Hotels and especially luxury hotels are glamorous in their appeal, their style quotient and the wow feel they deliver to all their patrons. And every hotel and resort has its set of superstars who perform their acts to perfection. Very often these very stars are celebrated and written about. But, how about the secret armour that every hotel carries in its back offices and hidden troves? This essay attempts to bring forth the contribution of many such superstars who work day in and day out in quiet anonymity through their careers. It is time for all hotel managers to celebrate the contributions made by these teams who truly form the nervous system of the hotel world. READ MORE

Hoteliers may ask: “isn't cannabis illegal under the federal law?” The short answer is yes, but that is a qualified response at best. As the scale tips toward marijuana becoming legal throughout the country, pot continues to be against the law federally. The resulting dichotomy between the relaxed view of cannabis and its extracts at the state level and the current federal position on marijuana is an interesting one. According to the Controlled Substance Act, by which the federal government regulates drugs, there is no recognized difference between cannabis, cocaine, heroin or LSD. Likewise, the CSA does not distinguish between the medical and recreational use of marijuana. So technically, pot is illegal and users (even those with valid prescriptions for the substance) can be arrested, convicted and sentenced to jail under the federal law as it stands. READ MORE

This article introduces international investment treaties and explains their important role in cross-border Merger & Acquisition deals. Hotel companies engaging in cross-border Merger & Acquisition transactions should consider investment treaty protection as part of their due diligence to identify the rights they may have and to strategically decide how to most efficiently and effectively structure their international investments. By carefully structuring investments at an early stage in the M&A process, this article explains how hotel companies can often improve their negotiating position and secure important protections from harmful governmental interferences. READ MORE

A change in your management company means more to foreign national employees than it does to most others at your hotel. It could mean a potential loss of work authorization and a violation of status in the United States. Because most management companies "sponsor" foreign national visa holders, when the company changes, the petitioning entity changes. When the petitioning entity changes, an amendment of the current visa classification, or a petition for a new visa classification, must be filed in advance of the change. If not, the new company may be jeopardizing the ability to retain key executive and management employees who need to remain in valid status. READ MORE

The past few years have witnessed a number of high-profile mergers and acquisitions in the hotel industry - a trend that some commentators have referred to as a "merger frenzy." This trend may have broad repercussions across the industry, as large hotel companies seek to join forces with smaller operators to avoid being outpaced in the market. Aside from the general impacts on the hotel industry as a whole, mergers and acquisitions can raise significant labor and employment issues that operators need to keep in mind. A fundamental issue involves whether the transaction involves a sale of stock or a sale of assets. READ MORE