To support the city’s hotels, the Association utilizes outside professional counsel to complement its wide range of services without sacrificing in-depth knowledge and expertise. These services provided include:

Labor/Legal Counsel

The Hotel Association of New York City, Inc. offers legal representation in labor-related matters including contract negotiations, mediation and arbitration. The Association retains Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP., a New York City based regional law firm, with a department specializing in Labor and Employment Law.

They represent members at mediation hearings, arbitrations at the Office of the Impartial Chairman and in proceedings before various government agencies such as:

• National Labor Relations Board
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• New York State Division of Human Rights

They also serve as legal counsel to the Association’s Pension and Welfare Plans and to the Hotel/Union Taft-Hartley Funds. They provide guidance in matters affecting:

• Employee-employer relations
• Labor relations
• Human Resources matters such as employment discrimination
• Applicable local, state and federal regulations

They issue memoranda on topical issues and conduct seminars for the membership to keep them abreast of all legal developments affecting the industry.

Legal Counsel

The law firm of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP. serves as the Association’s general counsel. They keep our membership abreast of current federal laws and regulations and the affect that they have on hotel business operations.

They provide reports on new and changing laws and regulations and legal bulletins that interpret these laws and detail requirements for compliance. Reports are also produced on:

• Hotel security and guest property
• Hotel liability for fire and safety
• Employee discrimination
• Sexual harassment
• FCC investigation of telephone charges by the telephone companies servicing hotels
• The investigation of employee tip reporting practices
• Questions of guest room privacy in drug use cases

Fire Protection and Public Safety

Technical expertise and up-to-date knowledge of fire/building codes and regulations are essential for today’s hotel owners and operators.

The Association provides advice and guidance to individual hotels. As to public safety, the Association has regular meetings with the leaders of the New York City Police Department and the New York City Fire Department so that members are apprised of all matters relating to security issues.

Association/National Involvement

The Hotel Association of New York City, Inc. holds a prominent position in the City’s tourism industry and economic development through direct representation on the Board of Directors of the New York Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

In addition to its major role in tourism, the Association is also recognized as a leader in New York’s hospitality industry. As such, it maintains a close working relationship with:

• New York State Restaurant Association
• Association for a Better New York
• New York Chamber of Commerce
• New York City Partnership
• New York Society of Association Executives
• American Society of Association Executives

Industry Affiliations

Members of the Hotel Association of New York City, Inc. receive automatic membership in the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association, and the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

For Membership please contact:

Niki J. Franzitta, Esq., Vice President of Member Relations and Development
Hotel Association of New York City, Inc.
(212) 754-6700
(212) 754-0243
[email protected]