SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (August 13, 2019) – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) today commended Governor Pritzker for signing the Hotel and Casino Employee Safety Act included in SB0075 the Workforce Transparency Act, which includes anti-sexual harassment policies and provides employee safety devices to hotel associates.

“In a business of people taking care of people, we could not be successful without the eight million men and women in jobs that the hotel industry supports. That’s why our industry has for decades prioritized programs that protect our employees and guests and invested in the safety of our workforce,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA. “We look forward to continuing to work with lawmakers and safety experts alike to foster a culture of safety ensuring hotels are secure for everyone who works in and visits them.” 

“We are grateful to Gov. Pritzker for his support of Illinois hotel employees and commend Sens. Melinda Bush and Ram Villivalam for their critical work on this important initiative,” said Michael Jacobson, president and CEO of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association. “Regardless of the industry they work in, employees should feel safe when they go to work each day. It remains our promise as hotels to create that safe environment within our properties.”

In 2018, AHLA partnered with leading hotel brands to set a new standard for other industries to follow concerning policies that prevent sexual harassment and assault with the 5-Star Promise, a pledge to provide hotel associates across the U.S. with ESDs and commit to enhanced policies, trainings and resources that together are aimed at enhancing hotel safety, including preventing and responding to sexual harassment and assault.

Deployment of ESDs is already underway. Hotel companies in several markets, including New York, Washington, Chicago and Seattle, already provide ESDs to employees, and they are piloting devices in many other markets, with the goal of broad implementation by 2020.  
 

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