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1. Catskill Resorts Appeal to Younger Guests
Once considered out of style, New York’s Catskill Mountains have been getting an upgrade from new resorts, refreshing the area's image and appealing to younger travelers, the New York Times reports. The new resorts, often in renovated older properties, offer guests curated travel experiences as well as more traditional activities associated with the Catskills.
John Flannigan, founder and CEO of Wylder Hotels, which opened the Wylder Windham in 2022, said the Hamptons and Jersey Shore have become too expensive and crowded, paving the way for “a renaissance in the Catskills.”
2. Fontainebleau Las Vegas To Open in December
The owners of the Fontainebleau Las Vegas plan to open the resort and casino in December, the Associated Press reports. Construction started in 2007, and the property has sat vacant for years due to delays caused by the Great Recession and other financial troubles.
The hotel and casino have changed hands several times over the years, the AP reports. Originally called the Fontainebleau, named after the Miami hotel, it changed to the Drew Las Vegas after Steven Witkoff and Miami-based investment firm New Valley bought it for $600 million in 2018. One year later, a real estate affiliate of Koch Industries acquired it in partnership with Jeffrey Soffer, one of the original developers of the property.
The Fontainebleau Las Vegas is a 67-story building with 3,700 guestrooms, and according to the article one of the tallest buildings in Nevada. The hotel and casino are expected to create thousands of jobs.
3. Developers Encourage Better Relationships with Hotel Brands
Hotel executives say the need to improve the relationship between hotel brands and developers is often overlooked, but it’s a necessary part of overcoming the challenges that face the industry, reports HNN’s Trevor Simpson from the Meet the Money hotel finance and investment conference.
“We have to find a way to work with our brand partner and really improve that relationship over time, and I hope we can all collectively educate the brand partner to say they have to invest in their business,” said Mehul Patel, managing partner and CEO of NewcrestImage. “That would ultimately benefit our entire industry.”
4. US Ends Inbound Vaccine Requirement
The White House announced it will end COVID-19 vaccination requirements for several organizations and groups of people, including international inbound travelers, starting May 11.
The U.S. Travel Association welcomed the news, with association President and CEO Geoff Freeman saying in a statement that it would ease significant barriers for global travelers. He also called on the federal government to make sure U.S. airports and other ports of entry are prepared to meet the growing number of inbound travelers.
5. Job Openings Near Two-Year Low
Data from the U.S. Department of Labor shows that job openings fell in March to their lowest in almost two years, the Wall Street Journal reports. The seasonally adjusted number of job openings — 9.6 million — was also a decrease from the revised 10 million in February.
Layoffs rose to a seasonally adjusted 1.8 million, up from 1.6 million in February.
“The labor market looks to be normalizing, and the big question is whether it stops at ‘normal’ or charges right through it to the point of contraction,” said Luke Tilley, chief economist at Wilmington Trust Investment Advisors.