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Connecticut Lodging Association
Legislative Bulletin
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Connecticut Works for Tourism Gubernatorial Forum
Over 200 attendees joined together to support hospitality, arts, and tourism
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On the morning of October 10th at the Connecticut Convention Center, the hospitality, arts, tourism industries joined together to rally for tourism marketing. This non-partisan event focused on how the gubernatorial candidates will help issues facing CT's hospitality, arts, and tourism industries.
Micheal Price, Chairman of the Culture & Tourism Advisory Committee, was the emcee. Each candidate had 15 minutes to answer questions about funding, occupancy tax, and highlight their support for tourism and the arts.
Gubernatorial candidates included Democratic Candidate Ned Lamont, Independent Candidate Oz Griebel, and running for Lt. Governor, Joe Markley. Watch full recording at
ctn.state.ct.us
Lamont, Griebel agree state needs to spend more on tourism,
theday.com
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2018 Connecticut Election Update
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New Q Poll: Ned Lamont Leads by 8 Points; Oz Griebel With 11 Percent In The Connecticut Governor's Race
,
courant.com
A new Quinnipiac Poll shows that Democrat Ned Lamont is leading the Connecticut governor's race by 47 to 39 percent with independent candidate Oz Griebel at 11 percent.The survey says that Lamont has a 22-point lead among women, which translates into an overall lead over his Republican rival, Bob Stefanowski, with one month before the November election. The 11 percent for Griebel is the highest total so far for the underfunded independent candidate, who is battling against two multimillionaires who have been largely funding their own campaigns.
United States Senate election: Voters in Connecticut will elect one member to the U.S. Senate in the election on November 6, 2018. The election will fill the Class 1 Senate seat.
Connecticut General Assembly:
All 36 Senate seats and all 151 House seats are up for election in 2018. Connecticut state senators and representatives serve two-year terms, with all seats up for election every two years. Know who your voting for on Nov. 6th:
STATE SENATE
STATE HOUSE
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AHLA and DECD presented at CLA's Annual Meeting
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Thank you to
Isabela Dorneles, Senior Manager of State & Local Government Affairs at the American Hotel and Lodging Association as well as
David Kooris, Deputy Commissioner of DECD for presenting at CLA's 2018 Annual Meeting on October 2nd.
Isabela reported on AHLA's advocacy priorities including short term rentals, OTAs-consumer deception, online booking scams, workforce-labor, travel and tourism promotion as well as security, and human trafficking issues. She presented hotel ordinances that have popped up throughout the country that require hotels to have panic buttons, amidst sexual harassment claims. Many of these ordinances include onerous workforce rules – such as wage requirements, blacklisting of guests, and healthcare provisions. See AHLA full slide deck
HERE.
David Kooris then updated the lodging industry on key Connecticut tourism data. Travelers support a variety of jobs in CT communities including 100% of lodging, 33% of recreation, and 24% of food & beverage employment. He reported 82,688 jobs are directly related to tourism and 121,527 jobs are supported by tourism activities.
Supporting tourism funding is key especially now that
statewide marketing is down to only $4.1 million in FY 2019. With these limited funds, David reported that the CT Office of Tourism will not be able to have traditional media efforts including TV, radio, billboards, transit posters, station dominations, or print. They will not be able to create a 2019 Visitor Guide both printed or digital. See DECD's full slide deck
HERE.
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It is more important than ever to support tourism funding.
CLICK HERE
for tourism facts.
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Transfers 10% of room occupancy tax revenue to a new Tourism Fund.
The act requires the DRS commissioner, beginning with the calendar quarter ending on September 30, 2018, to transfer 10% of room occupancy tax revenue to the new Tourism Fund it establishes. Under the act, the Tourism Fund is a separate, nonlapsing fund that contains any money the law requires to be deposited in the fund. (In § 10, the act appropriates money from the fund for statewide marketing and for various arts, culture, and recreation organizations.)
Appropriated items in fund total $12,644,988 with only $4.1 million allocated for statewide marketing.
CLICK HERE for full details.
Your Voice and Vote Matter!
CLICK HERE
to reach out to your Legislators to support tourism funding.
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Savor A Connecticut Fall Foliage Vacation
...“Due to one of the wettest Augusts in recent memory, Connecticut trees and forests are primed to present an amazing array of fall colors,” says Christopher Martin, director/state forester, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
forbes.com
Connecticut Lodging Association Names the 2018 Stars of the Industry Awards Winners,
hotel-online.com
UConn To Sell On-Campus Nathan Hale Inn For $8.3 Million,
courant.com
Stamford Marriott property sells for eight figures,
thehour.com
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Issue Education: AHLA, Promoting International Travel
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Under recent budget deals, Congress failed to allocate funding for Brand USA. AHLA is advocating to get Brand USA reauthorized by Congress. The current funding expires in 2020. Facts on international travel:
- Travel and tourism account for $2.3 trillion in economic output
- 1 in 9 American jobs
- U.S. share of international travel market has declined since 2015
- Cost potential $32 million in visitors’ spending and 100,000 American jobs
How can you help? - Talk to your congressional leaders. Ask them to support
Brand USA & co-sponsor the JOLT Act (HR 6681), which expands Visa Waiver Program and encourages more visitors to the United States.
CLICK HERE to contact your Connecticut Congressional Representation
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Celebrate with the CTCSB Hospitality Industry & "Bring it Home" Award Winners, Oct. 23, from 5:00- 7:30 PM
REGISTER HERE
Introduction to Child Trafficking in Connecticut Training of Trainers (TOT) – Nov. 5&9, Hartford Windsor Marriott –
REGISTER TODAY
HX 2018: The Hotel Experience: November 11-12, NYC. Free for CLA Members.
REGISTER HERE
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The Connecticut Lodging Association is a trade association representing and promoting the lodging industry in Connecticut. Want to know about CLA benefits and membership? Visit us at
ctlodging.org/benefits.html
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Connecticut Lodging Association
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