Wisconsin Shows Up Strong at Hotels on the Hill

The Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association (WHLA) made a major impact in Washington, D.C., during the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) Hotels on the Hill event, bringing the largest single-state delegation in the country with 19 Wisconsin hotel leaders, members, and staff participating.

Held May 13–14 at the Hilton Washington DC Capitol Hill, Hotels on the Hill is the hotel industry’s premier national advocacy event, uniting hotel owners, operators, general managers, management companies, suppliers, and association leaders from across the country to meet directly with members of Congress and advocate for policies that support hospitality businesses nationwide.
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This year’s event came at a pivotal time for the industry. With rising operating costs, workforce shortages, declines in international inbound travel, and continued economic uncertainty impacting hotels across the country, more than 300 hospitality leaders traveled to Washington to ensure lawmakers heard directly from the people running hotels in their communities.

Wisconsin Leaders Advocate for the Lodging Industry

Throughout the event, Wisconsin delegates met with members of the state’s congressional delegation and their staff to discuss key issues impacting lodging operators and hospitality businesses across Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin delegation met with staff from Tammy Baldwin, with Senator Baldwin also joining the conversation to hear firsthand from Wisconsin hoteliers about the challenges properties are facing related to workforce shortages, rising costs, and the need for policies that strengthen travel and tourism.
The group also met with staff from Ron Johnson’s office, where members shared personal stories and operational challenges surrounding staffing shortages, recruitment and retention efforts, and concerns related to joint-employer regulations and regulatory uncertainty.

Key advocacy priorities discussed during Hotels on the Hill included:

• Joint employer regulations and the need for clear, consistent guidance for hotel owners and operators
• Workforce shortages and solutions that support recruitment, retention, and long-term hospitality career pathways
  
• Travel and tourism policies that strengthen recovery, drive growth, and support U.S. competitiveness

​These meetings gave Wisconsin hotel leaders the opportunity to share real-world experiences directly with policymakers and reinforce the critical role the lodging industry plays in supporting jobs, tourism, local economies, and communities throughout the state.

WHLA Hosts Wisconsin Congressional Breakfast

On Wednesday morning, WHLA hosted a special Wisconsin delegation breakfast in the Longworth House Office Building, bringing together hospitality leaders and members of Congress for additional conversations ahead of Capitol Hill meetings.

Wisconsin leaders Representative Glenn Grothman, Representative Bryan Steil, and Representative Tom Tiffany joined the breakfast to discuss issues impacting Wisconsin lodging businesses and hear directly from WHLA members about how federal policymakers can support the hospitality industry moving forward.
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The breakfast created an additional opportunity for Wisconsin hoteliers to strengthen relationships with elected officials and continue important conversations around workforce development, economic growth, tourism, and regulatory policy.

Bill Elliott Shares Advocacy Expertise

Adding to Wisconsin’s strong presence at the event, Bill Elliott was featured as a panelist during a Tuesday breakout session focused on effective advocacy and lobbying strategies ahead of congressional meetings.
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Bill shared practical tips and best practices for engaging elected officials, helping attendees prepare for productive conversations on Capitol Hill and reinforcing the importance of grassroots advocacy within the hospitality industry.

Why Advocacy Matters

Hotels on the Hill continues to serve as one of the hotel and lodging industry’s most important opportunities to elevate the voice of owners, operators, and employees directly with federal lawmakers.

From workforce challenges and operational pressures to tourism growth and economic competitiveness, the issues discussed in Washington directly impact hotel properties and hospitality businesses throughout Wisconsin.
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WHLA is proud of the members and industry leaders who represented Wisconsin at this year’s event and grateful for their commitment to advocating for policies that help the lodging industry thrive.

As the hospitality industry continues navigating change and opportunity, ensuring Wisconsin’s voice is heard at both the state and national level remains more important than ever.