$50M in hotel relief announced by Governor Hogan

On December 17, 2020, Governor Hogan announced a total of $180M in new economic relief.  He stated the relief would include “$50M from our dedicated Emergency Rapid Response Fund to help hotels, motels and hospitality businesses across the state.  This sector was among the first to suffer and will be among the last to recover from the crisis.  According to recent projections 71% of hotels will not last more than six months at current projected revenue and occupancy levels.  This $50M in relief will be distributed by local jurisdictions to go towards payroll expenses, to keep people employed, and to assist with rent and utilities in order to help keep operations going while travel is restricted.”

The Governor's recent announcement of $50M is in response to the letter sent from MHLA to Governor Hogan and Secretary Schulz on November 20, 2020.  MHLA President & CEO Amy Rohrer stated, "I am grateful for Governor Hogan’s acknowledgement of the dire circumstances facing Maryland’s lodging industry and the announcement of $50M in dedicated relief for hotels, the majority of which are operated by small business owner/operators.  MHLA will continue to advocate for prioritization of hotels in the “much larger relief and stimulus package” referenced yesterday, to be proposed by the Administration and before the Maryland General Assembly when they reconvene next month."

​During the press conference Governor Hogan went on to state, “We are also providing another tranche of $30M to add to our successful relief program for restaurants, bringing that fund to $80M.  We will be pressing the county governments to immediately distribute this money to those small businesses that are most in need and once again we are calling on the county governments to match this state investment in order to help our struggling small businesses and restaurants, help them make it through the winter, and to keep as many people on the payroll as they possibly can.”

More information on yesterday’s press conference can be viewed here.

Contact the MHLA office for additional information.