New York hotels must now obtain a license to operate, while most will be required to directly hire a “core” group of employees, including front desk and housekeeping staff, rather than relying on subcontractors, according to the legislation signed by Mayor Eric Adams on Monday.

The Safe Hotels Act, which was approved by the City Council last month by a vote of 45-4, was hailed by supporters as a critical step in protecting the safety of hotel workers and guests. But some industry officials insist the move will hurt the city’s tourism industry.

At a signing ceremony Monday at City Hall, Mayor Eric Adams said the legislation “creates safer hotels for employees and visitors and strengthens the city’s tourism industry.”

The Washington, DC-based American Hotel and Lodging Association was among several industry groups that lobbied against the bill and managed to extract some changes to the final legislation.

Even with the changes, Kevin Carey, the association’s president and chief executive, last month called the measure “a special interest power play that will do irreparable harm to the city’s hotel industry and tourism economy.”

The legislation requires all hotel operators in the city to obtain a license from the Department of Consumer and Labor Protection or face civil penalties. The $350 license, which must be prominently displayed in the hotel, would last for two years.

In the meantime, every hotel should have continuous reception coverage at all hours or, during night shifts, have a security guard monitor the premises while any room is occupied. Operators of hotels with more than 400 guest rooms would be required to have at least one security guard on duty, the bill states.

Hotel employees would also be equipped with panic buttons and required to receive training on recognizing human trafficking. Hotels should also clean all rooms daily, unless an assumption denies the service.

The most controversial element of the legislation required hotels with 100 or more rooms to “directly employ their core employees,” including front desk staff and housekeepers, rather than using subcontracted workers or relying on management companies or staffing agencies.

Amendments to the bill exempted food and beverage staff, security and engineering positions and hotels with fewer than 100 rooms.

City Councilwoman Julie Menin (D-Manhattan), the bill’s lead sponsor, said the measure would protect the city’s estimated 64.5 million annual visitors.

“The Safe Hotels Act marks a historic step toward improving public safety and ensuring the protection of workers in the city’s hotel and hospitality industry,” Menin said in a statement. “This landmark legislation requires hotels to obtain a license to operate in New York’s five boroughs, implements crucial safety measures such as panic buttons for housekeepers, human trafficking recognition training and subcontracting restrictions for hotel staff critical, audience-oriented”.

The bill takes effect in 180 days. Meanwhile, the Department of Consumer and Labor Protection is expected to set rules on how to implement the measure, officials said.

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has been with Newsday since 2011. He is a graduate of Queens College and American University.