Accomodations

Texas Hoteliers,

Over the past 24 hours, the number of areas in Texas under shelter-in-place orders has grown to seventeen. We expect more shelter-in-place (or “remain at home”) orders to be issued in additional Texas communities within the next several days.

As this message goes to press, the following areas are subject to shelter-in-place / remain at home orders:

Shelter-in-place orders prohibit the ability of the general public to travel within the restricted area, except to perform certain essential functions or tasks, such as obtaining food, medical services, working in an essential profession, etc.

For each of the shelter-in-place orders in effect as of Tuesday evening, hotels may continue to operate as businesses essential to the health and safety of the community, and hotel employees may continue to travel from their residence to the hotel to perform work.

THLA has been contacting local governments across the State and with the Governor’s Office to ensure that hotels will remain open to house guests. Stranded travelers, extended stay guests living in hotels, and individuals looking to stay somewhere to isolate themselves from household members all depend on hotels for temporary housing. Additionally, hotels are beginning to enter into arrangements with local hospitals, federal authorities, the State, military, hospitals, first responders, and more to help them serve and house COVID-19 quarantined or exposed individuals.

You can visit this THLA webpage for the latest information on shelter-in-place orders, links to the actual orders, download a letter template you can adapt to provide notice to guests staying at your hotel property informing the guest that the area is under a shelter-in-place order, and download a sample template letter you can use to provide to hotel employees in the event they are stopped on their way to work.

These shelter-in-place orders apply in addition to Governor Abbott’s statewide executive order issued on March 19th. The most stringent provisions of both the statewide and local order will apply. More information on Governor Abbott’s order is below. If you have questions about the particular details of an order that apply to your operations, do not hesitate to contact us. Our 24-hour contact information is at the bottom of this email.

SBA Emergency Loan Webinar on Thursday

The American Hotel & Lodging Association is hosting a free webinar with the Small Business Administration on the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. We know hotel owners have a lot of questions about the program, and the application process can be confusing. Here from the SBA experts themselves on the program.

Thursday, March 26

2:00 PM Central Time

Register here.

Earlier news:

Statewide Emergency Order

Governor Abbott used his emergency powers on March 19th to issue an updated statewide executive order regarding COVID-19. The executive order limits the number of people who can gather in one place at a time, closes restaurant dining rooms, prohibits drinking in bars, and closes gyms and massage establishments. Additionally, the Commissioner of the Department of State Health Services issued a declaration of public health disaster in the State of Texas. Both the executive order and the declaration apply statewide.

Are you interested in joining our list of hotels that may be willing to contract with the state or local government in response to the COVID-19 crisis?

Texas Hotel & Lodging Association is in communication with the State of Texas and with local governments regarding the possibility of hotels entering into a lease or other agreement with the government during the response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

We are maintaining a list of hotel properties that be interested in entering into a contract or lease with the state or local government as part of the response to COVID-19.

More information is available here.

SBA loan applications now available.

After delays, the SBA's website for the emergency Disaster Loan Assistance program is now accepting applications from businesses throughout Texas. You can view the full list of Texas counties that are eligible on this SBA webpage.

You can start the application process here, but note we are getting reports the SBA's website is being overburdened.

THLA attorneys are here to assist you 24 hours a day—just like your hotel. Our mobile phone numbers are:

Scott Joslove: 512-565-5292

Justin Bragiel: 512-417-6185

Nilesh (Neil) Patel: 210-885-1513

We encourage you to visit our COVID-19 portal. We are pushing out updated information and legal guides there on a daily, if not hourly, basis.

Please contact us on how we can further help during this trying time.

Texas Hotel & Lodging Association

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Texas Hotel and Lodging Association, 1701 West Avenue, Austin TX 78701

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