Press Room

Thursday, September 09, 2010

Headlines: 8/2/10 Are the Hotel Chains Getting Government Help to Drive Bookings Away from Travel Agencies? The New York Times reports that the current version of the pending New York State budget includes a 20 percent increase in hotel occupancy taxes for travel intermediaries (meaning travel ... [More] 7/22/10 AFFORDABLE NEW DUES! The California Lodging Industry Association (CLIA) Board of Directors adopted a new dues structure to be effective immediately. For some lodging properties, the savings is more than 60%. ... [More] 4/28/10 CLIA Fights to Protect Hotel Owners Some associations have made a number of assertions about the Internet Travel Tax Fairness Act (ITTFA), as you may have heard. The following is intended to dispel these inaccurate claims through factual recitation that can be independently verified ... [More] 4/19/10 You Can Work Safely With Solvents Solvents are so common in many work places that workers forget how dangerous they are. A solvent can be generally described as a substance, usually a liquid, which is used to dissolve another substance. Although solvents can be used safely, health ... [More] 4/8/10 CLIA Supports Internet Travel Tax Fairness Act: Stands Beside Online Travel Companies The California Lodging Industry Association (CLIA) voted in support of the Internet Travel Tax Fairness Act (ITTFA) and took a strong stand supporting independent hotel owners and operators everywhere. ... [More] 3/9/10 CLIA: Growing and Evolving 2010 is the year that CLIA jumps into the forefront of the California lodging industry. The mission of CLIA - "To serve the common interests of lodging owners and their management teams by promoting a prosperous business climate through service, edu ... [More] 10/29/09 Mandatory for All California Employers There is a new mandatory change on the EEOC notice in the Employment Notices Poster. ... [More] 8/20/09 Swine Flu Update On the heels of a new Washington Post-ABC News poll showing most Americans are either "not too" or "not at all" worried about the swine flu hitting home and broad majorities have confidence the government and local health providers will be able to ef ... [More] 7/7/09 SCAM ALERT: Lodging Properties Targeted CLIA has apprised members of this same type of scam in the past, and they are at it again. Beware! ... [More] 4/29/09 Swine Flu: Talking Points The situation related to swine flu continues to be very fluid. The U.S. Travel Association has developed talking points regarding messaging, coalescing industry organizations and implementing a targeted strategy to inform the travel community, govern ... [More] 4/28/09 DLSE Approves Summertime Alternative Workweek Schedule California's Department of Labor Standards Enforcement recently issued an opinion letter ratifying an employer's implementation of an alternative workweek schedule solely for summer months. More specifically, the DLSE indicated that an employer coul ... [More] 4/21/09 Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products to Be Reduced The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has adopted Title 17, § 93120 -The Airborne Toxic Control Measure to Reduce Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products (ATCM). This regulation requires manufacturers of regulated products to ensure ... [More] 4/15/09 New Scam Targets Lodging Properties CLIA has been alerted to a NEW scam being perpetrated on lodging properties. Individuals are calling properties during the night, identifying themselves as a representative with the with the property's credit card processor, and stating that the last ... [More] 4/14/09 Preventing Needlestick Injuries: Housekeeping Staff, Groundskeepers, and Waste Workers Every year, 2 to 3 billion syringes are used outside of healthcare facilities. Most of these are from insulin injections and illegal drug use. Used syringes are not always disposed of safely. They may be left in public restrooms, parks and recreat ... [More] 4/3/09 National Travel & Tourism Week: May 9-17, 2009 National Travel and Tourism Week will be celebrated May 9- 17. During these challenging times, it is particularly important that you join industry colleagues around the country in this annual salute to the power of travel to help amplify our voice fo ... [More] 3/30/09 NEW I-9 FORM IN EFFECT -- April 3, 2009 The Department of Homeland Security announced Jan. 30, 2009, that the effective date of the new Form I-9 rule has been extended to April 3, 2009. ... [More] 3/27/09 New COBRA Form to Notify Employees of Continuation Health Coverage, Subsidy The U.S. Department of Labor has released the much-anticipated COBRA Subsidy Model Notices for notifying assistance eligible employees of continued health care coverage subsidy options after employees are involuntarily terminated by their employers. ... [More] 3/20/09 SB 355 Targets Economy Properties The California Legislature is back in session for 2009, and given the budget crisis bedeviling the state, one would think that policymakers would be focused on fostering the business climate that supports jobs and taxes, or at least doing no harm. ... [More] 3/20/09 24.4% Hike Urged in California Workers' Comp Rates A state advisory board Wednesday recommended a 24.4 percent rate increase for workers' compensation insurance effective July 1, ignoring Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's complaint that a rate hike that big would harm California businesses and workers. ... [More] 3/20/09 Providing Notice of a Covered Claim to Your EPLI Carrier Employers are relying with increasing frequency on Employment Practices Liability Insurance to help protect against the cost of litigating employment disputes. Those policies, however, often contain very strict provisions about providing notice to t ... [More] 3/13/09 Protecting Your Company From Future Risks by Documenting Current Employee Performance Issues On March 17, 2009, CLIA Associate Member and experienced employment attorneys Carlton DiSante & Freudenberger are holding FREE HR Roundtable discussions throughout California on how employers can implement useful policies and practices to make sure ... [More] 3/6/09 Travel Community Launches "Meetings Mean Business" Campaign A new comprehensive "Meetings Mean Business" campaign [was] launched [on March 6, 2009] to ensure that media and policymakers understand the importance of meetings, events and incentive travel and the affect irresponsible grandstanding has on jobs, a ... [More] 3/6/09 Payroll Deductions Overview Offered by the California Chamber of Commerce, this FREE, 30-minute Payroll Deductions Overview live Web seminar will help you learn how to properly make legal deductions from your employees' paychecks as well as show you the common mistakes employer ... [More] 2/27/09 California Prepares to Speed Economic Stimulus Dollars to Small Business President Barack Obama signed the new federal economic stimulus bill, titled the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009," on February 17. ... [More] 2/27/09 Meth 'Cooks' Leaving Behind Toxic Trail at Motels Illegal methamphetamine "cooks" are traipsing undetected through an unknown number of motels and hotels with covert drug-making labs - leaving a toxic mess behind for unsuspecting customers and housekeeping crews. ... [More] 2/20/09 Online Travel Companies to Pay Anaheim A recent administrative proceeding has resulted in a $21.3 million award for the City of Anaheim against a group of online travel companies for back taxes, interest and penalties related to the payment of hotel occupancy taxes. The landmark decision ... [More] 2/13/09 Injury/Illness Summary Must Be Posted Starting February 1 If you had 10 or fewer employees at all times during the last calendar year, your property/company does not need to keep Cal/OSHA injury and illness records (Form 300A)... ... [More] 2/6/09 New I-9 Form Delayed Until April 3, 2009 On January 30, 2009, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will delay the implementation of the new Form I-9... ... [More] 2/6/09 Disability Access Law Reform: SB 1608 How Does It Help Business Owners? SB 1608 (Corbett; D-San Leandro, Chapter 549, Statutes of 2008) promotes and increases compliance with laws providing equal access in places of business to individuals with disabilities... ... [More] 1/30/09 Statute of Limitations Extended for Discriminatory Pay Claims Marking what may be a bad sign of things to come for employers, President Obama signed his first bill into law Thursday--the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act... ... [More] 1/9/09 EITC notification: California Employers Required to Send Earned Income Tax Credit Notice California employers are reminded that they are required by California law to provide all employees with a notice of