“This year’s legislative conference comes at one of the most historic times in recent memory,” said AH&LA Executive Vice President for Public Policy Marlene Colucci. “The majorities in both houses of Congress are very slim, and with every seat in the House, one-third of the Senate, and the White House up for grabs this November, hoteliers will have an opportunity like never before to evaluate the performance of their representatives in Washington, affect the fall elections, and help to set the agenda for the next Administration and the 111th Congress.”

Speakers invited to participate in this year’s conference include:

• Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Senate Majority Leader;
• Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.);
• Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.);
• Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.);
• Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.);
• Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.);
• Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine);
• Former Senator Robert J. Dole (R-Kan.), former Senate Majority Leader;
• Representative Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.);
• Representative Bart Stupak (D-Mich.);
• Representative Ric Keller (R-Fla.);
• Representative Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.), House Ways and Means Committee chairman; and Representative John Tanner (D-Tenn.).

Along with briefings by Members of Congress, conference attendees will receive a closed-door briefing by senior Administration officials at the White House complex and have the opportunity to participate in panel discussion with congressional representatives and CEOs from some of the nation’s largest hotel chains. Additionally, AH&LA’s bipartisan political action committee, HotelPAC, will host a reception and dinner featuring congressional speakers.

As with past conferences, grassroots lobbying will be the central component of LAS, as hoteliers present the industry’s position on key issues to the members of their House and Senate delegations and highlight the significant and positive impact lodging has on their congressional districts.

“Many hot-button topics, including immigration reform, replacing union elections with ‘card check,’ and renewing the temporary seasonal worker exemption, have been and will continue to be heavily debated through the remainder of the 110th Congress,” said Colucci. “This conference is an outstanding opportunity for the lodging industry to make their collective voice heard and influence the direction this legislation takes for the remainder of this year and well into 2009.”