CHICAGO – The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association (IHLA) has announced its key legislative initiatives for the year, including passage of a measure that would help hotels better protect employees from verbally abusive customers.
As abuse by customers toward front-line workers continues to rise, the IHLA is working to ensure that protections are codified into law that would allow hotels to take the necessary steps to ensure employees have a safe working environment. In addition to establishing stronger protections for hotel workers, the IHLA is pushing for legislation to level the playing field with short-term rentals by requiring rental properties to collect hotel taxes, which would generate additional revenue for the state.
“Our employees are the most important part of our business, and they deserve to feel safe and supported when they come to work. The increased abuse that workers in the service industry continue to face is alarming, and we’re calling on lawmakers to provide hotels the tools needed to help stop this troubling behavior and maintain a safe working environment,” said Michael Jacobson, president and CEO of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association. “Meanwhile, as lawmakers continue their work to stabilize our state’s finances, it’s time they require short term rentals to join hotels in paying their fair share in occupancy taxes. These properties currently operate tax-free, allowing them to essentially pocket millions of dollars each year that could be used to fund important state programs.”
Protect Hotel Employees (HB2220/SB1977)
- IHLA’s proposal would allow hotels to refuse service or remove customers who engage in verbally abusive behavior towards hotel employees.
- Current law does not explicitly allow hotels to remove a customer for verbally abusive behavior.
- Allowing hotels to remove verbally abusive customers will help demonstrate their commitment to employee’s physical and mental wellbeing.
Creating A Level Playing Field with Short-Term Rentals (SB1442/SB1539)
- The hotel industry welcomes competition, but current laws give short-term rentals an unfair advantage by allowing them to operate tax-free.
- Hotels are required to charge guests a 6 percent state lodging tax, which is estimated to raise $305 million in this fiscal year.
- IHLA’s proposal would apply a tax identical to the Hotel Operators’ Occupation Tax Act to short-term rentals and require them to remit the tax, generating revenue to continue to shore up state finances.
- The proposal would also close the loophole that currently excludes online travel agencies from remitting tax on commissions they receive from hotel reservations booked through their websites.
About the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association
The Illinois & Lodging Association (IHLA) serves as the essential resource and unified voice for advancing the lodging industry across Illinois. Consisting of more than 500 hotels and their employees throughout the state, IHLA advocates the industry’s position on political, legislative and regulatory issues that have the potential to impact the success of Illinois hotels.