U.S. hotels and resorts will have a larger-than-expected pool of workers to tap into this summer, following the federal government's decision to make 35,000 extra H-2B visas available.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Labor (DOL) announced the additional H-2B visas last week, with the move being "informed by current demand in the labor market," according to a joint DHS/DOL news release.
In a memo sent to members, American Hotel & Lodging Association CEO Chip Rogers lauded the program's expansion, which he said would be a particular boon to "hotels and other industries with strong seasonal business."
"These additional visas will provide critical help to seasonal resorts as we enter the busy summer travel season, and they suggest that the Biden administration recognizes the acute workforce shortage we are facing," added Rogers.
The H-2B visa program allows employers to temporarily hire noncitizens to perform nonagricultural labor or services in the U.S.
The latest wave of H-2B visas is being made available to U.S. employers that seek to hire additional staff on or after April 1 through Sept. 30, 2022.