Hospitality & Leisure

CLEVELAND – October 27, 2026 -- Metropolitan at The 9 has completed the redesign of all 156 guestrooms and suites in a renovation spanning more than 100,000 square feet, with remaining work due by November 5, 2026.

Renovation covers rooms, corridors, lobby and Ledger Bar

The scope includes 10 guestroom corridors, the main lobby, elevator lobbies and cabs, and Ledger Bar. Lighter finishes, custom furnishings and Cleveland-focused artwork replace the previous look, while signature design elements stay in place.

Engineered hardwood replaces carpet in every guestroom

Rooms also get new area rugs, mattresses and soft seating. Custom desks, nightstands and minibars combine light wood finishes with white quartz countertops with gold veining. Wood slat wall treatments, chevron tile at the minibars and oversized mirrors complete the rooms.

The original headboards, inspired by the window detailing on the building's exterior, remain.

Global – October 22, 2026 -- A string of ride fires, including a blaze at Germany's Europa-Park that injured seven people, is sharpening the focus on fire-resistant materials in themed entertainment, where Massivit 3D is promoting its flame-retardant CIM-84 resin for scenic fabrication.

Incidents at Europa-Park, Carowinds and Orlando expose operators to direct and reputational costs

Direct costs of a park incident include halted operations, repairs, medical bills, workers' compensation and legal fees. Intangible losses weigh more heavily: lost goodwill, eroded customer trust and lower shareholder value. Beyond the Europa-Park fire, the industry points to a Ferris wheel fire in Orlando and a bumper car fire at Carowinds as examples of inadequate fire protection.

United States – October 21, 2026 -- Internova Travel Group has adopted a zero-tolerance modern slavery policy that covers independent travel advisors, agents and consultants as well as employees, directors and officers.

The policy applies to Travel Leaders Group Holdings, LLC, which does business as Internova Travel Group, and its subsidiaries. It follows the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 and added guidance from the U.S. Department of Defense's Combating Trafficking In Persons Program Management Office (CTIP PMO). The company states that not all sections of the Act apply to it directly, but it has committed to meet stakeholder expectations.

Marina, California – October 21, 2026 -- The Brass Tap's Marina, California, location posted the highest sales volume in the franchise's system during its first full year of operation, earning owner Karl Waller the Highest Sales Volume Award at the 2026 FSC Franchise Conference.

The honor follows Waller's 2025 Franchisee of the Year title. The upscale American tavern brand operates more than 50 locations across 16 states and has offered franchise opportunities for more than 10 years.

Food became an equal traffic driver alongside craft beer in Marina

Waller initially expected craft beer to drive most of the restaurant's traffic. Food quickly became an equally important part of the business, drawing families as well as guests seeking drinks and entertainment. He and his family have continued to adjust the operation to local demand, including building out the food and events side.

Philadelphia – October 21, 2026 -- PrimoHoagies has signed seven new franchisees in 2026 and has roughly 10–15 existing restaurants available for acquisition, most of them in greater Philadelphia and South Jersey. The Italian specialty sandwich chain is courting qualified operators who want to enter established markets and build toward multi-unit ownership.

The system counts about 80 franchise owners, 20 of them multi-unit operators, and more than 120 restaurants. This year's recruits include operators with backgrounds in national restaurant franchises, airport concessions and real estate.

Macao – October 21, 2026 -- The 12th Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) closed in Macao with more than 1,000 business-to-business matchings and a confirmed host for 2027: Hainan Province, which will stage the 13th edition under a memorandum of understanding signed with the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO).

Hainan and Macao sign tourism cooperation memorandum for 2027

MGTO and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province signed the memorandum to deepen cooperation in tourism and related fields. The two sides will align with the development strategies of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Hainan Free Trade Port, and will strengthen resource sharing and industry matching.

NEW YORK – October 21, 2026 -- EMRG Media has published a 2026 planning guide covering 20 corporate holiday party venues across Manhattan and Brooklyn, with seated dinner and standing reception capacities listed side by side for selected spaces.

EMRG Media builds the guide on 1,100 New York events since 2001

The company says it has produced more than 1,100 events in New York City since 2001 and has firsthand production experience at many of the featured venues. It is the exclusive event producer for NEBULA and The Amber Room. The guide includes NEBULA, HK Hall, City Winery at Pier 57, Marquee New York, Capitale and Guastavino's, spanning nightlife spaces, ballrooms, rooftops and waterfront settings.

Andover, Minnesota – October 21, 2026 -- Beef 'O' Brady's has named Andover franchisee Bradley Dethmers its 2026 Franchisee of the Year, and he also took the brand's Marketer of the Year Award at parent company FSC Franchise Co.'s 2026 conference. The family sports pub chain operates 120 locations in 21 states.

Dethmers bought the Andover restaurant in May 2021 with nearly 30 years of hospitality experience

The Andover restaurant marks 18 years in business on October 6. Before becoming a Beef 'O' Brady's franchisee, Dethmers opened restaurants around the world and worked with several franchise brands. That background shapes his focus on hospitality and guest relationships.

WASHINGTON – October 21, 2026 -- Former MLB pitcher Tanyon Sturtze says a lockout is coming when Major League Baseball's collective bargaining agreement expires on December 1, citing disputes over a potential salary cap, payroll requirements and player compensation.

Sturtze made the prediction on a special episode of Franchise Value, a sports-business program produced by CrossCheck Media Inc. and distributed through Biz Talk Today TV. Host Shana Orczyk Sissel, CEO and Founder of Banríon Capital Management, conducted the interview. "Unfortunately, it's definitely coming," Sturtze said, adding that he backs the players but expects a difficult fight for them.

UK – October 21, 2026 -- Inspired Entertainment (NASDAQ: INSE) has launched Aphrodite Legends of OlympusTM in the UK B3/LBO market, with a Cat C release scheduled for November.

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