1. Hotel Asset Managers Association October 2009

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

3. Major Issues Travel 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 Issues Travel 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 Issues Travel Promotion

7. www.MeetingsMeanBusiness.com Major Issues Travel Promotion

8. 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.

9. Major Issues Health 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?

10. 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 Major Issues Health Care Reform

11. BaucusSenate HELPHouse Who is covered?94% 97%94% (currently 85%) Cost of Bill$856 Billion$615 Billion (partial plan)$1.5 Trillion Employer MandateNoYesYes Employee MandateYesYesYes Pay for OptionsSurcharge on high None Proposed—rely on Income Tax; end health plans;Senate Finance CommitteeBusiness Tax; Business penalty if no coverage provided; Other Fees. *public option defeated Government Plan:No—Co-Op* YesYes

12. Major Issues Health Care Reform BaucusSenate HELPHouse Small BusinessYes <25 employeesYes <25 employeesNo Exemptions?& <$40,000 avg. wage Seasonal Exemption?NoYes <25 employees & 120 daysNo Insurance MarketYesYesYes Reforms? Bi-Partisan???NoNo Health Savings Accts. YesYesNo & Flex Plan Reform? StatusIn CommitteePassed CommitteePassed Two Committee; In One Committee

13. Major Issues Card Check 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

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

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

16. Major Issues Card Check 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

17. Major Issues Card Check AHLA formed Coalition for Democratic Workplace to fight EFCA (www.myprivateballot.com) to run ads. Educated voterswww.myprivateballot.com 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)

18. Major Issues Card Check Targeting Key States – (EFCA needs 60 votes in Senate) Tier I Top Senate Targets: Arkansas: Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor Colorado: Mark Udall and Michael Bennet Nebraska: Ben Nelson Pennsylvania: Arlen Specter Louisiana: Mary Landrieu North Carolina: Kay Hagan Virginia: Mark Warner and Jim Webb Tier II Senate Targets: Florida: Bill Nelson North Dakota: Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad Tier III Senate Targets: Alaska: Mark Begich Nevada: Harry Reid Ohio: Sherrod Brown

19. Major Issues Card Check 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

20. Major Issues Card Check Employee Video

21. Contact Information Marlene Colucci Executive Vice President for Public Policy (202) 289-3121 mcolucci@ahla.com

22. Hotel Asset Managers Association October 2009