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On June 30, 2026, the
union contract between the
New York City hotel industry and the union representing the City’s hotel workers is set to expire. 

While New York City is home to more billionaires than anywhere else in the world, working people are struggling to afford an increasingly unaffordable city.

It’s their sweat, their labor, their sacrifice that powers the hotel industry – and they deserve to receive ENOUGH for their hard work.
Cushy V9_captions.mp4

Let’s look at the facts.

The Hotel Association of New York is launching a $500k ad campaign ahead of their contract expiring with our union.

“One ad cites a New York Post story, stating that a Union strike over ‘cushy’ contract ‘could throw a massive wrench’ in World Cup.”

– POLITICO

“Cushy?”

Hotel workers are struggling to make ends meet.

Hotel workers need more to survive in this City.

In a recent survey of HTC members:

40%

NO SAVINGS

reported that they couldn’t cover an emergency expense of $400

48%

HOUSING INSECURITY

spent over half of

their income on

housing and 26% reported that they've missed a mortgage

or rent payment in the

last year

21%

had to work a second job to supplement their income

MULTIPLE JOBS

Meanwhile,
hotel executive pay continues to skyrocket.

One major hotel corporation CEO raked in $28 million in 2024 alone.

SKYROCKETING COMPENSATION

That's more than


higher than the same executive’s pay in 2012

900%

That's


what a union room attendant makes in a year

405x

And while everyday New Yorkers struggle with the housing crisis, many of these executives own multiple luxury homes and vacation properties in the Hamptons.

“Cushy?”

Hotel
workers do backbreaking work.

An average

luxury mattress is 180 pounds.

Hotel workers, and in particular room attendants, have physically demanding jobs that require heavy lifting, constantly being on one’s feet, and repetitive movements that have long-lasting consequences for workers’ physical health

INJURIES

Hotel workers suffer more injuries per capita than

80%

of other professions*

PAIN

In a recent survey

of HTC members,

 

 

 

reported having pain caused by their job

86%

42%

MEDICATION

of HTC members said they rely on pain medication to get through their shifts

* According to OSHA data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

“It's taxing on the body. It's wear and tear on my knees, my feet, my lower back, my hands,” said Harshinia, a NYC room attendant.

“It's a struggle because I do have pain... I have to use compression socks, orthopedic shoes, whatever it takes to keep going.”

Harshinia.png

Meanwhile,
NYC’s hotel industry is thriving. 

Major hotel companies that operate hotels in New York City pulled in operating profits as high as $3.725 billion in 2025.

TOURISM

The city expects over

 

 

visitors in 2026, when it hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup final and various America 250 events.

66 million

REVPAR GROWTH

Revenue per available room (RevPAR) grew

 

 

between 2023 and 2025 in New York City,  outperforming other major U.S. Cities like Boston (+3.84%), Washington DC (+2.26%), and Los Angeles (-1.64%).

14.87%

POST-PANDEMIC PERFORMANCE

NYC is one of the only hotel markets where performance statistics are practically always on an upward trajectory since lockdown, according to CoStar data. 

STRONG DEVELOPMENT

NYC's hotel development pipeline is the most robust in the nation, with

​

 

that are either under construction or in final planning stages. 

10,000+ rooms

“A wave of conferences, trade shows and other events is helping lift New York City hotel bookings this year, and recently enacted short‑term rental rules continue to reshape where visitors stay. Year-to-date, New York City has posted a sharp rebound in group demand, extending a recovery that now exceeds both last year’s pace and pre-COVID benchmarks for the same period. Through February 2026, group demand exceeded 736,000 room nights, well above the same period in 2025 and even higher than 2019 levels.”

– COSTAR

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