potential eligibility for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. ... [More] 12/5/08 IRS Announces Decrease in Mileage Rate Last week, the IRS announced the standard mileage rates for 2009. Effective January 1, 2009, the standard mileage rate for business miles driven will be 55 cents per mile. ... [More] 11/21/08 New Federal Pool Safety Requirements The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, was enacted by Congress and signed into law by President George Bush to set... ... [More] 10/24/08 Employer Alert: San Francisco Minimum Wage Increase The San Francisco Office of Labor Standards Enforcement announced on October 17, that the City's minimum wage will increase from $9.36 per hour to $9.79 per hour effective January 1, 2009. ... [More] 10/24/08 San Francisco Employers Must Soon Provide Commuter Benefits Effective January 19, 2009, San Francisco employers with 20 or more employees (including full-time, part-time, temporary employees, and employees who perform work outside of San Francisco) are required to offer commuter benefits to employees who work ... [More] 10/17/08 California Travel and Tourism Commission Research Bulletin California statewide hotel occupancy measured 75.3% in August, down 2.4% from last year's mark of 77.2%. ... [More] 10/17/08 Reminder to Post Information About Time Off to Vote California employers are reminded that they are required to post a notice about employees' right to take time off to vote in the upcoming election on November 4. ... [More] 10/10/08 Disability Access Reform Signed by Schwarzenegger Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed an historic bill that increases public access for individuals with disabilities while reducing unwarranted litigation, particularly onerous to the California lodging industry. ... [More] 8/29/08 California Likely to Outlaw Texting and Emailing While Driving California law is likely to get even stricter regarding the use of electronic devices while driving. SB 28, sponsored by California Senator Joe Simitian, makes it illegal to send or read a text message or email while driving. ... [More] 8/29/08 California Lodging Industry Association Announces 2008 "Excellence in Lodging & Hospitality" Award Honorees (CLIA) recently announced the 2008 Excellence in Lodging & Hospitality Award recipients. The honorees will be formally saluted on September 16, 2008 during the "Evening of Excellence" Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony as part of the 2008 California Lo ... [More] 8/29/08 Requiring Employees to Sign False Time Cards Is a Crime Earlier this month, Governor Schwarzenneger signed into law AB 2075, which amends California Labor Code section 206.5 and makes it a misdemeanor for an employer to require an employee, as a condition of payment of wages, to sign a statement of hours ... [More] 8/8/08 Mandatory Sick Leave Bill Dies in Committee The Senate Appropriations Committee quietly skipped over AB 2716 (Ma-SF) on August 7, failing to move it forward. ... [More] 8/1/08 Courts Favor Employer in Meal Break Decision California appellate court issued an important ruling on meal breaks and rest periods that may make it easier for California lodging owners to comply with meal and rest break requirements for their employees. ... [More] 7/11/08 Attention CLIA Members! Innkeepers are once again receiving e-mails from scammers posing as "potential guests" requesting long lengths of stay and promising that payment will arrive shortly. ... [More] 6/27/08 Hot Temperatures are here again In response to forecasts of hotter weather, California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has activated the 2008 Heat Illness Prevention Network to warn employers about impending heat emergencies. ... [More] 6/27/08 Labor Commissioner Sweeps 60 California Motels - 38 Percent are Cited Investigators with the State Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (Labor Commissioner's Office) issued 23 citations totaling $52,250 in fines to motels in 10 California counties as part of an ongoing effort to address noncompliance with workers' c ... [More] 6/27/08 Required Reimbursement for Employee Mileage Increased on July 1 July 1 will be a day of change for California employers with employees who drive as part of their duties. ... [More] 6/27/08 Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act Enactment of the Pool and Spa Safety Act on January 1, 2008 sets new Federal safety standards for all "public pools and spas." ... [More] 5/2/08 Preparing for Change. Planning the Future! The California Lodging Industry Association (CLIA) and the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) announced that for the fourth consecutive year, they will join forces to produce the California Lodging Expo® and Conference at the San Jose... ... [More] 5/2/08 Benefits of Travel In advance of National Tourism Week, the federal tax rebates and the summer travel season, TIA is introducing information you can use to remind consumers of the personal benefits gained through travel. ... [More] 4/25/08 Bill Requiring Paid Sick Leave Advances in California Legislature In a party-line vote, Wednesday, April 9, 2008, the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee approved legislation that would require employers to grant paid sick leave to workers. ... [More] 4/25/08 Past CLIA Chair Continues to Serve the Industry Ms. Chris Middleton, past CLIA Board Chair, recently joined Sausalito based, Marin Management, in the position of regional manager. ... [More] 4/25/08 Revenue is Revenue In early May, Governor Schwarzenegger will release his "May revision" to the budget he submitted to the Legislature in January, and it is virtually certain to reflect bigger potential deficits for fiscal year 2008-2009. ... [More] 3/14/08 Court Grants Only "Reasonable" Fees for Wage Claim California employers are very familiar with the negotiating leverage afforded to employees by the state's wage and hour laws. Last week, a California Court of Appeal took a step towards leveling the playing field in Harrington v. Payroll Entertainme ... [More] 2/15/08 LAX Hotels Loose Living Wage Battle A contentious law that commands hotels near Los Angeles International Airport to pay a so-called living wage was upheld by a state appeals court panel December 27, 2007. ... [More] 2/15/08 Court Stay Approves Employer Funding for San Francisco Health Care Plan On January 9, 2008, a ruling by a federal appeals court gave San Francisco the authority to begin enforcing a provision of a city law that requires employers to contribute toward employee health insurance benefits or help fund a new program for unins ... [More] 2/15/08 Racial Harassment Cases Against Employers Reach All-Time High in 2007 Racial harassment cases have more than doubled since the early 1990s, hitting an all-time high of 6,977 in 2007, according to U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission data. ... [More] 2/15/08 Gutierrez Signs U.S.- China Tourism Agreement to Boost Visits to U.S. M. Gutierrez signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will bring more customers to the U.S. tourism industry by facilitating group leisure travel from China to the United States and permit United States destinations to market themselves in Chi ... [More] 2/8/08 Safety Code for Guestroom Drinking Glass Cleanliness The California Health and Safety Code, sections 118375 & 118380 require that any cup, glass or other receptacle be cleaned and sterilized... ... [More] 2/8/08 Shadow Government The Coastal Commission was established pursuant to the California Coastal Act approved by the voters as Proposition 20 in 1972. One of the core missions of the Commission is to ensure continued access to the coast by all Californians, a principle th ... [More] 2/8/08 Update on "No-Match" Letters from the Social Security Administration Opponents of the rule embraced the DHS's decision. "The Bush administration essentially admitted that the rule is unlawful," says AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. ... [More] 1/18/08 Don't Forget to Comply with "Time Off to Vote" Requirements Given that California's Presidential Primary will take place on Tuesday, February 5, 2008, CLIA members should review their policies regarding "Time Off to Vote" to ensure that they are in compliance with state law. ... [More] 1/11/08 Emergency Stay Granted Regarding San Francisco's Health Care Ordinance On Jan 9th, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an emergency stay permitting the City of San Francisco to implement the Employer Spending Requirement ("ESR") provision of its Health Care Ordinance ... [More] 12/21/07 IRS Increases Mileage Reimbursement Rate Effective January 1, 2008, the Internal Revenue Service increases the standard mileage rate used by many employers to