Regulatory and Legal Affairs

📅 In 2026, IDeaS' Converge Client Summit convenes hospitality experts to exchange ideas and envision future possibilities.

💸 On 24 July, business and travel groups, including UKHospitality and UKInbound, urged the chancellor to reject a proposed holiday tax. Edinburgh is the UK's first city with a visitor levy. Oxford Economics forecasts 33,000 job losses and a £2.2bn GDP reduction. Public opinion reveals 56% oppose the tax, only 24% support it. The levy could add £100 to a two-week holiday, affecting families, tourism, and employment. The coalition advocates for policies boosting the hospitality sector.

🎶 From April, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a 20% reduction in business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues. This move aims to protect these vital community spaces from closure. Allen Simpson, Chief Executive of UKHospitality, commended the initiative as a positive step, highlighting the significance of the hospitality sector to employment and economic growth.

✈🌎 Air Canada and Airbus have launched a C$13.7 million (€8.7 million) investment platform in Montreal to support sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production in Canada. This initiative aims at laying the groundwork for Canada's SAF industry, driven by a supportive policy environment. Airbus will join Air Canada’s Leave Less Travel Programme, claiming emissions reductions from 60,000 litres of SAF. A study suggests meeting 40% of Canadian aviation fuel demand by 2040 could add C$32 billion to GDP and create 140,000 jobs.

💸 Jul 24, 2026, Brussels fined Google €890 million, with €460 million covering search breaches under the Digital Markets Act. Google favored its services in search results, affecting Hotels, Flights, and Shopping. The firm must ensure fair treatment for third-party services. Changes were tested, but disputes about Google's appeal and implementation continue. This impacts hotel rankings on Google, potentially increasing reliance on paid placements, as observed with previous adjustments in 2024 and 2025.

💰 Wyndham Rewards ranks first in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 hotel rewards, dethroning Marriott. Glenn Haussman interviews Elizabeth Von Tersch, senior travel editor at U.S. News & World Report, regarding traveler responses to loyalty program devaluations in 2026. Sonesta International Hotels makes the list for the first time.

🍳 Asian ecommerce platforms have shown rising interest in European foods, especially French products. This is evident through their prominent placement in imported-food categories and frequent appearances in bestseller lists. Additionally, recurring country-of-origin campaigns highlight these trends, promoting consumer trust and expediting compliance protocols.

📖 Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, on July 20, 2026, signed House Bill 1286, mandating human trafficking awareness training for hospitality workers and specific online lodging and reservation companies. Spearheaded by Rep. Regina Young, the law enhances Pennsylvania's human trafficking prevention measures. AAHOA and the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association support this initiative to combat trafficking. This training aims to raise awareness among employees in the hospitality industry to identify and report potential trafficking cases.