US Hotels Ask Congress for Visa Fix Before World Cup Rush Arrives

US hoteliers met with lawmakers in Washington, DC, to push for policies that could help the industry handle major travel events.

More than 300 hotel representatives joined the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s (AHLA) Hotels on the Hill event.

Their main request was clear: hotels need more workers and smoother inbound travel. The 2026 FIFA World Cup starts on June 11, and the US will host matches in 11 cities. The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles will create another major demand period. Hoteliers say both events could bring strong tourism, but only if hotels can staff their properties and international visitors can enter the US without long delays.

Hotels want more access to seasonal workers

A key issue is the H-2B visa program. It allows US employers to hire temporary foreign workers for seasonal non-agricultural jobs when they cannot find enough US workers. Hotels, resorts, and other seasonal businesses use the program during busy travel periods.

The regular annual cap is 66,000 visas, split into two parts of the fiscal year. Hoteliers say this number is too low for today’s hospitality industry. USCIS said the second-half H-2B cap for fiscal year 2026 was reached in March, showing that demand for these workers remains high.

Extra visas helped, but planning is still difficult

The government made up to 64,716 extra H-2B visas available for fiscal year 2026. This helped employers with seasonal labor needs, but hotels say it is not a permanent solution. Supplemental visas depend on government decisions each year, so operators cannot fully rely on them when planning staffing months in advance.

World Cup hotel demand is still uncertain

The lobbying push comes as World Cup hotel bookings look weaker than expected in some US host cities. The Associated Press reported that several markets, including Kansas City, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle, had bookings below normal seasonal levels, while demand in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Houston was mostly flat.

Meanwhile, the US waived visa bond requirements of up to $15,000 for some confirmed ticket holders, but travelers still need to complete the regular visa process. For hotels, the change removes one barrier, but it may not be enough to turn World Cup interest into strong bookings and visitor spending.

Photo by Dmitry Kropachev on Unsplash