Regulatory and Legal Affairs

🏠 PPHE Hotel Group plans to sell its New York site for $33.5M (£24.7M) to a US developer. The Manhattan property, bought in 2019, was intended for hotel development, but regulatory changes halted plans. Demolition and air rights acquisitions maximized exit value. The sale will close soon, using proceeds to repay $8.3M (£6.1M) debt. Greg Hegarty, co-CEO, cites strategic capital release for reinvestment in core regions.

🛋 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.

🛒 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.

📈 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.

💸 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.

📈 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.

🛑 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.