Florida judge temporarily blocks new rules on foreign guest workers
April 30th, 2012April 27, 2012
Bruce Alpert, Times -Picayune
WASHINGTON — A Florida federal judge temporarily blocked the Labor Department from implementing rules the agency says would protect foreign guest workers and ensure Americans get first shot at the jobs, but opponents say would force unsustainable costs on businesses.
Daniel Erath / The Times-Picayune archiveSome seafood process companies had complained that the new labor regulations would raise their costs in hiring foreign guest workers to do jobs like shucking oysters.The ruling, issued late Thursday, is another blow to the department, which has already had Congress temporarily block another foreign worker rule requiring employers to pay the temporary workers higher prevailing wages, partly to make the jobs more attractive to Americans.
The Labor Department also this week dropped a regulation, strongly opposed by farmers, which would have limited work done by family members under age 16. Instead, the agency said it would work to improve safety for those youthful workers.
In Florida, Judge Margaret Casey Rodgers temporarily blocked the Labor Department from implementing both its wage and working condition requirements for guest workers. The judge said her reading of federal law indicates the authority to regulate the programs rests solely with the Department of Homeland Security.
The Labor Department had argued that it was acting under its decades’ old authority to determine whether employees qualify for visas.
“At least at this stage of the proceedings, the court is not persuaded by DOL’s arguments,” wrote Rodgers, who was appointed by President George W. Bush.
Rodgers said she will schedule a trial to consider whether to permanently block the rules, or allow the department to reissue them.
The rules, which took effect Monday, required employers to pay a guest workers’ transportation costs to the job site and pay for the trip home, when the work ends. It also required employers to pay guest workers for at least three quarters of the contacted hours, even in instances when there’s no work to be done.
It also mandated improved and longer efforts to try to fill jobs with American workers.
Judge Rodgers’ ruling was good news for a group of Louisiana employers who rely on foreign workers under the H2 visa program. They included seafood processors, hotels, forestry companies, and farms.
Mike Voisin, CEO of Motivatit Seafood in Houma, said the rules would force some businesses to shutdown, others to cutback, because prices would increase and make them less competitive against foreign suppliers.
“We now have this judge and Congress making the right call, two arms of the government, and I wonder if the other one (the executive) is going to get it,” Voisin said. “I hope so.”
But Jacob Horwitz, lead organizer for the New Orleans-based National Guestworker Alliance, said the new rules are needed to protect workers who in “too many instances,” arrive in the United States, at considerable cost to themselves and their families, but find the promised hours and pay don’t materialize.
And unlike with American workers, these employees can’t work anywhere else, and often don’t have the money to return to their home countries, Horwitz said.
Horwitz filed a complaint Friday with the Department of Labor against Brunswick Seafood Inc, of Theriot on behalf of two former foreign guest workers who worked as oyster shuckers. The complaint says the company didn’t reimburse the workers for their travel and charged them for tools — in effect leaving compensation below federal minimum wages.
The complaint also says the workers were hospitalized one day “due to what they believe was carbon monoxide poisoning from a tractor left running in an enclosed space and when they told hospital officials what happened, they were fired.”
Jeff Green, an owner of Brunswick Seafood, denied the allegations. He said the workers were told “there was no work for them” because of the closing of oyster beds, and instructed to return to their home countries.
Jazz Fest, “A Charmed Year”
April 27th, 2012As the New Orleans Jazz Fest opens today, hotels are booked to capacity Read the rest of this entry »
Hotel occupancy high first weekend of Jazz Fest
April 27th, 2012Some hotel rates up over 200% for first weekend of Jazz Fest Read the rest of this entry »
New Orleans has a super chance to shine in ‘13
April 25th, 2012$432 million impact expected the week of Super Bowl.
April 25, 2012
By Jaquetta White, Times Picayune
Super Bowl XLVII will be an opportunity for New Orleans to host the “highest of the high” in the business world, said Jay Cicero, president and chief executive officer of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation. With that, Cicero said, will come an opportunity to convince business leaders that New Orleans is a place to do operate companies.
“You can get them here because of the Super Bowl, but then we have a lot to offer them,” Cicero said.
