WASHINGTON --
Immigration bills now pending in Congress drew the ire of Bill
Marriott, Jr., chairman of Marriott International, who addressed
delegates at the World Travel & Tourism Councils Global Travel
& Tourism Summit here.
The House and
Senate have floated various versions of immigration bills in recent
weeks, including a House version in which companies that hire
undocumented citizens, even unknowingly, could face criminal
charges. Meanwhile, the Senate hammered out a version that would
include a provision to create guest worker status for the
undocumented as well as certain avenues that could lead to
citizenship stalled on the Senate floor.
It is the diversity
of our work force that makes us strong. Yet some in our U.S. 
Congress want to
criminalize the undocumented and their employers, Marriott said. Do
you industry executives look upon yourselves as felons? If we dont
stand together and demand good, comprehensive immigration reform,
we will be criminalized if we unknowingly employ undocumented
illegal aliens.
Echoing a position
held by the overall hotel industry, Marriott stressed the
importance of immigrant workers to the operation of hotels and
resorts.
The Bureau of Labor
Statistics estimates that the lodging industry will grow by 16.4%
by 2014, which will require about 300,000 additional
workers.
However, filling
those positions is becoming increasing problematic.
Across our nation,
we are seeing increased employment in the hospitality industry,
Marriott said, that are continuing to drive employment levels to
near record highs.
While that is
positive for the economy overall, the hotel industry as well as
other service sectors are left wanting for employees.
Right now, the U.S.
is facing a very long-term labor shortage, he said, especially at
the entry-level jobs that keep our businesses running. Immigrant
workers sometimes hold such jobs.
In our hotels, we
simply cant get the work done without workers from other nations,
Marriott said. And we still have a lot of jobs to fill.
Hundreds of
thousands of supporters of immigrant rights marched on Washington
coincidentally just as the summit began. Similar marches were held
in several major cities across the U.S., as supporters urged
Congress to pass an immigration bill that would not force millions
of undocumented citizens to leave the U.S.
This immigration
controversy is taking place throughout the world, Marriott
said. Every country will want to
regulate immigration for the sake of its security and citizens, but
we must pursue policies that allow people to seek the chance to
build better lives for themselves and their families.
Marriott urged
Congress to work out their differences and do what is right for our
nation, our economy and our nation of immigrants.
Congress is expected
to take up immigration legislation once again in a few
weeks.
To contact
the reporter who wrote this article, send e-mail to Michael
Milligan at [email protected].