reimburse their employees for business use of a car ... [More] 12/21/07 The Passing of Past CLIA Board President, Ed Biaggini III CLIA is sad to report the passing of Past CLIA Board President, Ed Biaggini III, owner of the Embarcadero Inn in Morro Bay, California. ... [More] 11/30/07 State Fund comp rates unchanged California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner recommended no change to the "pure premium advisory rates" for workers' comp insurance beginning January 1, 2008. ... [More] 11/16/07 New I-9 forms now available U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that a revised Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9) is now available for use. ... [More] 11/16/07 Legislative Session Ends Quietly Hundreds of bills were passed by the Legislature in the final hours of the legislative year. By the time the Assembly and Senate gaveled their sessions closed, 964 bills were sent to Governor Schwarzenegger for signature or veto. ... [More] 11/16/07 Pending Bill Could Make Major Changes to Meal and Rest Break Flexibility Last month, California Assembly Member Lloyd Levine proposed broad changes to sections of the California Labor Code regulating, among other rules, the meal and rest break requirements imposed on the state's employers as part of AB 1711. ... [More] 11/16/07 Effort Blocked to Curb Illegal Workers A Federal Judge in San Francisco has blocked a proposed Homeland Security Rule requiring employers to fire workers whose names don't match their social security numbers, dealing a major blow to the Bush Administration's crackdown on illegal immigrat ... [More] 10/26/07 CLIAlert At the request of several members, CLIA asks that you consider ways that you can provide assistance. There are several opportunities for you to help... ... [More] 10/26/07 Southern California Wildfires Due to the wildfires currently affecting large areas of Southern California, the California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC) is taking a leadership role to help and calm the fears of prospective visitors. ... [More] 10/19/07 Governor Signs Bill Granting Leave for Military Spouses Under a new law signed by Governor Schwarzenegger, California businesses employing 25 or more people must give up to 10 unpaid days off... ... [More] 10/12/07 Effort Blocked to Curb Illegal Workers A Federal Judge in San Francisco has blocked a proposed Homeland Security Rule requiring employers to fire workers whose names don't match their social security numbers, dealing a major blow to the Bush Administration's crackdown on illegal... ... [More] 10/12/07 It's Just the Key to Your Room January 16, 2006 (Computerworld) -- Warning: Hotel card keys may contain personally identifiable data on the magnetic stripe. Is it factor fiction? ... [More] 10/12/07 To learn more about green lodging... www.greenlodgingnews.com ... [More] 9/28/07 IWC POSTINGS The California Industrial Welfare Commission (IWC) Wage Order #5, Public Housekeeping Industry applies to our industry, and is required to be posted where all employees can read it easily. ... [More] 8/17/07 Federal Regulations Require Employers to Respond to the Social Security "No Match Letters" For years, the Social Security Administration ("SSA") has been sending "No-Match Letters" to employers who had a significant number of employees whose social security numbers ("SSN") did not match their personal information. ... [More] 7/6/07 Employee Safety All California employers are required by Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations Section 3203 to establish, implement, and maintain an effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). ... [More] 7/6/07 Travelers Need Continued Education on WHTI The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) law passed in Congress two years ago, but the majority of Americans still do not know a passport is now required when returning to the U.S. via air from Canada, Mexico, and other Western Hemisphere... ... [More] 7/6/07 CLIA Bill Progresses - AB 429 This important piece of legislation really has twin benefits: safeguard the privacy of guest information, and provide guidance to hoteliers when demands are made for guest registries or other... ... [More] 7/6/07 AB 1916 - PART II In 2004 CLIA sponsored legislation (AB 1916-Maddox) to clarify issues regarding Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) collections and to create fairness for the California Lodging Industry. ... [More] 7/6/07 Health Care Reform - What is the Potential Cost? Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) and Senate President Pro Tempore Don Perata (D-Oakland) recently stated their respective proposals to overhaul California's health care system largely would be funded by a mandatory 7.5% contribution... ... [More] 7/6/07 Court Ruling Favors LAX Hotels Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David P. Yaffe ruled on May 2, 2007 that hotels near Los Angeles International Airport cannot be required to pay a so-called "living wage" to workers because the City Council violated state law in the way it handled.. ... [More] 7/6/07 Workers' Comp Insurance Rating Report Aggregate workers' comp premiums last year plunged 30 percent to $16.5 billion from $21.4 billion in 2005 thanks to the effects of reforms in 2003 and 2004. ... [More] 6/15/07 Assembly Bills Making Their Way Through the Legislature The following Assembly Bills are making their way through the legislature. ... [More] 6/15/07 CLIA Privacy Bill to Judiciary Committee The bill, AB 429 by Assembly Member Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) has been referred to the Assembly Judiciary Committee for the initial hearing in the legislature. ... [More] 6/15/07 July 17, 2007 - New Federal Standard for the Flammability of Mattress Sets Takes Effect The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) unanimously approved a new federal mattress flammability standard (16 CFR Part 1633) to take effect July 1, 2007. ... [More] 6/15/07 A Warm Welcome for Furry Service Friends...Or Else! Certainly the business climate has changed when it comes to operating hotels in the new century. ... [More] 5/26/07 Protect Your Business - Protect Employees' Social Security Numbers lodging owners and their management teams need to take the initiative to protect employees' privacy to avoid costly litigation. ... [More] 5/26/07 AB 1916 - TOT Exemption Claim Forms In 2004 CLIA sponsored legislation (AB 1916-Maddox) to clarify issues regarding Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) collections and to create fairness for the California Lodging Industry. ... [More] 5/26/07 California Supreme Court Final Ruling - Meal and Rest Period Breaks CLIA worked with the California Chamber of Commerce and other employer groups in presenting oral arguments before the California Supreme Court to protect employers from lengthy litigation over meal/rest period violations. ... [More] 4/28/07 ADA Violations - Final Court Ruling The 4th District Court of Appeal avowed, holding that a plaintiff seeking the $4,000 minimum statutory damages must establish intentional discrimination. ... [More] 4/28/07 2,899 New Legislative Bills Introduced When the deadline for introduction of new bills expired on February 23, 2007, almost 2900 proposals had been introduced ... [More] 4/28/07 Overview of California Health Care Proposals Governor Schwarzenegger revealed a $12 billion-a-year plan in January to extend health care coverage to most of California's 6.5 million uninsured ... [More] 4/28/07 United States Senate Approves Bill To Ease Travel Woes The U.S. Senate recently passed a bill that will make travel easier as well as implement the rest of the 9/11 commission report's suggestions. ... [More] 4/28/07 Internet Travel Lawsuits Branson, Missouri is among the latest cities and destinations to join the legal battle with internet travel companies claiming unpaid or underpaid room taxes on bookings made on their systems. ... [More] 4/28/07 "Discover America" The Blueprint to Discover America was created to help the U.S. better compete for international visitors. ... [More] 4/28/07 Hotel Not Liable for Guest's Rape A hotel cannot be held liable for one guest's rape by another guest, the 7th Circuit has ruled. ... [More] 4/28/07 IRS Warns Taxpayers of Fake IRS Web Sites Taxpayers may be confused by the proliferation of Internet sites that contain some form of the Internal Revenue Service name or IRS acronym with a .com, .net, .org or other designation in the address instead of .gov ... [More] 4/28/07 UPDATE: LAX Hoteliers Fight Forced Wage Increase Hotel owners and other city business leaders rallied together in opposition and were able to gather more than 100,000 signatures to qualify for a public vote in May 2007 on the "living wage" ordinance ... [More] 