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☆ A Controversial Vacation Homes Tax Is Dividing Lake Tahoe
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-05 | by ( Amanda Yen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

My grandparents' vacation cabin in Lake Tahoe is the stuff of legend. My grandparents' little house in South Lake Tahoe, which they bought for $113,000 in 1984, quickly became a haven for my family. Framers of the Tahoe tax measure took inspiration from Berkeley, California, which adopted a vacancy tax this year. Since the city of South Lake Tahoe was incorporated in 1965, it's been populated by a healthy mix of year-round and seasonal residents. As of October 2024, the median sales price for homes in South Lake Tahoe was $750,000, according to Realtor.com.

Persons: George Rose, it's, Amelia Richmond, —, Steve Teshara, Teshara, Frederic Lewis, Sherri Maslyar, Jeff Cowen, we'd, Amanda Yen, I'd Organizations: of Commerce, South Tahoe Association of Realtors, BI, Colorado and, Survey, Tahoe Chamber of Commerce, Realtors ' Association, Business, Tahoe, Planning Association Locations: Tahoe, South Lake, Berkeley , California, Oahu, Colorado, Aspen, Vail, Breckenridge, Bay, Colorado and Utah, Park City , Utah, Richmond, Emerald

☆ Maui tourism still hasn't recovered since the Lahaina fire. The manager of the resort where 'The White Lotus' was shot says now is a great time to visit.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-04 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementSome locals and business owners were quick to encourage tourists to return, citing the importance of tourism to the island's economy. According to the Maui Economic Development Board, around 70% of every dollar in Maui County is generated, either directly or indirectly, by the tourism industry. Tourism numbers from June 2024 show that nearly a year on, visit numbers had yet to return to their pre-fire levels. Tourists are still encouraged to act responsibly when they visit Maui, and there are opportunities to donate or help out with Lahaina recovery efforts. Shank said the Four Seasons is also encouraging tourists to actively get out and support the island during their visit.

Persons: —, Ben Shank, Shank, " Shank, Lisa Paulson, Paulson, Smith Organizations: Service, Business, Maui Economic Development Board, Hawaii Department of Business, Economic, Tourism, Hawaii State Rural Health Association, Lodging Association, Travel Locations: Maui, Lahaina Town, Maui County, Lahaina, Hawaii, cabanas, Europe, Hana

The federal government is delaying a new rule that could make it easier for millions of workers to unionize after business groups challenged it in court. The National Labor Relations Board said Thursday that the rule — which was scheduled to go into effect in December — will now be effective Feb. 26. The rule sets new standards for determining when two companies should be considered “joint employers" in labor negotiations. But the new rule would expand that definition, saying companies may be considered joint employers if they have the ability to control — directly or indirectly — at least one condition of employment. But the NLRB says the current rule makes it too easy for companies to avoid their legal responsibility to bargain with workers.

Persons: McDonald's isn't, National Retail Federation —, Sen, Bill Cassidy, Cassidy, Democratic Sen, Joe Manchin, Joe Biden Organizations: National Labor Relations Board, Republican, U.S . Chamber of Commerce, American, Lodging Association, International Franchise Association, National Retail Federation, NLRB, U.S, Louisiana Republican, Health, Education, Labor, Pensions, Federal, Democratic, House Locations: —, Texas, Louisiana, West Virginia

Five hotels in West Maui were accepting reservations again, according to their websites and the Maui Hotel and Lodging Association. Many local residents have objected to resuming tourism in West Maui, which includes Lahaina town and a stretch of coastline to the north. Thousands of tourists staying in beachfront hotels north of the burn zone left Maui in the days after the fire. Some 11,000 hotel rooms in West Maui have since either sat empty or housed displaced Lahaina residents under a program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross. Four of the five reopening hotels were in the northernmost section of West Maui, including the Ritz-Carlton at Kapalua.

Persons: Josh Green, Green, Laura Paulson, Richard Bissen, ” Bissen, Bissen, “, ” Paulson Organizations: Maui, Lodging Association, Hawaii, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Wellness, Resilience, Ritz, Carlton Locations: HONOLULU, Maui, Lahaina, West Maui, Maui County, Paia, Maui's, Hana, Kapalua

☆ How Much to Tip at a Restaurant, Hotel, Bar, and Other Places
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Sarah Jackson | Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementIt's not a big question about whether you should tip a server in a sit-down restaurant: That's pretty well-established. But what about all the other places where tip jars — virtual or otherwise — are popping up, especially since the pandemic upended tipping norms? AdvertisementAdvertisementHotel staff: It variesWhen you're traveling, budget an extra $2 to $5 per night to tip your housekeeper at a hotel, Johnson said. AdvertisementAdvertisementBeauty services: Around 20%Tipping for beauty services at places like nail and hair salons should fall in the range of 15% to 20%, Johnson said. Taxis and ride-hailing services: 15% to 20%If you're taking a taxi or using a ride-hailing service like Uber or Lyft, you'll want to go for a 15 to 20% tip, Leighton said.

