Regulatory and Legal Affairs

🍴 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor at Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality since 1999, also hosts the podcast "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn." He wrote for The New York Sun from 2005 to 2008 and was based in Thailand writing for Manager magazine and Asia Times from 1992 to 1997. Thorn, a magna cum laude Tufts University graduate and Phi Beta Kappa member, studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and covered Tiananmen Square protests for ABC News in 1989. His work earned the 2006 Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award and he was president of the International Foodservice Editorial Council in 2005. Thorn was inducted into the Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014 and has written on comfort food and desserts for Oxford publications.

🏡 Grand Sunshine Resort in South Bandung, Indonesia, faced challenges managing room rates, availability, and guest reviews before using STAAH's channel management solution. Engaging STAAH led to a 50% increase in direct bookings, improved operational efficiency, and enhanced guest booking experience. STAAH offered user-friendly interface, dynamic pricing, pooled inventory, and integrated with the resort's property management system, making it an affordable and effective choice for the hotel's revenue management.

💳 Amex GBT reports a 10% YoY increase in TTV for Q4 2024, with a full year TTV of $30.5 billion (+8% YoY) and revenue hitting $2.4 billion (+6% YoY). Net loss slightly improved from $136 million in 2023 to $134 million in 2024. 80% of their Top 100 clients foresee stable or rising travel spend for 2025. SMBs remain flat yet contribute $2.2 billion to new customer wins totaling $2.8 billion. Amex GBT boasts high retention rates—97% overall and 99% among global multinationals. Regional TTV growth saw Americas at +5%, EMEA +2%, and Asia Pacific +12%. The DOJ antitrust trial for the CWT acquisition is set for September 8, 2025, with expectations to finalize the deal in Q3 or Q4 2025, as UK regulators show leniency.

🏨 Google ended its commission-based model for hotel ads in February 2025, impacting small hotels. As of Mar 3, 2025, these hotels face a new pay-per-click system, leading to higher costs and a need for digital marketing proficiency. Data from 1,000 hotels shows a 6% decrease in impressions, 32% fall in clicks, and 28% drop in conversion rates. Direct bookings decreased by 6%, while dependency on OTAs increased by 4%. This change aligns with the EU's DMA and UK's DMCCA but strengthens large OTAs and hotel chains' dominance, pressuring small hotels to enhance direct booking strategies.

💱 After being re-elected, President Donald Trump called for a 25% tariff on goods imported from Canada and Mexico, with an additional 10% on Chinese imports, to address illegal immigration and drug issues. The tariffs on China took effect on February 4. U.S. markets were affected, with fears of accelerated inflation and GDP decline. An 80% consumer concern over financial impact was reported. The National Restaurant Association warned of a potential $12.1 billion cost and a 30% profit loss for independent restaurants. Trump announced the tariffs would proceed as scheduled after a 30-day hold. Industries are exploring options to mitigate the impacts, as the market already feels the effects of tariff threats.

🌊 On February 24, 2025, Accor CEO Sébastien Bazin announced the cancellation of two new hotel projects on Mykonos due to climate change risks such as water shortages and fire hazards. The Mediterranean has been identified by the UN's IPCC as a climate hotspot with increased wildfire risks. Accor is now re-evaluating future and existing properties in climate-vulnerable regions.

🚨 Boone, North Carolina, located at the southern tip of the Appalachian Mountains, was hit by a hurricane on September 27th, causing significant damage to the community. The region, heavily reliant on tourism, faced challenges with accessibility and the functioning of retail businesses, restaurants, and hotels post-storm. Hospitality played a crucial role in the crisis, providing accommodation and support to affected families and workers. The Boone area, known for its hospitality industry and picturesque landscapes, anticipates visitors to aid in recovery, though certain areas are still not ready. Despite the adversity, local hotels prioritized community support, housing displaced families, and even their staff. FEMA vouchers played a part in the recovery, with hospitality venues offering relief and a sense of normalcy. David Jackson, President and CEO of the Boone Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the importance of community connectedness and the hospitality industry's role in building resilience to recover from such tragedies.