McGORTY, AREA LEGISLATORS MEET WITH LOCAL HOTELIERS, DISCUSS STATE ECONOMY

STRATFORD- State Representative Ben McGorty (R-122) joined area legislators, the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce and Stratford, Shelton and Trumbull hotel managers and owners to talk about state issues related to the hotel industry. The meeting was held at the Homewood Suites in Stratford last Friday.

“The issues and economic challenges facing our region’s hotel owners and managers are the issues our state is facing as a whole,” said Rep. McGorty.  “If we don’t have vibrant and thriving tourism in this state, many industries will suffer as they have over the past several years, particularly our hotel industry.  We need to do all we can to ensure we are attracting business to this state and supporting this and other industries.”

The hoteliers noted that they need more large organizations coming to the state such as sports franchises, film crews, and concerts to fill the region’s hotel rooms, and they mentioned that the state’s film and movie tax credits helped improve their business.

They also made it clear to the legislators that the effort to raise the minimum wage to $15 would stop them from hiring the best staff and force hotels to hire only part-time workers.

They were also opposed to cuts in municipal aid which would raise hotels’ already high property taxes.

The lawmakers told the hotel group that the best way to bring more people to Connecticut is to improve the business climate, something they are continually working to do this session of the legislature.

Photo: (Right to Left): Gina Sadl (The Hampton Inn, Shelton), Karen Finkler (Hyatt House, Shelton), Felicia Hudson (Hilton Garden Inn, Shelton), Mark Marques (Hampton Inn, Shelton), State Rep. JP Sredzinski (R-112), Miguela Lebron, State Sen. Kevin Kelly (R-21), State Rep. Dave Rutigliano (R-123), Linda Holmes-Hannon (Homewood Suites by Hilton), Bill Purcell (President of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce), State Rep. Ben McGorty (R-122), Laura Gorman (Director of Membership and Services, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce), Clare Pusateri (Homewood Suites by Hilton, Stratford), Beryl Russell (Trumbull Marriott, Trumbull), State Rep. Laura Hoydick (R-120).