American Hotel & Lodging Association

ICYMI: More than 300 AHLA members joined us on Capitol Hill last week to advocate for protecting the franchise business model, strengthening the hotel workforce, and stabilizing the operating environment. Thank you to Jon Bortz, chair of AHLA’s HotelPAC Advisory Council, and Scott Steilen, a member of our Resort Committee, for sharing the latest with Hotel Dive. As we prepare to celebrate America250 and the World Cup, it is critical that we address these priorities. Read the full article from Noor Adatia at Hotel Dive.⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eUtqp7BR

Thank you to RMWorldTravel Connection for highlighting these important conversations.   Major events, like the World Cup and America250 are defining opportunities to showcase the very best of American hospitality on a global stage, strengthen our tourism infrastructure, and deliver a lasting economic legacy long after the final whistle. Our members showing up on Capitol Hill and advocating for the industry’s priorities is a critical step forward. 🎙️Listen here: https://lnkd.in/ehWmZDTP

#HotelsOnTheHill may be over, but we are still thinking about all of our members who showed up, shared their stories, and took advocacy into their own hands by engaging directly with policymakers ✨ Your voices and firsthand experiences are what make AHLA’s work so meaningful and effective. We can't wait to do it all again next year!

General Managers are on the front lines of the hotel industry 🏨 This week, we gathered the AHLA General Manager Committee ahead of #HotelsOnTheHill to discuss state and local policy and the critical role their voices play in advocacy. We had a great discussion on AI and adapting to an ever-changing landscape, followed by valuable insights from Google. Committee members also heard how the AHLA Foundation is working to build and strengthen the hotel workforce, reinforcing the importance of industry-wide support and engagement. Special thanks to our committee co-chairs Donte P. Johnson, Nabil Moubayed, and Sarah Peters

#HotelsOnTheHill 2026 by the numbers 🏛️

Till next time #HotelsOnTheHill Thank you to everyone who shared their story and made their voice heard. Stories like yours are what create change. AHLA will continue highlighting your stories as we advocate to protect the franchise business model, strengthen the hotel workforce, and stabilize the operating environment. We cant wait to do it all again next year!

Congratulations are in order! At this year's #HotelsOnTheHill, Sen. Angus King, Sen. Susan Collins, Rep. Don Davis, Rep. Andy Harris, and Rep. Kevin Hern received AHLA's Spirit of Hospitality Award. The Spirit of Hospitality Award is presented in recognition of leadership in travel and tourism. Senators King and Collins and Representatives Davis, Harris, and Hern have all been strong champions of AHLA's key priorities: addressing labor shortages, supporting travel and tourism, and protecting the franchise business model. Join us in congratulating these leaders for their work in support of the millions of people who make up the hospitality industry and communities nationwide.

International inbound travel is critical to the U.S. hotel industry, yet it remains below pre-pandemic levels, contributing to a $70 billion travel trade deficit. At #HotelsOnTheHill, our industry leaders met with Representative Peter Aguilar to discuss the importance of stabilizing the operating environment, especially as California prepares to host the World Cup and 2028 Olympics. AHLA is advocating for key solutions to strengthen the industry’s global competitiveness, including funding Brand USA, preserving duty-free treatment for essential hotel supply inputs, and ensuring that federal per diem rates are set using timely, transparent, market-based data that reflects current lodging costs. Thank you, Representative Aguilar, for your time.

In Michigan, hotels generate more than $2 billion in state and local taxes, making hospitality a critical driver of the state's economy. At #HotelsOnTheHill, our industry leaders had a strong conversation with Representative Lisa McClain about the urgency of strengthening the hotel workforce, especially as we enter the summer season. With the World Cup just weeks away, this is our moment to showcase the best of what our country has to offer. AHLA is advocating for solutions like modernizing the H-2B visa program to create a more reliable workforce pipeline for hotels during peak seasons, and for funding Brand USA to ensure the U.S. remains a premier global travel destination. Thank you Rep. McClain for your time!

At #HotelsOnTheHill, hotel industry leaders met with Representative Tom Emmer to discuss key priorities for hoteliers in Minnesota and nationwide, including strengthening the workforce, protecting the franchise model, and promoting travel and tourism to the United States. Thank you, Representative Emmer, for your time and partnership.