The American Hotel & Lodging Association, AAHOA, the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators & Developers, and the Latino Hotel Association are marking National Hotel Employee Day on and leading up to Sept. 1, along with hoteliers nationwide. The day recognizes the nearly two million employees in the U.S. hotel industry.
AHLA and the National Day Calendar established the day in 2022.
“The people employed by America’s hotels are the heart and soul of this industry, and their talent and drive create memorable visits for millions of guests every year,” said Kevin Carey, AHLA’s interim president and CEO. “This National Hotel Employee Day, we thank them for their service and encourage others to explore a career in our vibrant and growing industry.”
Hotel employees keep guests safe, give back to their communities and are critical to keeping our nation’s travel and tourism industry running smoothly, the hotel associations said in a joint statement.
“AAHOA members are proud to employ over one million dedicated individuals across the nation, who are the driving force of the hospitality industry,” said Miraj Patel, AAHOA’s chairman. “The hoteliers we represent know firsthand that this industry only succeeds because of the commitment of staff who work directly with guests. Today and every day, we honor their unwavering commitment to excellence, their role in creating unforgettable guest experiences, and their significant contributions to our communities.”
The associations also highlighted that the hotel industry offers employees more than 200 different career paths, competitive pay and benefits and many opportunities for upward mobility. In 2024, hotels are expected to pay employees a record total of more than $123 billion in wages, salaries and other compensation, the statement said.
“At AHLA Foundation, we support hotel employees at every step of their career to help them find a permanent home in our industry,” said Anna Blue, AHLA Foundation’s president. “On National Hotel Employee Day and throughout the year, our work is to champion the hotel industry one career at a time.”
Andy Ingraham, NABHOOD founder, president, and CEO, emphasized the importance of employee success to the industry’s overall success.
“We put a high value on the professionals who make this industry thrive day-in and day-out, and we hope everyone finds time to thank the hotel employees that create warm, welcoming stays all around the country,” he said.
“At the heart of hospitality are people who care, and we’re so glad to work with so many warmhearted professionals who have made a career in our industry,” said Lynette Montoya, Latino Hotel Association’s president and CEO. “On this third annual National Hotel Employee Day, let’s take a moment to appreciate the hard work hotel employees do every day.”
In 2023, leaders from the AHLA, AAHOA, NABHOOD and the Latino Hotel Association came together to commemorate the second annual National Hotel Employee Day on Sept. 1.
