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1. Economic threat of prolonged government shutdown
In most cases when there's a government shutdown in the U.S., the economy loses steam for a few weeks before gaining it back after it reopens. As the current shutdown enters its fourth week, the effects to the economy could be more severe than past pauses, the New York Times reports.
Economists project the shutdown will cut between 0.1 and 0.2 percentage points off annual growth in economic output each week it continues, the newspaper reports. That amounts to $7.6 billion and $15.2 billion a week.
The White House is trying to lay off thousands of federal employees and has threatened to withhold back pay for furloughed workers.
“If you’re worried about the potential for those indirect impacts, those only increase the longer the shutdown goes on,” Michael Zdinak, a director on the United States economics team at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said.
2. US shifts H-1B visa policy
President Donald Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee will now only apply to new visa applicants living outside the country, shifting the policy away from requiring the fee to be paid by all new visa applicants, except those who work for companies and industries that had secured a special waiver, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Employers won't need to pay the fee for anyone already living in the U.S., such as international students. Last year, about 54% of the 141,000 new H-1B visas went to immigrants already in the U.S. on a different type of visa.
3. Leeny Oberg opines career, impending retirement
Marriott International Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Development Leeny Oberg spoke at the Annual Hospitality Conference in Manchester recently about her lengthy career in the hotel and hospitality industry and her near 30-year tenure with Marriott as she approaches her announced retirement in a few months, CoStar News' Terence Baker reports.
Oberg said a lot has changed since she first started in the industry, but success in the industry is still driven by good management, hotel quality and the economic power of travel.
“The hotel industry is growing at a faster rate than [gross domestic product], which is all about the growing ease of travel and the desire to travel, with more people entering the middle class. The dynamics are really good,” she said. “Everything is not the same all over the world, but a hotel must fit the market and the owner’s aspirations. That’s where the purse strings are, and it is my job to do that in a disciplined way."
4. Air traffic control staffing issues lead to flight delays
One of the consequences of the government shutdown has been staffing issues with air traffic controllers, resulting in flight delays. The Federal Aviation Administration said these staffing problems led to delays at airports in Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta and Newark on Sunday that trickled into Monday, NBC News reports.
There were more than 7,900 flights delayed within, into or out of the United States on Sunday and more than 6,600 delayed on Monday, according to data from FlightAware.
"I hope we don't see more disruptions. But as this gets closer to payday, I think you could see more of that through the airspace," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Monday morning.
5. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express adds first route from Paris to Amalfi Coast
Starting next May, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express will launch its first route from Paris to the Amalfi Coast, including a two-night stay at the five-star Caruso, A Belmond Hotel, Amalfi Coast, Euro News reports.
The train will travel from Paris to Pompeii for a guided tour before ending the rail portion in Ravello, where the Caruso hotel is located. The two-night stay will include a private party and a gala dinner.