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1. Trump promises temporary pass for immigrant hotel workers
In a TV interview with Fox News on Sunday, President Donald Trump said his administration is working on a temporary pass for immigrants who work in certain industries, which include hospitality and agriculture, NBC News reported.
“We’re working on it right now. We’re going to work it so that some kind of a temporary pass where people pay taxes, where the farmer can have a little control, is working on a temporary pass as opposed to you walk in and take everybody away,” Trump said in an interview that was taped Friday and aired Sunday on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”
However, when reached for comment, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security reiterated a statement from earlier this month, which read, "There will be no safe spaces for industries who harbor violent criminals or purposely try to undermine ICE’s efforts." NBC reported that the White House was not able to be reached to clear up the conflicting comments.
2. Hyatt shares plans for Playa Hotels & Resorts properties
Only two weeks after closing the deal to buy Playa Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels Corp. is selling $2 billion in owned real estate acquired in the recently closed transaction.
The announced deal includes the sale of Playa's 15 all-inclusive resorts to Tortuga Resorts, a joint venture of hospitality investor KSL Capital Partners and Rodina, a family office based in Mexico City, CoStar News' Bryan Wroten reports. The global hotel brand company finalized its $2.6 billion purchase of Playa on June 17.
“The planned real estate sale to Tortuga transforms the acquisition of Playa Hotels & Resorts into a fully asset-light transaction and increases Hyatt’s fee-based earnings,” Hyatt President and CEO Mark Hoplamazian said. “Hyatt has secured long-term, durable management agreements and the planned real estate sale demonstrates Hyatt’s commitment to its asset-light business model and ability to deliver value to shareholders that is accretive in the first full year.”
3. Goldman Sachs abandons Grecian hospitality plans
Goldman Sachs, which bought three resorts in Greece in 2022 and had plans reopen them this year, has seemingly scrapped its Grecian hospitality endeavors. Earlier this year, Goldman abruptly sold the three hotels — barely breaking even on the original investment of €100 million ($117 million), according to the Wall Street Journal.
"While the investment was a small one for Goldman’s asset-management division, it was emblematic of the firm’s search for big returns and steady fees to offset its lucrative but volatile Wall Street businesses," the Journal reports. "Its goal in Greece was to use mostly client money and financing to drive up the hotels’ value, then book big profits when they were sold. All the while, Goldman would collect management fees from clients whose money was invested."
The three properties Goldman Sachs previously acquired were located on Greece’s northern peninsula of Halkidiki, and the firm had planned to largely demolish and rebuild the hotels, according to the article. However, none of the three hotels reopened under Goldman Sachs ownership.
4. Migrant hotel shelters in Massachusetts to close Monday
Most of the remaining open emergency shelters for migrants in Massachusetts hotels will close today, according to The Boston Globe. Twenty-eight of the 32 still-open shelters will close June 30. The final four will close by July 31.
In 2023, the state housed around 7,500 families — over 23,000 people — in 128 hotels, according to the article. Gov. Maura Healey has been opposed to the program, even accelerating its closure deadline by six months.
“There's been a massive push by everybody involved in the system, including resettlement agencies, to rehouse people, and good efforts to teach people English and help with work authorization,” said Jeffrey D. Thielman, president and CEO of the International Institute of New England, who also said the efforts have slowed the pace of new migrants into the state.
5. Dangerous heatwave descends on parts of Europe
Dangerously high temperatures are plaguing parts of Europe this week, with Portugal, Spain, Italy and France taking the brunt of the heat. Britain is also expected to see extreme heat, according to the New York Times.
Temperatures have skyrocketed above summer norms, with Rome, which usually sees average highs of 86 degrees Fahrenheit during the season, saw thermometers in its southeastern suburb of Tor Vergata hit 104.
The article goes on to provide tips for European residents, including how to keep homes cool by blocking out windows and avoiding use of stoves and ovens.