Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

Associations list priorities for new federal stimulus

USTA and AHLA write Congress for relief for travel and hotel industries during pandemic

AS THE COVID-19 pandemic surges on, the U.S. hotel and travel industries have renewed their call for more federal assistance. In a pair of letters to lawmakers, industry associations are calling for financial aid to improve businesses’ liquidity as well as incentives for the public to travel.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association sent its letter to Congress on Tuesday. It focused on extending the Paycheck Protection Program and relief from commercial mortgage backed securities loans for hotels, among other things.


On July 17, the U.S. Travel Association sent its letter to legislators that also asked for more PPP funding. Additionally, USTA and AHLA asked for tax credits to encourage travel and grants to make travel safer.

The leisure and hospitality sector has lost 4.8 million jobs since February, AHLA said, more than other sectors such as construction and retail. Hotels are still staffed at less than half their pre-pandemic levels, the association said.

“Our industry was among the first impacted by the pandemic and will be one of the last to recover. We are a major economic driver, supporting millions of jobs and generating billions in tax revenue. Getting our economy back on track starts with supporting the hotel industry and tourism in general,” said Chip Rogers, AHLA president and CEO. “We need Congress to continue to prioritize the industries and employees most affected by the crisis, so that help is directed to the businesses that need it most.”

The key points of the two letters are:

PPP extension: While the “Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act” passed in June addressed several concerns USTA, AHLA and other associations had about the PPP program, both groups asked Congress to extend the program until the end of the year. They also want to qualify non-profit and quasi-governmental destination marketing organizations for PPP loans and increases in the amount of the loans.

A CMBS market relief fund: AHLA wants the fund to feature a specific focus on the hotel industry, as part of the Federal Reserve’s lending options. A group of 100 members of Congress wrote their own letter to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell in early July asking for CMBS relief for businesses.

Structural changes to the Main Street Lending Facility: Established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, & Economic Security Act, the Main Street program includes three facilities for new loans, priority loans and expansion on existing loans aimed at small and medium-sized businesses with 15,000 employees or fewer and 2019 revenues of $5 billion or less. AHLA wants Congress to ensure hotel companies can access the program.

Liability protection: The associations want the government to provide a limited safe harbor from exposure liability for hotels that reopen and follow proper public health guidance.

Funding for safety: USTA is requesting up to $10 billion in federal grants to promote safe and healthy travel practices necessary for the resumption of travel.

Tax benefits: Both associations want enhancements for the Employee Retention Credit as well as tax credits for capital expenditures or expenses to meet the industry’s Safe Stay initiative.

Travel incentives: USTA and AHLA want temporary tax credits to encourage Americans to travel when its safe, to restore activity in the business meetings and events sector, including conventions and trade shows. They also want the government to increase the deductibility of business and entertainment expenses.

“You name it, this industry and its workers need it,” said Roger Dow, USTA president and CEO. “Travel businesses could not possibly have prepared for this level of catastrophe, and there’s no telling how many of the eight million jobs we’ve lost so far will remain gone for good without aggressive federal intervention to keep the industry on life support.”

More for you

San Francisco museum to open Indo-American hotelier exhibit in 2026 honoring Indian American pioneers
Photo courtesy of Beth LaBerge/KQED

Tenderloin Museum plans Indian hotelier exhibit

What is the Indo-American Hotelier Exhibit in San Francisco?

THE TENDERLOIN MUSEUM in San Francisco is launching the Indo-American Hotelier History Exhibit, the first permanent U.S. exhibition of its kind. The exhibit, opening in 2026 as part of the museum’s expansion, will document Indian immigrants’ role in the U.S. hospitality industry, beginning in San Francisco’s Tenderloin.

It will document the role of Indian immigrants in the U.S. hospitality industry, beginning in San Francisco’s Tenderloin, AAHOA said in a statement.

Keep ReadingShow less
Colliers: US hotel assets improve in 2025, led by Northeast and Central regions

Report: Hospitality health up on travel, events

What are the key findings from Colliers’ 2025 Hospitality Outlook?

THE FINANCIAL HEALTH of hospitality assets, especially in the northeast and central regions, is improving, driven by leisure travel and the return of conferences and events, according to Colliers. U.S. hotels saw RevPAR rise 2.4 percent, ADR 1.9 percent and a slight uptick in occupancy from April 2024 to March 2025.

Colliers' 2025 Hospitality Outlook report found that some regions are still returning to pre-pandemic demand levels, while others are reaching prior cyclical peaks.

Keep ReadingShow less
Marriott Media Launches to Transform Hotel Advertising in the U.S.

Marriott launches media network

What Is Marriott Media and How It Works?

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL LAUNCHED “Marriott Media”, a media network that connects brands with customers during their travel journey. It draws on first-party data from the Marriott Bonvoy program, which has nearly 237 million members across 9,500 properties worldwide.

Chris Norton, Marriott's senior vice president of marketing, data activation and personalization, will lead the initiative and serve as general manager of Marriott Media, according to a company statement.

Keep ReadingShow less
Wyndham 2025 ad campaign

Wyndham campaign connects brands, rewards program

What is Wyndham’s new hotel campaign about?

WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS launched an ad campaign promoting all 25 of its hotel brands and rewards program under one voice and the tagline: “Where There’s a Wyndham, There’s a Way”. The company’s campaign highlights accessibility, convenience and authenticity across its 9,300 hotels.

The multi-million dollar campaign spans multiple media and reflects travelers’ preferences, from weekend trips to longer drives, Wyndham said in a statement.

Keep ReadingShow less
Extended Stay America survey 2025

Study: Extended-stay hotels feel more like home

What makes extended-stay hotels better than vacation rentals?

EXTENDED-STAY HOTELS OUTPERFORM vacation rentals and apartments in comfort, value and sense of home, according to a survey by Extended Stay America. About 79 percent of respondents said extended-stay hotels are like a home away from home, while 82 percent said they offer a stronger sense of home than vacation rentals or apartments.

In the national survey by ESA and Wakefield Research, respondents preferred extended-stay hotels over other options, citing amenities at 34 percent, comfort and familiarity at 33 percent and personalization at 30 percent.

Keep ReadingShow less