New York City’s hotels are a critically important component of the city’s tourism and business industries. However, on July 18, 2024, 26 members of the New York City Council introduced Int. 991-2024 (Int. 991) without meeting with hotel owners and operators or making any attempt to understand the cost and complexity of owning, operating or financing hotels in the nation’s largest city. On Aug. 5, 2024, Int. 991 was modified and the number of sponsors increased to 30, which would be more than enough to enact the proposed legislation into law.
The stated purpose of Int. 991 would “require hotels to obtain a license in order to operate their business in the City. … Hotels would be required to maintain continuous front desk coverage and large hotels [more than 100 guest rooms] would be required to have continuous coverage by having at least one security guard. All hotels would be required to maintain the cleanliness of each guest room. The licensee would be required to directly employ their core employees, subject to enumerated exceptions.” Although this seems like an innocent addition, the 11-page bill could negatively impact an industry still recovering, as approximately one-third of the hotels permanently closed following the COVID-19 pandemic, with many still being used as migrant shelters today.
