Although the “COVID cloud” is beginning to slowly disappear, America’s hoteliers are facing historic labor shortages right when the industry’s economic recovery is starting to show signs of progress.
The Save Hotel Jobs Act, introduced by U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist (D-Fla.), would provide hotel owners with an option to apply for payroll expense grants directly benefiting workers. Sen. Schatz and Rep. Crist should be commended for sponsoring this important legislation and supporting hoteliers and their employees as they emerge from the pandemic and its economic fallout. With occupancy rates well below normal, many hotels continue to struggle to survive. The industry will not fully recover until 2024.
Related: AHLA, Unite Here join forces to support Save Hotel Jobs Act
While we are seeing more and more hotels opening up for customers, it cannot be stressed enough how many hotels have been closed for more than a year. I cannot count the number of heartbreaking calls I have had with hoteliers, who have very limited places to turn for economic relief. The revenue they have lost in 2020 and a good part of 2021 will never be recovered and this is why it is so imperative that Congress pass the SHJA, a lifeline to hotel owners who are on the edge of losing their businesses that employ hundreds of thousands workers.
AAHOA and our 20,000 members across the nation will continue to advocate for and support measures such as the SHJA to help hoteliers overcome challenges on the long road to recovery. Likewise, those unemployed due to COVID remain in our thoughts and prayers. I am confident we will come back stronger than ever—all we need to get there is some temporary economic relief.
Biran Patel is chairman of AAHOA.