Regulatory and Legal Affairs

📍 Online Travel UK (OTUK), with members including Booking.com, Skyscanner, On the Beach, and Trainline, aims to support consumer-centric travel and UK economic growth. OTUK's policy focus areas are consumer protection, choice, and advocating for fair and competitive digital markets. The group, consisting of eleven OTAs, metasearch platforms, and rail ticketing sites, is engaging with stakeholders to shape travel's future and urging the new UK government to adopt innovative digital market competition rules.

🏨 Councilwoman Julie Menin introduced a bill to the New York City Council mandating hotels to obtain a yearly operating license for $200 from the Department of Consumer and Worker Production. The bill requires hotels to maintain room cleanliness, provide front desk and security coverage for large hotels, and employ core employees directly. Violators face penalties. Menin postponed a bill hearing scheduled for Tuesday, July 28, 2024. The legislation is supported by the Hotel Trades Union but opposed by hotel associations, who argue it will increase costs and regulatory burdens. Hotel room rates in NYC increased by 8.5% to $301.61 on average in 2023 after a ban on short-term rentals and the conversion of over 130 hotels into migrant shelters.

🍕 PizzaForno, a 24/7 automated pizzeria, expanded in the first half of 2024 by launching in six U.S. states: Utah, California, Delaware, New York, Florida, and Maryland. In 2024, they awarded 39 new units nationwide, nearly doubling the expansion from the first half of 2023. Mexico saw 20 locations secured, aiming for over 100 units soon, while Canada installed 18 new units. The U.S. expansion included 10 units each in Utah and Michigan, 10 in Key West, Florida, plus single and double unit awards in Texas, New York, and California. Mexico City welcomed the brand's inaugural unit, with plans for expansion in major cities. PizzaForno aims for 25,000 operating units by 2028, targeting campuses and unconventional locations, offering diverse pizza options accessible via digital screens and an app.

💳 U.S. merchants paid nearly $100 billion in swipe fees in 2022 with an average credit card processing fee of 2.24%, potentially rising to 3% per transaction. Swipe fees have doubled over the last decade. Merchants incurred $72 billion in fees last year. Selection of a payment processor is critical for hotels, motels, and B&Bs to avoid high costs and payment mismanagement. Integration with property management systems enables efficient operations, while transparency, affordability, mobile payment solutions, and strong customer service are key processor features to consider.

🏨 The New York City Council postponed a July 30 hearing on a bill impacting 700 hotels and 265,000 employees. Kevin Carey, Interim President of American Hotel & Lodging Association, acknowledged the postponement after industry opposition. Councilwoman Julie Menin, who introduced the bill on July 18, delayed the hearing on July 28, to consider feedback and consult with stakeholders. The bill proposes stringent staffing rules, disrupts hotel operations, and could force hotel owners to divest.

💸 The California Supreme Court unanimously upheld Proposition 22, which classifies drivers for companies like Uber and DoorDash as contractors, not employees. The decision, confirming a previous appeals court ruling, maintains the outcome of the $200 million lobbying effort by delivery apps for the bill passed in November 2020. This follows the AB5 bill, effective January 1, 2020, which aimed to consider such drivers as employees. Critics argue this contractor status denies drivers employee benefits, while proponents cite work flexibility. The recent ruling is seen as the final say after over four years of legal battles.

🏨 U.S. hotel industry reported a performance increase for the week of July 14-20, 2023, with occupancy at 73.5% (up 1.0%), ADR at $165.91 (up 2.4%), and RevPAR at $122.02 (up 3.4%). The record highest weekly RevPAR was seen, with Houston leading the surge, showing occupancy at 82.2% (up 29.6%), ADR at $135.65 (up 20.3%), and RevPAR at $111.49 (up 56.0%), attributed to Hurricane Beryl. In contrast, San Francisco's RevPAR dropped by 14.1%, and Seattle's fell by 12.4%.

🚢 In the early days of e-commerce, the cruise industry faced challenges in integrating online and offline booking processes. Twenty years ago, the author leveraged their graphic design and tech skills to automate cruise selling, optimizing staffing for Cruise411.rt. Today, technology allows any travel agent globally to sell cruises by normalizing content across cruise lines, enabling consistent customer experiences online and in-store. Direct bookings are encouraged by cruise lines, yet agent participation remains crucial. The cruise sector has bounced back post-pandemic, with 2023 surpassing 2019 and further growth expected in 2024. Emerging markets like the Philippines and Indonesia are now significant players, with demands for regulatory compliance across geographies being met through process normalization.