LA hotel industry slams huge minimum wage hike
International news
Los Angeles City Council approved a big minimum wage hike for hotel and airport workers. It will see a phased increase of 50% over the next three years.
The ordinance will see the $20 an hour minimum rate increase over the next three years to $30 an hour by the time of LA 2028 Olympics.
The minimum wage applies to medium sized and large hotels with more than 60 rooms, private contractor firms at LAX, airlines and concessions.
However, some lawmakers and the LA Tourism and Convention Board criticized the passing of the ordinance.
The wage hike could lead to lost jobs and revenue as the city prices itself out of the market.
“A $30 an hour wage would result, on an annual basis, in the loss of $2.3 billion in local business sales, $55 million in local tax revenues and most unfortunately, the loss of 15,000 jobs,” said tourism board CEO Adam Burke.