14 CALIFORNIA LODGING NEWS www.calodging.com LEGISLATIVE ACTION SUMMIT LEGISLATIVE ACTION SUMMIT Impacts of retail theft, inflation and insurance access on California hotels drove the dialogue at CHLA’s dynamic 2024 Legislative Action Summit this year as participants gave personalized accounts during in-office visits with state senators and assemblymembers. Their voices advocated for solutions and outlined concerns about legislation and the economic environment that has slowed California’s hospitality recovery, which is not expected to fully recover until 2027. “We need tourists to think of California first. We are where they should want to come to be entertained, see our great state and enjoy the best of America,” said Assemblymember Mike Gibson, who chairs the Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism Committee. “Come talk to us and let us know how we can help you. Hospitality is so at the heart of California.” Lynn S. Mohrfeld, CHLA President + CEO echoed how much the voice of individual hoteliers, particularly those in legislators’ districts, matter. “We continue to gain a stronger voice when we show and tell individual legislators why we are making a specific ask,” he said. “Now, as California’s state, county and city coffers face economic challenges, hotels have a stronger role to play.” Dominating the discussions were legislative directives that put more costs and mandates on hotels just as California is recovering after two years of effectively being closed by the global pandemic. Room demand in 2023 remained 5% below the 2019 level and visitor spending is not expected to return to prepandemic levels until 2027. Reinforcing CHLA’s work with Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva on legislation that enables public participation in fire severity maps that insurers use to determine rates, Summit participants pleaded for common sense solutions that ensure access to affordable insurance. No issue captured across-the-board concerns of Summit attendees more than public safety as highly publicized reports of organized retail theft rings have impacted the state’s image with tourists, conventioneers and business travelers. Participants learned about more than 15 bills seeking to address public safety and, as a result, restore confidence with travelers. The day concluded with attendees meeting with state senators and assemblymembers, sharing their perspective on these key issues, listening, and reminding the legislators about the importance hotels play in their district economy and California’s economy.
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