Regulatory and Legal Affairs

545 posts

Legal and regulatory news for hospitality: laws, compliance and policy affecting hotels and their operators.

Booking Holdings and Expedia Control 60% of Global Online Travel; Facing $530 Million Fine in Spain for Anti-Competitive Practices

🛫 In 2025, Booking Holdings generated $26.9 billion, and, together with Expedia, they control 60% of the global online travel market. Hotel commission fees increased from 10% to 15-30%. Spain seeks a $530 million fine for anti-competitive practices, and a pan-European class action in 2025 involves 10,000 hotels against Booking.com. Despite these issues, innovation lags behind, with the industry maintaining outdated systems while startups like Navia offer simpler booking solutions.
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Government Reports 129,810 New Business Rates Appeals in Q1 2026, Indicating System Struggles in England

📈 Business rates experts at Colliers report a surge in appeals against the 2023 Rating List, calling the system “not fit for purpose”. From January 1 to March 31, 2026, England saw 129,810 new checks registered, nearly five times the usual number. Government (VO) statistics highlight the system's inability to cope with this volume, indicating significant dissatisfaction among businesses with the current assessment process.
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UK Hospitality Industry Sees 100,000 Payroll Reduction in April Amid Rising Youth Unemployment and Fiscal Pressures

🏨 UK unemployment reached 5% from January to March, while youth unemployment hit 14.7%, the highest since 2014, according to the ONS. Hospitality payrolls dropped by 100,000 in April. UKHospitality blames job cuts on increased business costs, including a £5bn burden from recent budgets, national minimum wage hikes, and higher business rates. Kate Nicholls of UKHospitality urges government to reduce VAT and business rates to counteract job losses and support economic growth.
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  • 4 min

AHLA Advocates for Comprehensive Policies to Support Hotel Industry Amid Rising Costs and Workforce Shortages

🏨 In 2026, hotels in the U.S. are projected to pay over $131 billion in wages to more than 2.2 million employees. Operating costs have quadrupled compared to revenue growth in the past five years. With 100,000 job vacancies, AHLA advocates for expanding the H-2B visa program. Hotels will generate $87 billion in tax revenue in 2026. The AHLA supports policies addressing these issues and invites members to engage with Congress in Washington, D.C., on May 12-13.
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Department of the Air Force Awards 50-Year On-Base Lodging Contract to Centinel and IHG Across U.S. Installations

🚀 The Department of the Air Force has partnered with Centinel Public Partnerships LLC and IHG Hotels & Resorts for a 50-year project to manage on-base lodging across U.S. Air Force installations, starting fall 2027. Centinel oversees ownership and development, while IHG manages hotel operations, beginning with 23 U.S. installations. Since 2009, they’ve collaborated on the Army Lodging program, overseeing over 70 hotels and 12,000 rooms across 40 installations.
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The Ascott Limited Achieves Full GSTC Certification for European Portfolio, Targets Energy, Water, and Asset Management Investments

📈 Frédéric Carré, Director of European Operations, leads The Ascott Limited's CSR strategy across 30 countries. By 2030, Ascott aims to meet the CapitaLand and Ascott Sustainability Masterplan's targets. In Europe, their portfolio is GSTC Standards certified, aligning with the EU Green Deal and UN Goals. Local regulations, like France's Tertiary Decree, are tailored into this framework. Their approach integrates building, operation, and team efforts for sustainable management.
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Regional UK Hotels Outperform London in Q1 2026 Amid Rising Costs and Supply-Side Challenges in Capital

📈 The UK hospitality sector saw mixed results in Q1 2026. Regional hotels outperformed London, driven by event demand, with Glasgow and Cardiff's RevPAR up 14% and 10%. London faced over-supply, with RevPAR down 2.5% and occupancy flat at 66.7%. National GOP margins dropped from 23.4% to 22.3%, while London's fell from 26.3% to 24.2%. Wage and rates hikes could lead to 2,076 closures, including 574 hotels. PPHE's revenue rose 8% to £83.8m, securing a £136m loan.
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Los Angeles City Council Considers Delaying $30 Minimum Wage for Hotel Workers from 2028 to 2030 amid Economic Concerns

💸 AAHOA supports delaying Los Angeles' proposed $30 minimum wage for hotel and airport workers from 2028 to 2030. The City Council's decision on Wednesday follows concerns about the economic impact. Wages would rise from $22.50 in 2025 to $30 by 2028, adding healthcare benefits in 2026. Opponents, including AAHOA, oppose the wage hike and gathered signatures for a November 3 ballot measure to repeal the city’s tax, potentially affecting $740 million in city funds for essential services.
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Consumer Card Spending Falls 0.1% Year-on-Year in April, First Decline Since November 2024, Amid Rising Fuel Costs

📈 Consumer card spending declined by 0.1% year-on-year in April, marking the first drop since November 2024 (-0.5%). This was below the CPIH inflation rate of 3.4%. Non-essential spending fell by 0.3%, contrasting a 1.1% rise in March, while essential spending increased by 0.3%, driven by a 10.4% surge in fuel costs, the highest since December 2022. Global economic confidence plummeted to 20%, the lowest since April 2025.
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TikTok Launches In-App Travel Booking Feature in US with Six Partners, Including Booking.com and Expedia

💻 In 2025, TikTok introduced GO, an in-app travel booking feature, in the U.S., partnering with Booking.com, Expedia, Viator, GetYourGuide, Tiqets, and Trip.com. Available to users 18+, it simplifies booking through the app. In August 2025, Booking.com tested hotel sales on TikTok with 10% of U.S. users. A European launch faces challenges due to the Digital Markets Act, with TikTok designated as a "gatekeeper" since September 2023.
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