ENROLLED ORIGINAL
A RESOLUTION
25-671
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
October 1, 2024
To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to amend An Act to revise
certain laws relating to the liability of hotels, motels, and similar establishments in the
District of Columbia to their guests to authorize the Mayor to issue regulations to
establish requirements for cleaning and maintenance of District of Columbia hotels and
motel rooms, with the exception of certain establishments operating on an “extended
stay” model, and to establish standards for public notice of lodging establishment service
disruptions.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “Hotel Enhanced Cleaning and Notice of Service Disruption
Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2024”.
Sec 2. (a) There is an immediate need to re-authorize the Mayor to issue regulations to
establish requirements for cleaning and maintenance of District of Columbia hotels and motel
rooms and to establish standards for public notice of lodging establishment service disruptions.
Sec. 3. (a) On December 19, 2023, the Council approved the Hotel Enhanced Cleaning
and Notice of Service Disruption Second Temporary Amendment Act of 2023, effective March
1, 2024 (D.C. Law 25-129; 71 DCR 857) (“temporary act”). The temporary act was transmitted
to Congress on January 18, 2024, became effective on March 1, 2024, and will expire on October
12, 2024.
(b) During the pandemic, most hotels and motels implemented enhanced cleaning of
guest rooms and shared areas to limit the spread of COVID-19. Some hotels and motels,
however, suspended or lessened the frequency for which they provided cleaning services leaving
staff and patrons at risk of contracting COVID-19.
(c) The recovery of the tourism industry is vital to our economic recovery, but some
visitors are surprised that some hotels and motels are not offering daily cleaning services. This is
despite the fact that the tourism industry is booming in the District. Last year, nearly 26 million
people visited the District, which is a 17% jump from 2022 and more than the previous record of
24.6 million visitors in 2019, right before the pandemic. All in all, tourists spent $10.2 billion
during their travels to the District, up from $8.1 billion in 2022. This tourism helped to support
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 ENROLLED ORIGINAL
102,366 jobs in the District. Both are new records. Tourism rose 10% from the previous year and
is now about 9% short of 2019 levels.
(d) Tourism in the District is literally better than ever, and we must meet these demands
by providing hotel cleaning services that are in line with post-pandemic travel trends. It is
essential that we meet the demands of our guests by continuing to provide both routine and
enhanced housekeeping.
(e) Lastly, hotel and motel patrons should have the security and assurance of knowing
that the hotel or motel is abiding by its agreement to provide safe, secure, and comfortable
accommodations.
(f) To mitigate the potential of a gap in the law, which could compromise compliance
with the cleaning requirements, it is necessary to approve emergency legislation.
Sec. 4. The Council determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 3 constitute
emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Hotel Cleaning and Notice of Service
Disruption Emergency Amendment Act of 2024 be adopted after a single reading.
Sec. 5. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
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