| Dear Member of Congress:
As executives of some of the nation�s largest hotel companies, we are
keenly aware of the need for comprehensive immigration reform. Collectively,
in our 8,064 hotels in the United States, we employ over 331, 000 people�many
of whom are foreign-born.
As global leaders in an industry that was brought to its knees in the
wake of September 11, 2001, we understand the critical importance of securing
our borders and vigorously support such efforts. However, isolating our
nation from legitimate commerce, travelers and labor would be counterproductive,
for both our economy and long-term security.
One thing we can all agree on is that the current immigration system
is badly broken. We believe in a balanced solution that protects our borders
and recognizes the contributions of�and the need for�the foreign-born workers
in our economy.
In the void of Federal legislation, we are seeing states and local governments
passing laws to regulate immigration. This developing patchwork of laws
driven by emotion rather than informed debate poses significant problems
for major employers like us that have properties in states and counties
nationwide. In order to ensure continued economic vitality, Congress and
the Administration must come together to create a balanced federal solution
that secures our borders and ensures the continued growth of our economy.
Unemployment rates are at near record lows of 4.4% and Baby Boomers
are beginning to retire. Even the most conservative economic forecasts
predict that the lodging industry will need an additional 300,000 employees
over the next several years. We are already experiencing major labor shortages
and have difficulty recruiting talented and hard-working individuals. There
just aren�t enough people to do the jobs we already have�let alone sustain
our growth.
We provide competitive wages and benefits for our valued associates�and
our companies are listed as some of the best places to work. While many
of our employees may start in entry level positions, they don�t often stay
there for long. We are a service industry that absolutely depends on good
people� hotels cannot be automated or outsourced, nor can personal service�you
need the committed employees to create the great customer service for which
we are known.
While we are encouraged by the progress being made by Congress and the
Administration, we have an acute need for immigration reform that requires
action now. We�d like to see a solution that:
-
Secures our borders;
-
Creates a clear, legal channel by which employers can get the seasonal
and permanent immigrant labor they need, both now and in the future;
-
Provides a solution to deal with the undocumented already here. Removing
undocumented workers from an economy with near full employment would be
devastating and enormously counterproductive; and
-
Establishes a fast, efficient, and accurate employment verification system
so when we hire someone, we know they are authorized to work.
We could not operate our hotels without workers from other countries. It
is time for Congress and the Administration to pass legislation that will
achieve a true solution to our broken immigration system.
Respectfully,
J.W. Marriott, Jr.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Marriott International, Inc.
Bruce W. Duncan
Interim Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Stevan Porter
President, The Americas for
InterContinental Hotels Group
Jonathan M. Tisch
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Loews Hotels
Matthew J. Hart
President and Chief Operating Officer
Hilton Hotels Corporation
Thomas J. Pritzker
Chairman
Global Hyatt Corporation |