Persons: Uber, —, Michael Lynn, Thomas Farley, Mister Manners, Farley, Avery Johnson, Johnson, Nick Leighton, Leighton Organizations: Service, Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, New York State Department of Labor, The Southern Academy of, American, & Lodging Association Locations: New York, Phoenix

☆ I was charged ‘junk fees’ by a New York City hotel. Here’s what happened next
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

In this article HMARBKNG Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTMy hotel bill from a three-night trip to New York City included 21 charges. Nine were for "destination fees." Federal Trade Commission estimates show consumers paid around $2 billion in hotel fees before the pandemic, and mandatory fees have grown since then. The bill, the Hotel Fees Transparency Act, prohibits hotels from advertising rates without mandatory fees. Former presidential candidate and current Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., introduced the Hotels Fees Transparency Act to the U.S. Senate in late July.

Persons: Joe Biden's, I'd, Munir Salem, Rafat Ali, Joe Biden, Kent Nishimura, Ali, it's, Amy Klobuchar, Bill Clark, Park's Salem, Expedia, Chip Rogers, I'm Organizations: Thompson, Park, CNBC, Thompson Central, Newspapers, Federal Trade Commission, Los Angeles Times, Getty, U.S . Senate, U.S ., Cq, Inc, Biden Administration, United, Frontier, Texas, Holdings, Marriott International Inc, Marriott, American, Lodging Locations: New York City, North America, Joe Biden's State, Park New York, Hyatt, York, U.S, U.S . Senate, Pennsylvania

☆ Jason Momoa ‘devastated and heartbroken’ by Maui fires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —One of Hawaii’s biggest stars is expressing support in the midst of the lethal wildfires in Maui. “We are devastated and heartbroken for our friends and ‘ohana on Maui who have been impacted by the recent wildfires,” the caption reads on one of Momoa’s posts, which reposted information from the community organization ‘Āina Momona. Momoa, who was born in in Honolulu, also reposted information that included a locator list for those searching for their loved ones. In his Instastories, the “Game of Thrones” and “Aquaman” star reposted information from organizations that are aiding in the disaster. “Survivors are the priority.”Momoa is a frequent booster of Hawaiian organizations that support its culture, environment and social activism.

Persons: Jason Momoa, ‘, Momoa Organizations: CNN, American, & Lodging Association, Hawaii Hotel Alliance Locations: Maui, Honolulu, Hawaii

☆ Striking hotel workers file complaint over alleged violence on picket line
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Cheri Mossburg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Los Angeles CNN —Striking hotel workers in Southern California filed a complaint on Monday with the National Labor Relations Board alleging that the hotels were “committing and/or condoning violence” after a fight on the picket line, their union announced. Video shared by Unite Here 11 – a union representing dishwashers, room attendants, bellhops and others – shows a disturbance on a picket line outside a Santa Monica hotel on Saturday. The video shows people in suits scuffling with picketers, but it’s unclear who the people in suits are or what happened before the video started. But Pete Hillan, a spokesperson for the California Hotel and Lodging Association, said that the workers are engaging in “increasingly aggressive actions” while on the picket lines, and accused union representatives of kicking over safety barriers. Since declaring a strike in early July, hotel workers have been demonstrating periodically outside many different Southern California hotels amid demands of increased wages and better benefits.

Persons: bellhops, ”, Pete Hillan, ” Hillan Organizations: Los Angeles CNN —, National Labor Relations Board, Santa Monica Police Department, CNN, ” CNN, California, Lodging Association, “ Locations: Southern California, dishwashers, Santa Monica, Fairmont Miramar

☆ Bedbugs: What travelers need to know this summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Forrest Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Potter suggests that before you even unpack, at least do a cursory bed check. If there are two beds in a room, Potter does not put his suitcase on the other bed. These are the signs of bedbug infestationsThis is what a serious bed bug infestation looks like on a mattress. Bed bug eggs are the size of a pinhead and pearl-white. Bedbugs are more than a bed and motel problemIn a hotel room, place your luggage on a rack, as you see above.

