Group items tagged

Looking to apply for a passport card? Get info on the passport card application, fees, requirements and how to get an expedited service. All US citizens are eligible to obtain a passport card whether you currently have a valid passport book or not. But the documents you will need will vary depending on whether you currently hold a valid passport book. Passport card can be used to travel to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean by land or sea. Get through step by step procedure.

THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY needs to re-focus its efforts to meet future staffing requirements if it is to increase interest by job seekers, according to consulting firm HVS. At the moment, the hospitality industry is a jobseeker's market and likely to stay that way for the next year or two. Hence, industry leaders should adapt to survive, said Court Williams, CEO of HVS Executive Search in New York in an article titled 'How to Resolve the Current State of Emergency in Hospitality Employment'. Williams stated that "successful recovery from the pandemic will depend on revising every aspect of sourcing, attracting, compensating, incentivizing, and retaining workers." "The hospitality industry has seen a decrease in staff as many people have found alternate career paths as a result of the impacts of COVID-19. Historical talent shortages are being exacerbated by staff quitting in droves as the world returns to work," Williams said in the article. "Now, the onus is on companies to show employees why they should apply for jobs or stay in their current positions."

OMICRON, THE LATEST COVID-19 variant of concern, led to new restrictions on some international travel over the Thanksgiving weekend. Members of the travel industry are urging federal officials to be cautious, but not to impose bans that they say will not stop the spread of the new variant. On Nov. 26, the World Health Organization issued new guidance on the Omicron variant, which emerged out of South Africa. Researchers are still investigating the variant's transmissibility, severity and the effectiveness of current vaccines against it. "Preliminary evidence suggests there may be an increased risk of reinfection with Omicron (ie, people who have previously had COVID-19 could become reinfected more easily with Omicron)," the WHO said in its statement. "WHO is working with technical partners to understand the potential impact of this variant on our existing countermeasures, including vaccines. Vaccines remain critical to reducing severe disease and death, including against the dominant circulating variant, Delta. Current vaccines remain effective against severe disease and death."

ANNUAL CHANGES IN U.S. hotel utility costs and in the Consumer Price Index, or inflation, have historically proven to be strongly correlated. As of August 2022, CBRE is forecasting CPI growth to be 7.7 percent in 2022, followed by another 3.6 percent in 2023. Since inflation has averaged just 2.2 percent since 2000, these inflation projections have hoteliers concerned about operating costs. Given that rising energy costs are a significant driver of the current rise in CPI, hotel managers are especially worried about utility department expenses. Over the past 50 years, utility department expenses have averaged between 3 and 4 percent of total revenue, indicating that hotel managers have been successfully controlling energy costs in the face of fluctuating business volumes. This is particularly commendable given the highly fixed nature of utility expenses. To provide some context to the current challenging environment, we studied recent trends in hotel utility department expenses. The data come from a sample of more than 2,800 U.S. hotels that reported utility department expenses each year from 2015 through 2021 for CBRE's annual "Trends in the Hotel Industry" survey. In 2021 the properties in the sample averaged 209 rooms in size, with an annual occupancy rate of 54.2 percent and an average daily rate of $152.70.

THE AMERICAN FRANCHISE business model is in trouble, according to a recent survey commissioned by AAHOA. The survey was inspired by a webinar AAHOA co-sponsored to gather public comment on the state of franchising for the Federal Trade Commission. The survey found that only 5 percent of the franchisee respondents are satisfied that their current franchise agreements provide fair terms representing a balanced relationship between themselves and their franchiser. Also, 72.6 percent of respondents would "possibly" or "probably" terminate their current franchised business within the next year if they could do so without penalty. "Franchising is in dire straits unless changes are made," said Laura Lee Blake, AAHOA president and CEO. "Franchising is still a powerful tool for economic mobility for America's small-business owners, including AAHOA Members. But franchising only works when both franchisors and franchisees are committed to its success, which requires transparency, fairness, and sustainable business practices. As this survey shows, there is much room for improvement when it comes to relationships that allow our small-business owners to thrive." Blake recently wrote an editorial supporting AAHOA's 12 Points of Fair Franchising and its promotion of a proposed New Jersey law that would reform that state's franchising regulations in ways similar to the 12 points. Several large hotel companies, including Choice Hotels International and Marriott International, protested AAHOA's recent annual convention in protest to its position on franchise reform The survey was conducted among owners of hotels, restaurants, retail stores and other small businesses that had participated in the FTC webinar. It was co-sponsored by the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers, and the Coalition of Franchisee Associations, conducted the survey after a recent webinar with FTC Chair Lina Khan. The FTC is soliciting comments through June 8 about

