San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera is advocating for a significant wage increase for tourism workers, proposing a $25 minimum wage for employees in the hotel, event center, and janitorial service sectors. The proposal is set to be presented at Thursday’s Select Committee on Addressing Cost of Living, as highlighted in the committee’s staff report.
The proposed ordinance not only establishes the new minimum wage but also includes provisions to increase it annually in accordance with the Consumer Price Index or its successor index, as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor. Additionally, the ordinance ensures that if state or federal wages supersede the city’s minimum wage, workers will receive the higher rate.
“San Diego should work for the people who make it work,” Elo-Rivera stated. “I’m committed to fighting to make sure that the people who fuel our economy can afford to live here. The hotel, event center, and janitorial workers who are the backbone of our multi-billion-dollar tourism industry are barely scraping by while out-of-town corporations profit off their labor,” echoed a staff member from Elo-Rivera’s office in a statement to NBC 7.
If the proposal is approved, it is estimated that around 8,000 local hotel industry workers would benefit from the pay increase. Bridgette Browning, president of Unite Local 30, emphasized the struggles many workers face, stating, “We keep the tourism industry going, and the truth is our members are really struggling to pay their bills.”
The economic implications of such a raise remain uncertain, as noted by Alan Smith, a professor of economics at the University of San Diego. “When the minimum wage is increased, there can be winners and losers. Workers making minimum wage would see an improvement in their financial situations and have more disposable income, which could stimulate the local economy. However, this could also pose challenges for the businesses employing those workers.”
Should the proposal pass through both the Select Committee and the full San Diego City Council, the ordinance is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.
