Exploring some of AAHOA’s recent advocacy activity
During the past few years, AAHOA’s leadership and members alike have made increasingly pointed efforts to become more involved, and effective, in advocating for the industry, whether that’s meeting face-to-face with legislators on Capitol Hill or hosting them for a Back of the House Tour, testifying on behalf of the industry in front of legislative bodies across the country, or providing public comment national news programs regarding its stance on pertinent issues. As a result, AAHOA has been part of some key wins in passing legislation designed to spur growth in the industry and defeat proposed bills that would likely have squashed competition.
Here, we take a look at just two – of many – recent examples of how AAHOA has boots on the ground across the nation with the goal of educating those responsible for shaping policies and laws that affect the industry enabling so many to achieve the American Dream.
AAHOA JOINED THE RALLY OPPOSING THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL’S PROPOSED SAFE HOTELS ACT
AAHOA joined numerous other industry associations and organizations in opposing the proposed Safe Hotels Act at a rally Thursday, September 12, at New York City Hall. If passed, this act would prohibit hotels from operating without an additional license and prohibit using subcontractors for core functions such as housekeeping, front desk, and security.
Among industry leaders, AAHOA Treasurer Rahul Patel represented AAHOA and voiced concerns on the proposed act with support from AAHOA Northeast Regional Director Preyas Patel and AAHOA Mid Atlantic Regional Director Mahendra (MZ) Patel.
“The Safe Hotels Act was not created in good faith, or the City Council would have reached out to us and our members,” Rahul Patel said. “This act [the City Council]is trying to pass will destroy our livelihoods. For us, this bill not only hurts small businesses but will hurt thousands of hospitality employees in the New York City area.”
He noted that in the Manhattan area, hotels contributed over $2.3 million in state and local taxes in 2021 and $7.2 million to the GDP. These numbers demonstrate how vital these small hotels are to the local economy.
“I extend my deepest gratitude to Rahul Patel, our hospitality leaders, and the hundreds of supporters who rallied,” said AAHOA Chairman Miraj S. Patel. “It is my sincere hope that the City Council will listen to our voices and collaborate with us to find balanced solutions that benefit everyone. AAHOA stands ready to partner in this process.”
“The Safe Hotels Act, as it stands, poses a serious threat to our members’ businesses and their livelihoods and threatens to undermine that economic engine at a time when the industry is still recovering from unprecedented challenges,” said AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake. “AAHOA is proud to stand with our industry partners in opposing this misguided proposal. We need policies that foster growth and job creation, not ones that put small business owners and their employees at risk.”
ABOUT INT. NO. 991 (SAFE HOTELS ACT):
Int. No. 991 would impose onerous and unnecessary staffing requirements on NYC hotels, which could result in the closure of small businesses. This bill mandates other rules that would needlessly disrupt hotel operations and require some hotel owners to divest their properties and exit the industry.
AAHOA MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS RECOGNIZED BY LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL
The Los Angeles City Council recognized AAHOA with “AAHOA Day” on Wednesday, September 4, in acknowledgment of the association’s pivotal role as entrepreneurs, job creators, and contributors in the Greater Los Angeles Area.
More than 100 AAHOA Members attended an LA City Council meeting where Councilmembers John Lee (CD-12) and Traci Park (CD-11) introduced AAHOA and paid tribute to the role local hoteliers have played in the city’s development. Park and Lee presented AAHOA with a resolution recognizing the hoteliers’ contributions.
After the presentation, LA Mayor Karen Bass made a special appearance to meet with AAHOA Members and congratulate them on their efforts, which warranted the recognition of a dedicated AAHOA Day.
Councilmember Paul Krekorian (CD-2) said it was appropriate that recognition coincided with the city’s 243rd birthday.
“It’s easy to say ‘I love LA and be an LA booster,’” he said. “You came here, worked 12- to 14-hour days to build a business, created savings, and then invested your life savings in the soil we are on… that is how you show you love LA.”
AAHOA Members own 1,165 hotels in the Greater Los Angeles Area, including about 650 hotels in Los Angeles. These properties, with 93,776 guestrooms, contribute significantly to the local economy, generating $6.3 billion in annual hotel sales and an estimated $17 billion overall economic impact.
“It’s an honor to see our work recognized by the LA City Council,” said AAHOA Chairman Miraj S. Patel. “AAHOA Members have consistently engaged in advocacy that supports the hotel industry, and we’re grateful for this acknowledgment of our efforts. I commend Greater Los Angeles Area Regional Director Naresh (ND) Bhakta and Northeast Los Angeles Hotel Owners Association President Ray Patel for their hard work and dedication in leading these efforts, and all the AAHOA Members who joined for this special event.”
“We appreciate the Los Angeles City Council’s recognition of our efforts,” said AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake, who spoke at the City Council event. “It was incredibly special they acknowledged the invaluable contributions of AAHOA and its members to the hospitality industry, the local economy, and the limited-service sector. I also personally loved that, by their resolution, the LA City Council encouraged all residents, businesses, and organizations to join in the celebration of AAHOA Day and to recognize the important role AAHOA Members play in the economic and social fabric of Los Angeles. This acknowledgment truly reflects the commitment of our members in the Greater Los Angeles Area to advocate for the hotel industry and our communities. Congrats to our local leaders for accomplishing this historic event with their diligence and the close relationships they have developed with the elected officials. Definitely a day to be greatly celebrated by all.”
The recognition highlights AAHOA’s recent efforts to address the hotel industry’s critical challenges. One such effort was the association’s involvement in revising the proposed “Hotel Land Use and Replacement Housing Requirements.” AAHOA played a role in transforming the original mandatory homeless voucher program into a voluntary one, helping balance the community’s needs with the operational realities of hotel businesses. AAHOA Members also worked on the proposed minimum wage hike, advocating for a carve-out for limited-service hotels.
AAHOA has also been collaborating with the California Hotel & Lodging Association (CHLA) and the Hospitality Association of Los Angeles (HALA) to provide input on the city’s police permitting process and encourage members to engage with legislative representatives regarding reforms to the Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). AAHOA remains focused on ensuring hotel owners’ voices are heard in matters affecting their operations.
Prior to and following the council meeting, AAHOA Members met with Councilmembers John Lee (CD-12), Tim McOsker (CD-15), Heather Hutt (CD-10), Kevin de Leon (CD-14), and the policy director for Councilwoman Monica Rodriquez (CD-07), to discuss areas of concern for local hoteliers. These included labor shortages, the rising costs of insurance, operating expenses, and mortgages, the economic impact on limited-service hotels, and support for Asian American minority hoteliers.
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