Members of the Los Angeles hotel industry are “sounding alarm bells” as they struggle over a city-mandated minimum wage hike signed into law by Democratic Mayor Karen Bass. Industry leaders warn the policy could lead to a severe shortage of room availability just as the city prepares to take the world stage.
“We are absolutely sounding alarm bells. If the city doesn’t start working with the business community, by 2028, things will be very different in terms of room availability at hotels,” President and CEO of American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) Rosanna Maietta told Fox News Digital on Wednesday.
The timing is critical. Los Angeles is set to host a string of high-profile global events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches at SoFi Stadium, the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open Championship, and the 2028 Summer Olympics. Maietta warned that for these events to succeed, hotels must be fully staffed—a task made increasingly difficult by rising labor costs…