Vermont Lodging Association Newsletter | May 2026 
Executive Director's Update | Brian Maggiotto
Brian Maggiotto, The Inn at Manchester
While Memorial Day always feels like the official start, actual Summer is just around the corner and many of you are opening up again after a Spring refresh.
I hope you’ve all had a chance to explore our new online membership portal for the VLA; Margot and I have been very happy with its functionality and the expanded access it supports for event registration, annual renewals, newsletters, and more! If you have any questions or issues with your login credentials, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us so we can assist.
Vermont’s lodging community was represented at this year’s Hotels on the Hill event, hosted by our partners at the American Hotel and Lodging Association earlier in May. Susan Cherry of Cherry House B&B accompanied me as a representative of the Association of Lodging Professionals through our delegate meetings in D.C. where we championed federal legislation to remove the H-2B visa cap, and increase funding to Brand USA. We also advocated for bipartisan support for the American Franchise Act, called for improved relations with our Canadian neighbors, and discussed healthcare reforms.
Margot and I, along with the board, have continued to stay busy through the last days of the legislative session and look forward to introducing some new partner benefits for our members throughout the summer. We’d love to hear from you as we build out these programs so please let us know if there are educational opportunities you’d like us to explore or if there are issues arising in your regions that you would like the VLA to be aware of.
I look forward to seeing more of you in person during the coming months as we take the VLA on the road to the NEK, MRV, Burlington, and Stowe! You can reach out to me at [email protected]. As always, I look forward to seeing you in person at some of the upcoming get-togethers in 2026 (see listings below).
VLA Executive Director Brian Maggiotto and Susan Cherry of Cherry House B&B at Rep. Becca Balint's office in Washington, D.C.
Don't Miss This
Mad River Valley Mad Mixer/Mingle
Wednesday, June 17, 5-7 p.m., Hyde Away Inn & Tavern
Co-hosted by the Mad River Valley Chamber
Join us for some mad mingling with the Mad River Valley folks on June 17 from 5-7 p.m. at The Hyde Away Inn! Nestled at the foot of Sugarbush and Mad River Glen in Waitsfield, the Hyde Away Inn has been a gathering place for skiers, locals, and wanderers since 1949 and is now one of the Mad River Valley’s most beloved inns, known for its warmth, its history, and its legendary tavern.
This June Mixer is a special event, co-hosted by the vibrant, active community of the Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce, and is sure to be lively and interesting. For those who want to stay overnight, a 15% discounted room rate at Hyde Away is being offered to VLA members. To reserve, call 802-496-2322 x2, and use code VLA.
Let's celebrate the beginning of summer TOGETHER at the Hyde Away Inn on June 17! Kindly RSVP here.
We hold our VLA Regional Mixers several times a year around Vermont to gather our members together, celebrate successes, share our challenges, and get to know our colleagues better.
Legislative Update
Vermont lawmakers are wrapping up the 2026 legislative session with final adjournments scheduled for late May. The session has been dominated by intense end-of-year negotiations to finalize a massive education funding and governance reform package and pass the state's annual budget.
Some key end-of-session issues we're watching include:
- Education Funding & Reform: Lawmakers and Governor Phil Scott sparred over how to handle soaring property taxes and declining student populations. Following weeks of negotiations, legislative leaders and the governor reached a compromise on a major education reform bill, largely backing away from forced school district consolidation.
- State Budget: Resolving the "Big Bill" was a primary focus for lawmakers. While Governor Scott generally pushes for spending restraint, both sides worked aggressively to prevent a government shutdown heading into the new fiscal year.
What’s next?
Session Extension: Because negotiations on school spending ran into late May, leadership utilized procedural "token sessions" to buy extra time while the House, Senate, and Governor's office finalized a deal.
Veto Period: Following final adjournment, Governor Scott will review remaining legislation and is expected to veto certain high-contention bills, prompting a potential veto override period.
[DRM UPDATE LINK]
Note: Legislative Committee Agendas are updated frequently throughout each day. The latest committee schedule can be found HERE. A list of weekly hearings for all committees can be found HERE.
Save the Dates!
Vermont Ski Areas Association Annual Meeting, June 3-4, Jay Peak, Jay
Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance, "Elevating the Outdoor Economy in Southern Vermont", June 10, Retreat Farm, Brattleboro
Vermont Tourism Alliance Summer Showcase, July 15, Leahy Echo Center, Burlington
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Mad River Valley Mad Mixer/Mingle, June 17, The Hyde Away Inn, Waitsfield, RSVP here
VLA Annual Conference & Business Meeting, November 17, Essex Resort & Spa, Essex
Registration to open this summer. Stay tuned for more details.
