-"The mission of the California Lodging Industry Association is to promote, protect and advance the interests of lodging owners and their management teams statewide, and to provide a network of resources to support member efficiency, profitability and professionalism.”-

July 19, 2023

Labor Department’s “New” Tip Credit Rule is Here to Stay…For Now: A 10-Step Plan for Hospitality Employers

by Fisher Philips - Insights

A federal court just refused to block the U.S. Department of Labor’s infamous 80/20 rule, which applies to employers that take the tip credit toward their minimum wage obligation under federal wage and hour law – which means now’s time to ensure you’re in compliance. Several restaurant industry groups filed a lawsuit seeking to halt the rule, but a Texas federal court issued an order on July 6 rejecting the challenge. Although the industry groups plan to appeal the decision, the DOL’s new rule will remain in effect…for now. Here’s a brief background on the rule and a 10-step action plan to ensure your wage and hour practices are up to date.

A Brief Background on the 80/20 Rule

If you are not familiar with the two federal rules on tips provisions that went into effect near the end of 2021, you can read our detailed...

Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index Increased 6.2 Percent in June 2023

By LODGING Staff

HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee, and MILWAUKEE—The Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index grew 6.2 percent in June to a level of 5,615.

“Hotel stocks extended their year-to-date gains in June as the broader market moved higher on fading recession fears,” said Michael Bellisario, senior hotel research analyst and director at Baird. “Macroeconomic concerns have continued to subside, but recently normalizing leisure travel patterns domestically have weighed on the hotel REITs’ relative performance, particularly compared to the global hotel brands that are still benefitting from recovering international markets and cross-border demand.”

Barbie Movie Sparks Wave of Offers From Hotels

by Donald Wood

One of the year’s most anticipated movies is Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, which will debut in theaters on July 21. To celebrate, hotels and resorts have taken the pink inspiration to heart with unique offerings inspired by the summer blockbuster.

In Bogota, Colombia, Hilton Bogota Corferias announced the launch of a limited-time Barbie-themed suite, available for booking from July 10 to July 2024. Not only was the suite designed to celebrate the fantasy and fun that the doll personifies, but travelers can also indulge in several themed experiences throughout their stay.

Miami is another destination Barbie would love, and the Kimpton

EPIC Miami and Arlo Wynwood properties are leaning into the wave of pink. Kimpton EPIC Miami is offering Dream Cabanas decked out in pink and equipped with themed pink flip-flops and bubbles, while the Arlo Wynwood is offering rooftop Barbie parties.

Destination Marketers Head to Threads as Twitter Alternative

by Dawit Habtemariam, Skift

Destination marketing organizations are rushing to join Meta’s Threads: Destination Toronto, Visit Orlando, Visit Utah, Myrtle Beach, Fort Myers and many others have already signed up for the direct competitor to Twitter.

Because Meta owns Facebook and Instagram, these destinations have been able to grow their audiences quickly. Users login to Threads with their Instagram accounts and automatically follow the same people they follow on Instagram.

“We’re at about 10,000 right now. I would say a good 80% of that happened over the weekend,” said Paula Port, Destination Toronto‘s vice president of marketing. Visit Orlando has over 32,000 followers.