Persons: Michelle Quinn, bedbugs, “, Jeff March, Quinn, ”, Michael F, Potter, I’d, Andrew Francis Wallace, Dmitry Bezrukov, Daniel K, it’s, you’ve, Joel Carillet, ” Potter, she’s, ” Quinn Organizations: CNN, Google, Alamy, Entomology, University of Kentucky, Toronto Star, American, & Lodging Association, Environmental Protection Agency, Inouye International Airport, Hawaii Department of Transportation, CNN Travel, Medical, Centers for Disease Control, bedbugs, Cleveland Clinic, Washington , D.C Locations: Indiana, sofas, Honolulu , Hawaii, Washington ,

☆ Despite all odds, consumers are still traveling this summer. Here are the stocks you need to own
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Yet despite all odds, 61% of those surveyed said they plan to travel this summer, up from the 49% who said the same in summer 2021. Some 56% of adults are more likely to stay in a hotel this summer than they were in 2022, according to the AHLA/Morning Consult survey. Booking Holdings is also an analyst favorite, with an average rating of overweight and 10% upside to the average price target, per FactSet. While prices are still high, the latest consumer price index for April showed the airline fares index fell 2.6% month over month, after rising in February and March. Airlines are essentially sold out for summer travel, according to TD Cowen analyst Helane Becker.

Persons: Matt Kramer, They're, You've, Sylvia Jablonski, Kramer, Freed, Bernstein, David Vernon, Price, Robin Farley, Farley, James Hardiman, Hardiman, Josh Weinstein's, RevPar, Tony Capuano, Chris Nassetta, Biden, Hilton, they've, Airbnb, Brian Chesky, it's, Evercore, Mark Mahaney, amortization, Mahaney, Cowen, Helane Becker, Becker, — CNBC's Michael Bloom, Ashley Capoot Organizations: KPMG, KPMG Consumer, Survey, Cruise ETF, Royal, Holdings, Marriott, United Airlines, Morning, American, & Lodging Association, Cruises, UBS, Citi, CCL, CNBC, Hilton Worldwide, U.S . Travel Association, State Department, Booking Holdings, Booking, Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Copa Holdings, Panamanian, Copa Airlines Locations: United States, Royal Caribbean, United, Caribbean, CocoCay, Thursday's, China, North America, Asia, Europe

☆ Americans are setting vacation records and splurging at bars, restaurants and hotels
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

This expected strength in leisure spending means big business for an industry that was on its knees just three years ago. When the pandemic began, restaurants, bars and hotels were hard hit, shedding more than 8 million jobs in the first few months of 2020. A recent survey from Bank of America showed that 68% of Americans plan to take a vacation this year. Vacationing remained elevated in April with 2.7 million Americans not at work because they were on vacation, the highest level for that month since 2017. Leisure spending is usually first on the chopping block because of its discretionary nature.

☆ US Declining Population, Worker Shortage Will Cause Economic Crisis Without a Fix
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Gadel Valle | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

That means that unless people start having a lot more kids, the US population could eventually start to shrink — just like China's population has. While the US population has managed to avoid an outright drop, population growth reached an unprecedented low of 0.12% in 2021. One way the US could encourage more immigration is by focusing on temporary visas for specific industries that need workers. And the treatment of workers in the country on temporary visas has been a problem for decades. After all, the US is running out of options, and soon its growing people shortage is going to spell economic disaster.

☆ A Traveler’s Guide to Tipping in a Changed World
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Elaine Glusac | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Not long into the pandemic, Americans were eager to tip their front-line-working baristas and servers. “This is the hottest topic in etiquette right now,” said Daniel Post Senning, the co-author of “Emily Post Etiquette, The Centennial Edition” and the great-great grandson of the etiquette icon Emily Post. He cites the pressure of inflation, the disruption of the pandemic and the rush back to travel for the unease. “There’s growing anxiety and public discussion around tipping.”Offering guidance on when and how much to tip when you travel, etiquette experts, academics and travelers weighed in with the following advice. Make 15 to 20 percent your restaurant baselineTipping standards at restaurants vary widely around the world.

