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washington – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), hoteliers and other hospitality industry stakeholders met with more than 25 New Jersey lawmakers in Trenton, N.J., on Monday to warn that legislation being considered in the Garden State would drive hotels out of the country state and destroying thousands of hotel jobs.
Related bills A3495 and S2336 would undermine the hotel franchise model by making it more difficult for hotels to enforce quality, service and safety standards that guests trust. They could also disrupt popular loyalty programs used by many hotel brands and even force the state to end them.
At a meeting with state senators and legislators on Monday, hotel industry representatives pledged to oppose bills A3495 and S2336, bills that specifically target hotels, put the government in the middle of commercial relationships and endanger the livelihoods of hoteliers and their employees.
Our message to legislators is simple: If A3495 and S2336 become law, they will destroy New Jersey’s hospitality industry. By limiting the ability of hoteliers to enforce the quality, service and safety standards that guests trust, these bills will make it impossible for most branded hotels to operate in the Garden State, driving hotels elsewhere and destroying thousands of jobs. Last month, several New Jersey lawmakers rammed the damaging legislation through committee with just two hours’ notice. New Jersey residents and potential visitors deserve better, and we call on lawmakers to engage in a transparent debate about the extreme negative impact these bills will have on the state’s economy and its hoteliers. AHLA Interim President and CEO Kevin Carey
Background information
The New Jersey Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee approved A3495 on February 22 and is awaiting further action by the Assembly. The bill and its companion Senate bill S2336 would severely limit hotels’ ability to enforce brand standards related to quality, service and safety guidelines.
Among other things, these bills would:
- Requiring brand improvements such as Wi-Fi, mobile check-in, breakfast, etc. need to be negotiated on a case-by-case basis, which dilutes brand standards.
- Allowed to hotel owners “comparable” products required by brands, which will weaken brand standards and lead to an increase in litigation as both parties try to determine what is comparable.
- Forcing hotels to allow their federally registered trademarks to be used “Similar products” Undermining the value of these trademarks and destroying people’s trust.
- Weakening the loyalty points system that many brands use to reward loyal customers could force many brands to terminate these loyalty programs in New Jersey.
About New Jersey’s Hospitality Industry
1,180 hotel accommodations in New Jersey in 2022:
- Employs more than 45,000 people
- Pay $2.6 billion in wages and salaries to employees
- Generated nearly $1.7 billion in tax revenue
About the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA)
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is the only national association representing all areas of the U.S. lodging industry. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AHLA focuses on strategic advocacy, communications support and workforce development programs to move the industry forward. For more information, please visit www.ahla.com.
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