Recent news and analysis on Hotels & Hospitality

Hospitality news covering hotel chains, occupancy, travel demand, labor, and lodging industry earnings.

• Devon hospitality firms can't afford new hires due to rising costs

  Bars and hotels in Devon, UK, report they cannot afford to hire new staff due to rising costs including National Insurance, minimum wage increases, and energy bills. Owners like Josh Bate and Deborah Clark cite a government-driven revenue squeeze that limits hiring.

• Dubai luxury hotels rely on resident staycations as war deters tourists

  Dubai's luxury hotels, once catering to wealthy travelers, now depend on residents-only staycation deals as war drives tourists away. Five-star hotels on the Palm are busy on weekends and holidays despite being deserted by international visitors.

• "How Iran war allows residents to indulge in opulence at Dubai's luxury hotels"

  This commentary argues that the Iran war has paradoxically boosted Dubai's luxury hotel industry by driving away international tourists and forcing hotels to offer steep discounts to local residents. It suggests that the conflict has made high-end stays accessible to a new demographic, transforming the market.

• "Two Texas Billionaires, a U.S. Senator and the Battle for 'America's Resort'"

  This commentary argues that the takeover battle for the Greenbrier resort by Texas billionaires Robert and Blake Rowling represents a clash between local pride and corporate efficiency. It contends that the Rowlings' bid challenges Senator Jim Justice's stewardship of the historic property, highlighting tensions between family legacy and modern business practices.