AHLA & UNITE HERE to Host Virtual Press Conference

WASHINGTON (April 27, 2021) – On Wednesday, at 11:00 a.m. EST the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s (AHLA) president and CEO Chip Rogers along with UNITE HERE president D. Taylor will host a virtual press conference announcing new legislation to provide targeted relief to the ailing hotel industry.

The introduction of this critical legislation comes at a time when the hotel industry has lost 10 years of job growth, is shuttering doors and losing employees for good. Leisure and hospitality has lost 3.1 million jobs during the pandemic that have yet to return, representing more than a third of all unemployed persons in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even more stark, the unemployment rate in the accommodation sector specifically remains 330% higher than the rest of the economy.

No industry has been more affected by the pandemic than hospitality. Government-issued travel bans and restrictions, which have been meant to slow the spread of the virus, resulted in record job loss. While leisure travel is resuming as more people are vaccinated, business travel—the largest source of hotel revenue—is down 85% and is not expected to begin its slow return until the second half of this year. Full recovery is not expected until 2024.

RSVP by emailing media@ahla.com.

WHEN: 
Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.

WHO:
Chip Rogers, president and CEO, AHLA
D. Taylor, president, UNITE HERE

DIAL-IN INFORMATION:
RSVP to media@ahla.com for the virtual press conference link.

About AHLA

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is the sole national association representing all segments of the U.S. lodging industry. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AHLA focuses on strategic advocacy, communications support and workforce development programs to move the industry forward. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospitality industry was the first industry impacted, and it will be among the last to recover. That is why AHLA is committed to promoting safe travel while also creating a standardized safety experience nationwide through the Safe Stay initiative. With an enhanced set of health and safety protocols designed to provide a safe and clean environment for all hotel guests and employees, hotels across America are ready to welcome back travelers when they are ready to travel. Learn more at www.ahla.com.

About UNITE HERE

UNITE HERE is a labor union that represents over 300,000 members working in the hotel, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, distribution, laundry, transportation, and airport industries in the U.S. and Canada. Over 75% of UNITE HERE members are still out of work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, down from a peak of 98%.