As a young man, Amir Ahmed was more interested in sports than in the career in medicine his family wanted for him. However, he parlayed that competitive spirit and focus on personal relationships into the skills he needed to succeed in business and achieve his current position as executive vice president for DISH TV, part of DISH Network Corp., and he shared his story in Asian Hospitality's Leadership Series. One of the responsibilities in his current role is to oversee DISH's hospitality business. His leadership is paving the way for new technology offered in hotels to attract guests and improve efficiency not only for the hotel but also for the guest during their hotel stay. The company's new OnStream platform, provides personalized service to guests while reducing hotels' labor needs. Through it all, he has remembered his heritage and drawn inspiration from it.

Fares Match is leading airlines reservations portals in the United States. It is worthy for you to manage the Fares Match via on call or via the Alaska Airlines Official Site. One of the easy ways for the people to manage the booking of Alaska Flights is Alaska Airlines Reservations Number +1-800-918-3039.

Alaska Airline Booking- Cheap Flight Tickets & Airfare Deals

Currently, Alaska Airlines operates around five hubs in the US and the main hub of the airline is at Seattle/Tacoma. However, the airline is currently not a member of three major airlines. Alaska Airlines was founded in the year 1932 and commence operations in the year 1944.

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.

TOTAL EXTENDED-STAY HOTELS achieved new fourth-quarter milestones in 2023, setting records in supply, demand, ADR, RevPAR, and room revenues, according to The Highland Group. Despite this, occupancy declined alongside the broader hotel industry trend, with slower growth in ADR and RevPAR throughout the year. Consequently, extended-stay hotel RevPAR experienced its smallest fourth quarter increase since 2019, excluding contractionary periods. Extended-stay hotel supply growth increased marginally in 2023 but remained very low, the report said. The last time supply growth consistently hovered around its current level was from the fourth quarter of 2010 through the third quarter of 2014. Throughout this period, supply increases stayed below their long-term historical average for 20 consecutive quarters, while the federal funds rate was about 10 times higher than its current level. With interest rates and construction costs expected to stay relatively high, the risk of extended stay hotel oversupply nationally is low in the near term, despite the launch of several new brands, The Highland Group said.

The Extended Stay America Suites in Baytown, Texas, owned by Wayside Investment Group led by Miraj Patel as president, has reopened following renovations. Work done on the three-story, 82-room property included upgrades to guestrooms, public spaces, a refinished exterior, and new signage, with the aim of providing more current amenities and services to long-term guests, Wayside said in a statement. "We are thrilled to partner with Extended Stay America for the reopening of our Baytown property, replicating the current prototype in a comprehensive renovation that highlights our commitment to enhancing guest experiences and adding value through asset repositioning," said Patel. The property is near Space Center Houston, Pirates Bay Waterpark, Baytown Nature Center and The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Wayside said.

AT THE 2024 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show held last week in Orlando, Florida, history was being made at the same time it was being recalled. Miraj Patel assumed his role as the youngest chairman the association has had, while his predecessor Bharat Patel and AAHOA President and CEO Laura Lee Blake spoke on the legacy that led to the association's current success. AAHOACON24, the 35th national conference for the association, saw more than 7,000 registered attendees and 524 exhibitors at the Orange County Convention Center, blocks away from Disneyworld and Universal Studios. It included more than 44 education sessions and had two times the number of sponsors than in 2023 with 26. Event revenue was 6 percent higher than 2023 and 31 percent higher than in 2022. The tradeshow sprawled over more than 84,500 square feet of exhibit space. In a speech during the first general session, Bharat presented his theory on what led to AAHOA's current status: compound success.

