Page 28 - The Indian EYE 060526

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JUNE 05, 2026 | The Indian Eye 28

Local Leaders Praise Hotel Association

of NYC After Union Ratifies New Contract

The hotel union voted yesterday to ratify a new contract, continuing the hotel industry’s status

as a model employer, ensuring the World Cup will not be disrupted, and protecting the livelihoods of nearly
400,000 New Yorkers who rely on the tourism economy

NEERAJ DHAR tating for the Yemeni American com-
munity and for the broader network
New York, NY
of immigrant entrepreneurs who
ity leaders are applauding the depend on a healthy hospitality econ-
Hotel Association of New omy. Thank you to the Hotel Asso-
C York (HANYC) for its new, ciation of New York City for getting
nation-leading eight-year contract a fair deal done and protecting the
with the Hotel and Gaming Trades workers, the visitors, and the small
Council, AFL-CIO (HTC), which businesses that all rely on a strong
the union voted to ratify yesterday. hotel industry,” said Joel Felicia-
Despite the hotel industry’s signifi- no, Chief Operating Officer, Yeme-
cant economic headwinds, the new ni American Merchant Association
contract continues its long history of (YAMA).
providing the best wages and benefits “The Garifuna community is one
in the country, while adding provi- of the largest Afro-Indigenous immi-
sions to keep healthcare costs under grant populations in New York City,
control. and the Bronx is home to the largest
With the new contract, HANYC concentration of Garifuna people
also succeeded in staving off a poten- outside of Central America. Thou-
tial hotel union strike ahead of the sands of our community members
World Cup that would have been dev- work in the city’s hotels and across
astating for the city’s economy, ho- the broader tourism and hospitali-
tels, hotel workers, and the 400,000 ty industry - they are housekeepers,
tourism and hospitality workers ho- banquet servers, bellhops, cooks, and
tels support. HANYC and HTC an- front-desk staff who came to this
nounced the agreement on Monday. country to build a better life for their
“This contract is a win for our families. The wage increases, the
hospitality industry, our economy, continuation of nearly fully employ-
and for a city that works best when er-paid healthcare, and the new em-
the people who keep it running can ployer-funded housing and childcare
afford to live here too,” said Mayor demic demand,” said Vijay Dandapa- industry. This contract helps provide benefits in this contract will make a
Zohran Mamdani. ni, President and CEO of HANYC. the stability needed for the nearly real, immediate difference in house-
Speaker Julie Menin also ap- “The New York City hotel in- 400,000 New Yorkers who rely on holds across the Bronx. Thank you to
plauded the hotel industry for reach- dustry, represented by HANYC, de- the hospitality industry for work, as the Hotel Association of New York
ing a contract agreement: “Con- serves credit for working with us to well as the thousands of small busi- City for delivering a deal that honors
gratulations to the members of the secure the best pay and benefits in ness owners across the city whose the dignity of immigrant workers and
New York Hotel and Gaming Trades the country, as well as protections restaurants and shops have the most protects the families who depend on
Council and to the hotel industry for for workers that should be a nation- to gain from a successful World Cup,” this industry,” said José Francisco
reaching an agreement on a new con- al model-all of which will allow our said Dr. Jean G. Joseph, President of Ávila, Chairman of the Board, Gari-
tract for workers. I want to thank the workers and the city’s tourism econ- the Caribbean American Chamber of funa Coalition USA.
hotel industry for their leadership omy to thrive,” said Rich Maroko, Commerce. “The Queens Hispanic Cham-
and the important role they play in President of the Hotel and Gaming “The Yemeni American Mer- ber of Commerce represents Lati-
New York’s economic vitality.” Trades Council. chant Association represents thou- no-owned businesses across the most
HANYC President and CEO Vijay Organizations and leaders in the sands of immigrant small-business diverse county in the United States
Dandapani and HTC President Rich hospitality and tourism sectors applaud- owners across New York City - the - and our members know that what
Maroko also celebrated the win. ed HANYC for securing the contract. bodegas, delis, and corner stores that happens in the hotel industry shapes
“We are proud the New York “The small businesses repre- anchor working-class neighborhoods what happens in Queens. The hotel
hotel industry will continue to pro- sented by the Caribbean American in every borough. Our businesses live workforce is overwhelmingly Lati-
vide the best pay and benefits in the Chamber of Commerce, and the and breathe alongside the tourism no and immigrant, and the wages,
country, especially since we are fac- many workers from immigrant com- economy that hotels make possible. healthcare, and new housing and
ing tremendous economic headwinds munities who have built family-sup- When hotels are strong and work- childcare benefits in this contract
and the highest taxes in the nation, porting careers in tourism and hospi- ers are paid fairly, immigrant small will reach families across our bor-
have lost 20,000 hotel rooms since tality, will benefit tremendously from businesses thrive. A strike during the ough. With the World Cup arriving
COVID, and are still below pre-pan- this agreement provided by the hotel World Cup would have been devas- Continued on next page... >>

www.TheIndianEYE.com