The information below was provided by the Maryland Chamber of Commerce.   It is our interpretation that hotels are still considered essential.  As such your employees are permitted to report to work. This Travel Letter for Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers may be adapted for your employees to carry with them as they are traveling to/from your hotel.
 
Amy Rohrer
President & CEO
Maryland Hotel Lodging Association
 
From the Maryland Chamber of Commerce:
March 30, 2020
 
Earlier this morning, at a press conference in response to the escalating coronavirus pandemic, Governor Hogan announced that he had signed an executive order directing all Marylanders to stay at home, effective 8 pm this evening. No Maryland resident should leave their home except for an urgent reason—to obtain food, medicine or medical attention, or to travel to an essential job.
 
Only essential businesses are allowed to remain open. Any person who willfully defies the stay-at-home order will be charged with a misdemeanor. “This is a deadly public health crisis,” Hogan said. “We are no longer asking or suggesting that Marylanders stay home — we are directing them to do so.”
 
Maryland has surpassed 1,400 cases of COVID-19 cases in the state—and 51 people in D.C., Maryland and Virginia have died from coronavirus, according to the governor.
 
The governor praised the recently passed CARES Act for providing $2.3 billion in federal assistance directly to the state of Maryland, including much-needed support for small businesses and extended benefits for the unemployed.
 
A week ago, the governor announced a $175 million comprehensive business relief program that brought together resources from the MD Department of Commerce and the MD Department of Labor to help small businesses.
 
He also mentioned the COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund, which provides an additional $7 million to assist small businesses in the retainment of their employees during this time. The MD Department of Labor has already received more than 1,500 applications for this program. Today, the governor authorized an additional $2 million for this fund, bringing it up to $9 million.
 
$8.8 million has already been provided to over 400 small business across the state, which has helped more than 8,000 employees keep their jobs. For more information on business relief measures, please visit the Business Express website.

• To learn more and to view the executive order, please see:
• https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2020/03/30/coronavirus-latest-gov-larry-hogan-orders-stay-at-home-directive-in-maryland/
• Interpretive-Guidance: COVID19-07

 
Please stay safe.
 
Sincerely,
Christine Ross
President and CEO
Maryland Chamber of Commerce 

3-29-20
Source: Fisher Phillips

The Department of Labor (DOL) continues to update its guidance document on implementation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), and the latest update caught many employers by surprise. The updated document released by the agency appears to suggest that employees who cannot work because their businesses are subject to a government shutdown order or they are ordered to shelter at home will not qualify for Emergency Paid Sick Leave or Emergency FMLA. This clarification should now be integrated into employers’ plans for developing best practices and compliance tools to deal with the rapidly changing situation.
​
Click the following link for the full Legal Alert on the Fisher Phillips website.

March 27, 2020
The Guide to Accessing Small Business Loans has been released by the House Small Business Committee.  We hope this, as well as the Fisher Phillips update shared earlier today, will be helpful as you are navigating financial assistance during this time.

March 27, 2020
Source: www.fisherphillips.com
​
Benjamin Ebbink, Melissa Shimizu, Phillips McWilliams, Rick Grimaldi, Samantha Monsees, Samantha Saltzman, Stephen Mitchell, Tiffani Greene

Businesses struggling with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis received good news late last night when the Senate passed an unprecedented piece of legislation aimed at providing a massive stimulus to workplaces and employees alike. The centerpiece of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act would allow small- and medium-sized businesses to receive federal loans – in some cases forgivable – to cover payroll and other expenses.
​
READ MORE (clicking will take you to an external link)

The information below was provided by the Maryland Department of Commerce.  Click here to view the information on their website, or copy and paste this link: https://commerce.maryland.gov/fund/maryland-small-business-covid-19-emergency-relief-grant-fund

Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant FundThis COVID-19 Emergency Relief $50M Grant Fund offers working capital to assist Maryland small businesses and nonprofits with disrupted operations due to COVID-19. Grant assistance is intended to provide interim relief complementing actions with its bank, business interruption insurance, and financial partners.

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Grants up to $10,000 not to exceed 3 months of cash operating expenses for Maryland businesses and nonprofits impacted by the COVID-19 with 50 or fewer employees.
• Must be established prior to March 9, 2020.
• Business must be in good standing.
• Applicants must have employees on their payroll for whom they have had payroll taxes withheld (i.e. W-2 employees).
• Annual Revenues of the business or nonprofit not to exceed $5 million as evidenced by Financial Statement or other financial documentation.
• Business or nonprofit is expected to seek longer term funding through its bank, SBA, or other source.
• Eligible uses include: working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, or other similar expenses that occur in the ordinary course of operations.

 The business or nonprofit must demonstrate financial stress or disrupted operations, which may include but are not limited to:

• Notices from tenants closing operations and not paying rent caused by loss of income.
• Notice of inability to make loan payments due to reduced sales, suspended operations.
• Increased cost related to COVID-19 prevention measures.
• Notice of disrupted supply network leading to shortage of critical inventory or materials.
• Other circumstances subject to review on a case by case basis.

 
Before applying to this program, please review these Frequently Asked Questions. 

APPLY
Click here to apply.

RESOURCES

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for Businesses
• Latest COVD-19 News from Governor Hogan
• Maryland COVID-19 Case Map and Dashboard and Information
• Maryland Unites – Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic

CONTACT
For more information about this COVID-19 grant fund, send an email to the Commerce COVID-19 Team Assistance at [email protected].

MHLA Gold Partner, ABI Advantage & Sunlight Energy Group, has provided the resource below. They reached out to various Maryland utilities and have consolidated steps businesses may take to potentially defer or set up alternative payment options during the COVID-19 crisis.

Click here to view the document.

