. (Tribune News Service) One of the largest hospitality unions in the United States is joining forces with the lobbying arm of the hotel industry to call on Congress for direct money to hotels suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Hotel & Lodging Association released a joint statement with UNITE HERE, a union of hotel and hospitality employees with more than 300,000 members, asking Congress to pass the Save Hotel Jobs Act. Introduced by Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and Florida U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, the bill would direct a fund of $20 billion to go toward hotel payroll expenses and creates a tax credit for workers. It also adds a guarantee for laid-off employees to get the right to return when their previous employers begin hiring again.
SBA has rolled out PPP loans, venue and restaurant grants. Is the hotel industry next?
Updated May 11, 2021;
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By Andy | Medici
The hotel industry is pushing Congress to create its very own $20 billion grant program hopefully by the end of the summer.
The Save Hotel Jobs Act, introduced by Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, in the Senate and and Rep.Charlie Crist, D-Fla., in the U.S. House of Representatives in late April, would create a new grant program for hotels that saw a drop in revenue of 40% or more during 2020 to receive grants of up to $20 million, administered by the Small Business Administration.
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With projections showing Hawaii is expected to be in the top five states with the highest number of hotel job losses for 2021, American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) president and CEO, Chip Rogers and Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Josh Green joined today to underscore efforts to bring hotel employees back as hotels prepare for summer travel.
In Hawaii, the total projected job loss for the year amounts to an estimated 20,029 jobs. Industry analysts estimate that hotel employment is unlikely to reach pre-pandemic levels until at least 2023, and recovery for the industry is not projected until 2024.
To highlight AHLA’s commitment to hosting guests in a safe and clean environment, the organization is partnering with states and elected officials to launch a series of “Safe Stay” events across the country to increase awareness among travelers about the industry’s health and safety protocols. Today’s event is the first in this series.