Cicero was one of three panelists at the 2012 Louisiana Forward Economic Summit IV, a Tuesday lunch meeting about economic opportunities in Louisiana sponsored by the Zurich Classic. He was joined by Patrick Quinlan, chief executive officer of Ochsner Health System and Stephen Green, vice president of policy, government and public affairs for Chevron. The event was moderated by Greater New Orleans Inc. Chief Executive Officer Michael Hecht.
New Orleans will host the Super Bowl February 3, 2013, for the first time in more than a decade. The annual NFL championship game is expected to result in a $432 million economic impact during the week or so of events tied to it, Cicero said.
But its the long-term effects, positive attention from national media and economic development opportunities, that the community should be most looking forward to, he said.
The Sports Foundation coordinates sports events in New Orleans.
Cicero said the organization plans to lobby for two more Super Bowls over the next decade. But because of the economic boom such events create, competition, which has grown stiffer in recent years, will be one of the city’s greatest challenges.
“There are cities across the country that want the events New Orleans wants,” Cicero said. Many of them have more money to spend on acquiring them. Indianapolis, for instance, had a $25 million fund for this year’s Super Bowl. New York, which hosts the big game the year following New Orleans, has set aside $65 million for the game, Cicero said. Meanwhile, New Orleans’ budget is about $12 million.
2012 Q1 increases in ADR and RevPar
April 24th, 2012Double digit increases in ADR…
April 24, 2012
HNN Newswire
HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—The U.S. hotel industry reported increases in all three key performance metrics for first-quarter 2012 in year-over-year measurements, according to data from STR.
The industry’s occupancy increased 3.8 percent to 56.8 percent, average daily rate rose 4.0 percent to US$103.54, and revenue per available room was up 7.9 percent to US$58.78.
“The industry’s positive momentum continued in the first quarter against difficult year-over-year comparisons,” said Bobby Bowers, senior VP of operations at STR. “First-quarter demand slowed somewhat versus the same period last year but remained surprisingly robust. RevPAR moved up nearly 8 percent, fueled by solid ADR growth and positive occupancy movement. April’s performance will likely be somewhat weaker. However, we expect ADR growth to continue at, or near, its current pace with some deceleration in occupancy growth for the balance of 2012.”
Among the Top 25 Markets, Nashville, Tennessee, rose 12.9 percent in occupancy to 61.6 percent, reporting the largest increase in that metric. Houston, Texas, followed with a 10.3-percent increase to 66.7 percent. Phoenix, Arizona, posted the only occupancy decrease, falling 1.2 percent in occupancy to 71.7 percent.
Three markets experienced double-digit ADR increases: New Orleans, Louisiana (+13.0 percent to US$146.64); San Francisco/San Mateo, California (+11.7 percent to US$160.15); and Oahu Island, Hawaii (+10.1 percent to US$176.15). Dallas, Texas, reported the largest ADR decrease, falling 5.0 percent to US$88.92, followed by Washington, D.C., with a 2.0-percent decrease to US$142.91.
Nashville achieved the largest RevPAR increase, up 17.6 percent to US$57.56, followed by New Orleans (+16.6 percent to US$101.87), and Oahu Island (+15.9 percent to US$151.97). Dallas (-3.9 percent to US$52.93) and Washington, D.C. (-1.5 percent to US$85.10) ended the quarter with the only RevPAR decreases.
Taxi rule changes approved by New Orleans City Council
April 20th, 2012After five hours of debate, the council approved all 24 ordinances presented Thursday… Read the rest of this entry »
Expanded no-smoking zones passed by House
April 17th, 2012April 17, 2012
By Ed Anderson, The Times Picayune
BATON ROUGE — Smoking would be banned within 25 feet of handicapped ramps and entrances to public and private buildings where smoking is already outlawed inside, the House said Monday. Representatives voted 81-12 for House Bill 378 by Rep. Frank Hoffmann, R-West Monroe, sending it to the Senate for more debate.
Rep. Frank Hoffman, R-West MonroeHoffmann said that any building that is exempt from the ban on smoking — including gambling establishments, bars and private homes — would also be exempt from the 25-foot no-smoking zone.
Hoffmann said that “mounting scientific evidence” shows that “there is no risk-free level of exposure to second-hand smoke.” The bill started out also banning smoking within at least 25 feet of an “operable window and a ventilation system” of buildings, but that was stricken in a House committee last week.
