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1. Americans continue to struggle with costs of necessities
An overwhelming majority of Americans — 95% — in a new Harris Poll survey say the country is undergoing an "affordability crisis," with more than half saying they are having trouble affording gas and groceries, The Guardian reports.
The survey also indicates fewer Americans believe the country is on the right economic path than when it was last conducted. Now only 16% say the economy is getting better compared to 28% in February.
2. EU delays pre-authorized entry program
The European Union has delayed a new pre-authorized travel program until 2027 due to the bloc's recent "chaotic" rollout of its electronic border-check system, The Financial Times reports.
"About 1.4 billion visa-exempt travelers to the EU — including those from the U.K. and U.S. — will have to register through the European travel information and authorization system, known as Etias, which mirrors the U.S. ESTA system. Applicants will pay €20 and undergo pre-travel security checks," the news outlet reports.
Officials in charge have noted technical glitches have made a 2026 rollout of the new program "no longer feasible."
3. Rockbridge CEO sees membership programs as growth platform
Rockbridge CEO and founder Jimmy Merkel said he's looking to leverage the power of membership clubs in hospitality as a new growth vertical for his company, starting with a massive mixed-use development in its home city of Columbus, Ohio, CoStar News' Stephanie Ricca reports.
Rockbridge is working with Edwards Cos. to develop a 32-story, $430-million mixed-use tower called The Merchant Building, which will include office floors, a club and residences element, hotel floors, and a social club with a pool, a library and separate guestrooms. Other membership-club projects are in the works in Denver and Houston, Merkel said.
"This gives us more critical mass and there are more operating synergies that will complement the whole platform," he said.
4. Ascendant buys eight-hotel portfolio in Virginia Beach, Outer Banks
Ascendant Capital Partners has announced the acquisition of an eight-hotel portfolio in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and the Outer Banks, North Carolina.
No price was given for the 965-room portfolio, which was previously owned by Coastal Hospitality Associates.
Hotels included in the deal are: SpringHill Suites by Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront, Residence Inn by Marriott Virginia Beach Town Center, Residence Inn by Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront, Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Virginia Beach Oceanfront, Holiday Inn VA Beach-Oceanside, Holiday Inn Express & Suites VA Beach Oceanfront, Holiday Inn Express Nags Head Oceanfront, and Holiday Inn Express Kitty Hawk — Outer Banks.
The properties will now be managed by Schulte Hospitality Group.
5. United, Delta face class action suit over windowless window seats
A class-action lawsuit against United Airlines and Delta Air Lines for passengers who paid extra to sit in window seats only to find their rows had no windows was allowed to move forward by a federal judge Monday, Reuters reports.
United had sought to throw out the suit claiming "window" referred to the position of the seat in the cabin and not the presence of an actual window.