4/28/07 Alliance Staunch on Protecting Workers' Comp CLIA has joined a broad-based alliance of business and other interests who are standing strong to protect the 2004 Senate Bill 899 which reduced Worker's Comp rates ... [More] 1/21/07 Hotel Fees and Surcharges Increase Hotel fee and surcharge revenues generated $1.6 billion in revenue for 2006. This represents a 7 percent increase from the previous year. ... [More] 1/21/07 New Laws Affecting You in 2007 The following are laws that will become effective in 2007. Please take a moment to review the summary for each bill. If you have any questions regarding compliance or how the new laws affect you, please do not hesitate to contact the CLIA HelpLine ... [More] 1/21/07 New Court Ruling on ADA Lawsuits California's Fourth District Court of Appeal recently issued a 37-page opinion that prevents plaintiffs from collecting the $4,000 penalties for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) violations unless the offending business owners intended to discrim ... [More] 1/21/07 City Tells LAX Hotels to Increase Non-union Wages On November 27, 2006, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed into law an ordinance singling out a dozen hotels lining the stretch of Century Boulevard that are adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport ... [More] 1/21/07 Which Direction for 2007? The 2007-2008 two-year session of the California Legislature official began with much pomp and flourish on December 4, 2006. ... [More] 1/20/07 Hotel Internet Bookings on the Rise An impressive 44% of business travelers visiting hotel brand websites are "bookers" and actually make or change a reservation, ... [More] 1/20/07 Workers' Comp Rate Cut On the Way Good news for lodging owners and other entrepreneurs. California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi has announced he will likely recommend a further workers' compensation insurance pure premium rate cut of at least 6.3 Percent. ... [More] 1/20/07 New Mileage Rates for 2007 The standard mileage reimbursement rate for employees who use their own cars for business purposes will be 48.5 cents per mile in 2007 ... [More] 1/20/07 Does Eminent Domain Have a Future? Proposition 90 would have amended the California Constitution to end the use of eminent domain to promote economic development. ... [More] 11/4/06 SB 815 Vetoed SB 815, the permanent disability increase bill, has gone down thanks to a veto by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. ... [More] 11/4/06 Governor Continues Moderate Course Governor Schwarzenegger continued to solidify his reputation as a social moderate and fiscal conservative in the bills he signed and vetoed at the end of the 2006 legislative year. ... [More] 11/4/06 California Tourism Funding Increases to $25 Million then $50 Million California Travel and Tourism Commission Bill, AB 2592 (Leno) has been signed by Governor Schwarzenegger. The bill will allow the industry to collect additional assessments on the passenger car rentals at airports, hotels or other overnight lodging f ... [More] 11/4/06 Travel Industry Welcomes Delay of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative In a move hailed by the lodging and tourism industry, Congress has extended the deadline requiring the usage of passports for arrivals by land and sea to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Caribbean and Panama from the United States. ... [More] 11/4/06 Governor Signs Minimum Wage Bill On September 12, 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger signed a bill raising California's minimum wage, currently $6.75 per hour, to $7.50 per hour on January 1, 2007 ... [More] 11/4/06 Updated 2007 Employee Posters are required by Law. CLIA's laminated 2007 "All-on-one" Employee Posters include the state and federally mandated guidelines for employees, including: minimum wage, EEO, Cal/OSHA, Workers' Comp, and others. ... [More] 11/4/06 Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony - Honors Industry Leaders The 60th Anniversary "Diamond Jubilee" Gala was the setting for recognition and expressions of gratitude with the presentation of CLIA's Excellence Awards during ceremonies at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara on October 10th ... [More] 11/4/06 California Lodging Expo® & Conference -Annual Event a Success! The California Lodging Expo® and Conference attracted more than 1000 hoteliers, vendors and industry leaders during the two-day conclave at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara, October 10-11 ... [More] 11/4/06 CLIA Taps 2007 Officers, Directors - Turner Returns as Chair 2007 CLIA Board of Directors will include Chair Don Turner, Vice Chair, Laurenne Douglas, Secretary Nipool Patel and Chief Financial Officer Bimal Patel. Terry Westrope continues as Immediate Past Chair ... [More] 11/4/06 Sanitation Concerns Limiting Hotel Tubs Hotels have begun replacing their tubs with showers because some guests hesitate to bathe in commonly used areas. ... [More] 9/23/06 Governor, Legislators Reach Agreement on AB 1835 Minimum Wage Bill California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic lawmakers have reached an election year agreement to raise Californias minimum wage to $7.50 an hour on January 1, 2007, and to $8.00 an hour on January 1, 2008, potentially creating the natio ... [More] 9/23/06 CTTC Joins D.C. Travel Leadership Summit CLIA Immediate Past Chair Terry Westrope and CLIA President Rick Lawrance are among some 70 California tourism leaders joining the Travel Industry Summit in Washington, D.C. ... [More] 9/23/06 Lodging Owner Sues City of Big Bear Lake Claims Discrimination Long-time CLIA Member, Jim McLean, owner of Apples Bed and Breakfast Inn in Big Bear Lake has filed a federal law suit against the City of Big Bear Lake, charging that the city fails to equally apply the law with regard to vacation rental properties ... [More] 9/23/06 Motel Sued for Failure to Prevent a Child from Accessing Adult Television Channels A lawsuit was filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court in Norwalk against Value Lodge ... [More] 9/23/06 2007 Federal per diem Rates Posted 2007 Federal per diem travel rates for California are now posted on www.clia.org, within the Members Only section. ... [More] 9/23/06 California Supreme Court Reaffirms The At Will Doctrine The California Supreme Court's recent ruling in Dore vs. Arnold Worldwide, Inc. strengthens employers' ability to terminate employees without cause. ... [More] 9/23/06 CalTIA's New Leader California Travel Industry Association  CalTIA  has recently selected Ross Hutchings, CAE, as CalTIA's new Executive Director & CEO. ... [More] 9/23/06 Tourism Funding Increase Legislation Awaits Signature by the Governor The bill will allow the industry to collect additional assessments on the passenger car rentals at airports, hotels or other overnight lodging facilities. ... [More] 9/23/06 Court Rejects Prop 65 Lodging Settlement Scheme The 2nd District Court of Appeal has thrown out costly Prop 65 settlements between some 350 California hotels and lodging properties, and the Consumer Defense Group, represented by Costa Mesa law firm of Graham and Martin. ... [More] 9/23/06 Cities, Counties Continue Pursuit of Room Tax Claims Against Online Travel Companies Since CLIA first reported on the lawsuits filed by the City of Los Angeles more than a year ago against a group of online travel booking companies, claiming underpayment of transient occupancy taxes, a number of other cities have jumped into the fray ... [More] 9/23/06 Crib Safety Act Captures Increased Attention This summer, The Today Show aired a segment on crib safety in hotels. The segment was an undercover investigation of five hotels. Four out of the five hotels were found to have inadequate cribs. ... [More] 9/22/06 "60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee" Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony The 2006 CLIA "60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee" Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony will be held at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara on October 10, 2006 as part of the 2006 California Lodging EXPO® and Conference. ... [More] 7/25/06 Important New Prop 65 Advisory - July 2006 Please review the Proposition 65 Advisory from Attorney Carol Brophy of Nossaman Guthner Knox Elliott LLP. This is an important update on Proposition 65 litigation, and stressing the importance of compliance with the provisions of Prop 65. ... [More] 7/10/06 News From CLIA Headquarters July Lodging Forums, Excellence in Lodging & Hospitality Awards ... [More] 7/10/06 Era of Good Feeling at State Capitol - Mostly For what seems like forever, summer has brought high-tension and irritability to the State