Hotel housekeepers in New York City are set to earn more than $100,000 a year under a new eight-year contract agreement that will also stave off strike action during the FIFA World Cup. The deal, announced on Monday, was reached between the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, representing 27,000 workers, and the Hotel Association of New York City, which speaks for 250 hotels.
The contract includes 50% wage raises over its term, free family healthcare, increased pension contributions, new benefit funds, and expanded workplace rights. Housekeepers' pay will rise from nearly $40 an hour to over $61 hourly. Union president Rich Maroko said wage increases were the primary focus due to the dramatic rise in the cost of living.
Hotel association president Vijay Dandapani acknowledged the industry faces 'tremendous economic headwinds' and high taxes, noting that 20,000 hotel rooms have been lost since the pandemic and demand has not fully recovered. Despite the World Cup, hotel bookings in the New York City area are only about one-third filled, nearly 12% below 2025 levels.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani hailed the deal as a win for the hospitality industry and the city, stating it ensures that those who keep the city running can afford to live there. The agreement also addresses concerns about potential strikes during the World Cup, with eight games scheduled in the area, including the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
