Mayor Eric Adams signed into law the controversial Safe Hotels Act, claimed by its sponsors to be a historic step towards enhancing public safety and ensuring worker protection in the city’s hotel and hospitality industry.  The legislation requires hotels to obtain a license to operate in New York City and implements enhanced security and safety measures such as panic buttons for housekeepers, human trafficking recognition training, and subcontracting and employment restrictions for critical, public-facing hotel staff. While the legislation received support form numerous hotel and trade unions, groups supporting hotel owners claimed that it would kill jobs, burden the industry and throw it into turmoil by, among other things, leading to skyrocketing room rates.  Smaller hotels are exempt from the legislation. The bill passed with overwhelming support by the City Council.