Shad Khan commits $301 million for Four Seasons: Shad Khan, owner of Jacksonville Jaguars, has proposed a US$301.2 million development for a 170-room Four Seasons hotel, office building and marina access adjacent to the Shipyards Site in Jacksonville, Florida. As part of the deal, his Iguana Investments is asking the city to contribute US$114.5 million to the project, including US$47.68 million in tax rebates over 20 years, a completion grant worth US$25.83 million and US$13.37 million in reimbursements of the cost for replacing the Metropolitan Park Marina.
Group raises minimum wages, eliminates tipping: The Pablo Group, owner of six bars, hotels and coffee shops in downtown Eau Claire, Wisconsin, has eliminated tipping and raised their minimum wage to US$16 an hour and those working more than 20 hours per week are offered benefits, including health care and a 401(k). The Pablo Group said its pricing will be adjusted to accommodate the higher wages. According to the US Department of Labor, Wisconsin’s hourly wage for tipped workers is US$2.33.
Platform for innovation in tourism industry: Alan Elliott Merschen, the founder of Myriad and partner with MMGY Global, has launched The Sigmund Project, a free, open-source hub to share ideas and innovation to foster interconnectivity and find solutions to the challenges facing the travel industry. Sigmund is offering an Investment Grant Program for partnerships that have formed as a result of networking through the platform. Applications for the grant will open in 2022. “We are not micro-financing. We are not a VC incubator. We are looking for ideas that have a strong triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit. With all investment grants, The Sigmund Project will take an interest in the company. All proceeds will then be reinvested into more ideas,” Merschen said.
Blue Water sells 2 hotels in Delaware: Blue Water Development, a real estate development an outdoor hospitality company, sold the only two hotels in Bethany Beach, Delaware, to EOS Acquisitions. The 112-room Bethany Beach Ocean Suites, Residence Inn by Marriott, and the 100-room Holiday Inn Express Bethany Beach were purchased by the privately-held real estate investment firm. Blue Water built the Bethany Beach Ocean Suites in 2015, while it acquired the Holiday Inn Express in 2018. Blue Water is developing seven RV resorts and four hotels, in addition to its portfolio of nearly two dozen waterfront or water-adjacent properties.
EU jobseekers interest in UK declines: EU jobseekers’ interest in the UK job market has waned since the new Brexit immigration rules were implemented, according to a study by jobs website Indeed. The study said there has been a 36% drop in job searches from EU since 2019, with lower paid roles in social care, food and hospitality seeing a 41% drop in interest. Although the COVID-19 pandemic played a significant role in declining job searches, it isn’t the only factor. During 2020, EU and non-EU searches fell by 14% and 7% respectively, but since Brexit rules were implemented, the two search trends have diverged, with searches from outside the EU almost returning to 2019 levels. The trend has fueled concerns of labor shortage in the UK.
Deutsche Hospitality’s rapid digital COVID test: Deutsche Hospitality has introduced rapid digital medically authorized COVID tests for its guests in Germany, as part of its Safe Travel Campaign. Guests can purchase a secure test kit at the reception for €4.50. Guests will pay a further €9.99 to reserve an appointment online, and the test is then conducted in the presence of a qualified healthcare professional. The result is sent by e-mail along with a doctor’s certificate.