Hotel & Motel Management - August 2008 - (Page 113) HotelMotel.com | H&MM August 2008 Special Report ELECTION ISSUE 113 Process, results shape hotel landscape By Heather Gunter ASSOCIATE EDITOR t’s called the silly season for a reason. The phrase refers to how political campaigns tend to overshadow actual issues leading up to elections. The expression is apropos, especially in a presidential election year, because everything changes, said Marlene Colucci, executive VP for public policy for the American Hotel & Lodging Assn. It’s more difficult to get thoughtful public policy. “You tend to get kind of warped legislation,” she said. “Everything being considered by Congress is being considered through the eyes of someone seeking re-election and how this issue is going to play on the national scene.” A good example is comprehensive immigration reform, which Congress has tried to tackle the last two years. Because it’s an unpopular issue, politicians will stay I away from it and blame the other party for not resolving it, Colucci said. When national issues get stalled, Schwartz there is still AAHOA work to do. “Even though it’s an election year and people are busy, we’re busy also because there’s always issues on the local level,” said Fred Schwartz, president of the Asian American Hotel Owners Assn. He cited a recent win in Ohio to extend a law that had limited hotel stays to 30 days to allow guests to stay 270 days under certain criteria. “We’re continually lobbying and trying to represent the community the best way possible, whether it’s an election year or not,” he said. Carlos Rodriguez, a board member for the Hispanic Hotel Owners Assn., and principal and executive VP for DriftRodriguez wood HospiHHOA tality Management, said that although HHOA hasn’t gotten involved in the lobbying process or endorsed a candidate at this point, there are many issues demanding members’ attention. He cited immigration, tourist visa policy and taxes as the top three issues on which the presidential candidates vary. The broader issue of the economy also is vital, Rodriguez said. “Hotels have not been as affected as other sectors of real estate, but I can see where it is starting to have an effect on us,” he said. Both Colucci and Schwartz called the card check debate the top industry concern. “Card check is perhaps the most distinct issue we have in terms of how each of the candidates will deal with it respectively,” Colucci said. “[Democratic nominee Barack] Obama has been very clear about his support for the Employee Free Choice Act. [Republican nominee John] McCain, on the other hand, has made it clear that he does not support the Employee Free Choice Act, but instead would support a worker’s right to a private ballot.” Schwartz agreed: “The Democrats right now, if you look at the party line, are in support of the Employee Free Choice Act, which would take away the employee’s right to a secret ballot. We are prepared to speak and represent our industry and the business community with what’s right to both See Landscape | page 120 VOTING BOOTH Jeff Wilder, president of Wilder Ventures LLP Who are you voting for? John McCain H&MM □ How will a new president affect the industry or your role in the industry? It’s unpredictable because we don’t know the policies that either party would both (a) promote and (b) be able to pass into law. That said, it is usually unhelpful when one party gains control of both houses of Congress and the presidency because there are fewer checks and balances in place. If you were president for a day, what would you do? I would focus on the Iranian conundrum, because I think that is the major threat to world peace and our economy. Everyone has a tactic to employ with Iran; I would opt for a multilateral approach, similar to what has been used effectively with North Korea. We must play showdown not with Iran, but with the European Union, Russia and China, convincing them that we likely will be unable or unwilling to stop other Middle Eastern countries from going nuclear or demanding further missile protection from us, once it is clear that Iran is close to successfully going nuclear. Then I’d call one Arab country willing to accept additional American missiles on its territory and ask them to invite us to examine locations that might be used, so Russia, China, the EU and Iran all appreciate that once the genie is out of the bottle, there’s no putting it back. That’s a passive/aggressive threat everyone would take seriously. Hotels prepare for conventions with training, staffing Republican National Conventions, respeconventions tively, expect the convenprovide polittions to boost tourism to ical parties a their cities and demonplatform to send their strate their ability to host messages to the counlarge-scale conventions. try. Such a stage pro“This really is a monvides hoteliers in conven- Schafer umental occasion: the tion cities with the same HYATT REGENCY first black man to be DENVER opportunity. nominated as a presidenOfficials from Dential candidate in Ameriver and Minneapolis-St. Paul, ca, and he’s going to step up and host cities of the Democratic and See Convention hotels | page 122 By Chris Crowell ASSOCIATE EDITOR C The Hyatt Regency Denver, the headquarters hotel for the Democratic National Convention, is preparing for extended room service hours and a tighter housekeeping schedule to accommodate convention visitors. Special section on top election issues starts here >> On the next five pages, HOTEL & MOTEL MANAGEMENT identifies the top issues hoteliers are facing as November’s election approaches. We summarize the issue, give each presidential candidate’s stance on that issue, and let insiders weigh in with their opinions on how the industry could be affected. Turn to page 118 for a timeline that puts lodging numbers in a political context: We tracked occupancy from 1930 to 2008, then added notable events that shaped America’s history and economy, like wars and recessions, and hallmark events for the lodging industry, like brand launches and tourism initiatives. HYATT REGENCY DENVER http://HotelMotel.com
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