CHICAGO – The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association (IHLA) is highlighting several key pieces of legislation championed by IHLA and partners in the business community which were recently passed by the General Assembly that will help enhance Illinois’ workforce, protect hotel employees, boost tourism across the state, and provide much-needed support for Illinois hotels.
“We are proud of the work we’ve done this legislative session to pass some of the most tourism-friendly measures in recent history,” said Michael Jacobson, President & CEO of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association. “As the industry continues to recover and hotel occupancy numbers rise closer to pre-pandemic levels, these initiatives will give us the boost we need to rehire workers and support the returning tourism demand, as well as significantly help suburban and downstate hotels combat added effects of inflation on their recovery. I want to thank Governor Pritzker’s office and members of the General Assembly for their efforts to bolster Illinois’ tourism economy and encourage the governor to sign these important measures into law.”
Hotel Worker Protections (HB 2220)
- IHLA spearheaded this proposal to allow hotels to refuse service or remove customers who engage in abusive behavior towards hotel employees.
- Current law does not explicitly allow hotels to remove a customer for verbally abusing employees – only when it escalates to physical assault.
- Allowing hotels to remove abusive customers helps demonstrate their commitment to employees’ physical and mental wellbeing.
Workforce Development Program (SB 250)
- The FY24 State Budget includes a $2.5 million grant to IHLA to set up a dedicated workforce development program focused on hotels.
- This grant will help support the efforts of Illinois hotels to fill vacancies in ways they previously could not and provide more opportunities for workers seeking employment in the hospitality industry, providing a path to a fulfilling and upwardly mobile career even without a four-year degree requirement.
State Travel Per Diem Rates (HB 3817)
- The state Budget Implementation bill includes an initiative championed by IHLA thatties the Illinois’ travel per diem for state employees to the federal rate set by the U.S. General Services Administration.
- This long-overdue change will significantly help hotels throughout the state deal with the effects of inflation, while replacing an outdated and antiquated way of raising the per diem.
Tourism Promotion and Incentives (SB 250)
- The budget also includes an additional $3.6 million, above regular spending, to Choose Chicago and $5 million for other convention and visitor bureaus throughout Illinois to boost tourism promotion.
- The budget bolsters MPEA’s (Owner of McCormick Place) $15 million meetings and events incentive fund to attract conventions and events to Illinois.
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. For more information, visit https://www.illinoishotels.org/