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1. Survey finds 72% of Americans say it's a bad time to job-hunt
According to a newly released Gallup poll, 72% of workers in the U.S. say it's a bad time to look for a job, which sharply contrasts the mid-2022 survey that found that 70% of workers believed it to be a good time to seek employment, the Associated Press reports.
"As recently as late 2024, just under half of workers still said it was a good time to search for a job. The current survey was conducted during the final three months of 2025, long before the Iran war that has sent oil and gas prices soaring and threatens to slow the economy as Americans redirect more of their dollars to filling gas tanks and away from other spending," the AP reports.
The survey proved a generational divide when it comes to sentiment about the workforce. Only around 2 in 10 workers ages 18 to 34 said now is a good time to find a job, while 40% of workers ages 65 and older who say the same.
2. India's private sector growth slows to three-year low
This month, the private sector in India has expanded at its slowest rate in over three years, according to Reuters. Domestic demand suffered from price shocks from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, but international orders hit a record high.
"HSBC's flash India Composite Purchasing Managers' Index, compiled by S&P Global, slumped to 56.5 this month, well below the median forecast of 59.0 in a Reuters poll which had expected little change from February's final reading of 58.9," according to the article.
Although a number above 50 signals expansion, it's the steepest decline of growth in a year and a half.
3. Hoteliers believe in travel's resiliency during Middle East crisis
Reporting from the 2026 International Hospitality Investment Forum EMEA, CoStar News Hotels' Terence Baker and Sean McCracken heard from industry leaders from around the world during the first day of the conference. The speakers expressed that they are cautious about the geopolitical headwinds present from conflicts in the Middle East, but are confident in the resiliency of tourism.
“This is a short-term challenge. Most of our agreements are for between 20 to 25 years. The [Middle East] is resilient, and Hilton is 105 years in age,” said Carlos Khneisser, chief development officer for the Middle East and Africa at Hilton.
4. New York City sees slowing of international travelers
While New York City saw a less than 1% increase in overall tourists in 2025, fewer visitors hailed from international destinations, the New York Times reports.
"The total number of visitors rose to 65 million people last year, up less than 1% over the year before, the city’s tourism agency announced on Tuesday," according to the article. "But the number of international visitors fell to 12.5 million people, a decrease of more than 3% since 2024."
The city's international traveler decline is in line with a bigger trend of less international tourism across the country since President Donald Trump returned to office.
Tourism generated $55.6 billion for New York City's economy in 2025.
5. Marriott to introduce Series brand to Europe with 11 new hotels
Marriott International will debut its Series by Marriott brand in Europe with the signings of 11 hotels in Italy and the United Kingdom, according to a news release. Launched in 2025, Series by Marriott is a new collection brand comprising hotels in the midscale to upscale segments.
Marriott has signed six projects with the Amapa Group in Italy and five hotels in the U.K. with Splendid Hospitality Group. In Italy, the hotels will be in Montesilvano, Peschici, Pomezia, Rimini, Valmontone and Venice. The U.K. hotels will be in Earls Court, Euston, Kings Cross in London and other prime regional locations.
“We see strong potential to further expand the Series by Marriott brand across the continent, which has been created to bring established, regionally relevant brands and hotels into the Marriott portfolio with industry-leading revenue generation capabilities and affiliation cost structures," said Neal Jones, president, EMEA, Marriott International, in a news release.