Regulatory and Legal Affairs

🏨 Event Hotels acquires the Keystone Portfolio of 17 hotels in Germany, marking a major investment in its 30-year history. The hotels, operating under Ibis and Mercure brands, include 2,021 rooms across cities like Bremen, Frankfurt, and Munich. The largest, Mercure Koblenz City, has 168 rooms. Legal support was provided by McDermott Will and Schulte. The acquisition focuses on guest experience and technical upgrades, promising risk diversification and steady cash flows. Event Hotels operates over 80 properties in Europe.

💰 President Trump signed a law on July 4, making 2017 tax provisions permanent for hoteliers. Key provisions include: Pass-through deduction permanency for small-business owners, 100% bonus depreciation, no tax on tips benefiting 800,000 industry workers until 2028, and preserving Section 1031 for capital gains deferral. AHLA's advocacy ensured no new harmful tax increases for hoteliers. This provides tax certainty, allowing reinvestment and economic growth. AHLA remains focused on further industry policy goals.

💻 District Judge Amit Mehta ruled Google won't have to sell Chrome in a landmark antitrust case, but must share search data. Google's stock rose nearly 6% and Apple's by 3%. Google can continue paying $20 billion annually to Apple for search engine placement. Despite DOJ efforts, Google's dominance in search remains, with a 91% global market share as of June 2023. Google’s $198 billion revenue in 2024 underscores its market influence despite antitrust challenges.

📑 On 3rd September 2025, the European Employers Institute published a study led by Erik Sinander from Stockholm University on the implications of EU-level subcontracting restrictions. The study warns of risks like legal complexity, competitiveness concerns, and sustainability threats. HOTREC, representing 2 million European hospitality businesses, argues against EU restrictions, advocating for existing national legislation enforcement to support over 10 million jobs. The study's detailed findings emphasize maintaining flexibility for SMEs.

✈️ VistaJet, based in Dubai, begins domestic operations in Saudi Arabia, becoming the first international private jet operator approved for flights within the kingdom. With a fleet of 270 jets, VistaJet capitalizes on Saudi Arabia's US$100 billion aviation boom, including projects like King Salman International Airport and giga-projects such as Neom. The Middle East's private jet market, valued at US$566 million in 2024, is projected to reach US$943 million by 2029. Saudi Arabia saw double-digit growth in business jet movements in 2024.

📚 August 29, 2025, Hotelogix Blog published a guide by Vanshikha Dhar for small hotels. The guide emphasizes meeting safety, cleanliness, and data laws to avoid fines in 2025 using the right tools. This compliance guide aims to assist small hotel owners in understanding and implementing necessary regulations effectively. The article was published on the Hotelogix Blog under the section, "Tips & Trends in Hospitality.

🖥 HOTREC, with over 30 national hotel associations, leads a collective action against Booking.com for anti-competitive best price clauses. More than 15,000 hotels across Europe have registered at www.mybookingclaim.com before the deadline on 29 August 2025. This follows the European Court of Justice's ruling on 19 September 2024, declaring such clauses violated EU competition law. The lawsuit will be filed in the Amsterdam District Court by the end of 2025.

📜 Soho House New York, the legendary members' club from the 2000s, is going private under MCR Hotels led by Tyler Morse. The club, once a vibrant hub in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, was known for its exclusivity and notable patrons. Back in 2004, it was a place where young professionals mingled over cosmos, discussing emerging platforms like Facebook. Today, its allure has waned amidst numerous imitators, but its legacy remains notable.