Regulatory and Legal Affairs

✈️ The Climate Change Committee reports UK aviation will miss the 2030 sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) target, reaching only 6% instead of 10%. SAF usage is expected to rise to 17% by 2040 and 38% by 2050. Aviation was 8% of UK CO2 emissions in 2023, down 10% from 2019. Non-CO2 warming effects of aviation have tripled since 1990. Leisure travel accounted for 86% of flights in 2023, up from 78% in 2010. The sector could reach Net Zero by 2050 with SAF, efficiencies, electrification, demand management, and CO2 removal. Decarbonization costs may reflect in higher ticket prices, with measures like increased air passenger duty and a frequent flier levy.

🔑 Since 2019, AHLA Foundation's No Room for Trafficking initiative completed over 2.2 million training sessions for hotel workers to identify and report trafficking. Massachusetts aims to mandate human trafficking training for all hotel employees through S.1729/HD.1764. Senator Mark C. Montigny and Representative Thomas P. Walsh, alongside AHLA Foundation, MLA, and advocacy groups, push for legislated training to help workers spot and respond to trafficking, addressing a prevalent issue in the state and hospitality industry.

🏨 Radisson Hotel Group to open 7 new hotels in Italy by 2025, adding over 1,000 rooms and expanding from 3 to 20 Italian properties in six years, aiming for 30 by 2027. New hotels include Radisson Collection in Como, art’otel Rome with 110 rooms, and Radisson Blu Hotels in Rome, Bergamo, Florence, and Radisson RED Naples, plus Radisson Hotel Pisa. This growth supports Italy's prominence in luxury lifestyle hotels and business travel.

🏠 Mabrian launched a tool to monitor and regulate short-term rentals (STRs), providing data for tourism and urban planning authorities. Ibiza implemented this tool in May 2024 to automate unregulated tourist rental detection. The tool has filters for non-compliance and classifies properties into 53 categories. It will integrate with the national registry of STR licenses in July. The tool aims to promote regulated STRs, enhance traceability, and improve guest satisfaction.

🏨 On March 10, 2025, Spain’s National Court suspended the €413.2 million fine against Booking.com, levied by the CNMC over alleged anti-competitive practices such as restrictive hotel pricing and biased rankings. The fine is on hold while Booking.com's appeal is under review, with the company needing to provide a financial guarantee for the full amount during this period. The appeal's outcome could reshape Spain’s online travel market competition and hotel pricing.

📈 International Women's Day theme "For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment." Belvera Partners finds only 15.6% female leaders in B2B travel tech, despite women being 54% of the tourism workforce. UN Tourism notes women in lower-paid, informal roles with less career growth. Female founders receive a mere 2% of funding; Sally Bunnell of NaviSavi suggests a female entrepreneur fund. HolidayPirates Group maintains gender balance in leadership, attributing success in part to flexible roles and support for working mothers. Women influence 70% of travel-buying decisions, emphasizing the economic imperative for female leadership.