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On the national front, there are several issues that have the attention of the hospitality industry, including the Employee Free Choice Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment. Although these federal-level issues have an unquestionable effect on the hospitality industry, it is important not to neglect matters closer to home.
There are problematic laws on the state and local fronts that have the potential to harm the growth of hotels as deeply as federal issues do. Across the nation, hotel owners and other industry players should take concrete steps in their communities to speak for or against certain regulations. The following are a couple examples of the importance and power of local activism:
- In Ohio, hoteliers celebrated the passage of Senate Bill 237, which changed the law that limited guests in hotels to a 30-day stay. Under the new law, hotels in Ohio are allowed to have their transient guests stay for up to 270 days by applying to the fire marshal and complying with certain fire safety conditions.
- Nashville's hotel taxes were the third highest among the top 100 most traveled-to cities. This is not surprising to the hoteliers in Nashville, who have faced substantial tax increases over the last few years. Approximately a year ago, the city of Nashville increased the 15.25-percent hotel and motel tax by imposing an additional flat tax of $2 on every hotel room. Less than a year later, the city proposed an additional 50 cents be added to the existing $2 tax. Many in the industry came together to voice their opposition to the increase of the occupancy tax.
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The results stemming from local activism may not always be favorable, but staying involved is what is most important. Such involvement also can open the door to valuable connections in the local government.
If you are unsure how to get involved in your community, here are some ways to begin:
- Contact your elected officials and tell them where you stand on key issues. Remember that, as a constituent, you can vote for or against them.
- Write to your local newspapers. Letters to the editor, for example, are effective ways to call attention to an issue.
- Join a group or an association that concentrates on the issues that concern you.
- Organize a lobbying trip to the local offices of your elected officials or to the state capitol.
Remember not to lose sight of the issues in your community just because of the time and level of attention devoted to federal legislation. By getting back to basics with local activism, you will influence the policies at home and promote and protect your business.
Ashwin "Ash" Patel is 2008 chairman of the Asian American Hotel Owners Assn. Contact him at (404) 816-5759 or visit http://www.aahoa.com/
