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THE WEEKLY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER OF ASSOCIATIONS, CVBs AND HOTELS VOLUME 42, ISSUE 31
NOVEMBER 11, 2024
Donald Trump’s Re-Election: A Survey of Association Reactions By Todd McElwee
Eighty-five hotel workers and demonstrators were arrested at an October 30 protest in downtown San Francisco, including Johan Tahir (center), a worker on strike at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square hotel.
Dozens of Hotel Workers Arrested in San Francisco March Hotels Across United States Reach Agreements with Unions By Jordan Bradley Dozens of hotel workers on strike were arrested for civil disobedience in a demonstration that marched through downtown San Francisco on October 30. The 85 demonstrators included striking hotel workers and supporters and “were part of a protest calling on hotels to settle contracts and end weeks-long hotel strikes” that involved hundreds of demonstrators, according to Unite Here, the hotel union organizing the nationwide strike
actions. The arrested demonstrators were released the same day and charged with disorderly conduct, a Unite Here representative told USAE. The arrests occurred at approximately 5 p.m. as union members sat in the middle of Powell Street, next to Union Square, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The march began next to the Hilton Union Square, the city’s largest hotel. “I take my job very seriously because I am the eyes and ears on the street, and I know that guests’ expe-
rience of San Francisco depends on me,” said Jacov Awoke, a doorman at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square for 35 years, who was arrested in the civil disobedience. “Unfortunately, understaffing has made it very difficult.” Awoke said he recalled a specific incident while working at the hotel when he “was short staffed on a shift.” The lack of coverage resulted in a guest’s property being stolen “right in front of the hotel,” he said. While strikes continue in San Francisco, workers in several cities have
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Explore Asheville Aiding in Hurricane Helene Recovery
Chefs, Musicians Join Relief Effort By Jonathan Trager Following the devastation of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, Explore Asheville is playing a key role in the recovery effort. Explore Asheville pledged $1 million as the presenting sponsor of Concert for Carolina in October. The benefit concert raised more than $24.5 million in hurricane relief, with Explore Asheville’s sponsorship split between the following charities: Samaritan’s Purse, Manna Food Bank,
Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC, and Eblen Charities. The destination organization had already established the Always Asheville Fund to help small independent travel and hospitality businesses throughout Asheville and Buncombe County recover. Explore Asheville seeded the fund with $300,000. Overall, Explore Asheville has committed more than $1.5 million to Hurricane Helene relief efforts, leverPlease turn to page 5
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Associations inside and outside of the meetings industry are making their voices heard regarding the re-election of Donald J. Trump as the 47th President of the United States. Some offered their congratulations and took the opportunity to begin conversations on how they hope to work with the new administration. Others, hoping for a different outcome, pushed back on Trump policies while doubling down on their commitment to their constituencies. PCMA and ASAE have both recently featured political rivals of Trump at their most prominent events. In January, former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who battled Trump as the Democratic nominee for president in 2016, spoke at Convening Leaders in San Diego. Liz Cheney, a former Republican Congresswoman and pointed critic of Trump, will speak at the 2025 conference in Houston. “PCMA has and always will be an apolitical organition,” Sherrif Karamat, CAE President & CEO, PCMA and CEMA,
NYC Mayor Signs Safe Hotels Act into Law By Jordan Bradley
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American Apparel & Footwear Association in Step with Soles4Souls
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U.S. Travel Calls on Congress to Pass Critical Disaster Relief by Thanksgiving
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Portland, Maine, Council Pauses New Hotel Development in City
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AAHOA Announces New 2025 HYPE Conference, “35 Under 35” Awards
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New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams signed the controversial Safe Hotels Act into law on November 4, with the measure going into effect in early May. The Safe Hotels Act now requires hotels be licensed— which costs $350 and is valid for two years—-in order to operate in the city, schedule continuous staffing on site, maintain clean guest rooms by offering daily housekeeping services unless a guest declines, supply their core employees with panic buttons, and train them
in human trafficking recognition. For operators of hotels with more than 100 guest rooms, staff working on property will need to be directly employed by the hotel, while hotels with less than 100 rooms are exempt from this requirement. The bill’s sponsor, Councilor Julie Menin, said the passage of the act “marks a historic step towards enhancing public safety and ensuring worker protection in the city’s hotel and hospitality industry.” “By signing the Safe Hotels Act into law, New York Please turn to page 7