Editor's Note: Some linked articles may be behind subscription paywalls.
1. Accor denies child trafficking accusations
French hotel firm Accor has denied allegations made by a short seller that it has been involved in exploitation and child trafficking. Reuters reports that U.S.-based Grizzly Research published a report that accusing Accor of lacking safeguards around bookings.
Grizzly Research said it sent reservation requests to 250 Accor hotels written in such a way to trigger red flags for human trafficking with the hotels. Of those, 40 complied with the requests. Reuters notes it could not independently verify these allegations.
In a statement, Accor has denied allegations that it is involved in "systemic exploitation of human or child tracking." The company is conducting an internal investigation and hired an external firm to verify the cited facts, and the conclusions will be made public.
"Should any of these allegations be confirmed, [Accor] would take all appropriate measures and reserve the right to prosecute parties involved in such practices," it said in the statement.
2. Seattle hotels contend with lower demand
A report from Oxford Economics commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association and the Seattle Hotel Association found hotels in the area and visitor spending generated $8.3 billion in economic activity in 2025. Yet hoteliers in the area are noticing a slowdown in demand, local news channel King 5 reports. The AHLA found Seattle's hotel revenue dropped by $44.6 million, or 2%, last year compared to 2024, mainly due to welcoming fewer visitors.
Ninety percent of the drop in visitors is related to many Canadians deciding to no longer cross the border, the AHLA found.
“They do not want to come south of the border. Canadians have always been our No. 1 group of guests. For them to be absent is very difficult," said Chris Tudor, owner of a Travelodge near Seattle Center.
3. Hotel labor shortage top of mind for AHLA
In a podcast interview with CoStar News Hotels' Sean McCracken, American Hotel & Lodging Association Executive Vice President of Policy, Regulatory and Legal Chirag Shah said labor shortages remain a major pain point for hoteliers.
"Top of mind for us, first and foremost, has long been addressing labor shortages," he said. "More than half of AHLA members continue to experience labor shortages, and so ensuring that folks have enough workers to be able to support their guests, provide the excellent customer service that we are known for in the hospitality industry is top of mind."
These shortages are coming into even bigger focus this year and in the coming years as the U.S. is set to host FIFA World Cup matches this year and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
4. China begins online registration for tourists with non-hotel stays
The National Immigration Administration in China has started a pilot online registration service for foreign visitors staying in accommodations other than hotels, the Straits Times reports. It is currently in effect for seven provincial-level regions: Hebei, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Hubei, Guangxi, Chongqing and Sichuan.
China requires hotels to register foreign guests and report their information to local public security authorities, according to the article. Those staying in homestays, rural villas, short-term rental apartments and other non-hotel accommodations must register within 24 hours of arriving and settling in. The online service allows them to do this now without having to visit a public security office in person.
5. Central banks rework plans in light of war with Iran
Central banks in Europe and other parts of the world have had to adjust their strategies to maintain or bring down their respective rates of inflation as the war in Iran stretches on, the Wall Street Journal reports. The European Central Bank as well as the central banks in the U.K., Switzerland, Sweden, Canada, Japan and the U.S. have kept their interest rates steady.
“The war in the Middle East has made the outlook significantly more uncertain, creating upside risks for inflation and downside risks for economic growth,” ECB President Christine Lagarde said Thursday.
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said the bank would be ready to raise interest rates should the increase in inflation become persistent instead of settling down as previously predicted.