As a bookend to Joe McInerney's blog, Marlene Colucci, AH&LA Executive Vice President for Public Policy, provides weekly updates on the big issues facing hoteliers on Capitol Hill and news on legislation and policy initiatives that will directly impact you.
July 1, 2008
Summer Slow Down in Washington? I don't think so!
Well, what a week. The presidential campaign is in full swing and the pollsters are hopping. If I were to handicap the race over this past week or so, I would have to say that last week was a slightly better week for Senator John McCain. The Arizona Republican seems to have done better at setting the agenda over the past two weeks.
June 6, 2008
NYU Hospitality Conference: Where business and government in
This past week I attended the 30th annual NYU Hospitality Conference in NY. On Sunday, we met with members of our Governmental Affairs/HotelPAC committee. As we engaged in a lively and well informed debate of our issues, it occurred to me how much more the committee is engaged in governmental affairs issues. Both Steve Porter, president, the Americas of InterContinental Hotels Group, and Bob Alter, executive chairman of Sunstone Hotel Investors, our two most recent chairs, have raised the expectations of committee members.
May 30, 2008
Legislation and Regulations on the Move
I received good news this week concerning the success on one of our priority issues from last month's Legislative Action Summit. The
Travel and Tourism Promotion Act has gained a number of co-sponsors in the House and a few more on the Senate legislation. I attribute this success directly to the successful lobbying by AH&LA members during the LAS.
May 23, 2008
Meetings? We love meetings!
A governmental affairs representative in Washington has to be prepared to attend meetings. I attend lots of meetings. They may be pre-event meetings or post-event wrap-up meetings, issue meetings, image meetings, planning meetings. I've participated in a number of recent meetings that have been helpful in furthering the interests of the lodging industry.
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