Hospitality Lawyer

10/01/2026

"A survey released last week showed that 71% of Americans approve of labor unions, the highest reading tracked since the 1950s. But union membership has been moving in the opposite direction for decades, and today just 5.9% of private sector workers carry a union card. That doesn’t mean that employers should ignore matters, however, as unions have been getting more strategic in their approach to organizing. Here’s a deeper dive into what these contrasting figures mean for your operations, why unions remain relevant for employers, and six steps you can take in today’s labor environment."

Check out Fisher Phillips latest HL Blog post to learn what employers should know about union organizing activity and six steps to prepare for today’s labor environment.

🏨⚖️ Read more: https://ow.ly/5X5750ZTL3f

08/18/2026

Where hospitality meets legal expertise.

That’s the focus of the Hospitality Law Conference: Washington, DC: bringing together the legal, business, and operational perspectives that shape today’s hospitality industry.

Over two days, you’ll have the opportunity to:

>> Learn from experienced attorneys and industry professionals through sessions covering AI governance, hotel claims and litigation, employment law, compliance, and more.

>> Engage in interactive panels exploring hospitality deals, acquisitions, capital stacks, lending, and creative financing.

>> Put your knowledge to work through our Capstone Case Study, a hands-on look at the legal and business considerations involved in a complex hospitality transaction.

>> Connect with attorneys, executives, owners, operators, investors, and other hospitality professionals.

>> Earn CLE credit while gaining knowledge you can take back to your organization and put to use.

📍 Arlington, VA
📅 October 28–29, 2026

Explore the full program: https://hospitalitylawconference.com/

Reserve your place: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-hospitality-law-conference-washington-dc-tickets-1978475817429?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

Have questions? Email Marilyn Faz at [email protected].

08/07/2026

Human Trafficking: the Underground Market of Hospitality

"The hospitality industry moves millions of people through hotels and lodging properties every year, making it one of the most visible and fast-moving service sectors in the world. Hotels are designed around accessibility, privacy, and constant guest turnover, and those features are essential to delivering a seamless guest experience while keeping operations efficient.

Yet those same strengths can also create dangerous blind spots. Human trafficking remains a serious global issue driven by force, fraud, and coercion for profit. It does not always take place in hidden or isolated locations. In many cases, it exists in plain sight, operating within ordinary business environments where exploitation can blend into the normal flow of daily operations without drawing immediate attention."

Read more: https://ow.ly/SuQ850Zxa4T via Hospitality Net

Hotels' built-in features of privacy, anonymity, and rapid turnover make them vulnerable environments for trafficking, and the article argues that leadership and operational systems are the critical line of intervention.

08/06/2026

AI is changing how hospitality organizations operate—but it is also raising important legal and operational questions.

As hotels and restaurants explore the use of generative AI, leaders should consider:

• Do we have an AI governance policy in place?
• How are employees using AI tools in their daily work?
• What safeguards protect confidential and proprietary information?
• Are AI-generated communications and marketing materials being reviewed appropriately?
• Who is responsible for oversight, accountability, and risk management?

The opportunity is significant, but so are the questions around governance, compliance, and responsible use.

At the Hospitality Law Conference: Washington, DC, attorneys, executives, and industry leaders will examine these issues and discuss how emerging technologies are influencing the legal and operational landscape of hospitality.

📍 Arlington, VA
📅 October 28–29, 2026

Learn more and register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-hospitality-law-conference-washington-dc-tickets-1978475817429?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

08/05/2026

"A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak on Manhattan’s Upper East Side has sickened dozens of people since early July, hospitalized more than a dozen, and claimed at least five lives this month, putting the spotlight on a workplace safety issue that many employers assume doesn’t apply to them. Legionnaires’ is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, spreading through contaminated water systems found in office buildings, hotels, gyms, hospitals, and manufacturing facilities. But this issue should catch the attention of any employer that owns, operates, or leases space in buildings with cooling towers or complex water systems across the country."

Check out Fisher Phillips latest HL Blog post to learn what employers need to know about preventing Legionnaires' disease and limiting legal exposure.

🗽🏨 Read more: https://ow.ly/CWz850ZwnIt

07/31/2026

Artificial intelligence. Employment law. Hotel litigation. Hospitality transactions. Creative financing. Digital marketing compliance.

These are the issues driving conversations in boardrooms, courtrooms, hotels, and restaurants across the industry.

Join us at the Hospitality Law Conference: Washington, DC on October 28–29, 2026, as attorneys, executives, investors, owners, operators, and industry leaders examine the legal, operational, and business issues affecting hospitality today.

📍 Arlington, VA
📅 October 28–29, 2026

Register now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-hospitality-law-conference-washington-dc-tickets-1978475817429?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

07/30/2026

"Hospitality operators know better than most that business continuity depends on being prepared for the unexpected. Power outages, wildfire-related road closures and civil authority orders are just a few of the unforeseen events that can force brief or prolonged closures for hotels, restaurants and other hospitality businesses. Even a short shutdown can significantly affect the bottom line.

Business interruption (BI) claims in the hospitality sector are growing in both frequency and complexity, with exposures that extend well beyond traditional property events. Yet for many operators, the strength of their business interruption insurance documentation — not the policy itself — ultimately determines how much they recover and how quickly."

Check out HUB International latest HL Blog post for insights on strengthening business interruption claims readiness and helping hospitality operators recover faster after an unexpected loss.

💪 Read more: https://ow.ly/usan50Zu1NI

07/29/2026

"When people think of workplace violence, situations involving active shooters, mass casualty events and headlines that dominate news cycles for weeks sadly come to mind. But the truth is these serious incidents only represent a fraction of the workplace violence landscape.

In fact, 78% of workplace violence incidents don’t involve any weapons.

This statistic should resonate with every hospitality organization. Workplace violence touches restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues and countless other settings daily — no corner of the industry is immune. Effective prevention starts with understanding the full scope of the problem."

Check out HUB International latest HL Blog post to learn how hospitality employers can better prevent and address workplace violence before it escalates.

📖 Read more: https://ow.ly/7fGO50Zu1EZ

07/22/2026

Smart Tech, Smart Policies: Legal Must-Knows for AI in Hospitality

"Lara Shortz shares her insights on navigating the legal aspects of AI in hospitality in a Q&A just published by Hospitality Tech. As hotels increasingly adopt smart technology—from automated check-ins to algorithm-driven shift scheduling—Lara comments on how these innovations can trigger labor disputes, union scrutiny, or unintended biases in workforce management. Her key advice? Balance technological advancements with a genuine respect for the people on both sides of the check-in desk to avoid pitfalls and protect brand reputation."

Read more: https://ow.ly/UWPZ50ZrtEQ via Michelman Robinson

07/17/2026

As more states restrict single-use plastic amenities, hotel operators may find themselves managing different compliance requirements across multiple markets. What starts as a change in one state can quickly influence purchasing decisions, operational policies, and brand standards across an entire portfolio.

Hotel Management Network recently examined how these evolving state plastic bans are reshaping hotel amenity programs and what they could mean for hotel operators moving forward.

Has your organization had to adapt to changing state regulations?

📖 Read the article: https://www.hotelmanagement-network.com/features/us-state-plastic-bans-reshape-hotel-amenity-compliance/?cf-view

As US states ban small, single-use hotel toiletries, accommodation providers are adapting procurement, housekeeping and sustainability practices to meet new compliance rules.