AH&LA's Kitchen Cabinet Discusses Strategies For The Lodging Industry's Economic Recovery (listen to related conference call)
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The more than 40 members of the council - comprised of leading lodging company executives and representatives from AH&LA's member state associations, vendor community, and key committees - identified government-related goals to assist the lodging industry in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
The council's preliminary objectives include supporting AH&LA as it urges Congress to pass an economic stimulus package that assists the lodging industry by providing tax deductions for spousal travel and business meals and entertainment expenses; liquidity measures through payroll tax reform and an extension of eligibility requirements for the Small Business Administration's Economic Injury Disaster Relief Program; and workforce assistance to aid employees and employers, including helping states that have difficulty processing and paying unemployment and worker compensation claims and extending health benefits for displaced workers.
"As we stand together in an unified front to survive the painful economic repercussions of these terrible acts, our governmental affairs department and this council is using its various resources to reestablish the lodging industry as one of the proven, constant forces in the U.S. economy," said AH&LA President and CEO Joseph A. McInerney, CHA.
In addition to the committee's agenda, McInerney emphasized the importance of traveling by requesting all participants to attend the upcoming International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show® (IH/M&RS), November 10-13, held in conjunction with the AH&LA's annual Fall Conference, November 9-12, at New York City's Waldorf=Astoria and Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
"It is up to our industry to 'lead by example' and show America and the world that we will not give up our lives to terrorism. We must be unbound to fear and keep our commitment to this important annual event in NYC," concluded McInerney.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), is a 91-year-old federation of state lodging associations throughout the United States with some 13,000 property members worldwide, representing more than 1.7 million guest rooms. AH&LA provides its members with assistance in operations, education, and communications, and lobbies on Capitol Hill to provide a business climate in which the industry can continue to prosper. Individual state associations provide representation at the state level and offer many additional cost-saving benefits.
