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1. MGM China To Bid for New License
MGM Resorts International said it will fuel its Macau casino operator with nearly $600 million as it prepares to bid for a new license, the Wall Street Journal reports.
COVID-19 outbreaks and strict restrictions in the first half of the year across mainland China and Macau have led MGM China to a $306 million loss attributable to the owners of the company, compared to a $221 million loss the previous year.
"The cash injection follows the introduction of new rules governing Macau’s casino operators that set the stage for a rebidding process for licenses after they expire at the end of 2022. Companies are required to increase their capital to 5 billion patacas, the equivalent of around $619 million, to ensure they have sufficient financial resources," the news outlet reports.
2. British Airways Cuts 10,000 More Flights
British Airways is eliminating more than 10,000 flights until the winter months, further straining Europe's tourism recovery, the Wall Street Journal reports.
More than 1,200 domestic and intra-European flights will be cut through October. Another 10,000 will be eliminated through the winter season, representing about 8% of the airline's total winter routes.
The flights are being cut to "comply with an extension of London Heathrow Airport's cap on departing passengers," the news outlet reports.
3. Marriott Exec Says Shift in Travel is More Exciting Than Daunting
Erika Alexander, chief global officer, global operations, for Marriott International, said in a video interview with Hotel News Now's Stephanie Ricca at the recent Hotel Data Conference that travel may not be fundamentally different, but it has shifted in an exciting way.
“Travelers still want wonderful experiences, great food and beverage, and clean hotels. They want us to be excellent at the basics,” she said. “They just want more of it now. … They want to get more out of their travels, and that’s the exciting shift that’s happened in the last couple years."
Alexander said her job is to understand what those customer needs and wants are and to deliver on it.
4. NYC Could Spend $300 Million Per Year on Hotel Rooms for Migrants
New York City officials over the past month have either rented or said they would rent nearly 5,800 hotel rooms as new migrants enter from the southern border, the New York Post reports. As a result, NYC could spend more than $300 million annually to provide the shelter.
"One of the largest operations is planned for the ROW NYC hotel on 8th Avenue in Midtown, where officials are looking to rent as many as 600 rooms and provide intake and other services for the recent arrivals," the news outlet reports.
5. Meliá, Beyond Global Launch Two 'Resortainment' Brands
European hotel operator Meliá Hotels International SA, which has 380 hotels across nearly 50 countries, and its joint-venture partner Falcon's Beyond Global are starting two new brands aimed at adding theme parks and other entertainment to resort hotels, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The two companies will build these attractions at existing Meliá properties. The new brands are called Falcon's Beyond Destinations and Falcon's Resorts by Meliá, and will debut later this year at a Meliá property in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
“We believe destinations after a number of years need to transform themselves,” Meliá’s Chief Operating Officer Andre Gerondeau told the news outlet. “You need to create new offerings for the guests based on their travel habits.”