SEC. 186.00. PURPOSE. (Amended by Ord. No. 188,610, Eff. 9/8/25.) After surviving the devastating impact of the pandemic on tourism in 2020, the hotels around Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and throughout the City have thrived. Indeed, in 2023, the last full year for which statistics are available, an estimated 49.1 million people traveled to Los Angeles reaching 97 percent of pre-pandemic levels – with hotels reporting an average daily rate and revenue per room that were near record highs. This resulted in 30.2 million room-nights sold in 2023 and a record $40.4 billion worth of economic activity for the year. The number of visitors to the City is only expected to rise in the coming years to more than 70 million by 2030, and is expected to create more than 400,000 new jobs and generate up to an additional billion dollars in tax revenue for the City. In preparation for upcoming major global events such as the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, the City is heavily investing in infrastructure and development projects. LAX is investing $6 billion in an expansion, and Los Angeles is expected to lead the nation in the availability of new hotel rooms. Though hotel workers are frequently the face of the industry, providing services directly to tourists, the economic benefits from the tourism industry are not evenly distributed to them. Hotel workers often live paycheck to paycheck and are frequently forced to work two or three jobs to provide food and shelter for their families. In many instances, they cannot take time to spend with their children or care for themselves or family when sick. They also rely on the public sector as a provider of social support services and, therefore, the City has an interest in promoting an employment environment that protects government resources. In requiring the payment of a higher minimum wage, this article benefits that interest. In 2007, the Los Angeles City Council passed a living wage ordinance for workers employed in hotels near LAX, and in 2009 passed an ordinance that raised the wages for airport employees. In recognition of the commensurate need for fair wages for hotel workers throughout the City, the Hotel Worker Minimum Wage Ordinance went into effect in 2014.