The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) joined forces on May 17-18 as nearly 500 hoteliers from across the country come to Washington, D.C. for a joint hotel day on Capitol Hill.

During the two-day Legislative Action Summit (LAS), hoteliers raised awareness with Congressional leaders and hold some 250 meetings about the strength of the lodging industry and its meaningful impact on communities around the country.

Supporting nearly 8 million American jobs, driving $600 billion to the U.S. economy each year, and contributing $170 billion in federal, state and local taxes, the impact of the hotel industry is undeniable.

And as AHLA and AAHOA members met with Members of Congress and their staffs, they advocated for policies that encourage travel and tourism promotion, business growth, and entrepreneurial opportunities while urging more transparency on the rise of commercial activity fostered by short-term rental platforms and protecting consumers from online hotel booking scams.