WASHINGTON (January 12, 2016) – President and CEO Katherine Lugar of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) issued this statement following President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address:

“Tonight, by hailing the progress of economic growth and robust job creation, President Obama touted the resilience and success of our nation and spoke to the power of our workers and small businesses. He noted that we are ‘in the middle of the longest streak of private-sector job creation in history.’ Our industry knows this well. With more than five years of consecutive growth and job creation, employing nearly 2 million workers nationwide, the hotel industry has been one of the key drivers of economic growth across the country. The lodging industry is a leader in strengthening our communities and fostering a track to upward mobility and fast-track promotions for those seeking long-term employment with good pay and benefits and the chance to quickly climb the ladder of opportunity. And though we are encouraged that the President strives to sustain the nation’s economic prosperity in the final year of his presidency, we urge the Administration to support public policy that empowers business growth, entrepreneurial ambitions, and certainty rather than implement onerous regulations that could small business owners. 

“Critical to generating and maintaining the backbone of our economic resurgence are innovations in technology, which boost the economy and all industries, including ours. As an industry that is constantly innovating to improve the guest experience, we agree with President Obama that there’s a great need to ensure technological advancements strike a balance between privacy and security. Moreover, there should be a level playing field as newer players enter the marketplace when operating in the lodging sector. Only by working together can these critical issues be addressed in a comprehensive way.

“As President Obama begins his final year in the White House, we encourage the President to work hand-in-hand with Congress on bipartisan policy initiatives that bolster our economy, increase innovation, and create the certainty necessary for our industry to continue to invest in our local communities and jobs. We look forward to working with the White House and Congress towards advancing our common goals aimed at strengthening the communities we serve every day.” 
 

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Serving the hospitality industry for more than a century, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) is the sole national association representing all segments of the 1.9 million-employee U.S. lodging industry, including hotel owners, REITs, chains, franchisees, management companies, independent properties, state hotel associations, and industry suppliers. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AH&LA provides focused advocacy, communications support, and educational resources for an industry of more than 53,000 properties generating $176 billion in annual sales from 5 million guestrooms.