act
AHLA | March 21, 2024
WASHINGTON (March 21, 2024) – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), the International Franchise Association (IFA), the National Restaurant Association, and the U.S. Travel Association joined dozens of hospitality groups in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell urging Senate passage of the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act (H.R. 7024). Additionally, leaders from AHLA, IFA, National Restaurant Association, and U.S. Travel issued the below statements regarding the bipartisan bill, which passed the House in January. “This bill would extend critical...
New Law Helps Tennessee Hoteliers and Employees
AHLA | May 1, 2023
WASHINGTON (May 1, 2023) – On April 28, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed a bill into law - the Protecting Tennessee Businesses and Workers Act. This important legislation will prevent local governments from targeting small business owners and workers with harmful regulations on employee work hours, scheduling, and productivity. “We applaud Gov. Bill Lee for signing the ‘Protecting Tennessee Businesses and Workers Act’ into law,” said American Hotel & Lodging Association President & CEO Chip Rogers. “Tennessee is a top-tier state for employers to start a business and workers to make a living because of common...
AHLA Applauds President Donald Trump for Signing Executive Orders Extending Unemployment Benefits
AHLA | August 10, 2020
WASHINGTON (August 10, 2020) – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) today applauded President Donald Trump for supporting Americans by signing Executive Orders that extend unemployment benefits and support those impacted by COVID 19, while urging Congress to come together swiftly and pass meaningful, bipartisan legislation that helps support the hotel industry and the millions of employees we support. The following statement is attributable to Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA: “Millions of America’s hotel workers remain out of work as our industry struggles to survive the pandemic. We applaud the actions take...