Capitol. ... [More] 7/10/06 CalOSHA Adopts Heat Illness Regulations Cal/OSHA's recently adopted heat illness regulations applies to all employees who work outdoors in conditions that might induce heat stress—including farm laborers and all types of construction workers. ... [More] 7/10/06 The Immigration Debate The immigration debate is a national struggle. The complex and difficult border enforcement issues and our country's labor-supply needs have become gripping headlines. ... [More] 5/29/06 CLIA Opposes Minimum Wage Increase The minimum wage issue is raising its many heads, as at least four bills address the issue in this legislative session. ... [More] 5/29/06 Exhibit Space for Oct. 11 Lodging Expo Going Fast Excitement is building for the coming AAHOA/CLIA joint venture, the California Lodging Expo® and Conference, to be held at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara ... [More] 5/29/06 California Represented on AAHOA Executive Committee CLIA Member, Mukesh J. Mowji, CHO, was recently elected Chairman of the AAHOA Board of Directors. ... [More] 5/29/06 New Survey Shows Turnaround For Employers on Workers' Comp. ... [More] 5/29/06 Appeals Court Nixes Prop 65 Settlement California's 4th District Court of Appeals unanimously threw out a lower court's approvals of Prop 65 settlements between a private plaintiff and a group of apartment owners. ... [More] 5/29/06 Roadblock to Clean Smoking Rooms--AB 2276 CLIA members are aware of the health debate surrounding indoor air-cleaning devices that emit ozone. ... [More] 5/29/06 A Grand Tourism Salute to The Governor A benefit luncheon and "Grand Tourism Industry Salute to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger" will be held at The Sutter Club in Sacramento on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 ... [More] 5/29/06 Sand, Sun and "Sales" In South Lake Tahoe We invite you to join us Wednesday, May 17, 2006, at the Inn By The Lake in South Lake Tahoe for CLIA's Regional Lodging Industry Forum & Networking Luncheon. ... [More] 4/3/06 Proposed ADA Legislative Solution Several recent developments are bringing hope that more than 15 years of "drive by" ADA lawsuits may finally crash and head for the junkyard. ... [More] 4/3/06 Initiatives Threaten to Roll Back Work Comp Reform There are three new initiatives threatening to rollback the 2004 workers' comp reforms that CLIA, along with a coalition of other organizations, fought so hard to pass in SB 899 ... [More] 4/3/06 Disability Protections in California A recent decision, by the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reminds us that the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) goes farther than federal law in protecting employees and applicants with disabilities ... [More] 4/3/06 Merced's Bhoopendra "Joe" Mowji Elected to CLIA Board of Directors CLIA has elected Merced lodging owner and operator Bhoopendra "Joe" Mowji, managing partner of Tuscany Investments to the 2006 Board of Directors. ... [More] 4/3/06 Fresno Lodging Industry Forum & Networking Luncheon - April 24 In celebration of CLIA and Best Western’s 60-Year Anniversary, you’re invited to the CLIA Regional Lodging Industry Forum & Networking Luncheon, April 24, 2006, at the Best Western Garden Court Inn in Fresno. ... [More] 4/3/06 2,000 New Bills Introduced Reading the popular press, you might think that the only topic of discussion in the California Legislature are the capital improvement bonds designed to benefit schools, roads, and levees. ... [More] 4/3/06 Understanding California Fax Law A U.S. District Court judge has ruled unconstitutional portions of a CLIA-opposed bill placing tedious restrictions on sending messages by fax. ... [More] 4/3/06 CLIA Celebrates 60 Years Since its inception, it has served as a major voice of the independent lodging industry when group action was needed, especially when advocating industry views before government agencies. ... [More] 1/22/06 Governor Requests $10 Million for Tourism Budget Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed expanding the California Travel and Tourism Commission's budget by $2.7 million from last year's $7.3 million for an unprecedented total of $10 million as part of his 2006-2007 budget plan. ... [More] 1/22/06 Chances Are—Your Credit Card Processing Rates are Too High When looking at places where you might cut expenses this year, look at your credit card processing fees. ... [More] 1/22/06 Workers' Comp Reform Challenged The Schwarzenegger administration's reforms for many of the costly policies and procedures of California's archaic workers' compensation system have been successful. ... [More] 1/22/06 New Laws for 2006 Legislative and regulatory changes at the state and federal level, combined with important court decisions made last year, brought significant changes for lodging owner/operator employers ... [More] 1/22/06 Employment Law Update 2006 Empolyee Posters, Meal and Rest Period Penalties, 2006 Mileage Rate ... [More] 1/22/06 FEHA Lawsuits: The Next Plaintiff Attorney Windfall Both defense and applicants' attorneys say that employers who do not make a thorough effort to find modified work for permanently disabled workers may be looking at more than an increase in permanent disability payments. ... [More] 1/22/06 CA Court Says Illegal Aliens Get Benefits In October 2005, the 2nd District Court of Appeals ruled that illegal aliens who obtain employment dishonestly are still entitled to workers' comp benefits. ... [More] 1/22/06 AAHOA-CLIA Lodging Expo Success Seeds 2006 Expo Enthusiasm After the successful 2005 California Lodging Expo® and Conference last November, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) and CLIA will once again join forces ... [More] 1/22/06 News From CLIA Headquarters CLIA Board Chair Special Contributor to Hotel Business Review ... [More] 1/22/06 ADA, Minimum Wage at Issue Again For 2006 Somewhere between 2,500 and 3,000 bills will be introduced in the Assembly and Senate in the next couple of months. Still, two of the most contentious issues for CLIA will be minimum wage and disability access. ... [More] 11/27/05 2006 Board of Directors Elected to California Lodging Industry Association CLIA 2006 Board of Directors is set to begin work in January after being elected at the recent California Lodging Expo® and Conference at The Westin Santa Clara ... [More] 11/27/05 Napa/Berkeley Businessman, Don Turner Elected Chair of State Lodging Association CLIA has elected Don Turner as its Chair of the Board of Directors for 2006 ... [More] 10/30/05 CLIA Honors Shawna Smith with 2005 “Excellence in Lodging & Hospitality” Award CLIA will honor Shawna Smith, Rooms Division Manager, Best Western Garden Court Inn, Fresno, with the 2005 Excellence in Lodging Award in the “Outstanding Lodging Staff Person” category. ... [More] 10/30/05 Senator Liz Figueroa Keynote Speaker for 2005 California Lodging Expo® and Conference in Santa Clara Senator Figueroa will recap the previous day's (November 8) election results and present analysis on what they might mean to the lodging and tourism business in California. ... [More] 10/30/05 CLIA Honors Two SF Bay Area Hoteliers with the 2005 Excellence In Lodging & Hospitality Experienced hoteliers in the California lodging industry for more than 25 years, Mahendra Patel and Dilip Patel have contributed invaluable knowledge and expertise to the CLIA Board of Directors for the past six and ten years respectively. ... [More] 10/30/05 CLIA Honors Bay Landing Hotel, Burlingame with 2005 Excellence In Lodging Award CLIA will honor The Bay Landing Hotel in Burlingame with the 2005 Excellence in Lodging Award in the ... [More] 10/22/05 2005 California Lodging Expo® & Conference CLIA and the AAHOA are joining forces to produce the California Lodging Expo® and Conference to be held November 8-9, 2005, at The Westin Santa Clara in Santa Clara, California ... [More] 10/22/05 The Governor's Four-Point Reform Agenda Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is making a media blitz across the state urging voters to join him in changing ... [More] 10/22/05 Elections More Competitive with Prop. 77 The passage of Proposition 77 would likely lead to the creation of 10 new congressional districts, four new Assembly districts, and seven new Senate districts ... [More] 10/22/05 Minimum Wage Bill Vetoed The CLIA-opposed AB 48 (Lieber) — automatic minimum wage increases — was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger on September 29 ... [More] 10/22/05 Be Aware of Heat Stress Rules CLIA members should be aware that "Cal-OSHA" recently adopted emergency regulations to combat heat stress. ... [More] 10/22/05 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Selected for CLIA 2005 Public Official of the Year Award CLIA has