By Victoria Harker | Chamber Business News
The hotel industry suffered some of the most blistering financial setbacks during the pandemic and is facing a longer recovery than most other sectors. But when it comes to the latest federal relief package, they’re feeling left out, industry leaders said last week at a forum hosted by the Arizona Tourism & Lodging Association (AZTLA).
While restaurants and the airlines received designated relief in the legislation, the hotel industry barely received a mention. The oversight is likely due to misconceptions about the industry, they said.
“Because there are big names on top of these hotels like a Best Western or a Marriott, people think they are global operations that own and operate all these hotels and that they’re public and they really haven’t been hurt by all this. But the reality is that the industry is made up of small business owners very similar to the restaurant industry,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, who spoke at the forum.
The event, entitled, Road to Recovery for the Hospitality Industry, is the first in a new series called Tourism Talks in 2021 to update members, elected officials and community members on issues important to the industry. More than 200 people including elected officials tuned in.
