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Southern Lodging Summit 2011

Southern Lodging Summit 2011. AH&LA’s Top Governmental Affairs Issues. Travel & Tourism Promotion Labor Issues Internet Travel Tax Fairness Act (ITTFA ) H2B New ADA Regulations. Travel & Tourism. Travel Promotion Act (signed into law 2010)

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Southern Lodging Summit 2011

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  1. Southern Lodging Summit 2011

  2. AH&LA’s Top Governmental Affairs Issues • Travel & Tourism Promotion • Labor Issues • Internet Travel Tax Fairness Act (ITTFA) • H2B • New ADA Regulations

  3. Travel & Tourism Travel Promotion Act (signed into law 2010) • Public-private partnership: explain U.S. security policies and attract millions of international visitors through advertising campaign • Created “Corporation for Travel Promotion” Corporation for Travel Promotion • Named Jim Evans CEO May 17 - 30 year hotel industry veteran • No-taxpayer money /ESTA funds to date = $85 million • TPA estimated to attract 1.6 million new international visitors • The campaign is expected to debut in early 2012

  4. Travel & Tourism Discover America Partnership Coalition Leadership: • AH&LA, USTA, Chamber of Commerce & National Retail Federation • Over 50 members: Ex. Hotels, Restaurants, Unions, U.S . Conference of Mayors, Consumer Electronics Assoc. Priorities: • Make Visa offices responsive to demand • Reduce visa interview wait time • Expand the Visa Waiver Program

  5. Labor Issues Department of Labor (DOL) Audits • Audit Letters Being Issued • Congressional Activity • Oversight - Make DOL responsive through hearings/funding mechanisms • Appropriations -Eliminate funding for X,Y,Z activity

  6. H-2B Regulations • H-2B Regulations • H-2B Program critical to secure temporary seasonal workers • Dept. of Labor proposed new rules that jeopardizes program: • Increases H-2B pay to essentially union wages • All other employees also raised to same wage level • Transport, advertising, etc. requirements effectively makes program unusable • AH&LA co-chairs H-2B coalition • Working on legislation and litigation to block rule implementation

  7. Labor Issues Fighting Back-Door Card Check • Ambush Elections • NLRB to shorten time for Union elections to 7-10 days • Gag Order on Employers • DOL rulemaking to change public discourse requirements • Specialty Health Care • Micro-Unions (Gerrymandering the workforce)

  8. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (R-NY)

  9. Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC)

  10. Online Hotel Booking Tax Internet Travel Tax Fairness Act (ITTFA)

  11. Online Hotel Booking Tax What’s at Issue • Proposed legislation would exempt OTCs from paying anytaxes on retail rate • Creates preferential tax treatment Current Situation • Stalled on the Federal level – appearing at State level • Florida – AH&LA killed bill this session • AH&LA strategy for PSAs & state action

  12. Bloomberg TV

  13. National Landscape Booking Travel Online May be Costing States Half a Billion in Revenue February 5, 2011 Cities, States in hotel tax war with Orbitz, Expedia, Others October 22, 2010 Cities Sue Online Firms Over Unpaid Hotel Taxes April 12, 2011 Online Travel Industry Wants Reid To Stick Around. September 25, 2010

  14. Florida – A Key Battleground Stop unfair tax breaks for companies April 20, 2011 Bill to help online-travel companies squeaks through another stop April 6, 2011 Web Companies Would Get Break April 5, 2011 Bill gives online travel companies unfair advantage April 9, 2011 Florida and local governments are losing out when it comes to online travel tax breaks April 5, 2011 Make websites pay full share: Florida counties are getting stiffed $23 million in bed-tax revenue March 18, 2011 Report Says Florida among states with tax loophole costing millions April 13, 2011 Our Opinion: Online travel hijinks April 1, 2011 Online carpetbaggers fleece Florida April 6, 2011

  15. Around The States NEW JERSEY GEORGIA Georgia Supreme Court considers whether online travel firm is shortchanging city on hotel tax March 15, 2011 Our views: Collect what's due March 20, 2011 District enters the fight to recover tax revenue from online hotel vendors March 27, 2011 WASHINGTON, D.C. HAWAII DC latest to sue online travel companies over tax March 22, 2011 Hawaii to pursue $170M in unpaid hotel room taxes April 24,2011 D.C. to sue online firms for unpaid taxes March 22, 2011 State Pursues $170 Million in Unpaid Hotel Room Taxes from Online Travel Companies March 23, 2011 D.C. to sue Internet travel companies March 21, 2011

  16. ADA Regulations – Top 11 Changes Reservations Water Closet Clearances Power Mobility Devices Vanity Equity Service Animals Parking Guestroom Door Signage Pools & Spas Reach Range Requirements Exercise Equipment Service Counters

  17. HotelPAC • HotelPAC: AH&LA’s Political Action Committee • Voice of the lodging industry on Capitol Hill

  18. March 12 -13, 2012 Washington DCLegislative Action Summit

  19. Contact Information Marlene Colucci Executive Vice President for Public Policy American Hotel & Lodging Association (202) 289-3121 / mcolucci@ahla.com

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