September 12, 2018, Washington – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and the Asian
American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) kicked off their two-day 2018 Legislative Action
Summit (LAS) on September 12 as nearly 400 hoteliers from across the country gather to meet with their
lawmakers on Capitol Hill. During the summit, hoteliers will discuss the strength of the lodging industry,
issues affecting it, and its significant impact on communities around the country. This is the fourth year
AHLA and AAHOA are partnering to highlight the lodging industry’s strength and unity.
Supporting nearly 8 million American jobs, putting $600 billion into the U.S. economy each year, and
contributing $170 billion in federal, state and local taxes, the hotel industry’s impact is undeniable. As
AHLA and AAHOA members meet with elected officials and congressional staff, they will advocate to
make permanent the tax cuts in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, policies that encourage international travel and
tourism to the United States, and new protections for consumers from online hotel booking scams.
“The hotel industry is one where the American Dream is alive and well, and we are excited to bring that
story of opportunity and success to Capitol Hill this week,” said AHLA president and CEO Katherine
Lugar. “As part of an industry that supports 8 million jobs across the U.S., hoteliers are focused on
providing the training and support to help our employees move up the ladder of opportunity and build a
strong workforce to sustain our industry. Hotels are an integral part of the communities of every
congressional district across the country, and we look forward to working together with our nation’s
lawmakers so that they understand what makes us unique as an industry, and the policies that will help us
continue to grow and thrive.”
AAHOA President and CEO Chip Rogers said, “As Congress confronts the many challenges facing our
country, hoteliers are united in advocating for our employees, our businesses and our industry. AAHOA
is pleased to once again join with AHLA for our Legislative Action Summit. Advocating for hoteliers in
our nation’s capital is essential with all the important issues being addressed by Congress. This week,
we’ll be talking to lawmakers about tax reform, stopping online booking scams, increasing international
travel to the United States, and enhancing the hospitality workforce.”
LAS participants will hear from key leaders in Washington who will offer their insights on the political
climate and congressional landscape, including U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta;
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD); Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Rodney Davis (R-IL), and Scott Peters (D-CA);
Phil Lovas, Deputy Assistant Secretary, National Travel and Tourism Office with the U.S. Department of
Commerce; and David Wasserman, U.S. Editor and Senior Election Analyst, Cook Political Report.
The lodging industry continues to focus on growth and the nation’s economic resurgence while improving
the employment landscape. The lodging industry has seen 102 straight months of economic growth, and
each day, nearly 5 million people check into a hotel, spending nearly $500 billion at local businesses
during their trips. The hotel industry creates competitive, good-paying jobs with clear pathways for
professional development and advancement.
About AAHOA
AAHOA is the largest hotel owners association in the world. The nearly 18,000 AAHOA members own
almost one in every two hotels in the United States. With billions of dollars in property assets and
hundreds of thousands of employees, AAHOA members are core economic contributors in virtually every
community. AAHOA is a proud defender of free enterprise and the foremost current-day example of
realizing the American dream.
About AHLA
Serving the hospitality industry for more than a century, the American Hotel & Lodging Association
(AHLA) is the largest national association solely representing all segments of the eight million jobs the
U.S. lodging industry supports, including brands, hotel owners, REITs, chains, franchisees, management
companies, independent properties, bed and breakfasts, state hotel associations and industry suppliers.
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AHLA proudly represents a dynamic hotel industry of more than
54,000 properties that supports $1.1 trillion in U.S. sales and generates nearly $170 billion in taxes to
local, state and federal governments. Learn more at www.ahla.com.
