LOS ANGELES, C.A. (May 19, 2026) — Rosanna Maietta, President & CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), today issued the following statement after the Los Angeles City Council voted to approve amendments to the city’s hotel minimum wage law enacted in 2025: 

“The City Council today took an important step to provide the hotel industry with the relief it desperately needed. While not perfect, this bill slows rapidly increasing operating costs amid declining travel demand.  

“This action represents a shift in the political dynamics at City Hall, with city leaders finally demonstrating a willingness to engage directly with the businesses powering the local economy and the hotel industry that supports nearly 65,000 local jobs. 

“However, Los Angeles still remains an exceptionally challenging operating environment for the hotel industry. For years, we have raised concerns about the policies that strain our workforce, operations, and ability to remain competitive in a challenging economic environment. 

“We thank Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson and the City Council for understanding the need to address the unintended consequences created by the original ordinance. Strong partnership with city leaders is essential to attract new investment, strengthen the local economy, and drive tourism demand, which has yet to fully recover to pre-pandemic levels.”