selected Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to receive the 2005 CLIA Public Official of the Year Award for his outstanding contributions to the California lodging industry. ... [More] 10/22/05 Industry News Summary - October 2005 October lodging industry news briefs ... [More] 10/22/05 SB 1023 Veto – Relief to Industry The Governor vetoed SB 1023 that would have restored an oppressive 5814 penalty-like structure to the workers' comp system ... [More] 9/7/05 Sexual Harassment Prevention Training CLIA is offering two seminars in different locations to help lodging property employers comply with the new law implemented by AB 1825. ... [More] 9/7/05 News From CLIA Headquarters - September 2005 Excellence in Lodging & Hospitality Awards; $1,000 CLIA Scholarship Available; Lodging Industry Forums; Cal OSHA Offers Free Safety Publication ... [More] 9/7/05 November 8 Election Ballot Measures Shape Business Climate The future of the lodging industry, the state's economy, and jobs could be affected by the results of several upcoming measures on the November 8 election ballot. ... [More] 9/7/05 Taxpayer Protection Act on June Ballot The Attorney General has cleared the Taxpayer Protection Act of 2006 for circulation and Taxpayers to Save the 2/3 Vote is beginning to collecting signatures. ... [More] 9/7/05 CALIPAC: Elect Qualified Candidates to State Office CALIPAC, CLIA's Political Action Committee, raises funds for contribution to candidates running for office in California statewide political races ... [More] 9/7/05 Governor's Executive Order Addresses Heat-related Deaths Several recent and tragic heat-related deaths of agricultural workers have caused the Schwarzenegger administration to issue emergency orders to protect employees who work outside. ... [More] 8/7/05 News From CLIA Headquarters CLIA Welcomes New Board Members; 2005 California Lodging Expo & Conference; Associate Member Marketing Opportunity; Excellence In Lodging Awards; CA Visitors Guide Discount; VISA/MasterCard Class Action Settlements ... [More] 8/6/05 Work Comp Decrease Recommended Again The California Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau is recommending a 5.2 percent decrease in the pure premium rate for policies incepting and renewing January 1, 2006 ... [More] 8/6/05 New Decision on Meal and Rest Break Rules Many business have recently have been involved in multimillion-dollar class action suits from disgruntled workers claiming that they are owed three years of back wages ... [More] 8/6/05 New Sexual Harassment Law Requires Training by Jan. 1, 2006 AB 1825 requires California employers with 50 or more employees to provide two hours of sexual harassment training to all supervisors once every two years. ... [More] 8/6/05 November Election Ballot Initiatives The California Secretary of State has assigned proposition numbers to measures that have qualified for the November 8 Special Election ballot. ... [More] 8/6/05 Taxpayer Protection Act for June Ballot The Attorney General has cleared the Taxpayer Protection Act of 2006 for circulation and Taxpayers to Save the 2/3 Vote is beginning to collecting signatures. ... [More] 8/6/05 Tourism Funding Restored CLIA applauds the success of the California travel and hospitality industry and the commitment of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to restore $7.3 million in State tourism funding ... [More] 8/3/05 CLIA Lodging Industry Forum CLIA is presenting a Lodging Industry Forum, Networking Luncheon, and Sexual Harassment Seminar to San Diego area lodging owners and operators on Monday, September 19, 2005 ... [More] 7/18/05 CLIA Adds New Endorsed Provider Spectrum Settlement Recovery works with businesses of all sizes to help them claim and recover money owed to them from completed class action settlements. ... [More] 6/21/05 CLIA Opposes AB 1310 - Severance Pay Disclosures Assembly Bill 1310 (Nunez) was recently gutted by the author and amended with content that CLIA adamantly opposes. ... [More] 6/21/05 Workers' Comp Rates Continue to Drop Buying Workers' compensation insurance is getting a bit more reasonable as workers' comp insurers announce dramatic reduction in rates. ... [More] 6/21/05 Budget Plan Revised by Governor Governor Schwarzenegger expects the state to generate more funds with the improving economy; therefore the Governor restored more than $1.3 billion in transportation funding and revised the 2005-06 budget. ... [More] 6/21/05 California Travel Trends and Statistics California Hotel Occupancy and ADR, Port of Entry Arrivals, Domestic Air Fares ... [More] 6/21/05 The Budget Dance Begins With summer approaching, it's time for the annual ... [More] 6/21/05 Taxpayer Protection Act Heads to June Ballot State and local politicians are increasingly disguising new taxes as ... [More] 6/21/05 TIA Forecasts Record-Breaking Summer Travel Season Despite rising prices, Americans will be traveling in record numbers this summer with Florida, California, Nevada and New York the top preferred destinations. ... [More] 6/21/05 Prohibited Tasks for 16-17 Year Olds With summer youth employment important to the lodging industry, CLIA reminds you of the following major work restrictions for 16 and 17 year olds in California. ... [More] 6/21/05 CLIA Partners with AAHOA for 2005 California Lodging Expo® & Conference Mark your calendar for November 8-9, 2005, to attend the California Lodging Expo® and Conference. ... [More] 4/11/05 Prevent the Impact Of Hidden Costs One way to prevent workplace accidents and the impact of their resulting costs is to create and maintain an effective safety and loss prevention program. ... [More] 4/11/05 Senator McPherson Confirmed As Secretary of State The California State Legislature has confirmed State Senator Bruce McPherson as California's 29th Secretary of State ... [More] 4/11/05 Minimum Wage Increase Initiative Proposed The Initiative would increase California's minimum wage to $7.40 per hour, effective January 1, 2006 ... [More] 4/11/05 AHP Bill Passes House Committee Legislation allowing the formation of association health plans (AHPs) cleared a hurdle with last week's passage by the House Education & Workforce Committee ... [More] 4/11/05 New Employee USERRA Poster Required President Bush signed legislation last December requiring all employers to notify their employees of their legal rights under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act ... [More] 4/11/05 Got Your TOT Exemption Form? The CLIA sponsored TOT reform bill, AB 1916, took effect on January 1, 2005 ... [More] 4/11/05 New California Travel Statistics Show Upswing The California travel industry continues to reap the benefits of a rebounding economy as figures for 2004 reflect an upsurge in direct travel spending ... [More] 4/11/05 Legislation Introduced to Support Career Tech Education Concern has been growing that workforce preparation is suffering as the state continues to focus solely on preparing students to meet college entrance requirements ... [More] 4/8/05 Two Bills Introduced to Reform ADA Abuses CLIA is supporting two bills, sponsored by the California Chamber of Commerce that seek to stop shakedown lawsuits filed under the Americans with Disabilities Act ... [More] 3/8/05 News From CLIA Headquarters - March 2005 Required Employee Posters, Member-Get-A-Member Program, Early Bird Renewal Deadline, PROMOs—Members Doing Business With Members, Special “Promo” from Fire2Wire ... [More] 3/7/05 Basic Self Inspection For Indoor Air Quality Building ventilation systems are mechanical systems designed to operate within specific parameters, conditioning air to deliver a level of comfort to occupants. ... [More] 3/7/05 CLIA Lobbyist Testifies for Meal and Rest Break Regulations The proposed permanent regulations for meal and rest breaks provide workers with additional flexibility by clarifying that... ... [More] 3/7/05 Workers' Comp Director Confirmation Hearing Postponed The confirmation hearing for CLIA-supported workers' compensation director Andrea Hoch, which was scheduled to take place last week was postponed by the Senate Rules Committee... ... [More] 3/7/05 CLIA's 2002 Public Official of the Year Recipient Appointed Secretary of State for California Governor Schwarzenegger has appointed Senator Bruce McPherson to the office of Secretary of State, left vacant by Kevin Shelley's resignation. ... [More] 3/7/05 424 Cal-OSHA Standards Can Be Used as Evidence The California Supreme Court has recently decided that courts may consider Cal/OSHA safety standards as evidence of acceptable safety practices in lawsuits brought by workers ... [More] 3/7/05 Health Fairness Act Introduced in House The buzz continues to grow regarding the introduction of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005 ... [More] 2/12/05 News from CLIA Headquarters Employee Posters, Member