Despite expectations for a World Cup jobs boom, employment in the US leisure and hospitality sector fell by 61,000 in June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall US employment rose less than expected, potentially making an interest rate hike less likely.
A survey reveals nearly a quarter of UK pubs, bars, and restaurants are losing money, prompting celebrity chefs and business owners, led by Tom Kerridge, to launch a campaign for a VAT cut from 20% to 10% to alleviate financial pressure.
A LaLiga study suggests over half of Spanish football fans will watch the 2026 World Cup in bars, but bar owners report a shift towards home viewing post-pandemic. While bars anticipate increased takings if Spain progresses, many fans now prefer home gatherings with food delivery orders rising.
Restaurateurs have criticized a temporary VAT cut on children's meals as a "soundbite" that will have little impact on families or businesses, arguing for broader VAT reductions to address rising costs in the hospitality sector.
Melbourne police are investigating a series of arson attacks on hospitality businesses, allegedly carried out by teenagers recruited by organized crime. The "hospitality wars" have caused over $1.1m in damage, with police suspecting motives ranging from extortion to drug trafficking, and questioning the lenient sentences for young offenders.
Global hotel chains like Marriott, Accor, and Hyatt are prioritizing vibrant lobbies and social experiences over traditional luxury rooms in India, catering to Gen Z and millennials who value experiences and community over opulence.
Jason Atherton, who has restaurants in Dubai, St Moritz and now Tuscany, says it’s tough to stay afloat in UK hospitality industryA British Michelin-starred chef says he is opening restaurants abroad to subsidise his UK venues against a backdrop of high taxes and a struggling hospitality sector.Jason Atherton is now in Forte dei Marmi, on the Tuscan coast in Italy, where he is preparing his newest opening, Maria’s, which will be in the Principessa hotel. The Sheffield-born chef now has restaurants all over the world, including in Dubai and St Moritz. Continue reading...
Chair Tim Martin says pub chain could miss expectations, in latest sign UK hospitality sector buckling under higher billsBusiness live – latest updatesThe boss of JD Wetherspoon has said the pub chain could miss profit expectations because of rising costs, in the latest sign the UK hospitality industry is buckling under the pressure of higher energy, food, labour and tax bills.The company’s chair, Tim Martin, told investors on Wednesday: “As many hospitality operators, including Wetherspoon, have reported, there have been substantial increases in costs.” Continue reading...
