During the busy Labor Day weekend, at least 10,000 unionized receptionists, maids and other employees in 24 Hotel operators across the country went on strike on Sunday after failing to reach an agreement in contract negotiations.
The strikes — which have affected some Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott hotels and a Fairmont hotel in Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, San Jose, Calif., Honolulu, Kauai, Hawaii, San Diego and Greenwich, Conn. since Sunday afternoon — were expected to last two to three days in each city, just as many travelers' holiday weekend plans were in full swing. Additional hotel workers in other cities could soon announce strikes as well.
The strike comes as members of the UNITE HERE union at Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and Omni across the country have been embroiled in contentious talks since at least May.
The affected hotels say they plan to stay open, possibly with limited services, but they don't always inform travelers about the strike, so check in advance or you may be surprised to find a vigorous picket line outside your hotel when you arrive.
Here's what else you need to know.
There is a strike at the hotel I booked at. What should I do?
First, call the hotel and ask to speak to a manager to confirm that there is a strike at that hotel. UNITE HERE has also set up a website, FairHotel.org, that provides an up-to-date map of hotels experiencing labor disputes. Ask the manager which services are affected by the strike and ask about the hotel's cancellation policy.
Then decide whether you still want to stay in the hotel.
In addition to the impact on services, you should also consider your feelings about the strike itself, said Bjorn Hanson, an associate professor at New York University's Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality. Some travelers are happy to support the company and keep their reservation at the hotel, Dr. Hanson said. Others prefer to support the striking workers by not breaking a picket line.
If you decide not to stay at the affected hotel, you should first book new accommodation and then call your original hotel as soon as possible to cancel.
In the case of previous strikes, Dr. Hanson said: “Individual hotels have some discretion, but the hotel company's policy has been: we will honor our cancellation policy even during the strike. So that's at least what the normal, average traveler should keep in mind and plan accordingly,” he said.
Cancellation policies at Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and Omni hotels generally depend on your specific rate and the dates of your stay, so you'll need to check your reservation in the app or on the website.
Will my hotel remain open during the strike?
In general, hotels say they are prepared for uninterrupted operations.
Representatives from Hyatt, Hilton and Omni said they have contingency plans in place to minimize the impact of strikes on hotel operations. Marriott did not respond to a request for comment.
While the chains would not disclose details of those plans, it's likely they will use non-union employees, Dr. Hanson said. They could also offer a grab-and-go buffet instead of table service, for example. And outside contractors could be hired for services that would normally be performed by hotel staff.
The last major hotel strike, in Los Angeles last summer, saw thousands of hotel workers walk out of work just as travelers were preparing for the Fourth of July. That first strike ended after three days. Sporadic strikes occurred at other hotels throughout the summer, affecting housekeeping services for some guests and causing disruptions after event organizers canceled events.
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