WASHINGTON (March 6, 2019) – The hotel and lodging industry is integral to the American economy, supporting more than 8 million jobs across the country and in every Congressional district, offering a readily achievable pathway to the middle class. The recent introduction of our own Hospitality Is Working campaign underscores the innovative and proactive efforts underway to recruit and retain talent, protecting our employees and guests, and investing in our communities. Our employees are the backbone of our hotels, but without a stable and reliable workforce, we cannot thrive and continue to offer lifelong careers in our industry.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is dedicated to helping find a permanent, bipartisan and comprehensive solution to our nation’s immigration laws. Securing our nation’s borders while also meeting the labor needs of our economy can be achieved with principled leadership and bi-partisan cooperation.

AHLA is hopeful that the House Judiciary Committee hearing can bring much-needed progress to address an issue which has lingered for far too long. We applaud lawmakers of both parties who are committed to finding a solution that represents the American spirit and appeals to the best of our national conscience.

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. 

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