Efforts to delay implementation of paid sick leave were not successful, and so this new Maryland law took effect as of February 11, 2018.  The information below may be helpful for hotels and other businesses looking to ensure compliance.
Click here to view the enrolled Maryland Healthy Working Families Act.   
The Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation has posted a sample employee notice poster and other information on their site:  http://www.dllr.state.md.us/paidleave/ 
Specific questions may be sent to the Office of Small Business Regulatory Assistance via email ([email protected]).  This is a new office within the Labor Department created to assist small business in complying with the law.  
Tips on Complying with Maryland’s New Earned Sick and Safe Leave Law were shared with us by MHLA Allied Member Shawe Rosenthal.
MHLA members may contact our office for more information.

For Immediate Release 
Media Contact: Amy Rohrer
Phone: 1-410-974-4472
Email: [email protected]                                                                   
Maryland Hotel Lodging Association unveils new logo
ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 14, 2018): The Maryland Hotel Lodging Association (MHLA) is excited to unveil a new brand identity and logo.
MHLA has been working on behalf of the Maryland lodging industry for over 100 years. Representing hotels across the state and industry partners, the organization provides a unified voice on the state and local level.
“We are growing in terms of members and victories for the industry – from leveling the playing field with online travel companies and illegal hotels to regulations addressing carbon monoxide alarms, hotel training mandates, lifeguard regulations, and more,” said Amy Rohrer, MHLA President & CEO. “We are a strong association working hand in hand with members to protect and advance Maryland’s lodging industry.” 
The new logo reflects the important role MHLA plays in hospitality with a new, modernized image that can stand on its own, with a clear connection to the industry represented. “Maryland’s hospitality industry is evolving and moving into a new era, and with a fresh and distinctive logo, MHLA is advancing right along with it,” said Michael Henningsen, MHLA Board Chair.
The new logo was first announced at the MHLA 29th Annual Stars of the Industry Award on February 8th, and will continue to officially roll out this year.
If you are a Maryland hotel owner/operator and would like more information on the MHLA, contact Debbie McCready at [email protected].
About Maryland Hotel Lodging Association
The Maryland Hotel Lodging Association (MHLA) is a trade based membership organization representing hotels across the state (Lodging Members) and related industry partners and service providers (Allied Members). The mission of MHLA is to provide advocacy, information, recognition and networking opportunities that benefit lodging industry owners, managers, associates, related businesses and communities in Maryland.

ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 13, 2018): A record 350 lodging industry professionals gathered on Thursday, February 8, 2018 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center to honor exemplary employees and unique programs in the hospitality industry, at the Maryland Hotel Lodging Association (MHLA) 29th Annual Stars of the Industry Awards Luncheon.
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“Our industry is all about people – those on the front lines helping guests, serving food and beverages, coordinating meetings and events, and those behind the scenes fixing issues within the hotel, cleaning rooms and everything in between. The Stars of the Industry Awards luncheon gives us a chance to take a day and really thank them for all of their hard work,” said Amy Rohrer, president & CEO of the Maryland Hotel Lodging Association. “These nominees represent the best of the best and are the face of hospitality in Maryland. Their dedication is what makes our lodging industry so incredible.”

Winners were announced in thirteen different categories, 4 property awards, 8 employee awards – Division 1 for properties with 250 rooms or less and Division 2 for properties with more than 250 rooms – and Hotelier of the Year, a special award given this year to Michael Henningsen of Plamondon Hospitality Partners for his extraordinary contributions to the industry. Having spent 35 years working in the lodging industry and dedicating tireless hours to both MHLA and the industry as a whole, Henningsen was chosen to be recognized with this award by his peers on the MHLA Board of Directors.

“The annual Stars of the Industry awards is a great opportunity to see our industry come together and honor all those who are doing fantastic work on a daily basis,” said James LoBosco, MHLA Immediate Past Chair. “It is a reminder of how impactful hospitality is in Maryland, and how it affects people from around the globe that come to stay with us.”

The Maryland Hotel Lodging Industry would like to congratulate all of the Stars of the Industry nominees and award winners. This year’s recipients of the Stars of the Industry Awards are:

Community Service
Honors a hotel that gets involved with their local communities and generates good will that extends far beyond their own doors.

• Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center

Good Earthkeeping
Recognizes a hotel that has adopted environmentally friendly practices that lessen their carbon footprint, while maintaining quality service and exceeding guest expectations.

• MGM National Harbor

Guest Relations
Recognizes a hotel with programs that create goodwill among guests and effectively meets their needs.

• Hilton Garden Inn Frederick

Prism
Awarded to a hotel that clearly demonstrates a culture of inclusion that positively impacts employees, guests and their communities.

• College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center

Stevan Porter Emerging Leader of the Year
Awards to an exemplary employee, under age 30, who has demonstrated superior professional dedication, leadership, and a fresh perspective to their job.

• Division 1: Victor Quiroa, College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
• Division 2: Jason Shorter Jr., Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa & Marina

Administrative Employee of the Year
Recognizes non-management employees in every department of the hotel.  The nominees go above and beyond normal job responsibilities and demonstrate tremendous professionalism. 

• Division 1: Elizabeth Forney, Courtyard & Residence Inn by Marriott – Aberdeen
• Division 2: Karina Faust, Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore

Food & Beverage Employee of the Year
Recognizes exceptional performance by a Food & Beverage Employee.

• Division 1: Matthew Gatewood, Live! Lofts Hotel/ Live! Casino & Hotel
• Division 2: Wanda Deramus, Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel

Guest Services Employee of the Year
Recognizes exceptional performance by a Guest Services Employee.

• Division 1: Jonathan Knox, Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Hotel
• Division 2: Lourdes Lopez, Holiday Inn Gaithersburg

Room Keeper of the Year
Recognizes exceptional performance by a Room Keeper.

• Division 1: Yee-Mon Latt, Hilton Garden Inn Frederick
• Division 2: Joaquin Cisneros, Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center

Support Department Employee of the Year
Recognizes exceptional performance by a Support Department Employee.

• Divison 1: Rodney Mayers, Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Hotel
• Division 2: Idriss Kargbo, The Hotel at the University of Maryland

Manger of the Year
Recognizes exceptional performance by an employee in a supervisory role.

• Division 1: Charles McKnew, DoubleTree by Hilton Annapolis Hotel
• Division 2: Jean-Yves Annibal, Baltimore Marriott Waterfront

General Manager of the Year (tie)
Honors a hotelier who has demonstrated superior professionalism in operating a Maryland Hotel Lodging Association member property.

• Division 1: Jason Curtis, Hotel Indigo Baltimore Downtown
• Division 1: George Cronk, Loews Annapolis Hotel

Hotelier of the Year
Honors a person that has made significant contributions to Maryland’s lodging and tourism industry.

• Michael Henningsen, Plamondon Hospitality Partners

We are advising MHLA members to prepare for the paid sick leave law scheduled to take effect this Sunday, February 11, 2018. Legislation to delay implementation until July 1, 2018 looks unlikely to pass in the House of Delegates. If this changes over the weekend, we will send another email letting you know.
Click to read the enrolled Maryland Healthy Working Families Act. Tips on Complying with Maryland’s New Earned Sick and Safe Leave Law were shared with us by MHLA Allied Member Shawe Rosenthal and may be helpful as you digest this extremely complex legislation.     
Employers can also contact the Office of Small Business Regulatory Assistance, newly created within the Labor Department to assist small businesses in complying with the law.  Specific questions may be sent via email to [email protected].