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INTERNATIONAL INBOUND TRAVEL is expected to slow down in the fall after surging over the summer, according to the latest U.S. Travel Association forecast. USTA also expects it may take until 2025 for the travel segment to recover to pre-pandemic levels. Inbound travel recovery picked up in summer and reached a pre-pandemic high of 35 percent below 2019 levels in July 2022, said U.S. Travel Association. It improved from a 41 percent decrease in May and declines of more than 50 percent earlier in 2022. The latest report by Aaron Szyf, economist, USTA, said that inbound travel recovery continued from Europe and Latin America in the past few months, which was 22 percent below 2019 levels in July. Meanwhile, Asian markets declined 66 percent in July, largely due to stagnation from China and a very slow return from Japan.

FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL Ashley Moody is targeting fake postings offering vacation rental properties. The state's campaign against these specific scams plays into AAHOA's call for more short-term rental regulation, the association said. The scams involve fake postings offering vacation rental properties with requests for application fees or security deposits, according to Moody's office. Victims of the scam pay the deposit, only to find the listing has disappeared and so has the deposit money. The would-be vacationers often show up at the property and find that the actual owners have no record or intention of renting. "Florida is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the nation," Moody said. "Scammers will take advantage of this by creating fake vacation rental listings in hopes of stealing personal information and money. Whether you are traveling within the state or from out of state, make sure to take extra precautions when renting a vacation home to avoid being burned this summer vacation season."

IT'S BEEN SIX decades of keeping the light on for guests by Motel 6. To mark the occasion, the economy brand is thanking its team members, owners and guests, with plans to stick to the same business model for the next 60 years. Motel 6 began in 1962 in Santa Barbara, California, for just $6 a night in keeping with the philosophy of providing affordable, clean and comfortable lodging, according to the company. Since then, the brand, owned by G6 Hospitality, has followed a strategic development plan that has led it to expand more than 1,400 Motel 6 and Studio 6 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada, said Rob Palleschi, G6 CEO, in a video for the June 25 anniversary. "Years later, our value proposition remains rooted in the same belief, that everyone has the right to travel," Palleschi said. "As we look to the next 60 years, I want to thank every team member and owner for their dedication to our brand."

ALL FORMS OF travel are experiencing a post-pandemic resurgence, including cruises, according to a survey from risk and crisis response provider Global Rescue. Some have concerns about their destination, but most are ready to hit the seven seas. According to the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey, 30 percent of respondents were experiencing some hesitancy about where to go, or when to get back to travel after two years of pandemic-related travel restrictions. Meanwhile, 70 percent of respondents are not experiencing any re-entry to travel anxiety in general or on cruise ships, according to the survey. "Nineteen percent of survey takers say they feel safer or much safer about taking a cruise compared to last year," said Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

"Copyright" can look like a familiar yet technical term to understand in its absolute sense. Mainly, if referred to in context with websites, this can be a term that most people might not know fully about. To help you have complete knowledge about it, we will try to cover everything you need to know about website copyright in a comprehensive way for you to simplify all the legality that surrounds the term. What is website copyright? Website copyright is a legal authorization that gives the website owner the ultimate right over all the content. With the copyright, the website owner can sell or display their work in whatever regard on any platform. Copyright does not apply to any or everything. But, the digital content uploaded on the website specifically falls under the category of intellectual property, so whatever information goes on can be covered as copyrighted property.

ATLANTA-BASED BANYAN Investment Group has completed the sale of the 112-room Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bluffton at Hilton Head Area in South Carolina, to Trishul Hospitality, the company said. The transaction, for an undisclosed amount, generated a 24 percent internal rate of return and a 3.3x equity multiple for Banyan. "We purchased the Bluffton Holiday Inn Express & Suites back in 2014 with the idea that this South Carolina coastal submarket was poised for long term growth. We were confident Bluffton would evolve into a tourist destination, aided by its proximity to several year-round destinations such as Hilton Head Island, South Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; and Charleston, South Carolina," said Samir Yajnik, principal and EVP of investments, Banyan Investment Group. "Our underwriting and research at that time proved to be correct given Beaufort has become the fastest growing town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, with its population having grown by more than 124 percent in the last decade.

HIHOTELS BY HOSPITALITY International announced the winners of its 2021 awards. These awards recognized six properties and a vendor in meeting and exceeding the company's standards of operations last year, the company said. "Last year was very challenging again for the hospitality industry, so it was truly inspiring to see so many of our franchisees show such tremendous resilience and determination to succeed. I'd like to commend every one of our award winners and nominees for going above and beyond and showing great pride in what they do," said Chris Guimbellot, president and CEO at hihotels.

