Summary:
- Hospitality leaders urged a vote on the Senate-passed bill to end the government shutdown.
- The hotel industry has lost an estimated $1.2 billion in economic activity.
- The House is set to vote this evening on the Senate-backed bill, according to CNN.
LEADERS FROM THE American Hotel & Lodging Association, Airlines for America, U.S. Travel Association and the National Restaurant Association urged the House of Representatives to vote on the Senate-passed agreement to end the government shutdown. Meanwhile, senators approved a funding package to reopen the federal government and sent the deal to the House.
The House is set to vote this evening on the Senate-backed bill, according to CNN. Speaker Mike Johnson must secure support from his narrow GOP majority but told reporters he is “optimistic.”
The government shutdown clock on the White House website stood at 42 days on Wednesday.
The hotel industry has lost an estimated $1.2 billion in economic activity, according to AHLA. Each day of the shutdown costs $31 million in hotel-generated activity.
“This government shutdown has upended the lives of many Americans and impacted the travel and hospitality industry,” said Rosanna Maietta, AHLA president and CEO. “The uncertainty, coupled with travel disruptions, has rattled consumer confidence, leading to trip cancellations and decreased future bookings. Americans deserve a working government. We urge Congress to end this shutdown immediately and prevent it from happening again. The hotel industry and the traveling public cannot afford it.”
The shutdown has cost nearly $6 billion in travel spending since Oct. 1, according to U.S. Travel.
Geoff Freeman, USTA president and CEO, said, “When travel slows, America slows.”
“Because of the shutdown, millions of travelers have been impacted,” he said. “Billions of dollars have been lost. We are urging Congress to end the shutdown quickly, accelerate improvements to air travel and ensure this never happens again.”
U.S. airlines began canceling hundreds of flights on Friday, Nov. 7, after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered cuts amid the shutdown. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy directed 10 percent reductions at 40 major U.S. airports, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, affecting commercial and cargo flights.
A4A said more than 5.2 million passengers have been affected by delays and cancellations since the shutdown began.
“We strongly urge members of the House to vote to reopen the government today. Airlines have temporarily reduced schedules to comply with the FAA’s mandate and prioritize safety,” said Christopher Sununu, A4A president and CEO. “More than 5 million passengers and countless cargo shipments have been impacted by delays and cancellations. We are preparing for record Thanksgiving travel, with some 31 million passengers expected and the busy shipping season is coming up. However, airlines cannot resume normal operations immediately after a vote—there will be residual effects for days. It is past time to end the shutdown!”
The federal government shut down at midnight on Oct. 1 after Republicans and Democrats failed to agree on funding, with disputes over healthcare subsidies and spending priorities leaving both sides unwilling to accept responsibility.
