Licensing Hotels

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to licensing hotels

This bill would require hotel operators to obtain a license in order to operate a hotel in the City. The application term would be two years, and there would be a license fee of $350. Hotel operators would be required to schedule staff that would provide continuous coverage of their front desk, and large hotels would be required schedule a security guard to provide continuous coverage on the hotel’s premises while any room is occupied. All hotel operators would be required to maintain the cleanliness of each guest room, which would include daily cleaning unless such service is declined by the guest. Hotel operators would be required to directly employ their core employees, subject to enumerated exceptions. Hotel operators of small hotels, which would include hotels with less than 100 rooms, would be exempt from the direct employment requirement. Hotel operators would be required to equip all core employees with panic buttons and provide core employees with human trafficking recognition training. Hotel operators that violate the license conditions would be subject to civil penalties.