Government officials throughout Maryland are enhancing planning efforts to ensure there is adequate space available for people in need of lodging to remain appropriately separated during the next few months.

The Maryland Hotel Lodging Association (MHLA) is working through the Maryland Department of Human Services to expedite communication between available hotels and government officials as needs arise.
​
If you would like your hotel to be considered:

1) Complete the following form to share your information. To begin CLICK THIS LINK  or copy and paste: https://forms.gle/WEhCdy7eqSzUkPeR9

2) Email contact information to [email protected].MHLA will keep the information you provide confidential until it is requested by state/local government officials.
 Thank you,

Amy Rohrer
President & CEO
Maryland Hotel Lodging Association
P.S. The form for Maryland (above) is separate than the ADDITIONAL NOTE with a federal request below.

​ADDITIONAL NOTE:
Separately, the American Hotel & Lodging Association is working with the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to create a database of willing properties in order to meet the demand for housing capacity during the pandemic, including temporary leasing of certain types of lodging properties. Copy and paste the following link to express interest by your hotel in this federal option: https://forms.gle/PfQfqkHMPbF5KMGi6

Governor Hogan has ordered all Non-Essential businesses to close at 5:00 P.M. today, March 23, 2020.  However, HOTELS ARE ESSENTIAL. 

​Click the following link for Interpretive Guidance on all essential businesses in Maryland.  ( https://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/OLC-Interpretive-Guidance-COVID19-04.pdf )

BE SURE TO FOLLOW ALL OTHER GUIDELINES FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED.

The website below is being constantly updated and provides additional guidance to Maryland businesses:

https://govstatus.egov.com/md-coronavirus-business

MHLA Members & Friends:

A lot of information has come out regarding COVID-19 this week.  While some Maryland hotels have closed indefinitely, others are doing the best they can to operate while protecting the health of staff and guests and adhering to all emergency orders given by Governor Hogan.  This is an unprecedented, global crisis with a worse financial impact than 9/11 and the 2009 recession combined, but we are encouraged to learn of early signs of recovery in China.

Please remember the Maryland Hotel Lodging Association is here as a resource and we will continue to advocate for our industry throughout this crisis.  In partnership with the American Hotel & Lodging Association we are advocating for federal relief and we are in close communication with our local Maryland agencies and elected officials.  Important information and resources are compiled for you below, including our request for each Maryland county to immediately defer payment of hotel and property tax payments.  Please click each link below for more information.

I am thankful for the members who have offered assistance to our association during this time.  As always, we are stronger when we work together.

Our industry stands by ready to assist however possible, and I am proud of the ways we are helping local communities through donations to food banks and more. 

Visit https://governor.maryland.gov/marylandunites/ for more information about needs across the state.

Contact me anytime if I may be of assistance.
Amy Rohrer
President & CEO
Maryland Hotel Lodging Association


MEMA HOUSING PROVIDERS

• If you would like to be in the COVID-19 housing consideration set, you should register here – https://ela.corplodging.com/.  The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) will likely look to registered establishments first.

EXECUTIVE ORDERS IMPACTING HOTELS

• Governor Hogan has ordered the closure of all entertainment venues and enclosed shopping malls as of 5 p.m. March 19. This is in addition to the closure of bars, restaurants, movie theaters, and fitness centers that was previously announced. Businesses which provide drive-through, carry-out, and food delivery services may continue to do so. Read about specific closures in the executive order.
• Businesses that serve alcohol are now permitted to provide carry-out and delivery of alcoholic beverages. Read the executive order.
• Social, community, religious, recreation, and sporting events and gatherings of more than 10 people are now strictly prohibited in all locations and venues in Maryland. This follows updated CDC guidelines. Read more about the restrictions in the executive order.
• These unprecedented measures may feel extreme or frightening, but they are necessary to slow the spread of the virus and save the lives of Marylanders.
• Find a full list of Governor Hogan’s executive orders here, and find guidance on business closures here.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE & TAXES

• SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Maryland Small Businesses Economically Impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19)  Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected](link sends e-mail) for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX  76155.

• Franchot Announces Extension of Business Tax Filing Deadlines   “The June 1st extension applies to certain business returns with due dates during the months of March, April and May 2020 for businesses filing sales and use tax, withholding tax, and admissions & amusement tax, as well as alcohol, tobacco and motor fuel excise taxes, tire recycling fee and bay restoration fee returns.”
  
• Maryland Income Tax Deadline Extended to July 15, 2020
  
• The Maryland Hotel Lodging Association requests immediate deferment of hotel and property tax payments.
  
  

EMPLOYER & WORKER ASSISTANCE

• Congress has passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (CRA). Among other things, there are four employment-related provisions: (1) a new paid sick leave mandate for COVID-19 related reasons; (2) an expansion of the Family and Medical Leave Act to include closures of schools and child care facilities COVID-19 reasons, including additional paid leave; (3) an expansion of unemployment benefits to cover COVID-19 related reasons; and (4) a payroll tax credit to fund the two paid leave mandates. Please see this Shawe Rosenthal document for a summary of the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act’s paid leave mandates as well as practical advice on dealing with many coronavirus-related workplace issues.
  
  
• If a business experiences a temporary or permanent layoff, Labor’s Division of Unemployment Insurance’s Bulk Claim Services can open unemployment insurance claims for all affected employees. Businesses should contact a Claims Representative by emailing [email protected]. For more information, visit the Department of Labor’s COVID-19 FAQ page.
  
  

MORE INFORMATION

• We encourage you to regularly visit the following site for COVID-19 resources intended to assist Maryland’s business community: https://businessexpress.maryland.gov/coronavirus
  
  
• The American Hotel & Lodging Association has a number of COVID-19 resources for the Lodging Industry on their site, featuring relevant information from government and public health agencies, industry experts and more.