In a series of events that could shape the living conditions of tourism workers in Los Angeles, the City Council has cast a preliminary vote in favor of increasing their minimum wage incrementally until it hits $30 per hour by 2028. As reported by NBC Los Angeles, the proposal set by council members is to begin with a raise to $22.50 this July and to include subsequent hikes over the following years. The move comes as the city gears up for the monumental hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028.
However, the planned wage increase is not without controversy. Speaking to NBC Los Angeles, Rosanna Maietta, CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, warned that the proposal could somehow lead to job cuts at a time when the tourism sector is already navigating rough waters. Sourced from reports by Visit California, travel to the state showed a decline, including a significant drop in air travel from markets like Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.
Alongside the wage bumps, the ordinance would introduce an additional $8.35 per hour healthcare payment starting in January 2026 and a public housekeeping training requirement for hotels with more than 60 rooms, as per FOX LA.
According to a LAist interview, Sonia Ceron, an airport worker, said the wage increase will enable her to make life-changing choices for her family, no longer having to choose "between paying the bills or buying her healthy food and saving for college." However, some businesses have voiced their concerns, with Adam Burke, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, citing multiple challenges facing LA's tourism, including wildfires and visa processing delays.
