October 28, 2020
The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor of California
State Capitol
Sacramento, California 95814
RE: Request for hospitality industry reopening guidance for meetings and events
Dear Governor Newsom,
I am writing to respectfully request your attention to the urgent request from the California Hotel and Lodging Association (CHLA) for adoption of reopening guidance for meetings and events as soon as possible. In their recent correspondence to your office, which was shared with me, the CHLA brought forward a very well thought out plan for reopening of their meeting and event spaces, which I believe forms a strong base upon which to build our state’s reopening guidance. I urge your prompt consideration of their proposal.
In our recent Informational Hearing, "The Economic Power and Resilience of California’s Tourism Industry” the Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism & Internet Media, which I Chair, sought to gain insight into the important challenges facing California’s tourism industry during this unprecedented time. Featuring a list of esteemed tourism industry experts and a broad array of interest groups who work within the tourism industry, this hearing brought perspectives on the economic impacts of the pandemic, as well as ideas on how California’s tourism industry can recover. Their message came through loud and clear, our hospitality industry needs clear and consistent guidance now to begin preparing for the day when they can once again host meetings and conventions in California.
As we learned, conventions and large space meetings are booked out years in advance. While California may not be in a place relative to the pandemic where it is currently safe to host large meetings and conventions, we must have our guidance in place so that business leaders booking for their upcoming events and conventions two and three years from now can know what to expect when they do business in California, otherwise I fear they simply may not.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
To download the letter: 
CHLA Letter to Governor Newsom