Latest news with #hospitality
The Independent
11 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- The Independent
I'm gay – I don't want to be surrounded by children on holiday
In a contested year for really bad ideas, this is a howler – or should that be howleur? Because the French have proposed a new law that would mean hotels and restaurants that don't admit children could be prosecuted. Quelle horreur. France 's high commissioner for childhood, Sarah El Haïry, said that the hospitality industry was showing signs of a 'no-kids trend', and that, she said, was ' violence against children'. She particularly took aim at adults like me, who object to being disturbed by other people's kids when on holiday. 'A child shouts, laughs and moves,' she said. 'We're institutionalising the idea that silence is a luxury and the absence of children is a luxury.' Damn right we are – and it's a luxury I won't give up without a fight. Because such a ban on 'adult-only' establishments would be inadvertently homophobic. It's an overlooked and under-discussed topic, and potentially taboo to say, but whoever proposed this ban hasn't faced the microaggressions that gay people like me face daily – from children. They can't help it – they're kids. But kids don't have the same filter that fully socialised adults do. And that lack of filter can spoil my holiday, cherished time I take out away from the microaggressions of the everyday straight world. They're not things like outright hostility or violence; it's the small things that add up to make you feel like you're not welcome. They catapult you back to when you were treated as an outsider, a freak, a 'queer', just for being you. When I'm affectionate in public with a partner, as everyone should be able to be on holiday – and the French, of all people, should get this – children who haven't witnessed much same-sex affection will often stare. They sometimes point, whisper or giggle. This is what I mean by a microaggression – and it's one I can do without. You get tired of being someone else's learning curve. That includes staring kids. I don't blame them for doing it. But so many times, in places where kids are allowed, me and my boyfriend (who am I kidding? Holiday romance…) often end up self-censoring to the point we'll refrain from even holding hands. Recently, I got sick of reigning it in that this year, for the first time, I stayed in a gay-friendly resort in Mexico, the Spartacus Hostel for Men in Puerto Vallarta. It was a revelation. Surrounded only by other gay men, I… exhaled. I was no longer in a minority. We could be as gay as we liked, without fear of upsetting or confusing conservative families with children. It was hugely liberating. Under French plans, such places of freedom would be prosecuted. I would avoid France if it instigated such a ban. And we must raise our voices before an idea like this spreads. It's not just for people like me who want to be gay in peace. My female best friend is happily childless by choice. We both adore adult-only establishments. We live on opposite sides of the world so our quality quiet time together, without the interruption of kids, is important to us. She would resist such a mindless ban, given she gets judged enough for a choice she sees as empowering, when others see it, infuriatingly, as sympathy-inducing. We love our friends' children, but we need spaces where our own behaviour isn't policed. Where we can swear, flirt, drink cocktails, tell sordid stories without having to live up to 'child friendly' behaviour standards. There are just a handful of magical 'men-only' hostels and hotels in the world, catering to gay men like me who want to truly relax without worrying, for once, about upsetting anyone's 'innocent' sensibilities. In addition, there's only a relatively small cohort of adult-only venues worldwide, designed for people who don't hate kids, but simply desire a week or two without them. According to most recent statistics, France is still the world's most visited country. But it risks kissing goodbye to that top spot if it proceeds with this ill-considered and stigmatising ban. Well… mwah!
