Government Affairs Update &

2014 Preview

• Immigration Reform (incl. JOLT Senate Act)

• Per Diem Rate Increase / GTAC• Sequester & Government Shutdown• Grassroots Engagement

Recent 2013 Successes

• Workforce Issues Labor/Living Wage ACA Implementation Immigration Reform

• OTCs and Online Environment

• Government Travel & Tourism

• Increased Member Involvement in Grassroots and HotelPAC

Key Areas of Focus: 2014

2014: Workforce – Labor/Living Wage

Goals:

Prevent “back door” regulations/rules Redefine living wage discussion

• Upcoming Supreme Court decision in Canning case; impact recent NLRB decisions

• Organized labor working regulatory channels for new rules; continue to monitor and respond as needed

• Living wage fight heating up in states; potential wage vote in Congress; we will be ready

Goals: Change full-time employee definition Find workable definition of seasonal employee Repeal auto-enroll mandate

• Unclear long-term guidance on seasonal, part-time, temp employees

• Current rollout difficulties may give leverage for future changes

• Push Administration to act; develop tools and materials to assist members in compliance

2014: Workforce - ACA Implementation

Goals: Continued access to seasonal workforce Creation of new lesser-skilled work category (“W” visa) Reliable worker authorization system

• Attention is in the House; Senate did its job• MOCs need to hear from constituents on its importance• Time is now through spring 2014 for action

2014: Workforce - Immigration Reform

Goals: Ensure level playing field between industry and OTCs on tax

issue Better position industry in online environment

• OTCs quiet at federal level for now; focus on outreach and education efforts in Congress

• State action in legislatures and courts continues; identify states to make proactive legislative play

• Work with Innovation Council on larger online issues

2014: OTCs / Online Environment

Goals: Redefine government travel debate Improve access to U.S. for international travelers; ensure better

travel experience

• Per diem rates resolved for now; continue work with GTAC on other government travel issues

• Bills introduced in Congress to limit government travel; proactively defend and educate

• JOLT passage; part of Senate-passed immigration bill, standalone version in House

• Establishing lodging-focused travel coalition

2014: Government Travel & Tourism

• Patent Reform: Ensure end-user protections

• Facilities Issues/ADA Compliance: Limiting impact of harmful regulations

• January – February Fiscal Cliff: Find long-term solution before the 11th hour

• Terrorism Risk Insurance: Reauthorize program; current expiration date – Dec. 2014

• Tax Reform: Enact pro-growth policies

2014: Other Priority Areas

Engagement is essential to future advocacy effortsFocus on increasing AH&LA member involvement• “Back of the House” tours• Issue toolkits• Capitol Hill updates• Member blasts• Town Hall outreach

– MOCs MUST UNDERSTAND THE BREADTH, DEPTH, AND IMPORTANCE OF OUR INDUSTRY

Grassroots in 2014

HotelPAC in 2014

Focus on increasing participation and dollars raised

Establish criteria for candidate support• Industry champions• Member of Congressional leadership• Committee assignments• Key Congressional races• Voting record – development of scorecard• AH&LA member input

GOAL FOR 2014 CYCLE: $440K (currently at $189K)

Vanessa Sinders

Senior Vice President and Department Head

AH&LA Governmental Affairs

vsinders@ahla.com(202) 289-3121