Judicial Reference is a procedure similar in many ways to binding arbitration. For convenience, we may sometimes use the word “Reference” interchangeably with “Judicial Reference.”
While some companies in some industries have a tendency to consolidate and eliminate brands, the hotel industry is different. Most of the leading hotel companies with brands, such as Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Hyatt, and Accor, regularly acquire or create new brands or flags. Today, Marriott has 30 flags, Hilton has 22, IHG has 14, Hyatt has 29, and Accor has 40, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. With so many flags to choose from, it’s easy to overlook another choice – no brand at all. While picking a brand is an obvious choice, the possibility that operating a hotel without a brand may be the better choice.
A recent spate of lawsuits from plaintiffs represented by Pacific Trial Attorneys has highlighted the need for businesses to ensure ADA compliance. In the below article, JMBM partner Stuart Tubis discusses the importance of website compliance, and how best to defend your business if there is liability.
Robin Zeidel spent four years in book publishing before following in her father’s footsteps by getting a law degree. When a Wall Street firm came knocking, Robin’s plans to join her father’s practice went by the wayside. She spent almost six years as assistant general counsel at Starwood before founding her firm, Zeidel and Associates, in 2010.
The French ad hoc mandate is a confidential procedure for the out-of-court settlement of disputes Its aim is to remedy a company’s financial situation before it is declared insolvent. The merits of ad hoc mandates , subject to the article L 611-3 of the French Commercial Code , are well established since these legal mechanisms have proved their worth in preventing and dealing with business difficulties.
Mark S. Adams is an experienced trial lawyer, partner, and senior member of JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group®. In his more than 14 years with the Firm, Mark has created an international reputation as a Hotel Dispute Lawyer, handling litigation, arbitration, jury trials, and alternate dispute resolution in hundreds of matters affecting hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other hospitality properties. But not every matter should, or does, end up in litigation. Mark also provides pre-litigation strategic advice to avoid litigation and optimize a client’s position for settlement where possible.
Mark S. Adams is an experienced trial lawyer, partner, and senior member of JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group®. In his more than 14 years with the Firm, Mark has created an international reputation as a Hotel Dispute Lawyer, handling litigation, arbitration and alternate dispute resolution in hundreds of matters affecting hotels, resorts, restaurants and other hospitality properties.
In October this year, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law (effective July 1, 2024) a sweeping ban on pricing goods and services without including all mandatory fees or charges.
In any hotel setting, there is an incredible amount of activity. Hotels are large business machines with lots of moving parts, so keeping an eye on every aspect is nearly impossible, including physical crimes that can take place onsite. The operations of hotels can differ based on levels of service, brand, size and more.
Recently, the California Assembly quietly instituted a bill that would dramatically change the landscape of ADA website litigation. If you think the recent wave of ADA website lawsuits has been alarming, buckle up – because you haven’t seen anything yet.
The Tourism/Visitor industry is one of the world’s great industries. Large industries also mean that great deals of money can be involved. The tourism industry spends a great deal of money on promotions and marketing campaigns. Because many people assume that large tourism businesses also have deep pockets, in litigious societies such as the United States, there are also multiple lawsuits and/or other legal problems. Often local convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) or tourism offices are unaware of their own nation’s laws and obligations. This ignorance of the law can be very costly. It is for this reason that Tourism Tidbits raises the following issues.
It seems like we’re on an economic rollercoaster right now and the big question is when we get off. When does inflation cool? We dig into the latest data to help determine if a soft landing really is where we’re heading.
The addition of any new country into our Visa Waiver Program (VWP) has always been a big deal.
When the Patel family opened a hotel in Dickinson, North Dakota in 2007, they agreed that brand recognition offered by a large franchise chain would be a valuable trade-off to operating independently. After careful analysis, they chose to operate their family hotel as a Quality Inn and Suites with Choice Hotel International Inc. (Choice Hotels). This is similar to the decisions being made by thousands of entrepreneurs each year to become franchisees of large brands instead of working as independent small business owners.
Under the influence of international operators, hotel management methods in France and Europe have evolved, with management agreements increasingly being favoured over leases. The profile of hospitality investors has also changed, with highly professional funds able to adopt this type of management solution.
Over the past years, hotel companies – including brands, managers and owners – have increasingly sought the benefit of access to public markets and, in doing so, have become subject to the registration and disclosure requirements of the United States Securities Act and Securities Exchange Act. In doing so, these companies need to comply with a broad variety of detailed regulations addressing their disclosure and reporting obligations. The Securities Exchange Commission recently adopted regulations which will have an impact on publicly traded hotel companies that suffer a data breach.
For hotel management companies looking to secure new management contracts from hotel owners, the technology on offer can make or break a deal. Investors own hotels explicitly to make the business value increase, often with a profitable sale as a targeted outcome. But we all know that post-pandemic labor tightening has put a strain on hotel operations. When operations are stressed, there is a downstream impact on property maintenance, guest experience, reviews, and eventually revenue.
Remington Hotels, a prominent hotel management company, has unveiled a new brand identity as Remington Hospitality, reflecting its broader range of offerings and future strategic directions which include traditional hotel accommodations, independent hotels and resorts, upscale dining, wellness and spa services, as well as glamping and unconventional projects. Having launched its Brand Performance team in 2021 and with over five decades in the hospitality sector, Remington is now exploring international expansion and further ventures into the wellness resort market. The rebrand aligns with their core values of hospitality, integrity, and excellence. The new brand strategy also promises to provide more stability for its employees and will attract a wider range of ownership groups. Looking forward, the company aims to become a powerhouse in the areas of food, beverages, wellness, luxury independent accommodations, and non-traditional lodging.
The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) is an important piece of legislation guaranteeing equal access to public facilities to the nearly 60 million people with disabilities in the US today. Stuart Tubis, a partner in JMBM’s ADA Compliance and Defense practice, recently presented on why accessibility legislation is something all business owners should be aware of, and how many lawsuits have shifted focus to online spaces instead of brick-and-mortar locations.
Many countries have laid new visions and concrete plans to facilitate international travel and gain larger shares of the global travel market. With demand for global travel high, and international inbound travel to the U.S. being years away from a full recovery, we must address the current challenges and deterrents to remain competitive as a destination.