The Buzz, An Economic Development Podcast | Episode 83: Duane Parrish, S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism
On June 24, 2025, Maine enacted a new law requiring employers to compensate employees who report to their scheduled shifts but have their hours reduced or cancelled by their employer. This law will primarily impact businesses...more
On July 30, 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill (Senate Bill 648) that authorizes the state’s labor commissioner to investigate tip theft and levy fines for violations. The new law is particularly...more
Good Sunday morning from Seattle . . . Our Online Travel Update for the week ending Friday, August 8, 2025, is below. For several weeks now, we’ve all seen and read the many headlines regarding American Airlines planned use...more
Saudi Arabia is ambitiously working towards its 2030 goals, striving to be investor-friendly while upholding transparency, accountability, and creating more opportunities for its local population. This vision has brought...more
The ever-changing landscape of state government requires businesses across all industries to stay informed on the happenings in Madison. Welcome to the July issue of the Capitol Connection....more
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is now in its third year, and we continue to see unprecedented levels of activity and instability with public clashes between world leaders, trade wars, and critical foreign aid cuts by...more
Last week in New York, hospitality and lodging industry leaders convened at the 2025 NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF) to assess the current state of the industry. Panels of economists and industry...more
Responding to the lingering financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and recent Southern California wildfires, the City of Santa Monica is taking a bold step to breathe new life into the iconic Third Street Promenade....more
Much like construction happening with the legislative offices, gutting and stuffing began in earnest today — the 35th day of the legislative session. But we aren’t talking about the Georgia Capitol renovations that are...more
Through Colombia's Law 2444 of 2025, a new paragraph has been added to Article 58 of Law 1480 of 2011. This change allows the use of impleader (llamamiento en garantía) in the tourism sector, helping consumers claim...more
The Mexican government recently launched the Mexico Plan (Plan México), a six-year strategy in collaboration with the federal government and the private sector intended to promote economic growth in Mexico....more
Sonder Europe Limited (Sonder) leased self-contained apartments from landlords for 2 to 10 years, furnishing and decorating them if needed (without altering the fabric or structure of the apartment), and then sub-let them to...more
Over the next eight years as elite athletes train with their eyes on winning gold at the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane, there is another Olympic dream that edges closer to reality—that of flying taxis...more
As we step into the new year, the Hong Kong Government unveiled its ambitious 132-page Development Blueprint for Hong Kong's Tourism Industry 2.0. This comprehensive plan aims to overcome the current challenges posed by...more
For the first time in nearly 30 years, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) proposes to materially revise the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). On December 19, 2024, DOJ issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)...more
Back in 2019, the government of Slovakia introduced what it called the ‘recreation allowance’ to boost domestic tourism. It requires certain employers to contribute financially to domestic trips taken by eligible employees....more
BRASIL E CHINA ASSINAM NOVO ACORDO SOBRE VISTOS DE TURISMO E NEGÓCIOS - O Ministro Mauro Vieira e o Ministro dos Negócios Estrangeiros da República Popular da China, Wang Yi, assinaram na data de 19 de janeiro de 2024, em...more
BRAZIL AND CHINA SIGN TOURISM AND BUSINESS VISA AGREEMENT - On January 19, 2024, an agreement was signed between Brazil and the People’s Republic of China, doubling the maximum length for tourism and business trips on...more
KEY FACTS OF REAL ESTATE ACQUISITIONS UNDER COSTA RICAN LAW - General - Real estate law in Costa Rica is governed by the principles established in the Costa Rican Civil Code for acquiring, selling, and disposing of...more
During the Los Angeles City Council’s meeting on November 20, 2024, the council discussed whether to approve proposed amendments to the Living Wage Ordinance and the Hotel Worker Minimum Wage Ordinance. The amendments would...more
On November 4, 2024, New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed legislation to ensure hotel safety that will mandate a comprehensive licensing system for hotels to operate in New York City, implement several consumer safety...more
El pasado 3 de octubre de 2024 se publicaron en la Gaceta Oficial de la Ciudad de México reformas relevantes a la Ley para la Reconstrucción Integral de la Ciudad de México (en lo sucesivo la "LRICDMX"), la Ley de Vivienda...more
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is taking the plunge into gambling, with the publication of commercial gaming regulations and licensing materials. The good news for interested investors and licensees is that the regulatory and...more
Agritourism is now a vital part of the agricultural economy in North Carolina. More and more farmers are turning to agritourism as a way to diversify and balance their revenue streams....more
Hospitality and tourism is a broad and varied industry that can encompass hotels, restaurants, bars, casinos, theme parks, wineries, breweries, distilleries and more. While these businesses all have very different methods of...more