Hoffmann said the bill allows the owners or managers of buildings to ban smoking more than 25 feet from the ramps or entrances to the buildings and post signs designating the area where the ban is in effect.
In response to a question, Hoffman said the provisions of the bill apply even when it’s raining. If a building does not have an overhang or cover, the smoker “either gets wet or does not smoke, ” he said.
Lawmakers also Monday approved, 84-9, House Bill 95 by Rep. Cameron Henry, R-Jefferson, that would prohibit welfare recipients under the Family Independence Temporary Assistance program from using their benefit cards at gambling outlets, liquor stores and sexually oriented businesses, like strip clubs. It also bars cashing in the cards.
Rep. Cameron Henry, R-JeffersonRep. Katrina Jackson, D-Monroe, got an amendment on the bill to ban the use of the FITAP cards to buy liquor and tobacco products at any location.
The bill allows the cashing of the cards to buy checks or money orders for the recipient to pay bills, rent or school expenses, Henry said. He said the ban on the use of the cards is meant to rein in inappropriate use of the FITAP money.
“It concerns me that you are saying if you are poor, you can’t have cash,” Rep. Patricia Smith, D-Baton Rouge, told Henry. “You are picking on the on the … most vulnerable citizens in our state.”
Rep. Jim Fannin, D-Jonesboro, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, said the bill will cost the state $454,000 to amend the contract with a company that monitors the card program, money not included in the budget.
Rep. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, tried to sidetrack the bill by having it shunted to Fannin’s committee. “This bill has not been truly vetted,” Barrow said.
Henry got the House to vote that request down 36-57. He said he is not trying to hurt anyone, just assuring taxpayers money is being properly spent.
Proposal for New Orleans hospitality district with taxing authority to be discussed
April 16th, 2012French Quarter Management to hold meeting…
April 16, 2012
By Bruce Eggler, The Times Picayune
The board of the French Quarter Management District, a 5-year-old state agency, will hold a special meeting Tuesday to discuss several bills in the Legislature that would create a New Orleans Hospitality and Entertainment District with the authority to impose new taxes. The meeting will be from 10 a.m. to noon in the Esplanade Room of the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel, 621 St. Louis St.
The new district would be a political subdivision of the state and would tentatively include the French Quarter, Marigny Triangle, Treme, Central Business District and Warehouse District.
The initial purpose of the new district would be to accept and spend a $30 million donation from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center to be used for improving infrastructure in the designated neighborhoods.
Beyond the $30 million, the proposed new agency would have the power to levy new taxes within the district such as on hotel rooms, restaurant and nightclub sales, and parking.
It could direct the added tax revenue to specified purposes, including further infrastructure improvements, tourism promotion and advertising, and other activities to make the city’s prime tourist areas more appealing to visitors, such as by enhancing public safety and sanitation.
The activities of the new agency would be overseen by a board on which tourism and related businesses would have a majority of the seats, on the assumption that most — though not all — of the new taxes would be paid by tourists.
Leaders of two organizations that have expressed skepticism about the proposal — French Quarter Citizens and Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents and Associates — said they met recently with the lawmakers who have proposed the bills, Sens. Ed Murray and J.P. Morrell and Rep. Helena Moreno.
President Carol Allen of VCPORA and President Tom Bissell of French Quarter Citizens said they were “assured that these bills would not go forward unless … all the stakeholders (are) on board,” including people who live and work in the French Quarter.
In an open letter, Allen and Bissell said: “The fundamental question remains: Do we want the French Quarter to become a ‘hospitality zone’ with special taxation and its own non-elected, independent governing structure, most likely with a majority of seats being held by tourism interests?”
The board of the French Quarter Management District, which includes both residents and tourism and other business representatives, is expected to discuss possible amendments that could make the current hospitality district proposal more acceptable to at least some residents.
The Convention Center board voted last month to contribute up to $30 million to an effort to refurbish the French Quarter and a larger “hospitality zone” in advance of next year’s Super Bowl. The money would be used to repair and improve streets, sidewalks, signage and lighting before the game, which will be played in New Orleans on Feb. 3, 2013.
Tourism and business leaders have been seeking ways for years to put more money into sprucing up the Quarter and nearby areas. Creation of the French Quarter Management District in 2007 was itself such an effort, but that agency has never received enough money to do very much.
