USA | The recent passing of the Safe Hotels Act in New York City is said to have made the local accommodation industry more united and stronger.
American Hotel & Lodging Association Interim President and CEO Kevin Carey released a statement following the New York City Council’s passing of the “Safe Hotels Act.”
“This passage of the ‘Safe Hotels Act’ by the City Council caps a legislative scramble and special interest power play that will do irreparable harm to the city’s hotel industry and tourism economy. From the start, this rushed and haphazard legislative process has been in service of one goal; to deliver a single special interest victory at the expense of small and minority-owned businesses,” said Carey.
“The updated version of the bill – while including some concessions thanks to the advocacy efforts of hundreds of hotels and hospitality professionals – still unfairly and arbitrarily targets hotels with 100 or more rooms with regulations that have nothing to do with the bill’s stated goal of increasing health and safety. Instead, this bill will do material damage to the businesses and the tax revenue that hotels generate for the city’s economy and result in higher costs for travellers.”
Carey added that, ultimately, this bill has had one very important impact: it has galvanised the hotel industry, inclusive of hotel owners, operators, brands, employees and subcontractors. He said the industry was now stronger and more united than ever.
The final bill has created a hotel licensing programme, where hotels will be required to renew their license every two years and prove compliance with various health, safety and labour mandates. Hotels with a collective barganing agreement that meet these requirements are exempt from this process.
The bill has also prohibited hotels from using subcontractors for housekeeping and front desk staff. The subcontractor ban does not apply to hotels with less than 100 rooms. It has also required human trafficking training, which was already mandated by law.
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