Where are hotel workers currently on strike? From Honolulu to Boston — essential information

Ongoing hotel worker strikes impacted major U.S. cities during the Labor Day weekend and continue this week.

As most strikes are concluding — more details below — travelers to key U.S. cities like Honolulu, Boston, and San Francisco should brace for potential hotel disruptions as thousands of workers seek new contracts. Notably, employees at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront have chosen to maintain their strike until an agreement is reached.

Across the nation, labor unions for hotel workers are pushing for higher wages, improved working conditions, and enhanced employee protections. Following the expiration of many contracts on August 31, local Unite Here chapters, a significant union in the hospitality sector, authorized strikes and walkouts until a new deal is finalized.

"Visitors to Hawaii often save for months or even years to enjoy a specific experience, and our brief strike allowed them to not only feel the impact of a labor dispute but, more importantly, to recognize the value of our daily contributions to the success of the hotel," stated Cade Watanabe, president of Unite Here Local 5, which represents the striking hotel workers in Honolulu.

Which hotels are considering going on strike?

During the Labor Day weekend, over 10,000 hotel workers staged strikes at 23 hotels in eight U.S. cities.

Unite Here 2, a union representing over 15,000 hospitality workers in San Francisco, San Mateo County, and the East and North Bay Area of California, has compiled the following list of hotels currently experiencing strikes.

The specifics of each strike can vary based on the property or the group of workers involved in the action.

It's important to note that strike details can change at any moment, and additional strikes may be announced in the near future. The national Unite Here organization stated on Monday that strikes have been authorized and "could start at any time in New Haven, [Connecticut], Oakland, [California], and Providence, [Rhode Island]."

The Fair Hotel website features a tool where you can enter your destination to see a list of hotels that are "at risk" of striking, as illustrated in the image of Honolulu below.

This list is continually updated, so it's advisable to check the Fair Hotel website if you have upcoming reservations in these areas.

If you're concerned that your hotel may be impacted by the strikes, it's a good idea to contact the hotel directly to verify the situation and explore your options for canceling or rebooking. The hotel can also provide information about any contingency plans in place for guests who need to stay at the property.

Keep in mind that even if strikes are imminent, hotels aren't obligated to inform guests about disruptions that could significantly affect their experience (such as lack of housekeeping or closed dining options).

What should I do if my hotel is on strike?

If hotel workers go on strike during your trip, it can disrupt your plans. Here are a few key points to consider about the situation.

While a hotel may remain technically open during a strike, it will likely operate with a severely reduced staff and limited services, greatly affecting your stay—particularly at full-service resorts that offer multiple dining options and beach services. Striking workers will probably be outside picketing instead of performing their usual duties inside the hotel.

In 2018, during a widespread strike at Marriott hotels across the U.S., TPG readers who stayed at striking hotels in Hawaii reported experiencing "poor service," receiving no compensation, and feeling that the situation "ruined" their Hawaiian vacation. Some even decided to change hotels after witnessing the poor service firsthand.

Michael D'Angelo, vice president of labor relations for Hyatt, Americas, informed TPG via email that "Hyatt hotels have contingency plans to minimize the impact on operations related to potential strike actions."

A Hilton spokesperson told TPG, "Hilton strives to maintain a collaborative and productive relationship with the unions representing some of our Team Members, and we are dedicated to negotiating in good faith to achieve fair agreements that benefit both our valued Team Members and our hotels."

The Hilton spokesperson further stated that the company is "fully committed to delivering our signature hospitality to guests" and that its "hotels have contingency measures in place to ensure operations run as smoothly as possible."

Representatives from Marriott and Accor did not respond to a request for comment prior to publication.

While not strictly necessary, if your hotel is on strike, it's strongly recommended to consider rebooking at a hotel not involved in a labor dispute. This can help safeguard your trip or vacation by ensuring access to all expected amenities and services, while also avoiding any accusations from striking workers about crossing picket lines.

For travelers who may be impacted, Unite Here has developed a guide to prepare for hotel strikes:

According to the guide, "A strike means that the workers typically responsible for cleaning your room, scrubbing toilets, changing linens, preparing meals, and assisting with your luggage will instead be picketing outside the hotel." It warns that "hotels may halt services while attempting to operate with minimal staff, and picket lines could be present outside the hotel around the clock. Avoid dining, meeting, or sleeping at a hotel that's on strike."

If you made a reservation directly with a hotel, contact them as soon as possible to inquire about canceling your stay. Even if your booking is nonrefundable, inform the hotel of the situation and request a refund as a gesture of goodwill without incurring a cancellation fee or penalty.

Before making a new booking, check to see if other hotels in the area are also on strike to prevent encountering a similar issue.

If nothing else works and your trip seems to be unraveling, it may be time to consult your travel insurance policy, whether purchased independently, through a hotel, or via your credit card, to see if a hotel strike is covered by your specific policy.

Why most hotel strikes are coming to a close — for now

As the current wave of strikes winds down, it remains uncertain how long the threat of future strikes will linger in the U.S. travel sector. Unite Here's local unions will persist until they secure a contract that meets the needs of employees who are "demanding higher wages, equitable staffing and workloads, and the restoration of cuts made during COVID."

Currently, strikes are causing significantly less disruption to hotel operations — with the exception of the ongoing strike at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront — compared to the major 2018 strike where over 7,700 workers at 23 U.S. Marriott-affiliated hotels participated from October through early December.

"We’ll see what unfolds, but we want to highlight the systemic issues we face, such as limited staffing and the cuts from the COVID era," said Watanabe. "However, our primary focus is hospitality. We want our guests to come back."

"Our strikes are also for the guests, and we need our employers to show us and our guests the respect we deserve," he added. "We are prepared to do whatever it takes to achieve our goals, and we will see what the coming days and months bring in terms of what that entails."

This suggests that, with contracts expired and the potential for future strikes, hotel disruptions may arise during the bustling fall travel season. However, there is still an opportunity to finalize a deal before any worst-case scenarios unfold.

"Our team members are the backbone of our business, and Hyatt has a longstanding partnership with the unions representing our staff, including Unite Here," D'Angelo stated. "We are hopeful that we can reach mutually beneficial agreements without resorting to strikes, and we look forward to continuing our negotiations for fair contracts while acknowledging the valuable contributions of Hyatt employees."