Regulatory and Legal Affairs

📅 Conrad Hotels & Resorts introduces the Conrad 1/3/5 program, offering curated cultural experiences lasting one, three, or five hours. Available globally across five continents, these experiences include crafting egg puffs in Hong Kong, oyster tasting in Washington, DC, and tie-dyeing in Nagoya. The initiative aims to transform limited travel time into meaningful cultural discovery. Conrad's program highlights local traditions, crafts, and cuisine, aligning with luxury travelers' desires for deeper connections during their stays.

🏨 Founded by Jesús Parrilla, EHG Experiential Hospitality Group launches, emphasizing hospitality tailored to guests' emotional states, with over 25 years of experience. Parrilla, ex-CEO of Explora Hotels, aims to create environments fostering reconnection with nature and culture. The group will unveil its first destinations soon, with Parrilla speaking at ILHA in December. EHG focuses on boutique eco-lodges and experiential travel, integrating sustainability and emotional engagement in remote and city-adjacent landscapes.

📝 UKHospitality and over 100 chefs and businesses across Scotland urged support for the #VATsTheProblem campaign, advocating a VAT reduction to 10%. High-profile supporters include Tom Kitchin and Lorna McNee. The campaign has over 380,000 public signatures. The push comes ahead of the UK Budget, after a previous VAT reduction to 5% in September 2020 was reversed to 20% in April 2022. The SNP's manifesto pledges lower VAT, urging joint action with the UK Government.

🛑 U.S. travelers plan to spend $11,808 on international vacations next year, down from $13,130 in 2025, with an average of 2.7 trips. Canadian travelers anticipate spending $8,800, up from $8,179, with 2.3 trips planned. Safety and political climate concerns rank higher than costs for 75% of travelers. Younger Americans value luxury (73%), while Gen Z seeks inspiration (45%) and older generations prefer structured activities. Data from a 2026 survey of 2,518 U.S. and Canadian adults.

📅 September 15–16, Washington D.C.: AAHOA's National Leadership & Advocacy Conference gathered hotel owners to lobby Congress. AAHOA members, owning 60% of U.S. hotels, support 4.2 million jobs. Key proposals include increasing SBA loan limits from $5M to $10M and supporting the STRONG Act. Discussions included industry stability and small business support. AAHOA represents 20,000 members, impacting 1.7% of U.S. GDP, with 1 million employees earning $51.3 billion annually.

🛌 Sep 23, 2026, by Markus Busch: Fora's report reveals 56% of US consumers plan multigenerational trips with accessibility needs in the next three years. Booking.com's listings lack detailed accessibility info, urging direct hotel contact. 31% of Fora advisors report clients facing accessibility issues upon arrival. US law mandates detailed accessibility descriptions for third-party bookings since 2012. Clear, detailed info on hotel websites can secure bookings, avoiding costly cancellations and negative reviews.

📈 Business travel confidence surged in 2026, with 63% of professionals optimistic about 2027, up from 41% in April. European optimism rose from 21% to 55%. Expenditure predictions improved, with 56% of buyers expecting increased travel spend. In Asia Pacific and Europe, business growth drives travel, while North America focuses on client meetings. The GBTA poll, conducted from August 27 to September 9, 2026, included responses from 604 industry professionals. Rising costs and geopolitical risks remain challenges for travel planning.

📈 HOSPA's latest webinar, supported by Howden, highlighted the benefits of Warranty and Indemnity (W&I) insurance in UK hotel transactions. Jamie Weber, a senior associate at Howden M&A, explained that W&I insurance helps transfer liability from sellers to the insurance market during mergers and acquisitions. This tool eases the transaction process for both sellers and buyers by covering breaches of warranties, ensuring a smoother and more secure deal.

🏨 Leonardo Hotels, the European division of the Fattal Hotel Group, acquired four ex-Revo hotels in Germany totaling 1,040 rooms after Revo Hospitality Group’s insolvency in January 2026. Properties in Berlin, Düsseldorf, and Dortmund will be rebranded under “by Leonardo Hotels” and “Leonardo Smart” labels. In the UK, Hand Picked Hotels acquired four hotels with 118 rooms in the Cotswolds from Andrew Brownsword Hotels. Highgate and Eternam purchased the 191-room Athens Zafolia Hotel in Greece for renovation.

🏨 HVS surveyed Middle East and Africa hotel industry stakeholders with portfolios totaling 305,500 keys across 1,313 hotels. Results showed 63.6% foresee more franchise agreements in three years, rising to 88% when weighted. Luxury hotels report management fees at 1.5%-2% of revenue, differing from upper-upscale's varied responses. Only 12.9% have HMA-to-franchise conversion rights, 10.5% termination on sale. In Egypt, 54% of hotels are independent. Saudi Arabia's diverse market favors both HMAs and flexible models.