WASHINGTON (May 13, 2020) – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) today expressed support for a number of elements contained in the HEROES ACT (HR 6800) that would improve upon the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to aid small business hotel operators and save millions of jobs. 

With 70 percent of hotel employees laid off or furloughed, AHLA has consistently advocated for millions of hotel employees and the tens of thousands of mostly small business hotel owners. Measures which offer PPP loan flexibility, and extend the covered period to use loan proceeds are critical to keeping hotels open and hotel employees on the payroll until travel demand returns. As Congress debates additional funding, the hotel industry will be releasing a “Roadmap to Recovery” later this week laying out the industry’s top priorities in the next funding package.

The following statement is attributable to Chip Rogers, President and CEO of AHLA: 

“We remain grateful to the leadership of both parties as our nation works through one of the most difficult economic challenges we have faced. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the leisure and hospitality sector lost 7.7 million jobs in April alone. That is more jobs than construction, manufacturing, retail, education, and health services combined. With the impact to hotels being nine times worse than 9/11, the devastation caused to our industry is staggering and we are truly engaged in a fight for survival. ”

“The HEROES Act includes a number of important provisions that the hotel industry has long advocated for to support the millions of employees in our industry who have shouldered the brunt of this economic shutdown. By expanding the PPP, Congress would help save millions of jobs and support our small business hotel operators who make up more than 61 percent of our industry.”

“The hotel industry was among the first impacted and will likely be the last to recover. Without these important changes to PPP, and some reasonable liability protection, small business hotels won’t be able to survive with the ability to retain and rehire employees. Legislation which helps our employees while offering support to the thousands of hotel owners will ultimately strengthen the economy for everyone. We look forward to working with both sides of the aisle to ensure bipartisan support for swift action to pass legislation and get our economy on the road to recovery.”