Regulatory and Legal Affairs

📈 The U.S. government shutdown, ongoing for one month, is projected to cost $7-$14 billion. Washington, D.C.’s $8 billion restaurant market, with 2,660 establishments, is heavily impacted. Upscale restaurants face a 6.8% drop in traffic and a 5.7% drop in sales. The shutdown, combined with consumer pessimism and fewer government employees, exacerbates the situation. The Cheesecake Factory anticipates a 1% revenue decline for Q4. Analysts suggest a conservative outlook as companies like CAVA and Sweetgreen face high exposure in D.C.

🛫 Travel experts predict an 8.2% decline in international travel to the U.S. in 2025, reversing an expected 9% increase. Visitor spending is projected to drop by 4.2%, or $8.3 million. Canadian air travel to the U.S. fell 35.6%-43%, while travel to Mexico rose 11.8%-13.5%. Key factors include tighter travel budgets, a strong dollar, and negative global sentiments towards the U.S. Vermont businesses consider “Canada Days” to boost tourism. Staffing challenges persist amid fluctuating demand.

💸 PPHE's Q3 revenue increased by 5.2% to £155.9m, with like-for-like revenue at £154.7m. Occupancy improved to 80.2%, and RevPAR grew 2.7% to £140.3. UK hotels showed growth, while the Netherlands and Germany faced challenges. Croatian properties performed well despite lower occupancy. PPHE focuses on cost control amid tax hikes in the UK and Netherlands and inflation concerns. The FY 2025 outlook remains stable, with new art’otel locations in London and Rome showing promising occupancy.

💸 US government shutdown since October 1 has cost the hotel industry $650 million, losing $31 million daily. Over 30 hospitality associations, including AHLA, plead for resolution to protect holiday travel. Shutdown impacts travel, causing trip cancellations and weakened consumer confidence. The hotel sector supports 2.1 million direct jobs and almost nine million overall. Rosanna Maietta, AHLA’s CEO, calls for urgent government action to safeguard the vital travel and hospitality sectors.

🖼 HOTREC and partners in the European Tourism Industry Coalition issued a letter on October 29, 2025, addressing EU institutions. The letter outlines key recommendations for the revision of the Package Travel Directive (PTD). Key priorities include deleting the 24-hour package definition, removing rigid prepayment limitations, avoiding overlapping complaint mechanisms, and supporting risk-based insolvency protection. They urge for legal clarity, proportionality, and harmonization to safeguard consumers and maintain the tourism sector's competitiveness.

🌎 On October 29, 2025, HOTREC and the European Tourism Industry Coalition addressed EU institutions regarding the Package Travel Directive. The coalition stresses a balanced regulatory framework, emphasizing consumer protection and industry competitiveness. Key points include opposition to a 24-hour package definition, removal of prepayment limits, and clearer "force majeure" criteria. They advocate for legal clarity and harmonization in the final directive. For detailed recommendations, view the full joint letter.

📘 Decorex 2025, ILIV introduced two fabric lines: Vento and Monterey. Both collections are available in 19 colorways. Vento offers fire-retardant, plain boucle drapery with soft textures, ideal for commercial use. Monterey features a textured hopsack chenille with a multi-tonal finish, suitable for diverse settings. These collections ensure safety, sustainability, and design flexibility, catering to hospitality, workplace, and residential interiors. Custom print services are also available for bespoke projects.

🚗 UK, 2024: RAW Charging's whitepaper highlights a gap in EV infrastructure in hospitality with only 8% of public charging points at hotels. EVs on UK roads reached 1.3 million and are projected to be 55% by 2030. New legislation from November 2024 requires updated public charge points, with potential fines up to £10,000. Nearly half of EV drivers avoid hotels without charging, potentially costing up to £142 per available room per night.