California Joins Florida, New York, Texas and Nevada in Call for Federal Priority: Securing the Future of US Travel and Tourism, Here is All You Need to Know

Published on November 26, 2025

Top leaders in the US Travel and Tourism world are sounding a major alarm. They say that Congress must act now. The future of one of the nation’s biggest job creators is at risk. It was reported that the CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), Rosanna Maietta, went before Congress. She spoke to lawmakers about the critical role hotels play in the US economy. She emphasized that the US Travel and Tourism sector is huge. It generates nearly $900 billion in annual economic activity. It also creates $83 billion in tax revenue. Experts noted that the industry supports one in every 25 US jobs. This shows just how vital the sector is to the entire nation. The message was clear. Even five years after the start of the pandemic, the US Travel and Tourism industry is still struggling. Ms. Maietta explained that operating costs are going up much faster than the money hotels are earning. These rising costs include insurance, interest rates, labor and healthcare. She stressed that hotels are still resilient. They are committed to their communities. But they need help from the federal government to keep growing. The biggest tourism states are pushing this message hard. The economic health of key states like California, Florida, New York, Texas and Nevada depends on these federal decisions.

The Visa Crisis: Why Texas and Florida Need More H-2B Workers

One of the most urgent problems discussed was the lack of workers. Hotels and many other seasonal businesses need temporary workers to handle their busiest times. This is where the H-2B visa program comes in. The AHLA leader strongly urged Congress to take action. She asked the Departments of Homeland Security and Labor to release the maximum number of supplemental H-2B visas. This is a major concern across the US.

The research showed that some states are hit much harder by this worker shortage than others. Texas has consistently been the state with the highest number of certified H-2B workers. This means a cap on visas severely hurts businesses in Texas. The association stressed that these visas are vital for the US Travel and Tourism industry. Without them, businesses cannot meet the demands of visitors. Florida also showed a massive reliance on these workers. In fact, Florida has seen the largest increase in the number of H-2B workers needed. This is because Florida’s tourism and landscaping industries are massive. Coastal states like Maryland (for seafood) and Massachusetts (for resorts) also depend on these visas. Without enough workers, they cannot run their operations fully. This means the ability of the US Travel and Tourism sector to recover is slowed down. This is a problem for the whole US economy.

In addition to Texas and Florida, many other states are fighting for these visas. It was noted that states like Alabama, Hawaii, Michigan, Oregon and Wisconsin all saw their need for H-2B workers double in recent years. This proves that the worker shortage is a widespread US problem. It is not just about the big cities or resort areas. It is about local economies everywhere. The push for more H-2B visas is crucial for the health of the entire US Travel and Tourism sector.

Boosting Brand USA: Bringing International Visitors to California, New York and Nevada

Another major policy goal is attracting more people from outside the US. The AHLA urged Congress to restore full funding for Brand USA. This program works to market the US as a top travel destination around the world. Restoring this funding is part of a plan called the VISIT USA Act. Experts say that international visitors spend much more money than domestic tourists. This means they bring high-value dollars into the US economy.

Major tourism destinations rely on this international spending. The research pointed to several massive state economies that benefit the most. California is consistently one of the biggest earners of international tourism revenue. Similarly, the unique attractions of New York, especially New York City, draw millions of visitors from overseas. Florida’s famous theme parks and beautiful beaches are huge magnets for global travelers.

Without Brand USA, the US loses its competitive edge against other countries. Restoring this funding is seen as a direct investment in the success of the US Travel and Tourism industry. Ms. Maietta emphasized that this is especially important now. The US is preparing to host huge global events soon. Securing these funds means securing the economic success of states like California, Florida, New York, Texas and Nevada.

Protecting Franchise Stability: A Win for Small Business in Every US State

The third major request from the hotel industry involves a legal issue. It is about supporting the American Franchise Act. This piece of legislation is designed to clarify the meaning of a “joint employer.” This may sound complicated, but it is very important for the hospitality industry. Most hotels operate as franchises. This means the brand (the franchisor) sets the standards. The local owner (the franchisee) runs the day-to-day business.

The AHLA wants to ensure that the local hotel owner remains clearly in charge of managing their employees. This protection maintains clarity in franchise relationships. It protects brand standards but keeps the local owner independent. The association stated that this stability reduces legal risk and helps franchisees focus on running their businesses. This legislation would codify a narrow definition of “joint employer.” This means the franchisor would only be considered an employer if they exercised “substantial direct and immediate control” over the workers.

This issue applies across the entire US business landscape. The franchise model is a massive part of the US economy. The industry is valued at almost $900 billion and supports millions of jobs nationwide. Therefore, while it is a legal technicality, the stability provided by the American Franchise Act is critical for maintaining the operational health of the US Travel and Tourism sector in every state. It is necessary to protect independent business owners from coast to coast.

