The U.S. Senate has confirmed Keith Sonderling as Secretary of Labor, and the American Hotel & Lodging Association wasted no time framing what the appointment means for hotel operators: a regulator who understands franchising, the ownership structure behind the majority of U.S. hotels.

AHLA President and CEO Rosanna Maietta issued a statement in Washington, D.C., congratulating Sonderling and casting the confirmation as alignment on the industry's most consequential labor files.

"Secretary Sonderling has a deep appreciation and understanding of the franchise business model which is the backbone of the hotel industry," Maietta said. "With 60 percent of hotels owned by small business owners, our industry's continued growth depends on policies that foster economic opportunity and workforce stability."

That 60 percent figure carries operational weight. Most hotel owners are franchisees or independent operators, not the brands on the marquee. Labor Department policy on joint-employer liability determines whether those owners — or the brands whose flags they fly — bear legal responsibility for wage and hour compliance, staffing decisions, and workplace disputes. For franchised properties, uncertainty in that standard translates directly into legal exposure and higher compliance costs at the property level.

Maietta said the industry appreciates "Secretary Sonderling's emphasis on the importance of clear, practical labor policies that support workers, employers, and economic growth."

The second priority AHLA named — modernizing the H-2B visa program — addresses the sector's persistent seasonal staffing gap. Hotels in resort and leisure markets depend on H-2B temporary nonagricultural workers for housekeeping, food and beverage, and grounds positions, and the program's annual statutory cap has long left operators scrambling for peak-season labor. Program modernization, from AHLA's standpoint, means a more predictable pipeline for seasonal hires at a time when hotel staffing levels remain a constraint on service delivery and, by extension, rate realization.

Sonderling has recent firsthand exposure to hotel operations. Last month he joined AHLA for behind-the-scenes tours at hotels in Arizona and Nevada, where, according to the association, he saw the industry's role as employer, economic driver, and community partner up close.

AHLA, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is the largest hotel association in the country, with more than 30,000 members across all industry segments. Its membership includes 80 percent of all franchised U.S. hotels, the 16 largest hotel companies operating in the country, and the major global brands. The association's remit covers strategic advocacy, communications, and workforce development.

Maietta closed the statement by pointing to continued collaboration with Sonderling and his Department of Labor team on H-2B modernization and joint-employer standards "that provide certainty for our industry and all those who work and thrive in it." For hotel owners and franchisees, the practical test of the new secretary's tenure will be whether that certainty materializes in rulemaking — and how quickly.