Irish Times
15 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Irish tourism feels the pinch of negative data
Eight months after the first cracks in Irish tourism began to show – at least from a statistical point of view – it looks like things are finally improving. But is more trouble afoot? Last September, results from the Central Statistics Office 's (CSO) Inbound Tourism series showed the number of those arriving into Ireland had dropped year on year by 0.7 per cent. A blip? It appeared not – the same metric continued to slide, down 5.1 per cent in October and continuously over the following months, reaching a nadir of 30 per cent down last February. If the industry was getting concerned, it was also getting confused. One only had to look at bookings on the ground, the hospitality sector began to say, to see something wasn't quite right with the CSO's numbers. READ MORE What followed was a sort of polite standoff between the statisticians and tourism bodies. Meetings were held, numbers were crunched, dissenting views were aired. The CSO, for its part, defended its data gathering, highlighting its characteristically robust methods and independently reviewed systems. [ CSO meets tourism industry over 'confusing' visitor data Opens in new window ] But as things neared fever pitch, the fever broke. Data for April , published this week, showed another decline, certainly – down 4 per cent year-on-year – but also indications of recovery. Michael Magner, president of the Irish Hotels Federation , said while there was still a discrepancy between the published figures and industry data, April's were 'more aligned with what businesses have been reporting on the ground'. Hotels, he noted, saw average room occupancy rates of 77 per cent in April compared with 74.5 per cent for the same month last year, as well as a 2 per cent increase in bookings for the first four months of the year. Tourism activity appeared to be holding up. But then another set of numbers kept the champagne corks firmly in place. [ Irish hotels to join landmark Europe-wide legal action against Opens in new window ] 'We are concerned about the overall drop in tourism spend which the CSO are reporting for April, down 10 per cent,' Magner said in a swift addendum to the positive observation on visitor rates. 'This would appear to be part of a wider trend so far this year, according to CSO figures. If this continues into the summer, it would pose an enormous challenge.' Visitor spend was down 22 per cent in March, 31 per cent in February, and 28 per cent in January. In fact, one would have to go back to October to see an increase. If it's not visitors, it's how much they part with – what might May bring?
RNZ News
15 hours ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Rotorua tourism, hospo businesses concered about exchange rate fluctuations
The Rotorua Museum - Most survey respondents were from tourism, accommodation, or hospitality and food service. Photo: LDR / Laura Smith The latest Rotorua business sentiment survey shows local companies are not immune to global instability. Geopolitical volatility was the highest-ranked concern for business leaders, with 43 percent very or extremely concerned about its effect on their business. This was the first time global concerns had outweighed local issues, such as finding skilled staff, the survey showed. RotoruaNZ chief executive Andrew Wilson said this showed many business leaders were very connected with their global markets. Most respondents were from tourism, accommodation, or hospitality and food service. While these might be less affected by tariffs then export-led industries, Wilson said geopolitical volatility led to fluctuations in exchange rates, which effected the value of a visitor dollar. "Obviously, when we've got a weaker New Zealand dollar, we look very favourable for international tourism." He said the key for businesses riding out this volatility was having diversity in the markets they targeted. "Within those international markets, have you got a good spread in terms of the types of countries you are focused on, so you're not ending up in a scenario where you've got all your eggs in one basket." This was similar to other industries, like agriculture , which was also encouraged to look for new markets. Wilson said he wasn't completely surprised to see the survey result. "We've got a local economy, which is quite export-focused, so from that perspective, whether it is tourism or forest or wood processing, what's happening in that global environment is really important for local businesses." RotoruaNZ began the business sentiment survey three years ago to get a better view of what was happening in the city's economy. "A lot of banks do business confidence surveys, but we found a lot of the data was aggregated up at a regional or national level, so it was really about making sure we've got a view about what is going on in our local economy here in Rotorua," he said. Business sentiment was up 14 percent since the last survey in October 2024, but was still a net negative of minus-11 percent - higher than the national figure of minus-29 percent, but Wilson said the trend toward positivity was a good sign. "Certainly, that advance-metric of the positivity trend up is a really good signal in terms of what we will start to see over the next 12-24 months in terms of business activity." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
In a Year of Heartbreaking Obits for L.A. Eateries, Santa Monica's Tar & Roses Remains a Treasure