Get-A-Member campaign, No Dues Increase for 2005, PROMOs, Industry Resource & Buyers' Guide, B&B and Small Properties Benefit through CLIA Services ... [More] 2/12/05 CLIA Fax Alert Foils Scammers Last December, CLIA faxed a SCAM ALERT to members warning them that innkeepers had been receiving e-mails from scammers posing as ... [More] 2/12/05 CLIA Lodging Industry Forum Monterey You're invited to a Regional Lodging Industry Forum and Hosted Buffet Luncheon at the Embassy Suites Monterey ... [More] 2/12/05 Growing Support to Simplify Meal and Rest Period Rules At the urging of a broad coalition of business groups, the State Labor & Workforce Development Agency is clarifying regulations for meal and rest breaks to allow more flexibility in the Labor Code. ... [More] 2/12/05 Paid Family Leave Benefits Taxable The IRS has ruled that benefits received under the new Paid Family Leave insurance program are taxable for federal income tax purposes. ... [More] 2/12/05 CLIA Publications — Lower Ad Rates, Further Reach CLIA begins a bold shift to expand the reach and content of its valued member publications. ... [More] 2/12/05 Local Lodging Issues Make News LA Sues Travel Sites for Hotel Tax, TSA Responds to LA Lawsuit for TOT, Carmel City Council Opposes Hotel Tax Hike ... [More] 2/12/05 Schwarzenegger Holds Tourism Forum Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger conducted the California Travel & Tourism Outlook Forum, including an Industry Leadership Summit on January 19, in Los Angeles. ... [More] 1/19/05 CLIA Announces Expansion of Publications for 2005 CLIA is pleased to announce the expansion of our respected industry publications, California Lodging magazine and the annual California Lodging Industry Resource & Buyers' Guide ... [More] 11/23/04 “Sue Your Boss” Law Reform Update California's infamous "sue your boss" Law (SB 796) was reformed this summer to make it less susceptible to abuse, which is a welcome relief for law-abiding employers. ... [More] 11/23/04 Legislature Remains Unchanged With the November 2 general elections now complete, California has once again demonstrated a tendency to buck national trends. ... [More] 11/23/04 Highlights of AB 1916--CLIA Sponsored TOT Legislation Signed by Governor Schwarzenegger on September 29, 2004, CLIA-sponsored AB 1916 takes effect on January 1, 2005 ... [More] 11/23/04 CLIA Lodging Industry Forum - December 6 You're invited to a Regional Lodging Industry Forum and Hosted Buffet Luncheon at the Hilton Palm Springs Resort ... [More] 11/23/04 First Set of Workers’ Comp Regulations Approved The California Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) received approval from the Office of Administrative Law on the first set of regulations implementing SB 899 ... [More] 11/5/04 Common Sense TOT Reform in AB 1916 In striking a modest blow for fair taxation, Governor Schwarzenegger has signed CLIA-sponsored AB 1916 by Assemblyman Ken Maddox, relating to transient occupancy taxes. ... [More] 9/30/04 CLIA Applauds Legislative Victories California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed into law the CLIA-sponsored TOT Reform bill, AB 1916, while vetoing two other bills CLIA strongly opposed ... [More] 9/9/04 Final State Budget Affects Lodging Industry Needed revisions to SB 796 (sue your boss law) and passage of SB 1390 (tourism funding) are two important issues CLIA watched closely throughout the state budget negotiations ... [More] 9/9/04 Victory For CLIA-Sponsored TOT Legislation CLIA sponsored AB 1916 (Maddox- R), Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) bill, was passed in the Senate on August 18 and is on its way to the Governor's desk for signature. ... [More] 8/6/04 Legislative Update: New Legislative Challenge in AB 606 A major new challenge was unexpectedly added to the mix on May 17 with AB 606. ... [More] 8/6/04 $7 Billion Dollar Healthcare Tax Would Hurt California Lodging Industry, Workers, and Families Just as California finally came to grips with fixing our workers comp system, our lodging industry is facing another multibillion dollar government mandate ... [More] 8/6/04 Political Rhetoric Softens in Legislature--Challenges Continue Following years of contentious, bitter, and even hostile wrangling in the state Capitol, the political climate in Sacramento is changing. ... [More] 7/1/04 TOT Predictability Would Protect Lodging Owners and Buyers CLIA-sponsored AB 1916 would give lodging properties fair protection against back taxes when government employees claim an exemption from taxes. ... [More] 7/1/04 CLIA Headquarters Update - July 2004 CLIA Industry Forum, Unity Dinner Keynote Speaker Announced, Free Marketing Opportunities ... [More] 7/1/04 AB 2536 Amended - Grab Bars For New Construction Only AB 2536 would require the State Architect to develop and submit proposed building standards for the installation of grab bars in the bathrooms of guest rooms in hotels, as defined, to the California B ... [More] 7/1/04 CLIA Opposed "Job Killer" Minimum Wage Bill The bill proposes a minimum wage increase to $7.25 in 2005 and to $7.75 in 2006, which would give California the highest minimum wage in the nation ... [More] 7/1/04 Your Contributions to CALIPAC Help to Support the Lodging Industry We need your help to replenish funds in CALIPAC to support candidates who are important to the health of the lodging industry ... [More] 7/1/04 Tourism Funding Bill SB 1390 Still Uncertain On May 20, the Senate Appropriations Committee agreed, with nonpartisan support, to approve the legislation to return $1 million to the state tourism budget. ... [More] 7/1/04 AB 606 - Rest Periods for Hotel Room Attendants The so-called "Humane Treatment for Hotel Room Attendants Act" has been reviewed and passed in the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee ... [More] 6/28/04 Paid Family Leave Benefits Effective July 1 California's new Paid Family Leave insurance program provides partial wage replacement to covered employees who must provide care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, domestic partner, or who ne ... [More] 6/9/04 CLIA Headquarters Update Volume Discounts at Staples Office Supplies, Membership Renewal, BOARD Member Nominations Due, CLIA Excellence in Lodging Awards, CLIA $1,000 Scholarship Deadline ... [More] 6/9/04 Bill Addresses Seniors, Disabled A Santa Clara County Assembly Member has introduced a bill requiring grab bars and nonskid floor surfaces or nonskid mats in baths or showers in hotels and motels. ... [More] 6/9/04 CLIA-Opposed Minimum Wage Bill Close to Vote in Senate CLIA opposes a state-mandated minimum wage increase, because it would ultimately hurt those it intends to help ... [More] 6/9/04 Tourism Funding Bill Passes Important Hurdle On May 20, the Senate Appropriations Committee agreed, with nonpartisan support, to approve the legislation to return $1 million to the state tourism budget ... [More] 6/9/04 TOT Fairness Bill Gets Unanimous Assembly Vote The CLIA-sponsored Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) bill, AB 1916 (Maddox, R) would provide lodging property owners with predictable rules in several areas long advocated by industry leaders ... [More] 6/9/04 Employment Conditions for Hotel Room Attendants This bill proposes to require rest periods for hotel room attendants at a rate of 15 minutes of rest time for every four hours of work. ... [More] 5/5/04 Randall King Elected to CLIA Board Randall King, Regional Director of Operations, Dow Hotel Company, has been appointed to fill a CLIA Board vacancy ... [More] 5/5/04 Work Comp Victory for CLIA and California Business Operating an independent lodging property in California has become a little easier since Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the workers compensation bill--SB 899 ... [More] 5/5/04 CLIA Legislative Update Transient Occupancy Tax, Affordable Health Plans, California Health Insurance Act ... [More] 5/5/04 Public Affairs Day Message Heard at the Capitol When CLIA members gathered with their restaurant and tourism colleagues to meet with legislators last Wednesday, the results were one powerful message to the legislature ... [More] 5/3/04 Outlook 2004: As Predicted, Things are (Finally) Looking Up for California's Lodging Industry In an increasingly unpredictable world, forecasting the performance of the leisure or business travel sectors is risky business, indeed. ... [More] 4/22/04 Immediate Changes For Workers' Compensation System Changes to California's workers' compensation system became effective on Monday, April 19, 2004, with the passage of Senate Bill 899 (SB 899). With some exceptions, the changes affect all pending clai ... [More] 4/17/04 Workers' Comp Reform Reached The Workers' Compensation Conference Committee of the California State legislature finally