Dear Congress: Hotel Owners Deserve Better Than Gridlock

Every day this shutdown continues, hotel owners like me are left holding the bag — not just for lost revenue, but for the real-world consequences that follow: missed SBA funding, stalled hiring, canceled reservations, and rising uncertainty in communities where hotels are the heartbeat of the local economy.

I’ve been in this business for over 40 years. I’ve worked the front desk. I’ve flipped the rooms. I’ve signed the franchise agreements. I’ve fought through recessions, hurricanes, and pandemics. But I’ve never seen the kind of political gridlock that punishes entrepreneurs, employees, and guests with such reckless disregard.

• $31 million in hotel-related losses every day.

• 320+ small businesses blocked from SBA funds daily.

• And zero clear plan from Washington.

We are not asking for handouts. We’re asking for clarity, commitment, and a functioning government that understands that when hotels suffer, entire communities suffer.

Hotel owners represent:
✔️ 60% of the U.S. hotel market
✔️ Millions of jobs — many in underserved areas
✔️ A model of small business resilience built on grit, not guarantees

We deserve better.

It’s time for Congress to:

• Reopen the government

• Restore confidence in small business systems

• Respect the entrepreneurs who power America’s travel economy

I’ve always believed leadership is service. That’s how I’ve run my hotels, that’s how I serve in AAHOA, and that’s how I’ll continue to show up — for our industry, for our people, and for the next generation of hoteliers.

Congress, we’re ready to work. Are you?