Regulatory and Legal Affairs - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers

3 min

Tom Pritzker steps down as chairman of Hyatt Hotels in wake of Epstein links

🛋 Thomas Pritzker stepped down as executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels, a position he held since 2004, due to ties with Jeffrey Epstein, effective immediately. Mark Hoplamazian, CEO since 2006, takes over. Pritzker's resignation follows the Wall Street Journal's 2023 report on his frequent visits to Epstein's New York townhouse. His family's association with Hyatt dates to the late 1950s. Pritzker remains executive chairman at the Pritzker Organization. A search of Epstein's files shows 7,000 results linked to the Pritzker name.

Booking.com delists German Hilton hotels over Iranian political sanctions

💸 Booking.com removed two Hilton hotels in Germany on Feb 17, 2026, due to ownership links to an Iranian banker under UK sanctions. Though the owner isn’t sanctioned by the EU or Germany, hundreds of bookings were canceled. Other platforms still list these hotels. This scenario highlights the impact of geopolitical affiliations and ownership scrutiny on hotel distribution and revenue.

7 min

The tourist tax debate returns: what it means for London hotels

🛒 London, 2026: A proposed 3% tourist tax could generate over £350m annually for the city, with Central London alone contributing £275m. Hoteliers fear this levy, amid 20% VAT and rising costs, threatens competitiveness. Westminster could raise £95m, while Camden, Kensington and Chelsea, and Tower Hamlets may exceed £20m each. Critics argue this tax, alongside high VAT, could make the UK less appealing to tourists, pushing the VAT rate to 27%. Industry seeks clarity on fund allocation.

2 min

UKH Scotland welcomes rates relief but cautions bills still set to rise

📈 Scottish government increases business rates relief for hospitality venues to 40% for three years, excluding those with a rateable value over £100,000. Previously, relief stood at 15% after a January decrease. Leon Thompson of UKHospitality Scotland praises the move but warns of potential tax hikes due to increased rateable values. This relief contrasts with England's focus on aiding pubs. Serious reform of the business rates system is urged for future sustainability.

2 min

200 hospitality leaders urge UK government to scrap tourist tax

💸 UK, April 2025: 200 hospitality leaders, including Hilton and IHG, urge the government to scrap the Visitor Levy in England. This tax could add £100+ to a two-week UK family holiday. Wales and Scotland have already implemented similar taxes, adding significant costs. The sector, facing high taxes and costs, warns this tax will deter domestic travel. The UK’s hospitality VAT rate is already 20%, double that of countries like France and Spain. Consultation closes 18 February 2026.

2 min

Hyatt FY losses widen to $52m amid room expansion pipeline

📈 Hyatt Hotels suffered a $20m net loss in Q4 2025, totaling a $52m loss for the year. Despite this, room pipeline expanded by 7% with 148,000 rooms under contract. RevPAR increased 4% in Q4 and 2.9% annually, with all-inclusive resorts at 8.6%. Net room numbers rose by 7.3%, opening 8,253 rooms, including the first Park Hyatt in Mexico. Gross fees grew 9% to $1.19bn, while adjusted EBITDA increased 5.8% to $1.15bn. Total debt was $4.3bn, and liquidity $2.3bn by year's end.

2 min

200 hospitality bosses urge government to scrap holiday tax

🛑 Leading hospitality CEOs, including Butlin’s, Haven, Hilton, and others, urged the UK government to abandon a proposed tourist tax in England. The tax could add over £100 to a two-week UK holiday, impacting families and local economies reliant on tourism. They highlighted existing pressures like high VAT at 20%, double that of France, Italy, and Spain. Allen Simpson of UKHospitality argued the tax could harm various sectors, emphasizing the need to promote tourism instead.

2 min

Ox Pasture Hall hotel sold out of liquidation

🏠 Ox Pasture Hall, a 39-bedroom hotel near Scarborough, was bought by Wesley and Chloe Nunns in 2025 after liquidation. The property spans 17 acres on the edge of North York Moors National Park, featuring a restaurant, wedding barn, and spa. With a background in accountancy, the Nunns aim to reopen it as a wedding venue. Legal support was by John Morgan and John Cooper, and Christie and Co managed the sale, noting healthy demand despite its closure.

Biometric border checks raise summer travel disruption fears

✈️ Feb 11, 2026, EU’s new biometric entry-exit system (EES) could disrupt summer travel. Airports face long queues and operational challenges with fingerprinting and facial recognition for non-EU travelers. Inconsistent implementation across countries creates uncertainty. Understaffing and unreliable kiosks add delays. Authorities may reduce checks to ease disruptions, but guidelines are unclear. Travel industry pushes for EU coordination to protect travel flows.

Distribution transparency and cybersecurity in hospitality

🛌 Feb 11, 2026, hotels must adapt digital distribution to combat AI-generated scams and fraud. Strategic transparency in online sales enhances brand integrity, guest trust, and revenue protection. Staff security awareness is crucial, targeting booking platforms and payment data. Compliance with payment and data protection regulations is mandatory. Promoting direct booking channels and secure tech, like branded apps and strong authentication, boosts guest trust and safety. Continuous staff training fosters resilience against cybersecurity threats.

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