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PEACHTREE GROUP SECURED $150 million in Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy financing in December, bringing its total to nearly $750 million since its establishment in 2019. In 2023 alone, Peachtree completed 23 CPACE financing deals in the U.S., totaling $250 million in directly originated and balance-sheet-funded transactions. Commercial real estate is set for a challenging 2024, with trillions of dollars in debt coming due, making refinancing more difficult, Peachtree said in a statement. This challenge is compounded by banks tightening lending standards. "In this challenging lending market, CPACE financing has emerged as a crucial source of liquidity," said Jared Schlosser, senior vice president of origination and head of PACE at Peachtree Group. "This financing option is becoming increasingly essential as owners grapple with looming debt maturities and limited refinancing opportunities."

HOTELS STRUGGLED WITH rising costs outpacing revenue growth in 2024, hindering economic growth and job creation, according to American Hotel & Lodging Association's 2025 State of the Industry report. Despite these challenges, opportunities remain, driven by guest spending trends, shifting traveler behaviors, and major upcoming events. The report, published with Accenture, found property costs outpacing revenue, with operations, maintenance, sales, marketing, and IT expenses rising nearly 5 percent in 2024, adding to hotel industry challenges. "America's small business hotel owners have been struggling as rising costs, compounded by high inflation and interest rates, make it difficult to stay open and serve guests," said Rosanna Maietta, AHLA's president and CEO. "That's why we will be focused on promoting policies that help our members overcome these challenges so they can focus on what they do best-creating pathways for their employees to find lasting careers and creating unforgettable experiences for their guests."

Challenger Institute Of Technology : The Centre is Australia's leading maritime training provider. International (STCW-95), national and state criteria are satisfied for maritime operations, marine engineering, marine tourism, fishing, aquaculture and applied research in aquaculture.

APPROXIMATELY 51 PERCENT of hospitality industry professionals participating in STR's Hospitality Industry Sentiment survey expressed optimism about their business confidence over the next two years. Respondents rated their confidence at "8" or higher on a 10-point scale. Analyzing the results over the survey's first year reveals a gradual, consistent decline in confidence ratings for each time span. Meanwhile, global recession fears have diminished since the last survey, STR said. Among various industry challenges, "concerns regarding a potential recession" saw the most significant drop between the last two surveys, ranking third behind labor costs and supply issues. Energy and utility costs are slightly increasing, while supply chain challenges and group demand issues are gradually diminishing. Regarding hotel performance, outlined trends influence demand forecasting expectations, the survey said. The percentage of respondents anticipating "strong improvement" or "some improvement" is gradually declining across all three hotel demand segments. A majority of experts still foresee growth in both business transient and group demand.

LAURA LEE BLAKE, president and CEO of AAHOA, and Neal Patel of Patel Partners were among The Hill's Top Lobbyists of 2024 for their leadership in advocating for the hotel industry amid legislative and political challenges. The list recognizes individuals who have effectively advanced their industry's interests in a changing political landscape. Blake and Patel's inclusion comes as the hospitality sector faces ongoing legislative and regulatory challenges, AAHOA said in a statement. AAHOA Chairman Miraj Patel congratulated Blake and Neal Patel on the recognition. "Their dedication and efforts on behalf of our industry continue to make a meaningful impact," Patel said. "We are fortunate to have such strong advocates representing AAHOA and our industry."

APPROXIMATELY 48 PERCENT of businesses in the accommodation industry consider "staffing issues" the biggest risk to their operations over the next 12 months, according to a new report by Expert Market. Rising labor costs were identified as the second-largest risk by 34 percent, followed by "rising maintenance costs" at 27 percent. The Expert Market Accommodation Industry Report surveyed more than 400 U.S. accommodation businesses on upcoming challenges and strategies to address them amid the industry's highest quit rates since 2022. "The accommodation industry has faced a number of challenges since the pandemic, but none greater than those around staffing," said Chris Maillard, Expert Market's editor. "At a time when quitting rates remain higher than other industries, the report recommends that accommodation businesses prioritize their staff, from recruitment through to promotion."

