Posts Tagged ‘Government Affairs’
Supreme Court Ruling on TPS and Local Workforce Impact
The US Supreme Court has cleared the way for the administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of Haiti and Syria. Work authorization for affected nationals is expected to lapse as early as tomorrow, July 1, 2026. This date stems from a prior DHS extension of TPS for both countries through July 1, not…
Read MoreNew F&B Operations Charge Notification Law Takes Effect on July 1
This is an informational reminder that Florida Senate Bill 606 officially goes into effect on July 1st. Because this law introduces strict transparency standards for “operations charges” (e.g. automatic gratuities, service fees, and delivery charges) at your food, beverage, and banquet operations, we strongly encourage your General Managers, F&B Directors, and corporate counsel to conduct…
Read More2026 Legislative Session Recap
The 2026 legislative session concluded in Tallahassee. Throughout the legislative session our government affairs team engaged with legislators and policymakers to advocate for the hotel and tourism industry’s interests, highlight the industry’s economic impact, protect the TDT and tourism marketing, promote regulatory fairness for hotels, and support full funding for Visit Florida. Thanks to our collective efforts, consistent presence in…
Read More2026 Tallahassee Fly-In Recap
President & CEO Curtis Crider, Chairman Amir Blattner, and Chair-Elect Mildred Riscigno traveled to Tallahassee on February 10-11 as part of the Dade Days delegation, along with Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and local elected officials, to advocate on behalf of our hospitality industry and Miami-Dade County. During the visit, our group met with several key state policymakers, including DBPR…
Read More2026 Miami Beach Spring Break
The GMBHA team has been in close contact with Miami Beach administrators and elected officials to provide feedback about how to continue to improve the city’s planning for this important travel season. Due to the advocacy from our team, many of you, and our partners in the Miami Beach business community, the city has pivoted…
Read MoreUS Suspends Immigrant Visas from 75 Countries; Visitor Visas Unaffected
We are closely monitoring the recent announcement from the U.S. Department of State regarding changes to visa processing. On January 14, 2026, the Trump administration confirmed an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, effective January 21, 2026. This policy stems from concerns over the potential for applicants to become a “public charge” (i.e.,…
Read MoreProposed CBP Changes: Social Media Screening For Foreign Visitors
In December, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published a notice in the Federal Register proposing major changes to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Under this proposal, travelers from countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program will be required to provide their social media usernames, as well as email addresses and phone numbers they have used during…
Read More2025 Municipal Election Winners
City of Miami City of Hialeah City of Miami Beach City of Homestead
Read MoreNovember Elections Preview
Municipal elections will be held on November 4th, 2025 in Miami, Miami Beach, Hialeah, Homestead, and Surfside. See the below summaries of candidates, ballot items, and voting information for each municipality. City of Miami (more info) Early Voting 10/25-11/2 Mayor Commissioner District 3 Commissioner District 5 Referendums City of Miami Beach (more info) Early Voting…
Read MoreFederal Government Shutdown Update
Read our full initial briefing, which outlined immediate risks to air travel, national parks, immigration services, and federal group bookings. Shutdown Status The stalemate in Congress has persisted, pushing the shutdown into Day 20. Senate Democrats rejected funding bills for the 10th time last week, blocking the bills from reaching the 60 votes necessary to move…
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