AH November 2024
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www.asianhospitality.com
November 2024 | Issue 231
News
06
he New York City Council passed
the controversial Safe Hotels
Act, also known as Intro. 991, on
Oct. 23, despite strong opposition from
industry groups like AAHOA and the
American Hotel & Lodging Association.
The council's Committee on Consumer
and Worker Protection approved the bill,
requiring hotel operators to obtain a
license to operate in New York City.
The associations argued that the
bill, introduced by Councilwoman Julie
Menin on July 18, will have a damaging
impact on New York's hotels and
economy, particularly minority-owned
businesses.
AAHOA said the revisions made
during the legislative process fail to
address industry concerns.
"While we acknowledge the passage of
the Safe Hotels Act and the attempt to
accommodate smaller properties, this
revision still falls short of addressing
our broader concerns with the
legislation. Hoteliers of all sizes deserve
the flexibility to manage their operations
effectively to ensure efÏciency and guest
satisfaction," said Miraj Patel, AAHOA
chairman. "The unintended consequences
of this act will disproportionately affect
minority-owned businesses, stifling
entrepreneurship and innovation in the
hospitality sector."
Provisions of the bill:
Hotel operators must obtain a license
to operate, with a two-year term and a
$350 fee.
Continuous front desk stafÏng is
required.
Large hotels must provide security
coverage while rooms are occupied.
Daily room cleaning is mandatory
unless declined by the guest.
Core staff must be directly employed,
except in hotels with fewer than 100
rooms.
Panic buttons must be provided to core
employees.
Human trafÏcking recognition training
is required for core staff.
Violations of these conditions will
result in penalties.
The associations warn that the act
will increase costs and disrupt hotel
operations.
AAHOA believes the legislation places
significant burdens on the industry by
banning the use of subcontractors for
housekeeping and front desk services.
"This legislation shows a fundamental
misunderstanding of hotel operations,”
said Laura Lee Blake, AAHOA president
and CEO. “By restricting subcontractors,
the Safe Hotels Act disrupts business
models that allow family-owned and
independent hotels to thrive. We urge the
Council to reconsider its impact on the
industry."
Blake said the association remains
committed to advocating for its members
and working with ofÏcials to find better
solutions.
Kevin Carey, interim president and
CEO of AHLA, called the bill’s passage
a result of "special interest power play"
and warned it would harm the city’s hotel
industry and tourism.
“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,” Carey said. “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 travelers.”
Despite initial opposition, the Hotel
Association of New York City expressed
relief at the final version of the bill.
"The adjustments that exempt
small hotels and create a practical
standard for the industry will protect
both employees and guests while
maintaining New York City’s status
as a top travel destination," said Vijay
Dandapani, president and CEO of the
association.
However, the NYC Minority Hotel
Association criticized the bill for lacking
proper consideration of its impact.
“The passage today of Intro 991 by the
New York City Council is an affront to
New York’s independent, particularly
minority-owned, small businesses," said
a spokesperson for the NYC Minority
Hotel Association. "The so-called ‘Safe
Hotels Act’ will do nothing to make
New York safer, but it will force many
smaller, minority-owned and family-
run hotels to close, kill thousands of
jobs, and cause room rates across five
boroughs to skyrocket, eliminating
affordable options for New York City’s
millions of annual tourists and visitors.
This misguided bill will do profound
damage to New York City’s economy and
hospitality industry."
Recently, hundreds of hotel
professionals gathered at City Hall to
protest the bill, warning of its negative
effects on NYC hotels, subcontractors,
and small businesses.
NYC Council passes Safe Hotels Act
despite industry pushback
The controversial bill was introduced by Councilwoman Julie Menin on July 18.
The New York City Council passed the Safe Hotels
Act on Oct. 23, requiring hotel operators to obtain
a license, despite opposition from industry groups
like AAHOA and the American Hotel & Lodging
Association.
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