Regulatory and Legal Affairs

🚨 On Tuesday, 06 May 2025, the European Multi-sectoral Social Partners released guidelines to address third-party violence and harassment (TPVH) at work, aiming to improve workplace health and safety. Key aspects include implementing TPVH policies, making tools accessible, raising risk awareness, and developing preventive measures. HOTREC and EFFAT support the guidelines, emphasizing protection and quality service in hospitality, and advocate for national implementation and sharing of practices.

🚂 Great Rail Journeys, a rail specialist tour operator founded in 1973 in York, was acquired by Vitruvian Partners for an undisclosed amount. The management team, led by CEO Dave Riley, remains, as former investors Duke Street exit. The company offers over 400 global itineraries with a TTV growth from £88 million in 2018 to £175 million in the current financial year. This acquisition adds to Vitruvian's travel portfolio, which includes Travel Counsellors, Sykes Cottages, Civitatis, Klook, and OAG. Under Duke Street’s ownership, Great Rail Journeys doubled its profits and expanded into the US and river cruise markets.

💥 A severe storm resulted in extensive damage to a home, with a lightning strike causing the loss of power and hurling objects across a room. The home, constructed with about $20,000 of salvaged materials 25 years ago, now faces rewiring costs estimated by an electrician at $100,000 due to melted insulation. The family's car was also damaged by hail two days later. Amidst these challenges, the author finds solace in their child's affectionate greeting, highlighting the importance of simple joys and love.

💰 TPG Capital to acquire Sabre's Hospitality Solutions for $1.1 billion in cash. Hospitality Solutions serves over 40% of top hotel brands with a SaaS platform. Sabre's net proceeds of approximately $960 million will largely pay down debt. The deal, advised by Haynes Boone, was announced on April 28, 2025, and is expected to close by the end of Q3 2025, pending regulatory approvals.

🏨 The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Hotel Fees Transparency Act of 2025, introduced by Representatives Young Kim (R-CA-40) and Kathy Castor (D-FL-14). The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) praised the decision and urged the Senate to follow suit. AHLA has advocated for federal fee-transparency bills, including the 2024 House-passed No Hidden FEES Act and the Senate’s Hotel Fees Transparency Act. This legislation aims to establish a federal standard for price advertising in the lodging industry to ensure consumers see all-in upfront pricing.

🏨 Amid market volatility and US President Donald Trump's tariffs, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the travel sector are experiencing delays, as seen with 3i Group postponing the sale of Audley Travel. Despite these hurdles, interest remains high, with transactions subject to more extensive due diligence, according to Martin Alcock and Henry Wells. The deal-making environment is challenging, with a surplus of sellers over buyers, yet opportunities exist for committed investors, per Christopher Jones. Nicola Sartori notes persistent deal activity, especially in the small to mid-sized market, even as timelines extend beyond pre-Covid norms.

📌 The European Accessibility Act (EAA) will be enforced on June 28, affecting EU hotel websites. It's mandatory for digital products, including travel and e-commerce websites, to be accessible to people with disabilities. Penalties for non-compliance can reach up to €60,000 in fines or 18 months of imprisonment. There are about 100 million people with disabilities in the EU. Five essential upgrades for website compliance include keyboard navigation, ARIA labels, text and contrast adjustments, AI-driven image descriptions, and an accessibility-first tabbing structure. Vision platform clients will receive automatic updates starting at €1,200, payable over four months, or they can opt-out and assume full liability.

🛒 A systemic fraud issue in the hotel booking industry affects consumer trust and costs billions, as fake sites use brand keywords in Google Ads, driving up marketing costs for legitimate hotels. Europe's CMA launched an investigation into OTAs in 2018, but the issue persists. The U.S. Senate's Stop Online Booking Scams Act of 2019 failed to pass. In 2024, the London-based roomangel Foundation introduced the "Verified by roomangel" stamp, allowing hotels to verify their websites at no cost to combat fraud and reassure consumers.