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What changed in hospitality & travel regulation and policy this week?
Government decisions, new rules and policy shifts reported this week.
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Chirag Shah, writing for LODGING Magazine on October 1, 2026, highlights the rising threat of online travel scams targeting hotel guests.
Read at lodgingmagazine.com ↗03
The Reserve Bank of Australia is removing the ability for businesses to apply card surcharges on designated networks, including EFTPOS, Mastercard, and Visa, effective October 1, 2026.
Read at startupdaily.net ↗04
The US administration under Donald Trump has introduced new restrictions on travel to Cuba and prohibited banks from conducting business with the country's private sector.
Read at bloomberg.com ↗05
The Thai government has officially shifted its tourism strategy from prioritizing high visitor volume to attracting 'high value' tourists.
Read at insideretail.com.au ↗06
New West End Company, representing over 800 businesses in London's West End, published the 'Open for Growth' manifesto on September 28, 2026.
Read at retail-systems.com ↗What funding rounds and acquisitions happened in hospitality & travel this week?
The week’s notable investments, financing rounds, acquisitions and strategic deals.
07
Arrowfly, a B2B media and marketing company, announced the acquisition of Prosper Company on October 2, 2026.
Read at qsrmagazine.com ↗08
The Samsonite Group acquired an 85 percent stake in the luggage brand Béis, valuing the company at $210 million.
Read at insideretail.com.au ↗09
Choice Hotels International has announced the acquisition of Harvest Hosts, an RV travel membership platform, for approximately $130 million in an all-cash transaction.
Read at hospitalitynet.org ↗10
London-based private club operator Estelle Community has leased approximately 30,000 square feet at the former Limelight nightclub site, located at 656 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan's Flatiron District.
Read at commercialobserver.com ↗11
Choice Hotels International announced an agreement to acquire 100 percent of Harvest Hosts from Stripes and other shareholders for approximately $130 million in an all-cash transaction.
Read at lodgingmagazine.com ↗12
Houston-based Dauntless Capital Partners acquired the Arlo Wynwood hotel in Miami for at least $44.3 million from Quadrum Global.
Read at commercialobserver.com ↗13
GIC acquired 16 hotels in Japan from KKR for JPY 200 billion.
Read at hospitalitynet.org ↗14
The 119-year-old Clementon Lake Park and Splash World in New Jersey permanently closed on September 7, 2026.
Read at thestreet.com ↗8 of 9 funding and m&a events are listed; the rest were ranked lower by importance and multi-source corroboration and are not shown.
What products launched in hospitality & travel this week?
Notable product launches, releases and platform updates from the week.
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Mews, a hospitality technology company based in Amsterdam, launched its Guest Messaging and Automations platform on October 2, 2026.
Read at lodgingmagazine.com ↗16
The historic Hotel Clark in downtown Los Angeles reopened in September 2026 after a 30-year closure.
Read at propmodo.com ↗17
Nobu Hospitality has announced plans to open a new 50-room luxury hotel and restaurant in San Juan, Puerto Rico, by 2028.
Read at thestreet.com ↗18
Avalora has announced that its AI assistant, VAIA, is the first to be validated against the AHLA's HTNG Express PMS standard.
Read at hospitalitynet.org ↗19
The Joint Commission launched the voluntary Commitment to Health and Enticing Food (CHEF) program on September 30, 2026, to recognize healthcare organizations for healthy food access and nutrition education.
Read at fiercehealthcare.com ↗20
Booking Holdings is launching a new AI travel assistant named Lola on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
Read at skift.com ↗21
The FHS World 2026 conference officially opened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on September 29, 2026.
Read at hospitalitynet.org ↗22
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky announced the rollout of new AI-powered search features as part of the company's fall update.
Read at techcrunch.com ↗8 of 30 product launches events are listed; the rest were ranked lower by importance and multi-source corroboration and are not shown.
What financial results were reported in hospitality & travel this week?
Earnings, guidance and other financial results reported this week.
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Carnival Corporation reported third-quarter revenue of $8.4 billion, exceeding expectations and marking record results.
