United States: Immigration policy hits the hospitality sector, says UNITE HERE report

UNITE HERE, the IUF affiliate in North America for the hospitality industry has recently launched the report Inhospitable: How U.S. Immigration Policy is Harming the Hospitality Sector.

The report shows that recent immigration policies and political rhetoric are driving a significant downturn in the U.S. hospitality industry. Despite a global tourism boom in 2025, the United States is the only major market experiencing a decline in international visitors, with 2.5 million fewer trips and a 5.5% drop in tourist spending compared to the previous year. Surveys suggest that nearly half of international travelers are less likely to visit the U.S. due to concerns about political polarization, immigration enforcement, and safety perceptions.

The industry's workforce is also under strain. Employment in leisure and hospitality fell by 98,000 jobs year-over-year in 2025, driven both by reduced demand and the loss of immigrant workers whose legal status has been curtailed. These shortages are increasing workloads for workers and operational costs for employers.

Financial performance in the hotel sector is weakening, with revenue growth near historic lows and some analysts warning of a potential "hotel recession". Case studies from cities like Washington D.C., Las Vegas, Miami, and Seattle show declining tourism, reduced bookings, and economic strain on workers and local businesses. Overall, the report concludes that current policies risk long-term damage to a $1.6 trillion industry and the millions of livelihoods it supports.

"Industry leaders and our elected officials need to act to protect the hospitality industry and the people who make it run. While immigrant families are on the front lines of the White House's violent crackdowns and enforcement actions, our members - immigrant and U.S.-born alike - are struggling with their economic impact. If current immigration policies remain in place, conditions in the industry will worsen, threatening not only the workers who sustain it but industry leaders, municipalities and communities that depend on tourism revenue," said Gwen Mills, UNITE HERE President.