WASHINGTON, D.C.— The fifth annual American Hotel & Lodging Association Legislative Action Summit kicked off here yesterday afternoon at the Loews L’Enfant Plaza Hotel with some 220 member state representatives eager to gain insight and updates on legislation affecting lodging. The hoteliers will leverage that knowledge in a meeting with Congressional members on Capitol Hill, and address the need for more supportive initiatives for one of the premier industries in the United States. Joe McInerney, president/CEO welcomed the attendees and impressed upon them the need to be proactive in their quest to make the political leaders aware of the dire straits the industry continues to face, not only due to the economic downturn and impact from Sept. 11, but the added crunch from a tabled economic stimulus initiative. “This is an opportunity to learn what goes on in Washington with the issues that are very important to our industry at this time. It’s also an opportunity to meet with the representatives and tell them the things that we need as an industry and things they need to work [on]to move our industry and our economy forward during this very, very difficult year.” Indeed, Denise Ferguson, vp/government affairs for LAS co-sponsor American Express, noted post-Sept. 11 elected officials already have learned a critical lesson: “The financial stability of our nation’s cities and its travel-destination states are very much dependent on a vibrant, healthy travel and tourism industry.” She added there’s still much to be accomplished and that the industry needs to remain “vigilant against costly new regulatory burdens.” Jack Connors, evp/public policy for AH&LA, introduced a regulatory affairs panel. John Wodatch, chief of disability rights section, civil rights division of the U.S. Department of Justice and a five-year LAS veteran, gave an update on Americans with Disabilities Act enforcement and spoke about ADA Business Connection, an initiative by the Bush Administration to bring businesses and people with disabilities together to discuss issues and solutions in a non-regulatory, non-confrontational fashion. Tim Burke, director/travel management policy for the U.S. General Services Administration, spoke about the government’s per diem process and the guidelines that affect the 93,000 travelers who are traveling on a daily basis, while Banks Brown, an attorney with McDermott, Will & Emery and general counsel for AH&LA, spoke about the U.S. Patriots Act (aka anti-terrorist act) and the new paradigm it establishes for certain federal agents seeking information, such as registration lists, in investigating terrorist plots or acts.