☆ Franchisers, Facing Challenges to Business Model, Punch Back
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Lydia Depillis | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Matthew Haller, chief executive of the International Franchise Association, cited a 2021 survey by the market research firm Franchise Business Review in which 82 percent of franchisees said they supported their corporate leadership. Hotel franchisees, squeezed by lost revenue during pandemic lockdowns, say they have also been hurt by the hotel brands’ loyalty programs, which require the hotelier to rent rooms at a reduced rate. “There comes a point when you’ve tried and tried to meet with the franchisers to ask for changes, and they refuse to listen,” she said. In Arizona, legislation introduced to enhance franchisees’ ability to sell their businesses and prevent retaliation from franchisers if they band together in associations has also faced resistance. The bill was approved by two committees in February and March, but the International Franchise Association hired two lobbying firms to fight it.

☆ Restaurants and hotels are driving US job economy. Here are thousands of open roles as the hospitality sector offsets steep staffing cuts in big tech.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Danni Santana | Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The leisure and hospitality sector continues to drive US job gains, the Labor Department said. Still, the US Travel Association estimates about 2 million open roles in leisure and hospitality. The leisure and hospitality sector encompasses restaurants, hotels, arts, entertainment such as theme parks, and other tourism-oriented businesses. Overall, the US Travel Association estimates about 2 million open roles remain unfilled in leisure and hospitality. Here's a look at who is hiring in restaurants and hospitality at large chains.

While travel demand is roaring back, many hotels, airlines, cruise operators and airports are still racing to hire and train workers. That means the level of customer service will likely take a hit, industry experts say. One potential bright spot can be found at sea: During the summer, several cruise lines had to cancel voyages due to staffing shortages, but major disruptions have been largely resolved. “It’s highly unlikely your holiday cruise will be canceled due to lack of staffing,” said Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic, a Tripadvisor-run travel site. “This year, I moved my annual holiday travel to earlier in December,” said Abby Rhinehart, an educational researcher in Tucson, Arizona.

☆ Business groups optimistic Congress may finally strike immigration deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Shannon-Pettypiece-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Shannon Pettypiece | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

WASHINGTON — Some of the largest business groups in Washington are making a last-ditch effort to get Congress to pass immigration legislation before the end of the year and are optimistic a bipartisan agreement could fall into place. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., began circulating the contours of a possible deal. Businesses have been calling on Congress to change the immigration system and make it easier for them to hire foreign workers for years, but the situation has grown increasingly dire since the pandemic. We hope it can be successful.”Republicans who have been involved in past efforts to change immigration laws poured cold water on the Sinema-Tillis push. I appreciate them working on it — there’s a deal to be done down the road — but it’s not money, it’s policy.”

Nov 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday turned away a challenge to a 2018 Seattle law requiring hotels to pay for health insurance for low-wage workers pursued by a business group that argued the measure violated a federal law that regulates employee benefits. The justices declined to hear an appeal by a group called the ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) of a lower court's ruling that upheld the law. Democratic-governed Seattle's law requires larger hotel operators to provide up to $1,375 a month in insurance benefits or direct payments to workers. ERIC is a nonprofit organization based in the U.S. capital representing large employers in their capacity as sponsors of employee benefit plans for their nationwide workforces. The group sued Seattle in 2018 in federal court, arguing that the law was barred by the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), which preempts state laws that attempt to regulate employee benefit plans.

☆ 'Deadly drop': Hotel housekeeper faces avalanche of laundry showing desperate hotel labor shortage in viral TikTok posts
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-21 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

One housekeeper uses TikTok to show how much laundry she must fold in an 8-plus hour shift. Zeiber's TikTok videos showing what she calls "deadly drops" from a linen chute into the hotel's laundry room, have gone viral, shocking viewers. In the comments section of her account, Zeiber clarified that she is not the only housekeeper at the hotel, but she's the only person responsible for laundry. Sometimes her workdays last beyond eight hours and include more than just laundry, according to Zeiber. Kasea Zeiber is the only housekeeper responsible for folding laundry in an 126-room hotel in the Pittsburgh area.

☆ Europe's top hotel chain is hiring workers without experience or even résumés because it's so desperate for staff
▼ + stars: | 2022-07-05 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The CEO of Accor, Europe's top hotel chain, said he's hiring workers without experience or résumés. Sebastien Bazin said some Accor hotels were limiting restaurant hours because of staff shortages. Hospitality workers have been quitting their jobs over wages, benefits, and working conditions. It means some hotels have been forced to widen their candidate pools — with Accor, Europe's largest hotel chain, turning to workers without experience or even résumés. Some days, Accor hotels have been forced to stop serving lunch or even completely close their restaurants because they don't have enough staff, Bazin said.

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