NOBLE INVESTMENT GROUP has announced leadership promotions across its investment, capital markets, finance, and asset management teams - reflecting the firm's continued commitment to the professional development and advancement of its talented and long-tenured team. According to a company statement, Dan Konzelmann is promoted to vice president and will be responsible for executing strategies across Noble's investment platforms. Emily Feeney has been promoted to senior director and will look after financing new asset acquisitions, managing capital market relationships and asset sales. Jeff Pennington is elevated as senior director and will be in charge for internal and external reporting, fund modeling, and valuations. Bo Zhang has been promoted to senior associate, and will be responsible for information, data, and analytics for our asset management team and investment management strategies, the statement added. "We are extremely proud of these Noble leaders and their well-deserved promotions," said Mit Shah, Noble CEO. "We look forward to their continued growth and contributions to the success of our organization as we expand and execute the depth and breadth of our investment strategies."

NEARLY 80 PERCENT of travelers said that the latest COVID-19 variant, BA5, is unlikely to make them cancel or postpone international travel this year, according to a survey from travel risk assessment firm Global Rescue. At the same time, Global Rescue said relaxed COVID-19 recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could encourage travelers' confidence. The floodgates are opening The Summer 2022 Global Rescue Traveler Safety and Sentiment Survey found that 68 percent of respondents have already traveled internationally since the pandemic. Another 16 percent expects to travel abroad by the end of the year and 9 percent plan to do so in the first quarter of 2023. "Whether it's revenge travel or responsible travel following vaccination, or a combination of both, 7-out-of-10 travelers are much less concerned about travel compared to the beginning of the pandemic," said Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce. "They feel safe enough to plan trips and vacations because they're vaccinated, borders are open, and they have confidence they'll be able to get home if the worst happens." The U.S. ending its requirement for a negative COVID test to enter the country in June also went far in increasing confidence and encouraging visits from international travelers, Richards said. Nearly half of travelers, 49 percent, said that they are more likely to travel internationally in the next 12 months as COVID related restrictions are relaxed.

A NEW SURVEY finds that U.S. travelers are getting the urge to explore and acting on that spur-of-the-moment travel bug as temperatures begin to rise. Around 67 percent of Americans with travel plans this year say that the best trips are spontaneous and decided on a whim, a study by Motel 6 and Studio 6 found. The study, which surveyed more than 2,000 Americans who plan to travel this year, also found that almost three-quarters, or 73 percent, would be willing to visit a surprise destination. "Taking a last-minute getaway is a great way to add some joy into your life," said Julie Arrowsmith, president/interim CEO, G6 Hospitality, parent company of Motel 6 and Studio 6. Traveling distances, with companions According to the survey, seven in 10 (70 percent) U.S. travelers say they are indulging in longer excursions by traveling more than three hours from their hometown. When asked about companions, more than three in four (78 percent) travelers prefer to journey with other people, while almost one in three (28 percent) are planning to explore with pets, it added. Off-season and longer trips With impromptu trips on the rise, more than two in five (44 percent) vacationers admit they are switching up their travel experiences this year. Most notably, the typical "travel season" may be a thing of the past, with almost half (47 percent) indicating that they are just as likely to get away during the off-season or weekdays as opposed to peak times like holidays and weekends. Another 32 percent are taking longer vacations than ever before, the study pointed out.

JUST OVER ONE year ago, President Biden signed an executive order directing an "all-of-government approach" to assessing the status of the nation's supply chains to repair disruptions that are currently plaguing businesses large and small. The order led to the creation of a new plan, based on a six-month study, that the administration announced on Feb. 24 and which has earned the approval of the U.S. Small Business Administration and AAHOA. Biden's order a year ago led to the creation of the Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force. The report includes data from seven cabinet agencies, the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Commerce, Energy, Agriculture, Transportation and Health and Human Services. The administration announced additional actions to build long-term resilience across critical supply chains and formally institutionalize supply chain resilience.

HENRY COUNTY, GEORGIA, Police Officer Paramhans Desai gave his life in the line of duty. In his case, he continued giving even after his death. Desai was an organ donor, but his legacy will go beyond even that act of generosity, thanks to Samaj Saves Lives, a volunteer group dedicated to promoting organ donation nationwide. Jayantilal "Jerry" Patel, a Samaj Saves Lives Ambassador and Mississippi-based hotelier, spoke at the officer's funeral along with the deceased's sister Divya Desai. "I offered Divya, since he was an organ donor, that I would put up the billboards in the Atlanta metro area, to help the cause," Jerry said. "The GoFundMe page [set up for the family,] I think it's closed today at $345,000. That's a lot of money." The GoFundMe campaign has closed, and the money will go to Desai's family. The billboards, which Patel arranged as donation from Nick Brown with Lamar Outdoor Advertising of Atlanta, are in Rome and Cartersville, Georgia, and refer viewers to the Donate Life America website.

