At the recent Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) in Los Angeles, immigration policy emerged as a central issue of discussion among top hotel executives. As industry leaders weighed the impacts of stricter border policies and heightened immigration vetting under the Trump administration, there was a clear call for targeted immigration reforms that would address the workforce needs of the hospitality sector.
One of the most pressing concerns voiced by Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta was the industry’s ongoing challenge in securing a skilled workforce. “One of the most important issues in our industry for time and eternity has been workforce, and our inability for certain classifications of team members to be able to get into the workforce,” Nassetta stated. He stressed the importance of comprehensive immigration reform to help address these shortages, particularly for skilled positions.
Craig Smith, CEO of Aimbridge Hospitality, shared a similar sentiment, but with a nuanced approach. He advocated for a more balanced conversation around immigration, emphasizing the need for targeted legal immigration programs. “We need to go to the administration and say, ‘Let’s talk about legal immigration,'” Smith explained. He pointed out that many jobs in the hospitality sector are in high demand, and it’s crucial to find a way to bring skilled workers across the border to fill those roles. Smith’s approach highlights the complexity of the immigration issue one that goes beyond border security and delves into the need for a more practical and efficient system for legal workers.
Rosanna Maietta, CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, echoed these concerns while recognizing the difficult political landscape surrounding immigration reform. Maietta emphasized that while comprehensive immigration reform may not be immediately achievable, there are key areas the hospitality industry is focusing on, particularly in improving seasonal worker programs. Access to H-2B visas, in particular, is critical for areas like resorts that are grappling with labor shortages. “We need to improve [the H-2B] process, which is a lottery that feels very random and doesn’t allow for certainty that businesses need,” Maietta said. The current visa system, she noted, needs adjustments to ensure that businesses can rely on a more predictable and efficient process to meet their labor needs.
Another significant concern raised at the summit was the potential impact of immigration policies on international visitation to the United States. Marriott International CEO Anthony Capuano expressed concern over the administration’s focus on “enhanced vetting of incoming travelers.” Capuano warned that such policies could undo the progress the industry has made in reducing friction in cross-border travel, especially after the pandemic-era border closures. “You think about all the work the industry has done to remove friction from cross-border travel, and then you think back to travel bans and other things that are so obviously impactful in a negative way to our business,” Capuano said.
The U.S. Travel Association’s CEO, Geoff Freeman, also spoke out about the mixed messages being sent to international visitors. Freeman criticized the contradictory approach to immigration, stating that it conveyed an unclear stance on whether the country wanted legal or illegal visitors. “We are sending a message to the world [saying] we don’t want your illegal visitors, and we’re not sure we want your legal ones either,” Freeman said, highlighting the potential for harm to the U.S. tourism industry.
Freeman also pointed to the ongoing visa-processing backlog as a significant issue. “Right now, people in many countries 45% of the countries around the world need a visa to come to the United States,” he noted. With wait times for interviews exceeding 400 days in countries like India and over 680 days in Colombia, the visa process is creating a barrier for potential visitors. Freeman expressed concern that these delays, coupled with mixed messaging about immigration, could discourage international visitors from traveling to the U.S.
Despite these challenges, Hilton’s Nassetta remained optimistic about the long-term outlook for the industry. He stressed that businesses thrive on certainty, and while the current environment is fraught with regulatory uncertainty, once policies are clarified, the hospitality sector is likely to see positive outcomes. “Business likes certainty,” Nassetta said, “and once we know where those things are going, I think that’s going to translate into good things for our business.”
The discussions at ALIS underscore the importance of finding balanced immigration policies that address both workforce needs and the broader challenges facing the U.S. hospitality industry. As these conversations continue, the hope is that practical reforms will lead to solutions that benefit both the sector and the nation’s economic health.
