As early as June 12, 25 states will withdraw from pandemic-era federal unemployment programs ahead of the formal Sept. 6 expiration date, according to CNBC. As a result, 3.7 million Americans will no longer receive a $300 weekly supplement.

Additionally, most states are terminating benefits completely for those "self-employed, gig workers and the long-term unemployed," the news outlet reports.

"The states — all of which are led by Republican governors — claim enhanced unemployment benefits are causing laid-off workers to stay home instead of looking for jobs," CNBC reports.

A European Union Commission spokesperson told CNN on Wednesday that the EU digital COVID-19 certificate for travel will become available to non-EU international travelers.

Though subject to individual member states' acceptance of proof of a COVID-19 vaccine, negative test or recovery from the virus, this means travelers in the United States can get the certificate. The EU Commission and the United States are working on a COVID-19 certificate that would be an equivalent to the EU's certificate.

"On Tuesday, the EU Commission announced in a press release that seven European countries — Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Croatia and Poland — had started issuing EU digital COVID certificates for travel within the bloc," CNN reported. "The system will be fully enforced from July 1, but member states can now start using it on a voluntarily basis, the Commission said."

Plano, Texas-based third-party hotel operator Aimbridge Hospitality and Monterrey, Mexico-based third-party hotel operator Grupo Hotelero Prisma were weeks away from closing a deal that would turn Prisma into a division under Aimbridge in early 2020, but it stalled due to the pandemic, according to Dave Johnson, executive chairman at Aimbridge. After the deal was announced on Wednesday, HNN's Bryan Wroten spoke with Johnson for color behind the deal, which is expected to close by mid-July.

“It took a little bit of time, but I'll tell you, being a guy that was a co-founder of the company 18 years ago, this is one of the most exciting transactions that I think I will have announced in the history of Aimbridge,” Johnson said.

Johnson said he doesn't anticipate Aimbridge will look for further acquisition opportunities in Mexico and Latin America, as the growth that will come from the Aimbridge-Prisma deal will place the company in a dominant position in the region within five years.

According to The Highland Group's latest data, mid-price and upscale extended-stay hotels "powered extended-stay hotel occupancy to 75.5% in April 2021," the release states.

Extended-stay hotel occupancy was 18 percentage points greater than the overall hotel industry and virtually flat compared to April 2019.

"Following the economy segment, which restored revenues back to their 2019 level six months ago, mid-price extended-stay hotel revenue was 5% higher in April 2021 compared to April 2019. Upscale extended-stay hotels made the largest gains in April. The segment’s [revenue per available room] recovery index climbed to 83% compared to 64% STR reported for all upscale hotels," the release states. STR is CoStar's hospitality analytics firm.

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Scottsdale, Arizona, has been "overwhelmed with guests" arriving since February when vaccination rates increased, but employees aren't returning at the same pace, WFOR-TV reports.

The hotel has 200 open positions and is offering a $500 sign-on bonus to new hires. Current staff are eligible for a $500 bonus if they refer someone who gets hired.

“I’ve never seen the need for staffing like this unmet as it has been,” John Glynn, director of public relations at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, told the news outlet.

Similarly, at the Bohemian Hotel Savannah Riverfront in Georgia, the general manger will sometimes bus tables at the hotel's rooftop restaurant because the property is short on staff.

“I do love the industry, but we all get tired. You know, I had two days off last month, closing the rooftop bar multiple nights,” Benjamin McCarney, the hotel's general manager, told the news outlet.