KEY MESSAGES

The lodging industry has a strong commitment to investing in the men and women who are the heart of hospitality – they are our industry’s greatest resource.

• As members of the hospitality industry, no one needs to tell us about the tremendous impact immigrants have on this country.
• The workforce that powers the U.S. hospitality industry is 8 million strong and approximately one-third of those workers are U.S. immigrants.
• In fact, the hospitality industry is one of the largest employers of immigrant workers.

Our industry is calling for a balanced approach to our immigration laws, that includes comprehensive reform.

• As the Administration and Congress take on these important and complex issues, we believe elected officials in Washington have a responsibility to find consensus and resolve this issue.  
• We look forward to working with policymakers to advance legislation that both protects Americans, and reflects the values and spirit of a nation made-up of immigrants who have enriched our society and way of life.

Our industry thrives because our employees are as global as our guests.

• The strength of our industry comes from the diversity of the people who serve our global guests.
• A global customer needs a global workforce.
• From the front of the “house” to the back of the “house,” employees in our industry have a pathway to life-long careers.  Many entry level employees rise through the ranks to management positions, general managers, and even higher to the C-Suite, running or owning properties, and some even running global hotel brands.
• Hiring workers to fill critical service positions will be one of the industry's most urgent issues over the next decade and immigrants will continue to be part of any solution.