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1. UK Shortens Isolation Period Amid Labor Shortage, COVID-19 Spike
English officials are reducing the number of days people are required to isolate following COVID-19 symptoms to help "alleviate staff shortages in several critical sectors as more people test positive," the New York Times reports. The country is cutting it from 10 days to seven days.
The newspaper notes quarantine rules and a surge in cases "has winnowed the staffs of hospitals, clinics, rail services, fire departments and ambulance services across England, where most pandemic restrictions have been lifted since the summer."
2. Trinity Picks Up 50% Stake in Omni San Diego
Officials with Trinity Real Estate Investments have announced they've acquired a 50% stake in the 511-room Omni San Diego Hotel for an undisclosed price from JMI Realty. Omni Hotels & Resorts will continue to own the other 50% and to operate the property, according to a news release.
This is the second hotel deal in Southern California involving Trinity announced this week following the earlier acquisition of the W Hollywood through a partnership with Oaktree.
3. Driftwood Outlines Investment Strategy
With an active hotel transactions environment and hope that a recovery of fundamentals continues in 2022, Driftwood Capital sees opportunity as a buyer, a seller and a lender, HNN's Dana Miller reports.
Speaking during the company's annual investor conference, President and Chief Operating Officer Carlos Rodriguez Jr. said he sees opportunities across the board.
"We are now finally seeing tailwinds in the industry for recovery," in a macroeconomic sense, he said.
4. Dubai Still a Hot Destination Even As Omicron Spreads
While international travel in general has been muted as the omicron variant of COVID-19 spreads, Reuters reports travelers are still eager to go to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The Expo 2020 world fair runs through March 31, 2022, in Dubai and has drawn nearly 5 million visitors since opening in October.
Part of the explanation around current travel trends to Dubai seems to be a certain segment of travelers feel like they've done enough to be safe in the current environment, which is what Brazilian tourist Livya Feho said when asked if she was worried about omicron.
"Yes, a bit ...but I had the booster dose... and I am also using the mask. So I think I will be fine," she said.
5. A Look at Recent Major Event Cancellations
Bloomberg recently compiled a list of some of the major events that have been canceled as omicron continues to spread.
Among the events canceled, delayed or moved online are the World Economic Forum and JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s annual healthcare forum.