Washington, D.C. | This morning, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) sent President Barack Obama a letter expressing the industry’s concerns about recent statements on business meetings and events made by members of his Administration.

The letter, signed by 17,932 members of the association, advises the President that his comments and others expressed recently by Administration officials and members of Congress are having serious repercussions across the lodging and travel industry. Legitimate business meetings and events are being cancelled, causing lodging businesses to cut back on staff and services in response to reduced business, thus resulting in industry job losses.

Guidelines issued by AH&LA and other travel associations in early February are designed to help corporate meeting planners operating under emergency government Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds to plan their meetings and events responsibly. The guidelines are available via this link at .

The association is asking President Obama “to stand up for the American travel industry,” by supporting legitimate business travel and meetings for all American corporations. The $139 billion U.S. lodging industry has already seen cutbacks in travel-related industry jobs, and is worried that comments by our nation’s leaders are leaving the wrong impression on American business owners.

A copy of the March 4, 2009 letter can be found via this link.

Serving the hospitality industry for nearly a century, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) is the sole national association representing all sectors and stakeholders in the lodging industry, including individual hotel property members, hotel companies, student and faculty members, and industry suppliers. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AH&LA provides members with national advocacy on Capitol Hill, public relations and image management, education, research and information, and other value-added services to provide bottom-line savings and ensure a positive business climate for the lodging industry. Partner state associations provide local representation and additional cost-saving benefits to members. For more information, please visit .

Robert Baylor
+1 (202) 289-3122
AH&LA