A letter from President & CEO Adam Burke of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board

August 2, 2022 Christina Iannuzzi

A letter from President & CEO Adam Burke of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board

Dear Los Angeles Tourism Board Members:

As you’re likely aware, City Council is currently being asked to consider implementing a new ordinance that would require hotels to utilize any vacant guest rooms on a nightly basis for members of the homeless community. To be clear, we have great empathy for the plight of unhoused Angelenos and recognize that the right long-term solutions must be developed and implemented with a sense of urgency.

We do not, however, believe that the proposed “Los Angeles Responsible Hotel Ordinance” (also referred to as the “Hotel Land Use and Replacement Housing Requirements Ordinance”) is an appropriate answer.

Instead, by co-locating homeless individuals alongside regular hotel guests, this proposed legislation would have serious public health and safety implications for visitors and hotel team members alike. It would create a significant deterrent to travelers choosing hotels in the City of Los Angeles.

Our community cannot afford this since the sustained recovery in our visitor industry is critical to hundreds of local businesses and the 500,000+ Angelenos whose livelihoods depend on tourism.

On behalf of our 1,000+ Member organizations, we are actively working with the Hotel Association of Los Angeles to support their outreach efforts to City Council as they contemplate the proposed Ordinance.

Should you share the same concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local Council office so that they have the opportunity to hear from a broad range of constituents before voting on the proposed Ordinance next week. 

My best,

 

 

 

ADAM BURKE

President & CEO

LOS ANGELES TOURISM & CONVENTION BOARD

633 West 5th Street, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, CA 90071          

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