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1. Grand Canyon hotels remain closed without water
All hotels at Grand Canyon National Park are still closed because of a lack of water, SF Gate reports. Officials have pushed back their estimates on reopening the hotels until later this week but have not shared specific dates.
Joelle Baird, Grand Canyon National Park's public affairs officer, cited weather limitations that prevented repair crews from flying in to start work on a broken waterline last week. The National Park Service is waiting on test results to make sure the water is safe to drink.
2. Viceroy Hotels names Arash Azarbarzin CEO
Viceroy Hotels & Resorts has appointed Arash Azarbarzin as its new CEO, according to a news release. Since September 2021, Azarbarzin has been the CEO of Highgate, which acquired Viceroy in December 2022.
“I am honored to take on this role and build upon Viceroy’s legacy as the premier luxury lifestyle brand,” Azarbarzin said in the news release. “Looking ahead, my focus will be on expanding Viceroy’s global footprint and setting new benchmarks for immersive hospitality, and ensuring every Viceroy destination creates lasting memories for our guests.”
3. Aimbridge sues co-founder, former CEO Dave Johnson
Aimbridge Hospitality has sued Dave Johnson, the company's co-founder and former executive chairman and CEO, CoStar News Hotels reports. Aimbridge alleges Johnson violated restrictive covenant agreements he agreed to as a consultant for the company.
In a response filing, Johnson called the allegations false and denied working with or for a competing hotel company in violation of their agreement.
4. US might review foreign visitors' social media history
U.S. Customers and Border Patrol has proposed being able to review up to five years of foreign visitors' social media postings, the New York Times reports. This would affect visitors who are eligible for the visa waiver program, which allows travelers from 42 countries to enter the U.S. for 90 days without a visa if they have electronic travel authorization.
The proposal says CBP plans to ask visitors for personal data including social media, email addresses over the last decade and the names, birth dates, places of residence and birthplace of parents, spouses, siblings and children. Currently, those visiting from visa waiver countries have to pay $40 and submit an email address, home address, phone number and emergency contact information.
5. US jobs report shows more layoffs, steady hiring
The U.S. Department of Labor's latest monthly report on job openings and labor turnover showed the rate of layoffs increased to 1.2% in October versus 1.1% in August and September, the Wall Street Journal reports. The rate of hiring held at 3.2% from August, and job openings increased by more than 400,000 in the two-month span.
The amount of workers who voluntarily left their jobs continued to fall, hitting 1.8% in October, down from 1.9% in August and 2% a year ago.
"The latest official statistics in hand show a job market that has cooled moderately since the start of the year," the newspaper reports. "Over the three months through September, companies were creating new jobs at roughly half the rate seen at the start of the year, and unemployment has risen to 4.4%, from 4.1% at the end of 2024. If hiring appetite weakens further, some economists worry, the labor market could spiral toward more layoffs as increased joblessness holds back consumer spending."