Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

Survey: Immigration reform needed to ease labor crisis

AHLA formed special task force to advocate in Congress for legislation

Survey: Immigration reform needed to ease labor crisis

A BIPARTISAN SOLUTION to the federal immigration issue is needed to reduce the still ongoing labor shortage for hotels, according to a survey from the American Hotel & Lodging Association. To accomplish that, AHLA affiliate Hospitality is Working created the Workforce and Immigration Initiative that includes a targeted advertising campaign promoting immigration reform and border security.

U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics put hotel employment down by more than 350,000 jobs compared to February 2020, AHLA said in a statement. Hotels are looking to fill many of the jobs lost during the pandemic, including more than 105,000 hotel jobs currently open across the nation.


“Workforce shortages are severely impacting America’s economy, notably the leisure and hospitality sector, which is facing historic worker shortfalls. This crisis has contributed to high levels of inflation and restricted economic growth. Americans everywhere are feeling the impacts of these difficulties. To address the extraordinary workforce shortages, Congress and the administration must come together and find bipartisan solutions that include incorporating more immigrants into the American economy,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA. “The goal of the newly launched Workforce and Immigration Initiative is to highlight the historic opportunity to take action on this critical issue. Americans are demanding our that leaders in Washington put partisan politics aside and prioritize growing our economy and workforce, by developing an efficient and workable immigration system.  The time to act is now.”

Global Strategy Group and Public Opinion Strategies conducted a survey of 1,014 voters nationwide from Nov. 14 to 21 on immigration and other issues and found that 67 percent of respondents believe immigration reform that allows more immigrants to work legally is needed to improve the U.S. economy. That includes 69 percent of Democrats, 70 percent of independents and 64 percent of Republicans.

The survey found bipartisan agreement on several proposals to be included in reform. Adding more annual H-2B visas found approval among 67percent of respondents. That included78 percent of Democrats, 65 percent of independents and 54 percent of Republicans. Recently, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security planned to make available more than 64,000 additional H-2B visas for fiscal year 2023 on top of the usual 66,000.

Also, 71 percent support creating a path to citizenship for immigrants who currently qualify for Temporary Protected Status. The political split on that is 86 percent of Democrats, 60 percent of independents and 58 percent of Republicans.

Either way, most respondents agree that the current immigration system Is in need of reform. About 76 percent say Congress has not done enough on the issue and 87 percent say bipartisan efforts to achieve immigration reform are more important than sticking to their respective parties’ political agendas.

AHLA’s Workforce and Immigration Initiative also will include a digital advertising campaign in the District of Columbia and key states. The ad focuses on the workforce shortage and calls on Congress and the administration to “secure our border, grow our economy and create opportunities for people to work legally in the United States” and “rebuild the American Dream.”

More for you

Peachtree Funds Rio Las Vegas Renovations | $176M CPACE Loan
Photo credit: Hyatt Hotels Corp.

Peachtree originates retroactive CPACE loan for Rio Vegas

Summary:

  • Peachtree Group originated a $176.5 million retroactive CPACE loan for a Las Vegas property.
  • The deal closed in under 60 days and ranks among the largest CPACE financings in the U.S.
  • The company promotes retroactive CPACE funding for commercial real estate development.

PEACHTREE GROUP ORIGINATED a $176.5 million retroactive Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy loan for Dreamscape Cos.’s Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The deal, completed in under 60 days, is its largest credit transaction and one of the largest CPACE financings in the U.S.

Keep ReadingShow less
Global hotel construction pipeline reaches record 15,871 projects in Q2 2025, with U.S. and Dallas leading growth
Photo Credit: iStock

Report: Global pipeline hits 15,871 projects

Summary:

  • Global pipeline hit a record 15,871 projects with 2.4 million rooms in Q2.
  • The U.S. leads with 6,280 projects; Dallas tops cities with 199.
  • Nearly 2,900 hotels are expected to open worldwide by the end of 2025.

THE GLOBAL HOTEL pipeline reached 15,871 projects, up 3 percent year-over-year, and 2,436,225 rooms, up 2 percent, according to Lodging Econometrics. Most were upper midscale and upscale, LE reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
HAMA Launches 20th Student Case Competition in USA
Photo Credit: iStock

HAMA launches 20th student case competition

Summary:

  • HAMA is accepting submissions for its 20th annual student case competition.
  • The cases reflect a scenario HAMA members faced as owner representatives.
  • Teams must submit a financial analysis, solution and executive summary.

THE HOSPITALITY ASSET Managers Association is accepting submissions for the 20th Annual HAMA Student Case Competition, in which more than 60 students analyze a management company change scenario and provide recommendations. HAMA, HotStats and Lodging Analytics Research & Consulting are providing the case, based on a scenario HAMA members faced as owner representatives.

Keep ReadingShow less
Stonebridge hotel management expansion
Photo credit: Stonebridge Cos.

Stonebridge adds Statler Dallas to managed portfolio

Summary:

  • Stonebridge Cos. added the Statler Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton, to its managed portfolio.
  • The hotel, opened in 1956 and relaunched in 2017, is owned by Centurion American Development Group.
  • The property is near Main Street Garden Park, the Arts District and the Dallas World Aquarium.

STONEBRIDGE COS. HAS contracted to manage the Statler Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton in Dallas to its managed portfolio. The hotel, opened in 1956 and relaunched in 2017, is owned by Centurion American Development Group, led by Mehrdad Moayedi.

Keep ReadingShow less
Peachtree EB-5 approval
Photo credit: Peachtree Group

Peachtree’s FL development gets EB-5 approval

Summary:

  • Peachtree secured EB-5 approval for a Florida multifamily development project.
  • The 240-unit community in Manatee County is backed by $47 million in construction financing.
  • It is Peachtree’s fourth EB-5 project approval since launching the program in 2023.

PEACHTREE GROUP RECENTLY secured EB-5 approval from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for Madison Bradenton, a 240-unit multifamily development in Bradenton, Florida. It also raised $47 million in construction financing with a four-year term for the project on a 10.7-acre site in Manatee County.

Keep ReadingShow less