Requested State Assistance & New WH&LA Guide for Lodging Employees
March 30, 2020
Dear WH&LA Lodging Member:
Last Friday, Congress passed and the President signed the latest installment of the federal Cares Act, which we shared information on in the March 27 WH&LA Capitol Insider. We had heard that Wisconsin’s Governor Evers and state legislative leader were waiting for the negotiated federal version to be finalized and passed in order to know what level of federal help would be coming with the pandemic crisis in order to determine what was still needed on the state level.
On Sunday, the WH&LA joined with our partners the Wisconsin Restaurant Association (WRA) and the Association of Wisconsin Tourist Attractions (AWTA) in contacting Governor Evers, State legislative leaders, and all state legislators to officially request state assistance for tourism businessesin Wisconsin to help to address the significant damage to our industry businesses. We offered 7 opportunities to assist at the state level, making sure to get our request in before the legislature starts to finalize plans for assistance. A few options are consistent with theproposed legislation Governor Evers outlined on Saturday for legislators to consider, but we went farther in our request.
The WH&LA is pleased to share a 7-page New Lodging Employee Resource Guidetargeted for helping lodging employees in our state during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please feel free to share this overview of helpful tips, links for temporary employment for those laid off, and resources with your team as they are facing many challenges as you navigate difficult decisions while managing your property for both the short and long term. Special thanks go to WH&LA team members Monica Goeke and Lexie Mallary for making completion of this guide a priority service for our members. Thanks also to a valued Past Chairman for making the suggestion to WH&LA.
