More than 1,000 hoteliers and supporters rally to urge City
Council to reject a bill that would prohibit hoteliers from hiring subcontractors.
NEW YORK CITY – Hoteliers and aligned partners are turning up
the heat on New York’s City Council to fight against the “Safe Hotels” bill
that would require operators to use union labor to staff their properties,
ostensibly banning subcontractors.
On Thursday, more than 1,000 hotel owners, workers, and
small business owners, as part of the newly formed Protect NYC Tourism Coalition,
are rallying at City Hall to fight bill Int. 991, which would mandate that
hotel owners obtain a license that has to be renewed every two years
and outlaw hotels’ use of third-party contractors, except for security.
The Coalition has also sent a letter asking the City Council
to reject the bill, stating it threatens the sustainability of New York City’s
hotel and tourism businesses and puts the livelihoods of thousands of dedicated
workers at risk.
The economic toll of this bill will reverberate for years, forcing hotels to lay off hard-working staff, raise rates, and even permanently close. This is not a licensing or safety bill. It’s a government takeover of New York City hotels, and we will not stop fighting until it’s defeated.
Kevin Carey
The Coalition is being joined in its fight by a group of
nine companies representing 5,000 subcontracted hospitality workers who have
formed a new advocacy group called the Coalition for Hotel Subcontractors,
according to a Bisnow report.
The NYC Tourism Coalition includes members of the American
Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), Hotel Association of New York City
(HANYC), the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), Asian American Hotel Owners
Association (AAHOA), the Coalition for Hotel Subcontractors, the NYC Minority
Hotel Association, the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators
and Developers (NABHOOD) and numerous other groups and stakeholders that
support New York City’s tourism industry.
“This legislation will cause irrevocable damage and hurt
thousands of guests, hotel owners, workers, and small business owners who
support New York City’s hotel and tourism industry,” said American Hotel &
Lodging Association Interim President and CEO Kevin Carey. “The economic toll
of this bill will reverberate for years, forcing hotels to lay off hard-working
staff, raise rates, and even permanently close. This is not a licensing or
safety bill. It’s a government takeover of New York City hotels, and we will not
stop fighting until it’s defeated.”
“The National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators
& Developers stands with New York City’s hotel owners, workers, and small
businesses in opposing Int. 991,” said Andy Ingraham, President, CEO and founder
of NABHOOD. “This bill would disproportionately impact minority-owned hotels
and developers, who have worked tirelessly to contribute to the city’s tourism
industry and create jobs within their communities. The operational costs and
regulatory burdens of this legislation threaten to undo decades of progress in
creating inclusive opportunities for Black and minority hotel owners. We urge
the City Council to reconsider this bill and work with us to find solutions
that support economic growth and job creation – not stifle them.”
“Int. 991 is a solution in search of a problem. It imposes
staffing mandates that most hotels cannot afford, forcing closures, and
disrupting hotel lending and transactions,” said Vijay Dandapani, president and
CEO of the Hotel Association of NYC. “This bill harms the financial health of
hotels and threatens the sustainability of New York’s tourism industry. The
City Council should be working with us, not against us, to support job creation
and economic recovery.”
“The Safe Hotels Act will have devastating effects on our
hotels and the hospitality industry,” said Rahul Patel, treasurer of the Asian
American Hotel Owners Association. “This bill would require our small hotels to
stop partnering with other small businesses and force them to let go of their
employees. Our hotels offer personal service, often with a small team of staff.
If we could hire more employees, we would, but it is a shame that this bill is
trying to force us to work outside our current functioning business model. It
is patently unfair for the City Council to impose a one-size-fits-all business
model on all hotels. This bill will destroy our livelihoods.”
“This legislation is a dagger to the heart of our city’s
hotel, tourism, and entertainment industries,” said
Jim Whelan, REBNY president. “It will hurt the City's economic recovery, cut
jobs and slash tax revenue. If enacted, it is yet another deterrent to
investing in New York.”