Regulatory and Legal Affairs

📍 Emmy Stoel was named Europe's best hotel general manager by EHMA in 2023, as the second Dutch national and woman to achieve this. She led InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest since September 2025 and previously managed Okura Amsterdam from January 1, 2013, and Sofitel Legend The Grand until 2024. The Amsterdam tourist tax increased from 7% to 12.5% in 2024, with VAT rising to 21% in 2026. City-center RevPAR is 13% below 2019 levels, with a further decline expected.

🛫 August 26, InterContinental extends its partnership with Timeshifter, offering guests at 242 hotels in nearly 70 countries free access to personalized jet lag plans. The Timeshifter app uses circadian science to customize strategies for overcoming jet lag. Every guest receives a complimentary plan, accessed via QR codes. InterContinental also offers nutritionally rich dishes to combat travel fatigue. Founded in 1946, InterContinental operates over 220 hotels worldwide with more than 73,350 rooms.

📅 On October 1, FHS Living in the UAE focuses on branded residences, covering various living asset classes. Driving factors include a desire for quality living and investment opportunities, especially in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, due to national development strategies and investor-friendly policies. Experts like Susanna Mander and Mohamad Haj Hassan highlight branded residences' appeal for blending lifestyle and investment benefits. Demand is rising in Dubai and Saudi gigaprojects, with brands like Melià and Wyndham offering global expertise.

🏨 Jagruti Panwala, President and CEO of Wealth Protection Strategies, will receive the Peggy Berg Castell Award on October 7, 2026, at The Lodging Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. An AHLA Executive Committee member, she is recognized for elevating women in hospitality. Panwala, a past Chairwoman of AAHOA, was also the youngest inductee into Signator's Hall of Fame in 2014. The AHLA Foundation, supporting industry growth, is part of the AHLA, representing over 30,000 members.

🏠 Hilton Frankfurt Gravenbruch, under 'Notbetrieb' since August 13, 2026, was taken over in October 2024 from Kempinski. Sanctions against owner Ali Ansari, linked to Mojtaba Khamenei, prompted Hilton to exit by August 9, 2026. The European Union sanctioned Ansari on July 30. Insolvency proceedings have frozen accounts, risking 140 jobs. Hilton planned exit was evident as bookings stopped by August's end. Future ownership of both Hilton Frankfurt hotels is unclear.

🏖 In a historic move for France, a €6 billion theme park project by Qiddiya Investment Company, linked to Saudi Arabia's PIF, was announced on August 24, 2026, near Cergy. The venture could create up to 80,000 indirect jobs, surpassing Disneyland Paris's 20,000 at its opening. Covering 200 hectares, the complex will include three parks, hotels, and residential areas. With no clear timeline, the project faces a year of public consultation and environmental assessments before construction begins.