In a Year of Heartbreaking Obits for L.A. Eateries, Santa Monica's Tar & Roses Remains a Treasure originally appeared on L.A. Mag. Chef Andrew Kirschner has a lot to be proud of. His restaurant, Tar & Roses, and its inviting dining room with views of his warm bustling kitchen on Santa Monica Boulevard is filled to capacity most nights. His clean-eating menu is globally inspired but locally sourced, which has led to rave reviews. His smiling knowledgeable staff are consistently applauded for their service. But considering this past year that has seen obituaries written for some of the most prominent restaurants in Los Angeles - the Original Pantry, Bicyclette, Manzke, Cassia, Bar Chelou, Eveleigh, Cafe Tropical - a sad and endless list, Kirschner is mostly proud that Tar & Roses has survived seemingly insurmountable obstacles to remain a Santa Monica staple for food lovers. 'We have taken our fair share of beatings but have come back fighting every time,' Kirschner told Los Angeles. Since opening in 2011 to long lines, Tar & Roses was hit with a fire eight years into its operation. Vandals destroyed the restaurant in the chaotic riots that ripped through many parts of the city during the 2020 protests following George Floyd's death, forcing him to shut down for several months to rebuild, only to open just in time for the forced shutdowns that came with the Covid pandemic. "It's not easy to survive in this business in Los Angeles without any of those hardships," Kirschner said. He credits his loyal customer base and "extraordinary staff," for helping him survive, and remain a fan favorite for food lovers. On a recent night, we were completely wowed by a fried whole snapper that looks almost too good to eat served with a dipping sauce we will revisit in our dreams. Bruschetta piled high with a savory chicken liver mousse was one of those life-changing bites that will bring us back for more. Octopus skewers? Yes, please Chef! Even the mushrooms in a sea of white beans and chimichurri was a delight. In a town that likes to eschew dessert, that would be a wasted opportunity. The strawberry ricotta crostada with a side of some sort of salted ice cream magical concoction may be a better ending than a good make-out at the the end of a hot first date. 602 Santa Monica Blvd., 310-587-0700 This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Arabian Business
20 hours ago
- Business
- Arabian Business
Hyatt eyes Middle East growth as Q1 revenues increase
Hyatt has announced its Q1 2025 financial results, showcasing continued business strength and strong performance globally. The company is progressing towards its growth plans to triple its portfolio in Saudi Arabia within five years, supported by high-profile upcoming openings, brand debuts and a growing development pipeline. The company also continues to grow with intent across the Middle East and Africa, with new regional openings celebrated in the first quarter of 2025, including Andaz Doha in Qatar, Hyatt Place Nairobi Westlands and Hyatt House Nairobi Westlands in Kenya. Hyatt eyes MEA growth In Q1 2025, Hyatt reported a 5.7 per cent increase in comparable system-wide RevPAR, reflecting strong demand across global markets. Hyatt also announced that its global net rooms grew by 10.5 per cent, and Adjusted EBITDA reached $273m, a 24.4 per cent increase after adjusting for assets sold in 2024, demonstrating the strength of the company's asset-light business model. In Saudi Arabia, Hyatt is preparing for several openings that reflect its strong alignment with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and the rapid evolution of its tourism sector. Miraval The Red Sea, scheduled to open later this year, will mark the debut of the wellness brand in the region and the first of the brand's resorts outside of the US market. Set on Shura Island, the resort will feature 180 guestrooms and suites, offering immersive wellness programming tailored to each traveller. Additionally, Grand Hyatt The Red Sea, expected to open in 2026, will offer a premium beachfront resort experience and an array of facilities, including several distinctive restaurants and exceptional meeting and event spaces. With 430 rooms, the property is the largest resort on the island, and it will be the premier venue for large-scale conferences, exhibitions, and celebratory events. Within the rising cultural destination of Saudi Arabia, AlUla, Hyatt is set to open Hyatt Place AlUla in 2026. This 215-key property will offer guests and World of Hyatt members more travel choices to experience destinations that showcase rich heritage and unique landscapes. These high-impact developments form a key part of Hyatt's plan to expand its presence across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, meeting increasing demand for luxury, wellness, and lifestyle experiences while contributing to national tourism goals. Hyatt's commitment to enhancing its lifestyle and luxury portfolio in the GCC was reflected in the recent opening of Andaz Doha in Qatar. Opened in February 2025, Andaz Doha introduced Hyatt's lifestyle brand to the country. Located in the prestigious West Bay area, the hotel offers 256 guestrooms, including 32 suites and 4 Royal suites, as well as 56 residences for long-term stays. The property features distinctive dining concepts and design elements that pay homage to Qatari culture. Hyatt continues to lead with a development pipeline of approximately 138,000 rooms globally under executed management or franchise agreements. The company's first-quarter performance also included net income of $20m and the repurchase of approximately 1.1m shares of Class A common stock for $149m, reflecting its continued focus on delivering shareholder value.
