The hotel industry in Hawai’I, like other states, has taken a hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i) is stepping up to try and help them with new legislation.
To offer support for hospitality workers and save jobs in the industry, which has caused a devastating drop in the number of tourists visiting the island, with more than four million jobs lost, Schatz introduced the Save Hotel Jobs Act. A recent study stated that job losses in the industry continue, with more than 20,000 jobs projected to be lost in 2021.
"Even as the hotel industry begins to recover from the devastating economic impacts of the pandemic, more than 70% of hotel employees are still out of work. That's why I introduced the Save Hotel Jobs Act, which will bring back laid-off workers, pay hotel employees, ensure safe workplaces and help our economy get back on track," Schatz wrote in a May 10 Facebook post.
The Save Hotel Jobs Act provides grants and tax credits that business owners can use to help pay employees, bring back workers who were laid off and focus on workplace safety in hotels.
The new grant program will also provide tax credits for work safety, and a Personal Protective Equipment Tax Credit provides a payroll tax credit for half of the costs of PPE, technology and increased testing of employees, as well as enhanced cleaning protocols, according to KITV.
“The pandemic has left millions of hotel employees out of work and many more struggling to get by with less hours. They need help,” Schatz said. “Our bill creates a new grant program that will bring back hotel jobs, pay workers and help our economy recover.”
This legislation has the support of UNITE HERE and the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA).