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Blog
Let's Talk Politics
September 9, 2008
With the Democratic and Republican conventions in the rear-view mirror and just under two months to go, the multi-year horserace that is the U.S. presidential election is now entering the homestretch. The hotel industry, like just about every other business sector, is ramping up efforts to bring issues of concern into the political discourse and to ensure workers are preparing to cast ballots that benefit the industry.The American Hotel & Lodging Association has launched an election-themed Web site, LodgingVotes.com, which has basic voter registration information and a rundown of critical industry issues—union accessibility, energy policy, green issues and immigration. But the site is painstakingly nonpartisan, leaving the undecided hotel worker, well, still undecided.
The Travel Industry Association is launching a US$500,000 public lobbying effort intended to raise the issue of lagging inbound tourism. It's a smart lobbying effort, but it, too, is nonpartisan.
The extremely loaded question, then, is whether four years of Republican John McCain or Democrat Barack Obama would benefit the hotel industry more. Politics being what it is—an intensely personal topic, with innumerable viewpoints and legitimate perspectives—there is no universally correct answer to the question. But that doesn't mean we can't have a (civil!) debate.
Indeed, politics happened to come up in my interview last month with Alain Grangé, CEO of Sol Meliá Vacation Club, a native of France and a naturalized American citizen. Grangé believes hospitality—or the vacation ownership sector, anyway—would be boosted by a McCain win.
"The Republican side, today, would continue a more positive trend," Grangé told me. "The buyers of the shared ownership sector are upper-middle class and upper class—they're not the uber-millionaire, they're the middle-millionaire and the well-to-do—and those people, obviously, get hurt by more taxes and more unions. We would be hurt not by the Democratic Party as such, but by some of the more extreme liberal goverment-pays-for-everything structure."
Hoteliers: Setting aside your personal political opinions as much as you can ... Would the hotel industry benefit more from a President McCain or a President Obama?
Given the topic, I'm going to moderate the comments section, so don't fret if your comment is not immediately posted ... and understand that ad hominem attacks won't be.
Posted by Adam Kirby on September 9, 2008 | Comments (6)
In response to: Let's Talk Politics
Dudu commented:
Benefits more from a President McCain
In response to: Let's Talk Politics
Scott commented:
I would assume tax and immigration policy would be the central themes of this debate. However, the strength or lack thereof of the US dollar will have a meaningful impact on competitiveness of the global lodging industry. If you agree that our current deficits is hurting the strength of the dollar, then we either cut spending or raise taxes somewhere.
In response to: Let's Talk Politics
PADHMANABAN MADHUSUDAN commented:
A President Obama win would have a more positive effect on the hotel industry - not only in USA but also world-wide.
In response to: Let's Talk Politics
Jess Wonderin commented:
A McCain Presidency would tell the World that America will continue the Bush policies that have made America a economic, military and social buffoon. A growing economic international middle class will direct their travel dollars to other areas reflecting leisure value and social values they respect.
In response to: Let's Talk Politics
Larry commented:
You might also consider the impact on the availability of hotel workers if the Republicans get their way in restricting immigration and encouraging illegals to leave the US. My guess is that many of the existing workers are not exactly legal immigrants. Those well to do guests probably won't want to wash their own sheets, make their own beds or wash their dishes.
In response to: Let's Talk Politics
J Lages commented:
I can't imagine that a McCain presidency would help the industry. There are not enough "High-Class well to do" guests to trickle down and fill all of the three and four star rooms that are available. We need some middle class Obama supporters to help do that. We saw the reception Obama received in Europe. I think Obama will redirect the dollars we are spending in Iraq to more productive uses which will help regain the respect of those who might travel to the US. Since he honors the constitution and refuses to be ruled by fear, He might also relax the visa restrictions for the student workers who come here for seasonal jobs that American students don't want anymore.