The leading US trade union representing hotel and catering workers estimates that more than 87,000 of its members across the country have lost their jobs since the September 11th attacks.
The Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union said the majority of those people are immigrants.
The union is lobbying Congress for funding to cover health insurance costs for those put out of work since September 11th.
"The situation is even tougher for undocumented workers who entered the country illegally and who can't receive unemployment benefits. Many are looking for jobs cleaning houses and as day labourers," said Mr Kurt Petersen, organising director for the hotel and restaurant employees local in Santa Monica, California.
Just last year, the US hotel industry was facing a labour shortage and lobbied for immigration reform so it could hire more workers from Mexico.
But this September, consumers spent $5.5 billion on hotel rooms, down from $7 billion in September 2000, according to Smith Travel Research.
AP