Hotel Industry Leaders Blast Revised NYC Hotel Bill

NEW YORK CITY — Hotel industry leaders are pushing back on a revised bill that will impose more regulations, calling it "unnecessary" and a burden that could affect the city's economy.

The revised bill, the Safe Hotels Act, sponsored by New York City Councilwoman Julie Menin (D-Manhattan) has amended the ban on subcontracting that previously covered all hotel staff and have removed security positions which would now be permitted to continue to be done through third party vendors, according to a press release.

In addition, the direct employment requirements have been narrowed to only apply to “core hotel jobs” such as housekeeping, front desk and other critical hotel staff positions.

A carve-out ensuring hotel restaurants, bars, and nightclubs aren’t affected was included in the revision. Also, there is a requirement of “continuous coverage” by a single employer at a hotel’s front desk to ensure the safety and servicing of guests and staff.

In a statement on the revised bill, Menin said: “Most major cities across the country license hotels to ensure public safety. In New York City, there have been 39 murders and 14,500 NYPD complaints in recent years despite there being only 769 hotels. We have made significant changes to the bill based on industry feedback and welcome additional input from the industry.”

Despite the changes to the bill, hotel industry leaders remain skeptical.

The American Hotel and Lodging Association, in a letter to the five city district attorneys, wrote:

In your recent letter to the New York City Council urging support of the ‘Safe Hotels Act,’ several claims are made that hotels and motels experience a higher rate of criminal complaints than other types of locations."

"We ask that you please share these statistics and any other supporting evidence you relied upon. Furthermore, as the purported goal of the hotel licensing bill is to reduce crime, we would appreciate clarification regarding how this bill would achieve that goal."

Some city district attorneys have backed the bill, as well as Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association.

"While New York City police officers recognize that the vast majority of our city’s hotels and
motels are responsible partners within our communities, there are a small but significant number of bad actors whose properties harbor criminal activity and other public safety hazards," Hendry wrote in an Aug. 2 letter to Menin.

Kevin Carey, interim president and CEO of AHLA, said the city should always work to improve on crime and law enforcement issues, but "implementing another license for hotels to operate won’t help accomplish that goal."

"What has worked is law enforcement working together in partnership with the hotel industry to ensure our community, employees and guests are safe," the association wrote.