Regulatory and Legal Affairs

💳 India, 20th March 2026, RateGain Travel Technologies Limited integrates Stripe into UNO, its direct commerce platform for hotels. This integration enhances cross-border payment capabilities in the UNO Booking Engine, supporting various payment methods like cards and digital wallets. Serving 13,000+ customers across 160+ countries, RateGain aims to improve the checkout experience for international travelers, minimizing drop-offs and boosting direct bookings. Founded in 2004, RateGain partners with top hotel chains, airlines, and car rentals.

💰 Los Angeles, February 2026: Business and hospitality leaders submitted over 79,300 signatures to repeal the Business Gross Receipts Tax on the November 2026 ballot. This initiative aims to support small businesses affected by the tax, which has increased costs and pushed away employers. Los Angeles is one of three Californian cities with this tax. Key voices include Nella McOsker from the Central City Association and Stuart Waldman from the Valley Industry & Commerce Association.

📖 BHN interviewed Russell Imrie, president of BWH Hotels GB, during the Annual Members’ Conference at The Belfry Hotel & Resort. Discussing business rates reform, Imrie emphasized collective actions for hoteliers to improve margins in a challenging market. The event highlighted strategic approaches to sustaining profitability.

💸 Allen Simpson, CEO of UKHospitality, criticizes a planned holiday tax in England as “incredibly stupid.” He discusses its potential impact on the hospitality sector and suggests how hoteliers might influence policy. This conversation took place during the BWH Hotels GB Annual Members’ Conference at The Belfry Hotel & Resort.

📅 Thomas Pritzker, executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels since August 2004, retired immediately after the US Department of Justice revealed his email exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein following Epstein's 2008 plea deal in Florida. Pritzker admitted "terrible judgment" and condemned Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Mark Hoplamazian, Hyatt's president and CEO, will succeed him as chairman. Pritzker emphasized his pride in contributing to Hyatt's growth and expressed confidence in the company's future leadership.

💸 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.