Regulatory and Legal Affairs - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 34

Solid gold? How Trump’s Gold Card visa could impact EB-5 investment

💰 On Feb. 25, 2025, President Trump proposed modifying the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program with a "Gold Card" visa requiring a $5-million investment. The EB-5 program, generating $5 billion annually and setting aside nearly 10,000 visas each year, results in about 4,000 new investments. Trump suggests maintaining EB-5 alongside the new visa, removing the 10,000-visa cap and potentially attracting up to one million investors. Congress reauthorized EB-5 through 2027, and any major changes would face legal challenges.

Caliber enters deal with Hyatt to develop 15 Hyatt Studio extended-stay hotels

🏨 Hyatt partners with Caliber for 15 new Hyatt Studios hotels in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, and Louisiana, focusing on extended-stay offerings. Construction begins late 2025 in Georgetown, Texas, followed by Scottsdale, Arizona in Q2 2026. Hyatt Studios features 122-suite properties with kitchens, high-speed internet, EV charging, and pet-friendly services. More than 50 deals since 2023 will extend Hyatt into 20+ markets. Caliber estimates the projects to add $400 million in assets and enhance returns.

2 min

New Guidelines to Prevent Third-Party Violence and Harassment at Work

🚨 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.

2 min

Great Rail Journeys acquired by Vitruvian…

🚂 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.

2 min

Lightning, Hail, and Little Arms of Welcome

💥 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.

EU hoteliers unite against Booking.com

🏨 French and Spanish hoteliers, supported by Eskariam and Geradin Partners law firms, are suing Booking.com for unfair practices and seeking billions in damages. They encourage participation via actioncollectivehotel.fr for affected hotels from 2015–2024. Independent hotels could claim tens to hundreds of thousands of euros, while chains could claim millions, with France's damages estimated at €1.5 billion. Legal fees are funded for 25-30% compensation share. Booking.com held a major market share in 2024, with only 33% of direct hotel bookings. Expansion of legal actions to Italy, Portugal, and more aims to rebalance the power in online bookings.

Peachtree secures USCIS approval for four regional centers

🏦 Peachtree Group received U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approval for four regional centers to structure and sponsor EB-5 projects across the continental U.S. Peachtree plans to integrate EB-5 capital into its investment strategy and has already secured three I-956F approvals for hotel projects, including Home2 Suites by Hilton in Boone, N.C., TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Palmdale, Calif., and SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Bryce Canyon City, Utah, since launching its EB-5 program in 2023. The EB-5 visa program requires a minimum investment of $800,000, creating at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers. Peachtree aims to expand EB-5 projects and foster investor relationships.

3 min

Fraud Hiding in Plain Sight: How Fake Hotel Sites Are Stealing Billions

🛒 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.

1 min

Trump’s America and the tourism slump

🚩 Nearly half (46%) of survey respondents from five countries are less inclined to travel to the U.S. due to Trump’s presidency. International visits to the U.S. saw an 11.6% decline in March 2025 from the previous year, with Western European travel dropping 17.2% and German tourism by 28.2%. The main deterrent is the political climate (63%), followed by safety and trade policy concerns. Travel advisories in Germany and Canada highlight risks of detentions and device searches. Despite this, Trump claims the U.S. remains the tourism capital and suggests a weaker dollar could attract visitors.

1 min

Expedia Group becomes latest OTA to add…

✈ Expedia Group now offers Ryanair flights in the US and Europe, following a partnership announced in mid-last year. The integration, which includes over 230 Ryanair destinations, allows Expedia customers to book holiday packages or standalone flights. Additionally, Expedia Group travellers can access myRyanair accounts and flight updates. This collaboration comes after Ryanair's partnerships with Trip.com, On The Beach, and TUI, aiming to provide customers with full price transparency and a vast network of low-fare options.

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