hammered out an agreement on meaningful reform of the fractured and archaic California workers' compensation ... [More] 4/16/04 Move To Increase Minimum Wage If signed into law, Assembly Bill 2832 would increase California's minimum wage from $6.75 per hour to $7.25 as of January 1, 2005 ... [More] 4/16/04 Fight For Workers' Compensation Reform At press time, legislators were still attempting to reach a compromise on a meaningful Workers' Comp reform bill ... [More] 4/16/04 Let Your Voices Be Heard On Tuesday, April 27, you will have an opportunity to be a part of a strong united voice and to share one clear and powerful message during the second annual Public Affairs Conference ... [More] 4/12/04 Tourism Industry Travels to Sacramento Lodging, Restaurant and Tourism Professionals Urged to Attend 2nd Annual Public Affairs Conference Tue., April 27 ... [More] 4/6/04 Legislature Misses Key Workers' Compensation Reform Deadline - Negotiations Continue Governor Schwarzenegger has set several deadlines for completion of a legislative solution aimed at cutting workers' compensation costs in California ... [More] 3/9/04 Signs Point to Improving Tourism Picture The 2004 Southern California Lodging Forecast calls for consistent increases over 2003 in occupancy and average daily room rates throughout the region ... [More] 2/4/04 Internet Marketing Seminar for the Lodging Industry The internet is without doubt the most incredible, effective marketing communication tool for the lodging industry...if you know how to let it work for you. ... [More] 12/22/03 CLIA Appoints New Board Chair Oakland hotelier Sima Patel will assume the duties and responsibilities of chair of the California Lodging Industry Association (CLIA) Board of Directors in January 2004. ... [More] 12/12/03 CLIA announces a new EPLI program with Morris & Garritano Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) provides defense and insurance against employees' claims arising out of violations of federal and state laws, which regulate your management of your emp ... [More] 12/12/03 Recent Employment Legislation Among the 909 bills enacted by the California Legislature during the past year are two which merit special attention by CLIA members as employers. ... [More] 11/4/03 California Tourism Moving Quickly to Recover California Travel and Tourism Commission Working with Destination Marketing Organizations to Aid Those Displaced by Fires and Focus on the Future ... [More] 10/30/03 Updated Prop 65 Compliance Materials Now Available! CLIA is proud to offer new Proposition 65 Compliance Materials as an added benefit of membership. ... [More] 9/24/03 SB-2 Healthcare Mandate Tax Costly to Your Business! California businesses and their employees will be mandated to pay more than $7 billion in new healthcare costs if a job killer bill is signed into law. ... [More] 9/22/03 2003 Western Lodging Show A Success Held September 7-8, 2003 in Ontario, California, the Western Lodging Show was made possible through the efforts of countless lodging and hospitality industry leaders... ... [More] 9/16/03 Southern California Visitor Industry Outlook Conference Speakers from the transportation, attractions, convention and visitor bureaus and lodging will share their marketing and survival strategies for doing business in Southern California ... [More] 9/15/03 State Legislature Passes Comp Reform The State Legislature has approved a package of workers’ compensation reform legislation intended to slow the burden of rising premiums imposed upon California’s small business community. ... [More] 9/15/03 Historic Recall Delayed A federal appeals court has postponed the October 7, 2003 Gubernatorial Recall Election... ... [More] 9/2/03 Worker's Compensation Committee Assures Reform The Joint Legislative Conference Committee on Workers’ Compensation met for the first time to address the overwhelming need for comp reformation. ... [More] 9/1/03 Governor Facing Recall On October 7, 2003, California’s voters will make history as a special election will be held, statewide, asking two direct questions: ... [More] 8/11/03 Don't Miss Out on Western Lodging Show 2003 Don’t miss out on the one-stop event for lodging industry professionals. The Western Lodging Show combines the latest innovations in our industry with quality education and some of the best fun and n ... [More] 8/5/03 Renoo Tyra Named 2003 Outstanding Staff Person CLIA is pleased name Renoo Tyra of the Maple Tree Inn in Sunnyvale the 2003 Outstanding Staff Person ... [More] 8/5/03 Laura O'Connor Named as 2003 CLIA Scholarship Fund Recipient CLIA proudly announces the recipient of the 2003 CLIA Scholarship fund is Laura O'Connor ... [More] 8/5/03 Comfort Suites Antioch-Oakley Named 2003 Outstanding Lodging Property Owner and Operator CLIA is pleased to name the Comfort Suites Antioch-Oakley as the 2003 Outstanding Lodging Property ... [More] 7/29/03 CLIA Update Changing of the Board; CA Lodging Leaders; TRENDS Program; Data Verification Forms; 2004 CA Visitor's Guide ... [More] 7/29/03 State UI Trust Fund Balance Plummets According to the California Chamber of Commerce, California is projecting a $1.8 billion increase in employer payroll taxes next January ... [More] 7/29/03 CLIA Welcomes AbsoluteHire as an Endorsed Provider With the increasing uncertainty surrounding the hiring of new employees in the lodging business, CLIA members will have the opportunity to take advantage of this original service at a significant memb ... [More] 7/28/03 Budget Madness Looms As summer arrives, what seems like an every-year battle over the state budget is literally heating up. ... [More] 7/1/03 State Legislature Unanimously Secures Tourism Funding In the light of Governor Davis’ restoration of $2.5 million of tourism funding in his May budget revision, the State Legislature’s Budget Conference Committee unanimously agreed to raise that figure t ... [More] 7/1/03 State Fund Assures Business as Usual On May 28, 2003, State Compensation Insurance Fund filed a formal complaint against California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi and the California Department of Insurance... ... [More] 6/19/03 CLIA Receives Prestigious Golden State Award for Communications Excellence CLIA is the proud recipient of the Golden State Award for Communications Excellence as awarded by the California Society of Association Executives (CalSAE)... ... [More] 4/1/03 Weathering War In The Lodging Industry In 2003, work hard to keep the loyalty of the customer you have and work hard to get some more. Here is why:... ... [More] 4/1/03 CLIA Update CLIA Excellence in Lodging Awards Nominations, 2003 Employee Poster Sets Still Available, What’s New on clia.org, 2003 Western Lodging Show & CLIA Tailgate Brunch, 2004 California Official State Visit ... [More] 3/24/03 What Can I Do to Assist in the Current Crises in Iraq? Mark S. Spring, managing partner with the Sacramento law firm Carlton, DiSante & Freudenberger LLP, explains an employer's state and federal obligations with regard to military leave. ... [More] 2/27/03 EDITORIAL: First, Help the Sick In recent decades, more than half a million men and women, most of them blue-collar workers, have sued companies that made or used products containing asbestos. Many are desperately sick with respirat ... [More] 1/20/03 State Budget Crisis Hits Lodging Industry Governor Gray Davis released his 2003-2004 budget, proposing some $34.8 Billion in cuts, which include the elimination of the California Division of Tourism. ... [More] 12/30/02 One In Five To Book Online By 2005 What do one in five Americans do when they decide to plan a trip? Well, according to a new report, by 2005 these shoppers will be combing the Internet for the best travel deals. From hotel websites to ... [More] 11/18/02 California Hotel Sales Plummet Hotel sales in California dropped to unprecedented levels in the first six months of 2002, according to Alan Reay, president of Atlas Hospitality Group, a hotel brokerage company specializing in Calif ... [More] 11/8/02 CLIA Joins Asbestos Litigation Reform Coalition Asbestos exposure is an issue of concern, because of its historical use in a variety of industries (including the building trades, automotive, shipbuilding, mining, and manufacturing), and its role as ... [More] 11/6/02 Kowalsky and Stoy Named 2002 Scholarship Recipients The California Lodging Industry Association awards two scholarships annually to worthy California college students pursuing an education in the lodging and hospitality fields. ... [More] 9/5/02 California Hotels Report Better Than Expected One Year After 9/11 Group business is up, leisure stays are lengthier, revenues are higher, and business is better than expected at several California hotels, resorts and spas in the year since the September 11 attacks t ... [More]