Traci Park Sides with Hotel Industry Against Wage Hike for Struggling Tourism Workers

Councilmember Traci Park is once again drawing fire from labor organizers and working Angelenos—this time for opposing a proposed wage increase for hotel and airport workers ahead of the 2028 Olympics.

At a press conference this week, Park joined a coalition of hotel industry executives to publicly speak out against the “Olympic wage” proposal, which would gradually raise the minimum wage for tourism workers to $30 per hour by 2028, along with an $8.35 healthcare supplement. The ordinance is backed by labor unions and economic justice advocates who say workers need meaningful raises to survive in Los Angeles, especially as the city prepares to host billion-dollar global events.

But Park, who chairs the City Council’s Trade, Travel, and Tourism Committee, has become a mouthpiece for corporate hotel executives who oppose paying their workers a minimum wage. She framed the proposal as a threat to the city’s economic recovery, repeating industry claims that it would harm tourism. “Our economy is not strong right now,” Park said, arguing that international travel at LAX is still down and that businesses are struggling. But this isn’t about fiscal responsibility—it’s about preserving profits at the expense of Angelenos living one paycheck away from homelessness. 

Her comments align closely with talking points pushed by the hotel lobby, which has aggressively opposed the measure for over a year. Industry representatives claim the proposal would result in hotel closures, job losses, and a decline in tourism—even as their own financial filings show steady recovery and high occupancy rates across much of the city. 

Park’s decision to publicly side with the industry has intensified criticism from labor groups. “Once again, Councilmember Park is choosing corporate profits over working people,” said Maria Hernandez, a spokesperson for UNITE HERE Local 11. “These are the same hotel owners who bankroll political campaigns and then cry poverty when asked to pay their workers enough to keep a roof over their heads.”

Workers, too, are speaking out. Jovan Houston, a customer service agent at LAX and a single mother, earns under $20 an hour despite years on the job. She says the wage hike would allow her to give up side gigs and spend more time with her child. “We’ve waited a year and a half for action,” Houston said. “Meanwhile, rent keeps going up.”

Even more troubling, Park is ignoring the city’s own data. A report released earlier this month by the Chief Legislative Analyst concluded that raising wages would *boost* the local economy, not harm it. The study found that impacted workers would spend more in their neighborhoods, stimulating business activity and helping offset costs. City staff made clear that the findings were based on a broad review of industry conditions—not just hotel lobbying claims.

Park, along with Councilmembers John Lee and Monica Rodriguez, was one of only three votes against moving the proposal forward last December. Her opposition comes despite repeated demonstrations from workers outside City Hall and mounting public pressure to ensure the Olympic Games benefit the people who make them possible.

As workers call for dignity and fair wages, Park’s position suggests a troubling pattern: siding with industry insiders over constituents. From opposing expanded tenant protections to undermining sanctuary city policies, Park has built a record of catering to the powerful while ignoring those most in need.

Now, with the Olympic spotlight approaching, the Council will soon decide whether Los Angeles will showcase itself as a city of equity—or as one that continues to leave its workers behind. Traci Park has made her choice clear. The question is whether the rest of the Council will follow her lead—or finally push back.