The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) has tapped veteran Capitol Hill staffer Andrew Usyk as Vice President of Government Affairs. Usyk will work to advance the industry’s interests in several issue priorities, ranging from supporting policies that facilitate international travel and tourism, to increasing transparency for consumers booking hotels online.
Usyk comes to AHLA after serving eight years as a senior staffer in the U.S. Senate, including more than three years as legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-Penn.). He previously served as a legislative aide to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and worked on her 2010 reelection campaign. Usyk is a graduate of Syracuse University, where he played NCAA Division I soccer.
“We are excited to welcome Andrew to our advocacy team,” said Brian Crawford, Executive Vice President of Government Affairs at AHLA. “Andrew will be instrumental in expanding and deepening our relationships on Capitol Hill, especially in the Senate, and elevating the hotel industry’s message in Washington.”
Usyk is part of a 10-person team of government affairs professionals with extensive experience on Capitol Hill and in federal, state and local advocacy. Together, they work to advance the interests of nearly 26,000 members representing 3 million hotel rooms and $600 billion in economic impact. Usyk will help support AHLA’s advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill and with the Administration. With more than six in ten hotels classified as small business, AHLA is especially focused on policies that empower entrepreneurs and encourage business growth. Our policy priorities include meeting the industry’s workforce needs amidst record unemployment; promoting international travel and tourism; and protecting guests who book hotels online; and adopting common-sense regulations and accountability measures in the short-term rental industry.