In 2010, French Quarter voters, traditionally suspicious of government, voted down a proposed security district that would have taken in about $1 million a year in property fees to spend on private security patrols in the roughly 100-block neighborhood. Although most of the money would have come from business owners, only residents registered to vote in the Quarter could cast ballots.
Among those supporting the proposed hospitality district is Mayor Mitch Landrieu.
“The mayor and the hospitality industry have been working closely together to develop a public-private partnership that will enable us to dramatically improve the infrastructure, security, sanitation and marketing of the city’s hospitality zone in preparation for next year’s Super Bowl,” Landrieu spokesman Ryan Berni said last month. “This will benefit all residents of the city as the hospitality zone is our ‘front door’ and it will allow us to provide extra police protection downtown, which ensures that other regions of the city are staffed appropriately.”
Hotels already booked ahead of 2013 Super Bowl
April 11th, 2012“Hotels and restaurants to be the big winners.”
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
BY: Richard A. Webster, CityBusiness
The NCAA Men’s Final Four was, by all accounts, a huge success for New Orleans.
But compared to the Super Bowl, it was just a warm-up act.
The basketball tournament had a $135 million economic impact, according to the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation.
The Super Bowl is expected to have an impact of $423 million.
There were 2,000 credentialed members of the media in town for the Final Four, and 5,500 are expected for the Super Bowl.
“The Final Four was fantastic. It was huge,” said Jay Cicero, president of the Sports Foundation. “We had 20,000 more people here than the last time we hosted the Final Four (in 2003). But it’s not fair to compare anything to the Super Bowl.”
The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation is the official host for the Super Bowl.
It’s responsible for handling everything associated with the big game including VIP events, security, traffic control and rounding up 8,000 volunteers.
Total expenses for the host committee are $12 million, half of which comes from the state with the other half raised through donations.
Cicero said the organization has already generated $4.3 million from private interests.
“It’s always difficult to raise that kind of money, especially in an area that doesn’t have a lot of Fortune 500 companies,” he said. “But you find the business community realizes the value of the Super
Bowl not only to New Orleans but the state. And by participating with us, they are not only sponsoring the Super Bowl host committee but helping our efforts to possibly bring it back.”
The biggest winners in the Super Bowl sweepstakes are hotels and restaurants.
Shortly after the NFL announced three years ago that New Orleans would host the 2013 championship game, the league blocked off nearly 90 percent of the city’s 37,000 hotel rooms.
The agreed upon room rates are said to be equivalent to what hotels charge during Carnival season, but the real value is in the quality of the guests.
Unlike the Final Four, which is largely attended by fans of the teams, virtually everybody who attends the Super Bowl hails from the corporate world, said Stephen Perry, president and CEO of the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The NFL hands out tickets to its sponsors, vendors and major advertisers, who use the event to fete their own high-powered clients. They throw lavish parties in hotel meeting space, bars and surrounding restaurants.
“For restaurants, you’ll have the highest ticket averages and wine purchases than at any point during the year,” Perry said.
Virtually every venue in the city, large and small, is already booked with NFL-related parties over Super Bowl weekend and as the date grows closer, the money will begin to spread, Perry said.
“Floral shops, decorators, performers, organizations that arrange mimes or acrobats or tarot card readers or musicians, during this period there is the highest usage of those businesses than with any other event that comes to city,” Perry said. “Every event is valuable, but in pure lucrative opportunities for small and mid-size businesses, the Super Bowl provides the greatest depth and breadth.”
The benefits will even flow across the Louisiana border.
“There were people staying in Baton Rouge for the Final Four because every room in the city was sold out,” Cicero said. “So Baton Rouge and even the Mississippi Gulf Coast will do incredible business during the Super Bowl.”
Drury Inn to build 60 new suites
April 11th, 2012“…Construction permit for $4 million filed last week…”
April 10th, 2012
by Maria Clark, New Media Specialist
The Drury Inn on Poydras Street will expand, adding an additional 60 suites on the property that’s now used as its parking lot.
Construction will begin this week on a new eight-story building, which will include two floors of parking with an additional 100 spaces. The new building will also include a ballroom and around 10,000 square feet of retail space on the third floor.
DSW Inns, the company that manages the hotel, filed a construction permit for $4 million last week. Construction is expected to take between 10 months to a year to complete.
