The American Hotel & Lodging Association's (AH&LA's) annual Legislative Action Summit (LAS), April 1-2, at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C., brings together hundreds of hotel owners, senior executives of corporate brands, management companies, independent hoteliers, and general managers who will engage in important policy discussions with their industry peers and colleagues.

On April 1, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and House Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) will address “Congress and You: The 2014 Legislative Agenda, providing their insights on the potential actions of the House of Representatives and Senate for the remainder of the year. That evening, Senators Mark Begich (D-AK) and Susan Collins (R-ME) also will attend a special LAS reception where they will receive the association's 2014 Champions of the Industry, award for their strong support of the lodging industry and of travel and tourism in the U.S. 

The remainder of the conference program includes: 

• A View from the Top: Lodging CEOs Talk Advocacy  Insights from the industry's top leaders on the policy issues impacting your bottom line, including immigration and travel and tourism. Confirmed participants include Christopher Nassetta, president and CEO, Hilton Worldwide; Arne Sorenson, president and CEO, Marriott International, Inc.; and Ed Walter, president and CEO, Host Hotels & Resorts.
• An Insiders Look at the 2014 Elections Get an inside view of this year's elections from Anne Caprara, political director, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and Rob Collins, executive director, National Republican Senatorial Committee.
• An Immigration System for a 21st Century Economy A panel discussion on the future of immigration reform, moderated by Tamar Jacoby, president, Immigration Works. Panelists include Cesar Gonzalez, chief of staff for Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), and David Shahoulian, minority chief counsel, House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
• Smart Healthcare Reform for a Secure Workforce A panel discussion on the challenges of implementing the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

LAS attendees also will meet with members of the House of Representatives and Senate, giving hoteliers the opportunity to share the industry's compelling story as a driver of job creation and economic growth.

"Whether it is immigration reform, promotion of travel to the U.S., or healthcare, the voice of lodging is important in these ongoing policy debates. The Legislative Action Summit is the premier opportunity for hoteliers to bring their story from cities and towns across the country to Capitol Hill," said Katherine Lugar, AH&LA president/CEO. "The timeliness of this conference will be key in stressing the impact of Washington policies on our members operations, including the important vote next week on changing the healthcare law's definition of a full-time employee. Our outstanding slate of guest speakers and issue experts, together with opportunities for networking and meetings with policymakers, will give hoteliers the opportunity to provide their perspective on key policy decisions in Washington."

American Express is the founding sponsor of the 2014 LAS, and Cornell University, Hcareers, HD Supply, and Heartland Payment Systems are supporting sponsors for the event.

For more information, visit www.ahla.com/LAS.