Latest Hospitality and leisure industry News

One dead, two hospitalized after fire at Tyson Foods plant in Georgia

Dec. 27, 2024 16:58 PM EST

ATLANTA (AP) — A woman died and two other people were hospitalized with injuries after an overnight fire at a Tyson Foods plant in southwest Georgia, state officials said Friday. A wall fell on the cab of an 18-wheel truck parked outside the plant, Mitchell County Coroner Robby...

2 Florida tourist spots halt drones in shows following a separate accident that injured a boy

Dec. 27, 2024 11:49 AM EST

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A theme park resort and a huge hotel in central Florida either have stopped using drones or canceled their drone-based shows after several drones collided and fell from the sky during a separate holiday celebration in downtown Orlando. The accident injured a boy who required...

Pizza deliverer in Florida charged with stabbing pregnant woman at motel after tip dispute

Dec. 26, 2024 14:11 PM EST

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — A pizza deliverer in central Florida has been charged with pushing her way into a motel room with an accomplice and stabbing a pregnant woman after a dispute over a tip, authorities said. Brianna Alvelo was charged with stabbing a woman in her motel room in...

Magic and lights draw crowds to an alpine village in Washington state for Christmas

Dec. 24, 2024 13:21 PM EST

LEAVENWORTH, Wash. (AP) — The scent of bratwurst and pretzels filled the air as horses clopped down the main street, hauling a carriage full of tourists. Nestled in her mother's arms, a baby reached out to touch a shop window display, peering toward the sequin-covered reindeer behind it, as...

Bethlehem plans another somber Christmas under the shadow of war in Gaza

Dec. 23, 2024 00:12 AM EST

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — The Nativity Store in Manger Square has sold handmade olive wood carvings and religious items to people visiting the traditional birthplace of Jesus since 1927. But as Bethlehem prepares to mark its second Christmas under the shadow of the war in Gaza, there are almost...

For some, the pope's big Holy Year only aggravates housing crisis as overtourism pushes out Romans

Dec. 20, 2024 12:43 PM EST

When Pope Francis left the Vatican earlier this month for his traditional Christmastime outing downtown, he acknowledged what many Romans have been complaining about for months: That his big plans for a Holy Year had turned their city into a giant construction pit, with traffic-clogging roadworks...

Number of dead and missing still unclear as first aid arrives in quake-hit Pacific nation of Vanuatu

Dec. 19, 2024 17:40 PM EST

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Amid the havoc wrought by a violent earthquake two days earlier, Ivan Oswald and his staff prepared for lunchtime service Thursday at Nambawan Cafe, on an idyllic stretch of Vanuatu’s waterfront. The menu for the usual lunchtime rush was replaced...

Macao's casino boom brings wealth but at a cost, 25 years since China's takeover

Dec. 18, 2024 23:20 PM EST

MACAO (AP) — When Portugal returned its colony Macao to China in 1999, coffee shop owner Daniel Chao was a first grader living in a different world. Since then his sleepy hometown has transformed into a bustling gaming hub lined with glittering casinos. Its once quiet streets are...

Grubhub to pay $25M in deceptive practices settlement with Illinois attorney general and the FTC

Dec. 17, 2024 19:42 PM EST

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Grubhub Inc., an online food ordering and delivery platform, will pay $25 million to settle a dispute over alleged deceptive business practices with the Illinois attorney general and the Federal Trade Commission, officials said Tuesday. Attorney General...

Event promoters, hotels and lodging sites soon will have to disclose extra fees up front

Dec. 17, 2024 13:27 PM EST

The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday said it will soon require hotels, vacation rental platforms and live event promoters to disclose any fees up front when they list prices. The FTC said consumers often see advertised prices for hotel rooms, short-term rentals, and tickets to...