Las Leñas is South America's biggest and certainly one of the world's most challenging mountain resorts. Known for its various routes of powder snow, from easy routes to challenging cliff dives. The ski season runs from June to September, so you're never too late for a spring skiing plans.

So, you wake up, draw back the curtains and everything is thick white snow outside. Does this mean the bike stays cuddled up next to the warm radiator? It should signal the chance to get out there and challenge convention and in some people's eyes, wisdom! We always err in favour of a challenge, it's the way we're programmed.

As a parent, you know that two of your most crucial tasks are keeping your baby clean and keeping your baby asleep at night! Those jobs can be challenging enough at home, where you are armed with changing tables, cribs, swings, wipes warmers, white noise machines, ergonomic baby bathtubs, and a slew of other special items. While you are traveling, it can seem like an even more daunting challenge. But, with these baby travel gear essentials, you can keep your baby clean and sleeping peacefully on your trip!

Read on about the new Monaco Tree Challenge action and how Relevance is involved.

THE MAJOR CHALLENGES faced by U.S. hotels are labor, the return of corporate, group and conference travel, the impact of inflation on cost lines and the energy crisis, said Michael Grove, COO of HotStats, in a recent presentation. In the same session at the International Hospitality Investment Forum, panelists debated the best metric by which to measure industry performance. While speaking during a panel session at IHIF titled "Decoding the Data", Grove said that the most pressing issue is fixed costs are being replaced by oncoming growth in the variable areas which changes the dynamic of the cost base. "One of the key items around the average rate growth is what's going to happen when the full business mix returns," Grove said. "We still have a lot more of the lower-rated business to come back-the tours and groups and the other segments. We need to look at the impact on the cost lines themselves, the expense items around the P&L and what impact inflation is having on those, what impact the labor challenge is having.

THE AMERICAN HOTEL & Lodging Association has partnered with hiring software provider Hireology to provide AHLA members access to industry-specific tools and services, AHLA and Hireology said in a joint statement. Hireology also will organize a series of leadership exchange events, aiming to bring together professionals in the hospitality sector to discuss current challenges, trends, and solutions. "Hireology is a hiring technology leader and provider of hotel-specific workforce knowledge," said Chip Rogers, AHLA president and CEO. "Joining forces will allow us to take our services to the next level and further our mission to empower the American hospitality industry." Partnering with Hireology brings hiring technology and expertise into the association's catalog of resources, the statement said. The program stands as a practical resource for hotel operators addressing their business challenge in the coming years.

AT THE 35TH Hunter Hotel Investment Conference, there was plenty to talk about. Several Indian American hoteliers were speakers at the event at the Marriott Marquis in Atlanta March 19 to 22. This year's conference came with "a profound sense of purpose, no limits," said Lee Hunter chairman of the Hunter Conference during his welcoming address. "Over the next three days, we're going to hear from numerous industry experts, as leaders in this industry, we understand the importance of embracing change, challenging the conventions and pursuing new opportunities," Hunter said. "It's with this in mind that as we sat down to put forth our speaker lineup, this year, we focused on bringing new voices to distinguish. These voices are going to challenge you. They're going to inspire you, they're going to force you to think outside the box."

AAHOA OPPOSED THE Los Angeles City Council's recent proposal to raise hotel worker wages to $30 per hour, plus $8 for healthcare, citing a flawed economic impact study that misjudges the industry's ability to absorb the increase. AAHOA members, including a delegation of women hoteliers, testified before the council, warning of the proposal's impact on smaller, independent hotels, the association said in a statement. AAHOA Vice Chairman Kamalesh "KP" Patel, a California hotelier, testified on Oct. 16, addressing the hospitality industry's ongoing labor challenges. "I have a very serious concern about the study presentation. The study is majorly flawed," Patel said. "There is zero understanding of the differences between hotels-high-end, full-service and limited-service. These people are asking for their fair shake. We are asking to be heard properly. Limited-service properties do not offer the same services as full-service hotels and should not be treated the same." AAHOA argues that the study overlooks the unique challenges of smaller, limited-service hotels, ignoring their tight margins and operational constraints. A sudden wage increase to $30 per hour, plus healthcare costs, could result in layoffs, service cuts or closures, AAHOA said.