Stonehill CRE, the real estate arm of Stonehill, has finalized a $52 million senior loan agreement with Starpoint Properties to fund the construction of Lotus Point Apartments, a 245-unit multifamily development in Mesa, Arizona, within the Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area. The construction of this four-story building is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2025, Stonehill said in a statement. "This investment mirrors our sought-after strategy - a quality property with an experienced sponsor in a growing market," said Taylor Pike, senior vice president at Stonehill CRE. "Phoenix stands as a strong job growth market due to diverse employment opportunities. Single-family home development has not kept pace, and with rising mortgage rates, well-located multifamily projects will remain in high demand." This 6-acre site, adjacent to a retail center and within walking distance of the metro light rail, will provide studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units, along with amenities such as a fitness center, clubhouse, co-working area, pool, and parking options, Stonehill said.

THE CITY OF Los Angeles is not doing enough to regulate short-term rental properties, according to AAHOA and a report from local advocacy group Better Neighbors LA. Both groups say the city should do more to enforce its existing 2019 ordinance on home sharing apps such as Airbnb and Vrbo. Los Angeles' ordinance requires short-term rentals to register and sets other regulations on home sharing apps. However, the Better Neighbors report found that the city's enforcement of the ordinance has been dropping since 2022, evidenced by a 54 percent decrease in warning letters, an 85 percent decrease in fines and a 25 percent increase in non-compliant listings. "Every year we put out an annual report that gives a snapshot of how enforcement is going in the city of Los Angeles, how many short-term rentals exist, and how that's changed from the prior year. This year, we've found that non-compliance is up," Allison Kriste, a representative of Better Neighbors Los Angeles, said in an interview with the Santa Monica Mirror newspaper. "We found a high rate of non-compliance across the boards in the city of Los Angeles. In addition, we've also found that enforcement activity is down. We're identifying more non-compliant listings, as compared to last year. The city is issuing fewer warning letters, they're issuing fewer fines. They're not doing a whole lot."

AMERICINN BY WYNDHAM has launched the State Fair Family contest with a $15,000 family payday, a statement said. The winning family will get a $10,000 travel stipend and $5,000 cash as prize. To participate in the competition, families need to attend at least three separate Midwest state fairs in one week. They then document their experience in photos and videos on social media and contribute to the future AmericInn Best of the Midwest Fair Guide, the statement added. A social-media savvy family with active social media accounts (TikTok and Instagram preferred) over 21 years old can participate in the contest. They must be a U.S. resident with a valid federal or state-issued ID. Entries should be submitted by Aug. 3 along with a 300-word minimum written entry and family photo or 1- to 3-minute video describing what makes your family the ideal candidate for the job. The winner will be selected during the week of August 4, the company said.

Melissa Ross Smith is now chief operating officer for Peachtree Group. She will be responsible for the overall performance, strategy and organizational development of Peachtree and its operating businesses. Before joining Peachtree, Smith held several high-level positions at organizations. Most recently, Smith was managing director of OS National, where she managed more than 250 professionals and was responsible for evaluating performance management systems and devising improvements to strengthen controls and optimize results, Peachtree said in a statement. "As Peachtree continues to evolve, improving our foundational processes is imperative to the future growth of our business," said Greg Friedman, managing principal and CEO of Peachtree Group. "Melissa is an excellent complement to our team as she has an exceptional blend of leadership, vision and execution needed to be Peachtree's COO." Smith will report to Friedman, and will be a key executive team member, Peachtree's statement said. Peachtree Group is led by Jatin Desai and Mitul Patel as managing principals. "I am deeply impressed by Peachtree's success," Smith said. "Not only am I excited about the future opportunities, knowing that I can help execute and bring operational excellence across all segments, but I am also pleased to be joining an executive team representing some of the best people in commercial real estate."

Diesel generators are heavy-duty units designed for longevity. While the durability of diesel generators makes them ideal for long-term usage, they require significant upkeep to keep working as intended. If you have recently purchased a diesel generator or are considering purchasing one, there are several things to keep in mind to ensure you get the best value out of your investment. Everybody knows machines need timely maintenance and servicing to last longer, but diesel generators require several other measures to keep running optimally. Let's take a look at why diesel generator disasters happen and how to avoid those issues. LAUNDRY LIST OF REASONS WHY DIESEL GENERATORS BREAK DOWN Call up any reputable generator manufacturer or repair services and ask the most common causes for diesel generators to break down, and they'll give you a laundry list. You can click here to know about these causes in detail, but here's a long and short of various reasons for your diesel generator to give up. PUSHING THE GENERATOR TO ITS LIMITS It is basic knowledge that be it humans or machines, if they are pumping full steam every day, they are bound to break down. While humans can take a vacation and recharge, machinery needs proper maintenance. Think of maintenance like a spa day for your diesel generator. If you're running your diesel generator 24 hours a day all the time, it requires servicing every fortnight or 20 days. Failure to do so can severely damage the components of your generator or even cause it to break down.