LoginDuring a recent interview with Fox News, the head of a major hotel chain said that his firm would be expanding operations in the next several months.
J.W. Marriott, executive chairman of Marriott International, told Neil Cavuto during a broadcast of "Your World," that his firm is planning to open 15,000 new rooms in the United States, resulting in the addition of between 5,000 to 10,000 new employees. He said that the staffing increase stemmed from an uptick in business, with more guests booking reservations for Marriott hotels.
However, he also pointed out that some businesses were being cautious due to fears of over-regulation from the government.
"I think they're waiting for something to happen in Washington," Marriott said during the interview. "I think they're concerned about regulation. I think they're concerned about the policy of our current administration and what's going on in the country. I think they're just waiting to see what's going to happen to ObamaCare. And all the uncertainty out there is why they're holding onto this cash."
There are signs that the hotel industry will add staff in the coming months due to increases in visitors. According to Smith Travel Research, there was a 4.1 percent increase in hotel bookings during the first quarter of the year, Bloomberg reports.