Lately there’s been a flurry of activity on Capitol Hill, with new and
potential regulations and legislation impacting the way hoteliers do
business. To help you know what to focus on, look to AH&LA’s first
edition of the Lodging Insider Report at
www.ahla.com/insider.
Highlights include:
New Department of Labor (DOL) regulations—DOL
is targeting hotels for audits and imposing fines and penalties for
anything short of air-tight compliance. AH&LA is advising hoteliers
to inform their entire staff about the possibility of an audit and take
measures to prepare in advance.
Proposed federal legislation from online travel companies—OTCs are
asking Congress to exempt them from paying occupancy taxes. Such
legislation would not only create a preferential tax category for OTCs,
it also strips the municipalities of millions of dollars in taxes each
year – and hoteliers may be the ones making up the difference.
New Americans with Disabilities Act changes from the Department of Justice—Regulations
apply to new construction and existing facilities and could incur
significant costs to your property. Most of the changes will not apply
to the lodging industry until 2012, but some hotels may need to review
current compliance to determine if changes are needed immediately.
To learn more about what these issues mean for your business visit
www.ahla.com/insider.
AH&LA members also have access to a range of resources to help
implement new practices and procedures, as well as get answers to
specific questions.