Should hospitality employers mandate COVID-19 vaccines as a condition of their employees' return to work? Rising above the political and social debates raging today in America, the authors of this article make a compelling case for hotel owners and operators to demonstrate leadership by requiring their employees to be vaccinated for the good of the hospitality industry and the Nation. We also provide a roadmap for the possible legal pitfalls. READ MORE
In this article, Holland & Knight partner Paul Bond analyzes the likely real-world impact of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) on hotel operations. If adopted widely, guests will want top quality hotels to add an immersive, connected experience. Legal issues abound, alongside new opportunities for engagement with digital natives. READ MORE
If you thought labor issues in this environment couldn't be more difficult, enter the revised Department of Labor (DOL) "dual job" and "80/20" rules, which are effective December 31. They likely will create significant compliance challenges for businesses that take the tip credit. Many operators may have to decide whether to eliminate tipping, assign cleaning and side work to dedicated low-wage workers, or figure out how to track the time tipped staff spend on tasks that are not directly "tipped producing". READ MORE
COVID-19 (coronavirus) will have a lasting impact on the hospitality industry. In some cases, coronavirus may alter language that hospitality actors utilize in contracts. Those contracts may need to be amended to reflect the impact of coronavirus or those contracts, as they stand, may be interpreted in light of coronavirus. One aspect of contracts that may be impacted by coronavirus is force majeure provisions within hotel management agreements. READ MORE
With the ever-changing COVID-related laws, regulations and mandates, hotel employers are finding themselves in court defending COVID-related employment litigation claims. How can hotel employers stay in compliance and avoid a COVID-related lawsuit? READ MORE