For Immediate Release
August 26, 2011
A Win For Californias Independent Lodging Industry
CLIA works successfully to turn SB 432 into a two-year bill
Sacramento, CA Senate Bill 432 authored by Senator Kevin De Leon (D-Los Angeles), which was one of the biggest threats to the independent lodging industry this legislative session, was made into a two-year bill yesterday during an Appropriations Committee hearing. This bill is strongly opposed by both the California Lodging Industry Association (CLIA) and the Independent Lodging Industry Association (ILIA).
The bill would have required all lodging establishments to convert to using a fitted sheet, rather than a flat sheet. A state mandate requiring fitted sheets can cost millions of dollars statewide if all hotels/motels must replace flat sheets with fitted sheets. In one example, for John Manderfeld, President of Marin Management, the cost to replace flat sheets with fitted sheets would be over $250,000.
" The fact that this is now a two-year bill is a win for our association and its members," said California Lodging Industry Association Executive Director Bobbie Singh-Allen.
"We are encouraged by Senator De Leon's decision and look forward to working with him to address our concerns. This legislation in its current form, would have a severe impact on our industry and make it more difficult for our members to maintain job-levels and keep doors open.
The provisions of SB 432 would impose significant costs to the lodging industry, especially small independent hotels/motels that struggle to remain open in this downward economy. Many of the members that belong to CLIA and ILIA are small businesses and independent hotels. We believe that the issues should be fully evaluated in the regulatory environment, rather than summarily in the legislative environment.
The lodging industry plays a vital role in Californias tourism economy. Travel and tourism generates more than $87.7 billion in local taxes and $3.4 billion in state taxes, and employs over 881,100 Californians across the state.
The California Lodging Industry Association was formed in 1946, and has served as a major voice for the independent lodging industry and advocating on its behalf. For more information about the California Lodging Industry Association, please visit www.CLIA.org.
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