Latest Hospitality and leisure industry News

The suspected shooter in a North Carolina restaurant where 1 person was killed has also died

Jan. 19, 2025 11:59 AM EST

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A chef at a restaurant in North Carolina's capital city whom authorities suspect fatally shot a co-worker and then shot himself has died from his injuries, police announced Sunday. George Colom Jr., 34, who was listed as the executive chef at Coquette...

California officials warn against price gouging as rents soar in fire-stricken Los Angeles

Jan. 18, 2025 19:26 PM EST

Southern California's expensive housing market is going to get a lot more competitive after deadly firestorms torched more than 12,000 homes and other structures in the Los Angeles area, leaving tens of thousands of people without a place to stay. Already there are reports of...

Jury convicts man in bold scheme to steal $700,000 from Michigan casino

Jan. 17, 2025 17:04 PM EST

DETROIT (AP) — A Chicago man has been convicted in the theft of $700,000 from a Michigan casino, a brazen scheme in which an employee was tricked over the phone into stuffing the cash in a designer bag and driving 85 miles (137 kilometers) to deliver it. “This case underscores...

UnitedHealth tops profit forecasts but medical costs linger for health care giant

Jan. 16, 2025 11:23 AM EST

UnitedHealth posted a better-than-expected profit in the final quarter of 2024, but a nagging rise in medical costs and care utilization surprised Wall Street. Shares of the health care giant slid Thursday after it released its first financial report since the brazen shooting of one...

Spain sets a new record with 94 million international tourists last year

Jan. 15, 2025 09:46 AM EST

MADRID (AP) — A record 94 million international travelers visited Spain in 2024 in the best year for tourism in the country since records started, the tourism minister said Wednesday. It was Spain's second record-breaking year since 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic that...

Why is Spain considering a 100% tax on homes bought by non-EU buyers?

Jan. 14, 2025 13:24 PM EST

MADRID (AP) — Spain is planning a raft of measures to address its brewing housing crisis, including an up to 100% tax on properties bought by people who are neither citizens nor residents of the European Union. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the plan this week to...

Thailand's Cabinet approves a draft bill to legalize casinos to boost tourism and economy

Jan. 13, 2025 04:27 AM EST

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's Cabinet approved on Monday a draft bill legalizing casinos with the aim of boosting tourism and a sluggish economy Some forms of gambling, such as betting on boxing and horse racing, are allowed but casinos remain illegal in the Southeast Asian country. ...

Greece bans windowless basements, freezes central Athens licenses in overhaul of short-term rentals

Jan. 10, 2025 09:01 AM EST

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Lawmakers in Greece began debating proposed legislation on Friday to toughen rules for short-term rentals amid a surge in tourism, including a ban on using converted storage spaces and windowless basements. Renovated warehouses, underground spaces and former...

New Orleans is a city marked by tragedy. But don’t call locals resilient

Jan. 07, 2025 17:55 PM EST

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — She ran around in silver sparkling shoes, her faux chainmail tunic shimmering in the freezing breeze, maneuvering horses made of paper mâché, a giant green dragon, and sheep constructed from milk cartons. Antoinette de Alteriis was preparing with hundreds of...

Atlanta hotel evacuated after carbon monoxide leak; 5 people hospitalized

Jan. 03, 2025 11:58 AM EST

ATLANTA (AP) — A downtown Atlanta hotel was evacuated Friday after a suspected carbon monoxide leak that sent five people to hospitals to be evaluated, authorities said. Fire crews responded to the Residence Inn by Marriott on Peachtree Street shortly after 9 a.m. ...