Hospitality & Leisure

Belmont Park, N.Y. – September 30, 2026 -- Long Island University, the New York Islanders and UBS Arena will launch the Empire State Holiday Invitational, a four-team NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament set for December 28-29, 2026, at the Islanders' home arena in Belmont Park. Tickets go on sale Friday, October 2 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster.

Four Division I programs will compete over two days at UBS Arena

The inaugural tournament features LIU, Army West Point, Ferris State University and St. Lawrence University. Play opens December 28 with St. Lawrence facing Ferris State at 3 p.m., followed by LIU against Army West Point at 7 p.m. All four teams return to the ice on December 29 for a second day of competition.

Burbank, Calif. – September 30, 2026 -- CJ 4DPLEX and Cinemark Holdings will add 20 new SCREENX auditoriums across the Americas, with 17 installations in the U.S. and three in South and Central America, the companies announced.

Six U.S. sites open in 2026, lifting Cinemark's domestic SCREENX count to 30

The rollout expands a partnership that began in 2022, with six of the new U.S. auditoriums scheduled to open in 2026. That timing brings Cinemark's total domestic SCREENX footprint to 30 locations ahead of the release of Avengers: Doomsday, and introduces the panoramic format to new U.S. states for the first time.

Plano, Texas – September 30, 2026 -- International Vacations, Inc., a Plano, Texas-based host and full-service travel agency, is preparing to launch a new group-travel initiative anchored by a partnership with an emerging travel technology platform, the company said.

Host agency model lowers entry barriers for new travel advisors

International Vacations, Inc. supplies independent travel agents with established industry credentials, consortium access, preferred supplier relationships, commission tracking and processing, basic CRM technology, and ongoing training, according to the company. Agents operate as independent contractors, building their own client bases and brands while drawing on the host agency's infrastructure.

"You don't have to know everything about the travel industry when you start. That's where having a host agency behind you can make a difference," said Shamali Przywara, President of International Vacations, Inc.

Washington, D.C. – September 30, 2026 -- Volo Sports has acquired recreational sports operators Fray and CLUBWAKA Miami, adding Phoenix and Jacksonville as new markets and deepening its footprint in Washington, D.C. and Miami's Coconut Grove neighborhood.

Fray brings nearly 40,000 annual player registrations across three cities

Founded in 2009 as United Social Sports, Fray operates leagues in Washington, D.C. (over 20,000 player registrations annually), Phoenix (over 9,000) and Jacksonville (over 9,000). The deal marks Volo's first entry into Phoenix and Jacksonville and expands its existing D.C. presence into Virginia across the DMV region. Jacksonville leagues run in Murray Hill, Southside, The Beaches, Arlington, Downtown, San Marco, Springfield and Town Center; Phoenix operations span Arcadia, Avondale, Downtown Phoenix, Mesa, North Scottsdale, Scottsdale and Tempe.

Paris – – September 30, 2026 -- The Generation Essentials Group (NYSE: TGE; LSE: TGE) reported net profit of US$22.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026, a 9.9-fold increase driven by an aggressive expansion of its global hotel portfolio.

Revenue climbs 35.8% as hospitality segment surges 59.8%

Revenue from contracts with customers rose to US$30.8 million in the first half of 2026, up 35.8% year-on-year. The hotel operations, hospitality, and VIP services segment expanded 59.8%, becoming the primary growth driver following the acquisition and integration of four hotel properties in New York, Perth, Kuala Lumpur, and London.

EPS jumps 366.7% to US$0.56 as balance sheet expands to US$1.8 billion

Earnings per share increased 366.7% to US$0.56. Total assets stood at US$1.8 billion, equivalent to US$37.2 per share, while net asset value reached US$932.5 million, or US$19.2 per share.

Changsha County – – September 30, 2026 -- The Fifth Changsha Tourism Development Conference opened in Changsha County, Hunan Province, on September 29, with organizers reporting that tourist arrivals and total tourism spending in Changsha doubled in 2025 compared with 2021.

Inbound tourist spending rose more than 40 percent year on year in 2025

The conference disclosed that spending by inbound visitors to Changsha increased by over 40 percent in 2025 versus the prior year, a marker of accelerating international tourism recovery in the city.

Lisbon – September 30, 2026 -- SOFTSWISS has released its 2027 iGaming Trends report, drawing on a survey of more than 500 industry experts and analysis of over 480,000 media headlines to map the sector's regulatory, technological and competitive trajectory.

Fifth anniversary edition adds cross-sector benchmarking against e-commerce and crypto

Marking five years of publication, this edition introduces a new "Beyond iGaming" framework comparing the industry against e-commerce, sports, film, gaming, streaming, e-pharma and crypto on metrics including market size, growth rate, regulatory maturity and digital adoption.

Las Vegas – September 30, 2026 -- IGT has secured a deal to install its IGT ADVANTAGE X casino management system at Soboba Casino Resort in San Jacinto, California, following a competitive bidding process.

Soboba retains Everi FinTech during systems transition

Soboba Casino Resort will continue using Everi FinTech alongside the new IGT platform, pairing the two providers to reduce friction in player transactions and payouts.

Deployment includes Service Window and jackpot automation tools

Beyond the core CMS, Soboba will roll out a Service Window gaming experience powered by IGT's M5 solution, the Lucky Coin Bonus feature, and the Taxable Accrual module, which automates jackpot hand pays.

"An IGT ADVANTAGE X-powered gaming floor enables Soboba Casino Resort to deepen player connections, modernize patron flows, and scale our operations for future opportunities," said Jason Cozart, Soboba Casino Resort General Manager.

Kohler, Wisconsin -- Kohler, Wisconsin will host the No Tees Tour on October 1, 2026, staging a head-to-head short-game competition at The Baths of Blackwolf Run beginning at 5:00 p.m. CT.

Kohler becomes one of four host destinations for the emerging golf format

The resort will provide luxury accommodations for the competing field while its facilities at The Baths of Blackwolf Run host the tour's signature short-game showdowns. Thirty-two professional golfers, athletes, entertainers and digital creators will compete in the event, which is open to resort guests.

Tyler, Texas – September 29, 2026 -- Nobel Golf has closed on 100% ownership of Hollytree Country Club, a private club in Tyler, Texas established in 1983, taking over an 18-hole championship golf course, tennis and pickleball facilities, dining and pool amenities.

Multiphase renovation targets deferred maintenance

The new ownership has launched a multiphase renovation plan addressing significant deferred maintenance, including repairs to the golf course irrigation system, replacement of non-operational maintenance equipment, and modernization of pool facilities.

Nobel Golf plans AI investment for member experience

Das Nobel, CEO of Nobel Golf, said the acquisition centers on strategic investment in AI technology to enhance member experiences while modernizing amenities and preserving the club's traditions.