Hotel Asset Managers Association October 2009

1. Hotel Asset Managers Association October 2009

2. Travel and Tourism Health Care Card Check Other Issues Major Issues

3. Major IssuesTravel and Tourism

4. Members of Congress travel-bashing (TARP guidelines) Society of Incentive & Travel Executives reports that the meetings, events and incentive travel was down by about 35% in first half of year U.S. companies canceled an estimated $1-2 billion worth of conferences in the first two months of 2009 Major IssuesTravel Promotion

5. Industry responded aggressively, issued statements and board guidelines Guidelines distributed to Administration, Congress, AH&LA membership Rather than restrict travel, cite industry guidelines for cost-effective business travel Major IssuesTravel Promotion

6. Major IssuesTravel Promotion www.MeetingsMeanBusiness.com

7. Travel Promotion Act Creates a public-private partnership to better explain U.S. security policies and attract millions of additional international visitors In last Congress, passed House on voice vote, stalled in Senate Reintroduced as S. 1023. Senate passed Act 79-19 on Sept. 9. House introduction on June 18. House “blue-slipped” Senate bill in late September. Senate bill awaiting action in House. Major IssuesTravel Promotion

8. Major IssuesHealth Care Reform • President Obama Top Domestic Agenda • Universal coverage for 40 - 47 million lacking coverage • Control costs • Federal insurance program • Reform insurance industry • Business Community Concerns • Can government run nationwide program? • How will this be paid for and will it bankrupt economy? • Will unfair government competition drive away private markets? • Can struggling businesses absorb new Government Mandate? • Will consumers have fewer health care options and lower quality?

9. Major IssuesHealth Care Reform • 3 plans – House Tricom; Senate HELP; Senate Finance • AH&LA Supports: • Employer based insurance • Tax incentives to secure insurance • Small business pooling (SBHPs) • Market-based reforms to expand competition and choice

10. Major IssuesHealth Care Reform Baucus Senate HELP House Who is covered? 94% 97% 94% (currently 85%) Cost of Bill $856 Billion $615 Billion (partial plan) $1.5 Trillion Employer Mandate No Yes Yes Employee Mandate Yes YesYes Pay for Options Surcharge on high None Proposed—rely on Income Tax; end health plans; Senate Finance Committee Business Tax; Business penalty if no coverage provided; Other Fees. *public option defeated Government Plan: No—Co-Op* Yes Yes

11. Major IssuesHealth Care Reform Baucus Senate HELP House Small Business Yes <25 employees Yes <25 employees No Exemptions? & <$40,000 avg. wage Seasonal Exemption? No Yes <25 employees & 120 days No Insurance Market Yes Yes Yes Reforms? Bi-Partisan? ?? No No Health Savings Accts. Yes Yes No & Flex Plan Reform? Status In Committee Passed Committee Passed Two Committee; In One Committee

12. So-Called “Employee Free Choice Act” would undermine 1935 Labor Relations Act Three basic components Private ballot elections in workplace replaced by public “card check” Mandatory binding interest arbitration by government in labor contracts Increased employer fines Major IssuesCard Check

13. Major IssuesCard Check Current Workplace Election Process Employer must recognize union as legal representative and bargain NLRB reviews signed cards and schedules election NLRB conducts private-ballot elections NLRB counts ballots, majority rules If majority vote for a union, then . . . Paid union organizers collect signatures • Government-supervised process, stringent guidelines • Employees freely vote their conscience in private • If 50% +1 vote to form a union, it becomes workplace representative

14. Major IssuesCard Check “Card Check” Scheme Employer must recognize union as legal representative and submit NLRB reviews signed cards and schedules election NLRB conducts private-ballot elections NLRB counts ballots, majority rules If majority vote for a union, then . . . Paid union organizers collect signatures • No private ballot election • Organizers collect publically-signed cards from 50% +1 • Union immediately recognized

15. If employer does not agree to union terms within 120 days of union recognition, a government-appointed interest arbitrator imposes a binding labor contract Workers cannot vote to approve contract Employer may not appeal Major IssuesCard Check

16. Major IssuesCard Check AHLA formed Coalition for Democratic Workplace to fight EFCA (www.myprivateballot.com) to run ads. Educated voters AHLA & others commission job study - Dr. Anne Layne-Farrar finds unionization of 1.5 million existing jobs under EFCA in year one would lead to the loss of 600,000 jobs by the following year (equal to the entire population of Boston, Mass.) Lobbying led to fewer cosponsors; House agreement for Senate first AHLA Resources: Employer Video & Talking Points Employee Video * (new in English/Spanish) Goal to educate employees about the meaning of a “card” (www.ahla.com/cardcheck)

17. Major IssuesCard Check • Targeting Key States – (EFCA needs 60 votes in Senate)

18. Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) switched parties; Kennedy death (Sen. Paul Kirk (D-MA); Sen. Byrd (D-WVa) Lack of 60 =Effort to find “compromise” Mail-in ballots rather than card check (“post card check”) “Ambush elections” rather than card check “Last, best offer” rather than bill’s arbitration Union access to workplace to campaign Any alternative must be outside context of EFCA Organized labor trying to keep it on the table; need to be vigilant Major IssuesCard Check

19. Major IssuesCard Check • Employee Video

20. Hotel Asset Managers Association October 2009