PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jagruti Panwala, Hotel Owner and Member of Board of Directors of American Hotel and Lodging Association, on Intro 991-B
1:26:35
·
121 sec
Jagruti Panwala, a hotel owner and board member of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, testified against Intro 991-B, arguing that it would negatively impact small hotel businesses in New York City. She criticized the bill's licensing requirements and the proposed ban on subcontractors, stating that these measures would create obstacles for smaller hoteliers and reduce operational flexibility.
- Panwala emphasized her 26 years of experience in the hotel industry, including owning a 60-room hotel in the Bronx
- She argued that the safety protocols in the bill are duplicative of existing laws and industry standards
- Panwala expressed concern that the bill would make it more difficult for small hoteliers to secure bank funding and franchise partnerships
Jagruti Panwala
1:26:35
Good morning, council members.
1:26:36
My name is Jagouti Panwala.
1:26:37
I'm here as a pastor, women of Oahu, which is the largest hotel owner association in the world.
1:26:43
I'm also here as a 1st generation hotelier with 26 years of experience I've spent my entire adult life in hotel business, and I've done every single job there is to do from housekeeping the maintenance, to bookkeeping the management.
1:26:54
So I know the first thing what it takes to be a small business owner.
1:26:57
Currently, we own multiple hotels in the United States, including a sixty room hotel in Bronx.
1:27:02
In turn 991 is being called a safe hotel x, but actually safety protocols are duplicative of existing laws and industry protocols.
1:27:10
Clearly, the title is a smokescreen for another objective.
1:27:13
Forcing of our small businesses to change their business models and intentionally are unintentionally eliminating us from the New York City marketplace.
1:27:21
First has currently returned the license structure outlined in the bill is problematic.
1:27:26
In every other city and state.
1:27:28
Licensing requirements depend on meeting building standards and receiving a certificate of occupancy.
1:27:33
These new and arbitrary rules will cause more obstacles for smaller teliers to secure bank funding and secure franchise partners, both of which are already very difficult.
1:27:42
2nd, I want to address the proposed disallowance of subcontractors.
1:27:45
Subcontractors often provide the flexibilities and specialized skills to help smaller hotels maintain operational efficiency while at times navigating labor shortages.
1:27:56
When considering a subcontractor, we're not only inquiring about their current training and availability, but we also still provide them with the property specific training, exact the same way we do direct hire employees.
1:28:10
We're not alone.
1:28:11
Subcontractors are options for many other in this industry, so why remove them entirely for hotel operators?
1:28:18
New York City visitors deserves choices from large corporate catering hotels to smaller limited service family run hotels, and this legislation will destroy that.
1:28:28
I strongly urge you to consider the adverse implications outlined here today when you deliberate on potential policy proposals?
1:28:35
Thank you.