THE NATIONAL LABOR Relations Board recently withdrew its appeal of a Texas judge's ruling blocking its joint employer rule that would have broadened the shared responsibility for employees between franchisers and franchisees. Opponents of the rule said it would have damaged small businesses, including hotels, while President Joe Biden's administration said it would better enable employees to protect their rights. On Friday, the NLRB asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to dismiss its challenge, saying it believes the rule is lawful but wants "to consider options for addressing the outstanding joint employer matters before it," according to Bloomberg Law. The appeal had been related to a March 8 ruling in a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas by the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business associations challenging the rule's legality.

Today's hoteliers face new challenges. IBIS World reports that there are now over 100,000 hotels and motels across the United States-meaning that the competition is greater than ever before. Further, the cost of delivering a unique and exciting guest experience continues to rise in tandem with the cost of hotel operations. So, hoteliers are tasked with finding sources of revenue beyond bookings. That's where new technology comes in. AAHOA owners can harness the power of technology to address modern challenges, so you'll be better positioned for success-no matter what the future holds. Start unlocking new revenue streams today According to a report by Oracle and Skift, nearly half of executives expect non-room revenue to account for an increasing share of their hotel's revenue by 2025. In-room TVs are a great way to drive non-room revenue-today and tomorrow. With new technology, you can use screen space to promote any paid amenities such as room service, spa services, on-site casinos, and more.You can also sell paid on-screen advertisements to local establishments like restaurants, amusement parks, or museums. There are even opportunities to promote larger affiliate partners and collect extra income when you refer guests.

AAHOA AND KALIBRI Labs launched a national study on the impact of federal policy changes and industry challenges, showing a mixed outlook for U.S. hospitality in 2025. About one-third of hotel submarkets are ahead of 2024 benchmarks, but more are seeing declines-particularly in government and corporate segments-raising concerns ahead of peak summer travel. AAHOA's March 2025 survey found 69 percent of hotel owners reported business declines linked to recent federal policy changes. "These findings are not just numbers-they reflect the real-world challenges and opportunities facing our members," said Miraj Patel, AAHOA chairman. "It's encouraging to see that some markets are holding steady or growing, but the overall outlook calls for close attention and action. As owners, we are on the front lines, and partnerships like this help ensure our perspective is represented in broader industry discussions."

THE AMERICAN HOTEL & Lodging Association is weighing all options, including litigation, to contest the U.S. Department of Labor's final rule revising overtime regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The association is concerned that many hoteliers may be forced to eliminate longstanding managerial positions, which serve as crucial paths to career advancement. The updated rule features two-tiered increases in the minimum salary threshold and the threshold for highly compensated employees, along with automatic updates to both thresholds, DOL said in a statement. The minimum salary threshold will rise to $43,888 on July 1, followed by an increase to $58,656 on Jan. 1, 2025. This represent more than a 60 percent increase from the current $35,568 threshold, DOL said. The HCE threshold will jump to $132,964 on July 1, then to $151,164 on Jan. 1, 2025-an over 70 percent increase from the current $107,432 threshold, DOL added. The updated rule includes automatic updates to both the minimum salary threshold and the HCE threshold, which will be raised every three years.

INTERNATIONAL TOURISM REACHED 98 percent of pre-pandemic levels in 2019, with approximately 1.1 billion tourists traveling internationally in the first nine months of 2024, according to the United Nations tourism agency. The Americas recovered 97 percent of pre-pandemic arrivals, down 3 percent from 2019. In its "World Tourism Barometer" report, the Madrid-based UN Tourism forecast a "full recovery" by year-end despite economic, geopolitical and climate challenges. International tourist arrivals grew due to strong post-pandemic demand in Europe, solid performance from major source markets and the ongoing recovery of destinations in Asia Pacific, the agency said. Tourist arrivals in the Middle East, Europe and Africa exceeded 2019 levels, with increases of 29 percent, 1 percent and 6 percent, respectively.