Kat Fonda and Matt Carrier

🏨 A federal court struck down a Department of Labor (DOL) rule in November, which would have increased overtime costs for small businesses, including hotels. The DOL's rule proposed increasing the overtime salary threshold for salaried employees from $35,568 to $58,656, a 65% jump. The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) supported a smaller increase to $43,888. The ruling ensures hoteliers can continue offering career opportunities without the financial burden of the proposed overtime rule. Hotel wages have risen more than 10% faster than the average wage increase since the pandemic. The FTC announced a fee-disclosure rule requiring transparent display of mandatory fees, promoting consumer confidence and fair competition.