Securing Major US Events: The Economic Stakes for California, Texas and New York

The urgency of all these policy priorities is magnified by a series of massive global events coming to the US. The AHLA head pointed out that the nation will soon host the World Cup, America 250 and the 2028 Olympic Games. These events will bring an extraordinary surge of visitors. This will impact the US Travel and Tourism sector unlike anything seen before.

This requires hotels to be fully staffed and operating efficiently. It requires international promotion to bring in the maximum number of high-spending visitors. And it requires business stability so companies can invest and prepare. States that will host or be near host cities—like California (for the Olympics), Texas (for the World Cup) and New York—have the highest stake in this preparation.

If the US cannot solve the H-2B visa issue, hotels will not have the staff needed to serve these major events. If Brand USA is not fully funded, the expected international visitor numbers might fall short. The time to act is now, well before the events arrive. Securing these policies is not just about helping the hotel industry. It is about ensuring the US can successfully host and profit from these global spectacles. The potential for the US Travel and Tourism industry to generate new records of revenue is huge, but only if the foundations are secure.

The Threat of Shutdowns: An Unnecessary Danger to the US Economy

The fourth and simplest request made by the AHLA was to reach a long-term funding agreement. This is simply to avoid a government shutdown at the end of January. A government shutdown creates massive uncertainty. It can halt federal services that the US Travel and Tourism industry relies on.

For example, a shutdown could impact the processing of visas, slowing down international travel. It could affect national parks and other federal attractions, hurting tourism in states like California (with its national parks) and Nevada (near federal lands). The association stressed that any break in service damages business confidence and hurts the industry’s recovery. Therefore, avoiding a shutdown is seen as a foundational element of stability needed by all US businesses. It is an easily solvable political problem that, if ignored, would create an unnecessary economic injury to the robust US Travel and Tourism sector.

Economic Juggernauts: Why Action is Critical for Key States

The economic argument for these four priorities is strongest when looking at the biggest US tourism engines. California, Florida, New York, Texas and Nevada are the undisputed leaders in the US Travel and Tourism landscape.

• California: As a powerhouse of tourism, bringing in over $140 billion in revenue annually, California’s hotels and hospitality venues require massive staffing. The push for H-2B visas and the stability of the Franchise Act are vital for maintaining its scale of operation. The state cannot afford to have its vast tourism machine slow down.
• Florida: As a true tourism juggernaut, Florida rakes in close to $90 billion in revenue. Its economy is deeply tied to the industry. The state’s extreme reliance on seasonal labor makes the H-2B visa issue an immediate crisis for Florida businesses.
• New York: The cultural and financial capital of New York generates tens of billions from tourism, largely from international visitors. Restoring Brand USA funding is a direct lifeline to the New York economy. Without aggressive international marketing, the high-value visitor stream could dry up.
• Texas: With diverse attractions leading to approximately $80 billion in tourism revenue, Texas is noted for its record-breaking growth. Texas also employs the highest number of H-2B workers. This unique combination means Texas is highly sensitive to both the visa cap and international marketing efforts.
• Nevada: Largely driven by Las Vegas, Nevada’s entire economy is betting on tourism. Earning over $60 billion from visitors, its hotel and hospitality sector needs legal clarity from the American Franchise Act and certainty in its workforce.

The prosperity of these five states is directly connected to the health of the entire US Travel and Tourism industry. When California, Florida, New York, Texas and Nevada are strong, the US economy is strong.

A Clear Path Forward for the US Travel and Tourism Industry

In summary, the hotel and lodging industry has presented a clear, four-point plan to Congress. This plan is designed to secure the future of the US Travel and Tourism sector. The association stated that action on these points is crucial, especially as major states like California, Florida, New York, Texas and Nevada face escalating challenges.

First, the immediate need is to solve the worker shortage. This means releasing the maximum number of supplemental H-2B visas to help businesses in Texas and Florida meet peak demand. Second, the US must attract international travelers by fully funding Brand USA through the VISIT USA Act. Third, Congress must ensure business stability by passing the American Franchise Act. This will provide necessary legal clarity to the millions of franchise businesses that are the backbone of the US economy. Finally, lawmakers must reach a funding agreement quickly to avoid a government shutdown, which would cause unnecessary harm to the fragile recovery of the entire US Travel and Tourism sector.

The leadership of the AHLA stressed that these measures are vital. They are not asking for a handout. They are asking for the tools and certainty needed to continue generating nearly $900 billion in economic activity and supporting millions of US jobs. The economic giants, led by California, Florida, New York, Texas and Nevada, have spoken. They are waiting for federal action to secure the future of US Travel and Tourism. The clock is ticking toward major global events and the time for delay is over.