There has been a new rule imposed in Dubai to reduce the current Speed limit in Dubai highways. The proposal is to reduce the Speed limit to 110 kmph from 120 kmph. The reason stated by the Head of the traffic police is, the increasing of death rates in traffic accidents. So Travel safely and securely with limited speed and proper Visa. For more details visit our website http://www.dubaivisas.in/category/dubai-rules-and-regulations

There has been a new rule imposed in Dubai to reduce the current Speed limit in Dubai highways. The proposal is to reduce the Speed limit to 110 kmph from 120 kmph. The reason stated by the Head of the traffic police is, the increasing of death rates in traffic accidents. So Travel safely and securely with limited speed and proper Visa. For more details visit our website http://www.dubaivisas.in/category/dubai-rules-and-regulations

You need to travel abroad next week and your current valid passport has your previous legal name. What now? How to get a name change on your passport as quick as 24 hours?? Well, you always have a solution for expedite your passport process. Either you have changed your name after marriage or for any other reason, you need to update your passport too, for a smooth International travel. Find out all the requirement and an expedite solution for passport name change, here.

You need to travel abroad next week and your current valid passport has your previous legal name. What now? How to get a name change on your passport as quick as 24 hours?? Well, you always have a solution for expedite your passport process. Either you have changed your name after marriage or for any other reason, you need to update your passport too, for a smooth International travel. Find out all the requirement and an expedite solution for passport name change, here.

FaresMatch is an online portal that understands its customers' emergencies and helps them book hassle-free last-minute plane tickets and deals. Currently, FaresMatch is offering attractive discounts and cheap flights to customers on popular routes in the USA.

Discounts on Cheap Flight Tickets in the US

List of all the stations that starts with alphabet G are given at trainstatus.co.in. Choose the desired station and get the details like train schedule, station code and their current status.

Situated on the eastern shore of France, close to the city of Nice on the French Riviera, this hotel Saint Jean Cap Ferrat majestically overlooks the vast sea of Mediterranean, providing its guests with astounding panoramic views and the best of comforts anywhere in the world. Interesting, as it will sound to you, the land where the hotel is currently situated was once the property of King Leopold II of Belgium and changed hands quite a few times thereafter.

The IPL Is a Indian Premier League, a professional league for Twenty20 cricket competition in India. It was Started by the Board of Control for Cricketch in India (BCCI). It currently contested by 10 teams (franchises) consisting of players from different countries. It was started after an altercation between the BCCI and the Indian Cricket League. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) launched the Indian Premier League (IPL) on September 15, 2007.

Sri Lanka is a beautiful tiny island located in the Indian Ocean in Southern Asia, Sri Lanka is a land faced with many environmental challenges, including deforestation and the erosion of coasts due to mining. In addition to these issues, the CIA World Factbook reports that the wildlife is threatened by poachers, pollution and the expansion of urban areas. Slender Loris The slender Loris has extremely thin arms and legs. Its face is dominated by huge round eyes which give it excellent night vision and enable it to hunt for insects during the night. Populations of this small primate are declining because their forest habitats are being destroyed for logging, agriculture and development. The Lorisidae comprises the African angwantibos and pottos and the Asian lorises. These species are thought to share a common ancestor with the bushbabies of Africa (the Galagidae) and the lemurs of Madagascar. The fossil record of the lorids extends back to the Early Miocene (20 million years ago). In the past there has been considerable confusion over slender loris classification. Most authorities now recognize two species of slender loris: Loris tardigradus (with 2 subspecies, both occurring in Sri Lanka) and Loris lydekkerianus (with 4 subspecies, occurring in both India and Sri Lanka). The name slender loris derived from its slender arms and legs. L. tardigradus is smaller than its relative the grey slender loris (L. lydekkerianus). Its small face is dominated by huge round eyes and prominent ears, which are thin, rounded and hairless at the edges. The soft dense fur is a grey or reddish-brown color on the back, depending on the subspecies. The underside is whitish-grey. The species has no tail. The highland slender loris (L. t. nycticeboides) has shorter, thicker limbs relative to body length, a larger head, and thicker fur which completely cover the ears. It superficially resembles the Asian slow loris (Nycticebus coucang). This species is among the most social

Date : 26th 28th October 2012, Venue : Buddh International Circuit, Greater Noida, DelhiThe Indian Grand Prix, sometimes referred to as the Grand Prix of India is a race in the calendar of the FIA Formula One World Championship. It is currently held at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Kerala backwaters were initially formed due to the triggering action of shore currents and waves thereby creating a steep barrier reefs and islands.