Latest Hospitality and leisure industry News

Lahaina residents deliver petition asking Hawaii governor to delay tourism reopening
HONOLULU (AP) — Residents from fire-stricken Lahaina on Tuesday delivered a petition asking Hawaii Gov. Josh Green to delay plans to reopen a portion of West Maui to tourism starting this weekend, saying the grieving community is not ready to welcome back visitors. The petition...

Bank of Japan survey shows manufacturers optimistic about economy
TOKYO (AP) — Business sentiment among big Japanese manufacturers improved in July-September for the second straight quarter, according to a central bank survey released Monday. The Bank of Japan's “tankan” quarterly survey measured business sentiment among major manufacturers...

Borrowers are reassessing their budgets as student loan payments resume after pandemic pause
NEW YORK (AP) — Millions of Americans must start repaying their federal student loans again in October, with monthly payments averaging hundreds of dollars. To get ready, borrowers are cutting expenses, taking on additional work, and looking for options to reduce their monthly payments. ...

Pennsylvania governor noncommittal on greenhouse gas strategy as climate task force finishes work
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Josh Shapiro on Friday remained noncommittal on a strategy to reduce planet-warming greenhouse gases after a task force the Democrat appointed came to an uncertain conclusion over how to make Pennsylvania the first major fossil fuel state to adopt carbon pricing over...

James Dolan's sketch of the Sphere becomes reality as the venue opens with a U2 show in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS (AP) — It started as a crude sketch — a circle with a stick person inside. Seven years later, that drawing has been made real: A $2.3 billion massive spherical venue, standing 366 feet (111 meters) high and lighting up the Las Vegas skyline. The drawing was initially...

New California law raises minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 per hour, among nation's highest
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A new law in California will raise the minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 per hour next year, an acknowledgment from the state's Democratic leaders that most of the often overlooked workforce are the primary earners for their low-income households. ...

Utah and Arizona will pay to keep national parks open if federal government shutdown occurs
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona and Utah will keep iconic national parks in those states open if a shutdown of the federal government threatens access to Arizona’s orange-striped Grand Canyon and the sheer red cliffs of Utah’s Zion Valley. Most importantly for state budgets, visitors...

Report: High-risk problem gambling fell slightly in New Jersey even as sports betting took off
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — High-risk problem gambling in New Jersey declined slightly even as sports betting took off in the state, according to a report issued Thursday. But the report by Rutgers University and paid for by the state's gambling enforcement division found that such...

Egypt aims to double the number of tourists to reach 30 million by 2028, tourism minister says
CAIRO (AP) — Egypt is seeking to double the number of visitors to the country in the next five years, its top tourism official told The Associated Press. Egypt is aiming at reaching 30 million visitors by 2028, as its once-thriving tourism sector recovers from the fallout of the...

EU Commission blocks Booking's planned acquisition of flight booking provider Etraveli
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union's executive arm said Monday it is blocking leading U.S. online travel agency Booking from acquiring Sweden's flight booking provider Etraveli Group because it would have allowed it to increase its dominant position on the market on the continent. ...