Read at fastcompany.com ↗24
Cracker Barrel reported a 6.1% decline in guest traffic and a 2.1% drop in comparable restaurant sales during its fourth quarter.
Read at thestreet.com ↗25
Full-service branded hotels in Milan experienced a 34.2% increase in GOPPAR to €118 per available room for the year ending July 2026.
Read at hospitalitynet.org ↗26
Carnival Corporation reported record third-quarter customer deposits of $7.6 billion, a 7% increase, alongside record revenue of $8.44 billion and net income of $1.92 billion.
Read at thestreet.com ↗27
Tilray, the US cannabis manufacturer that acquired BrewDog in March 2026, has announced a £50 million investment to revitalize the brand.
Read at retail-systems.com ↗28
Carnival Corp. has increased its full-year financial outlook due to record-breaking booking demand for future sailings.
Read at bloomberg.com ↗29
The restaurant chain Condado Tacos has closed multiple locations across the United States in 2026, including sites in Mountain Brook, Alabama, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Read at thestreet.com ↗30
For the week ending 26 September 2026, U.S. hotel performance metrics showed a 14.2% year-over-year increase in Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR).
Read at hospitalitynet.org ↗What court rulings and legal actions hit hospitality & travel this week?
Court rulings, filings and legal actions reported this week.
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The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has filed an official complaint against the Denver-based restaurant Casa Bonita for alleged unfair labor practices, including failure to bargain in good faith with the Actors' Equity Association.
Read at nrn.com ↗32
The trial for the murder of Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and American Jack Carter Rhoad concluded in Ensenada, Mexico, on September 30, 2026.
Read at courthousenews.com ↗33
Six Flags has decided to retire the X2 roller coaster at its Magic Mountain amusement park in California.
Read at abajournal.com ↗34
On September 29, 2026, the tour company Across Arizona Tours filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Arizona against the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, and the National Park Service.
Read at thestreet.com ↗What research was published in hospitality & travel this week?
New research findings and studies published this week.
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A report by Popmenu indicates that two-thirds of U.S. consumers are reducing restaurant spending compared to last year.
Read at qsrmagazine.com ↗36
A 2026 study by h2c involving 113 hotel chains reveals that 91% of respondents have adopted AI technologies.
Read at hospitalitynet.org ↗37
A 2025 white paper by HiJiffy, based on client data, concludes that the failure of AI adoption in the hotel industry is caused by internal issues such as ownership gaps, lack of training, and outdated workflows rather than technological limitations.
Read at hospitalitynet.org ↗38
Menufy released consumer research on September 29, 2026, indicating that AI is significantly influencing dining decisions for independent restaurants.
Read at fsrmagazine.com ↗39
A study involving over 500 participants conducted in 2026 indicates that timely problem resolution is the primary factor in restoring guest trust in hotels.
Read at hospitalitynet.org ↗What incidents and outages hit hospitality & travel this week?
Incidents, outages and safety events reported this week.
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Diageo announced the permanent closure of its Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Halethorpe, Maryland, effective November 1, 2026.
Read at thestreet.com ↗41
Elisabeth Polaczy, the operator of the Teufelsrad amusement ride at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, has begun distributing free cycling shorts to women to prevent upskirting.
Read at theguardian.com ↗42
An independent review led by Paul Greaney KC found that Travelodge guests remain at risk, with room intrusions reported at nearly 10% of its hotels this summer.
Read at theguardian.com ↗43
A restaurant named after Chinese President Xi Jinping was attacked by Chinese nationals in South Korea on September 30, 2026.
Read at bbc.co.uk ↗44
The Holei Sea Arch, a 90-foot coastal formation in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii, collapsed into the Pacific Ocean between September 23 and September 27, 2026.
Read at courthousenews.com ↗45
The Hōlei sea arch, a 90ft landmark in Hawaii’s Volcanoes National Park, collapsed into the Pacific Ocean between September 23 and September 27, 2026.
Read at theguardian.com ↗6 of 9 incidents and safety events are listed; the rest were ranked lower by importance and multi-source corroboration and are not shown.