The US hotel sector has responded to the Trump Administration’s announcement of 35,000 supplemental H‑2B visas for fiscal year 2026, recognising the move as a short‑term boost for seasonal hiring while emphasising broader workforce concerns.
The additional visas, issued by the Departments of Homeland Security and Labor, aim to help hospitality employers fill temporary positions ahead of peak travel seasons.
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For readers unfamiliar with U.S. immigration programs, H‑2B visas are temporary work visas that allow U.S. employers to hire foreign nationals for non-agricultural seasonal jobs, such as housekeeping, front desk roles, or maintenance in hotels and resorts.
They are typically used to meet labour demand during busy periods when domestic workers are unavailable.
Industry sees temporary relief for staffing gaps
Hotel operators and industry groups have welcomed the supplemental H‑2B visa release as a needed relief for staffing shortages that have affected front-line roles in housekeeping, guest services, and maintenance.
Many hotels, particularly in high-tourism regions or more remote locations, have struggled to recruit domestic workers in numbers sufficient to meet demand, leading to operational pressures during peak periods.
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By GlobalDataThe additional 35,000 visas supplement the statutory cap of 66,000 H‑2B visas that U.S. employers can access each year.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) said the visas will make it easier for small and independent hoteliers to access the seasonal workers they need.
AHLA’s president and CEO noted that while the decision helps address immediate staffing challenges, the industry continues to call for reforms to create a more stable and predictable visa framework.
Calls for broader workforce strategy persist
Industry reactions have highlighted that the supplemental visas, while beneficial, do not fully resolve long-standing labour issues in the hospitality sector.
AHLA and other stakeholders have reiterated their position that the current visa cap system is outdated and misaligned with actual labour demand, urging Congress and the Administration to consider long-term changes.
Such reforms would aim to tie visa availability more closely to real-time workforce needs rather than fixed numerical limits.
Hotel employers and industry analysts also point to the need for complementary domestic workforce strategies. These include retention efforts and career development programmes intended to reduce reliance on temporary visa holders over time, helping ensure hotels can balance seasonal fluctuations with stable staffing.
Preparing for implementation and operational planning
With the temporary final rule outlining eligibility and application criteria expected to be published soon, hotel operators are already preparing to adjust recruitment plans.
The Office of Foreign Labor Certification continues to manage the H‑2B application process, including assignment of applications for work start dates in 2026.
For the current season, the visa release has been broadly interpreted within the hospitality industry as a pragmatic step toward alleviating seasonal labour shortfalls, even as sector leaders stress the importance of broader workforce reform to support sustainable growth and service quality in US hotels.
