Hospitality & Leisure

Helsinki – September 23, 2026 -- Helsinki has ranked first on the Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index for the third consecutive year, with results published Wednesday, September 23, 2026, scoring 93% across more than 70 sustainability indicators.

Helsinki scores 93% while over 100 global cities compete on sustainability metrics

The GDS Index evaluates tourist destinations across four categories: environmental performance, supply chains, destination management and social sustainability. More than 100 cities committed to sustainability were assessed in this year's comparison, and Helsinki again topped the ranking.

"Securing the top position for the third consecutive year demonstrates that sustainability is not a one-off achievement but a long-term strategic commitment," said Nina Vesterinen, Director of Tourism, City of Helsinki.

Vero Beach, Fla. – September 23, 2026 -- Riverside Theatre, Florida's largest independent nonprofit professional theatre, has appointed Robert (Bob) Gibilterra as Chief Financial Officer, effective October 2026, placing a nearly three-decade Viacom finance veteran in charge of the organization's next growth phase.

Gibilterra will oversee accounting, budgeting and long-range financial planning as Riverside expands its campus

The CFO role will manage financial operations, risk management, and strategic planning as the Vero Beach-based theatre advances plans for a more flexible, expanded campus. Gibilterra relocates to Vero Beach to take up the position.

Dallas – September 23, 2026 -- TGI Fridays has signed a development agreement with Meerab Hospitality to scale to 15 restaurants across Pakistan, marking the brand's second market signing this month as it pursues a global target of 1,000+ restaurants and $2 billion in annual revenue by 2030.

First flagship restaurant targets Lahore's Hyatt Regency within 12 months

Meerab Hospitality, the franchise and development arm of Meerab Properties, plans to open its first TGI Fridays location at the Hyatt Regency Hotel complex in Lahore within the next 12 months. The company will develop restaurants across Pakistan over the next decade through a mix of company-owned and approved sub-franchised units, according to Pervaiz Iqbal Shahid, Founder and Group CEO of Meerab Properties.

Manchester – September 23, 2026 -- Co-op Live, the UK's largest arena with a 23,500-person capacity, has deployed Oracle Simphony Cloud Point of Sale and Oracle NetSuite to unify food and beverage transactions with financial management across the venue.

Co-op Live links venue operations data with finance systems to speed decision-making

The Manchester venue, developed and operated by Oak View Group on the Etihad Campus, hosts over 120 events annually, including performances by Harry Styles, Paul McCartney, and Billie Eilish. Oracle Simphony now unifies ordering, payments, and operational data across the arena's bars, concessions, premium event spaces, and self-service kiosks, giving staff real-time visibility into sales performance and product demand.

New York – September 23, 2026 -- Best Buddies International expects to raise $4 million for programs supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through its 2026 Best Buddies Challenge: New York, set for October 3.

Chris Froome and Alberto Contador will lead 750 riders, runners and walkers at the second annual New York event.

The two Tour de France champions will pace hundreds of cyclists from a New York City starting line on the flagship 100-mile route, which crosses the George Washington Bridge and continues through the Hudson River Valley to Bear Mountain State Park. Riders then pass through Harriman State Park before finishing at Glenmere Mansion in the Ramapo Mountains. Shorter 72-mile and 33-mile routes are also offered, alongside run and walk options open to participants of all ages and abilities.

Lexington – September 23, 2026 -- Peachtree Entertainment has been named co-owner and exclusive operator of The Rail, a new 2,200-capacity live music venue rising within The Commons entertainment district in Lexington, Kentucky, with a grand opening set for early 2027.

Peachtree Entertainment takes operational control of a 2,200-capacity venue inside a 43-acre district

Under the partnership with developer The Commons, Peachtree Entertainment will run operations, marketing, sponsorship and select programming for The Rail. The venue sits within The Commons, a 43-acre mixed-use entertainment district on a former tobacco processing campus one mile from downtown Lexington, developed by Turner Properties. More than thirty businesses already operate on the campus.

Hong Kong – September 23, 2026 -- Regent Hong Kong has opened The Terrace, a new indoor-outdoor waterfront venue positioned above Victoria Harbour, adding a 290-square-metre (3,122-square-foot) events space to the hotel's commercial portfolio.

Venue capacity targets both large-scale receptions and intimate corporate gatherings

The Terrace accommodates up to 250 guests for cocktail-style receptions and up to 108 guests for seated banquets, giving Regent Hong Kong a flexible asset for weddings, private dinners, milestone celebrations, VIP receptions, product launches and brand experiences.

Brussels – September 23, 2026 -- Unregulated online gambling operators generated an estimated €91.6 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR) from EU 27 consumers in 2025, accounting for 72% of Europe's €128.0 billion online gambling marketplace, according to a new report from Gaming Compliance International (GCI) commissioned by the Campaign for Fairer Gambling (CFG).

Unregulated revenue jumped 74% in two years, from €52.6 billion to €91.6 billion

The report, titled 'Online Gambling 2024–2025: EU 27 Europe,' tracks the rise in GGR generated outside local regulatory perimeters across member states, exposing gaps in consumer protection, taxation, licensing and oversight.

Orlando, Fla. – September 22, 2026 -- United Parks & Resorts Inc. (NYSE: PRKS) named Kyle Miller President and elevated Scott Maupin to Chief Parks Operating Officer, effective September 22, 2026, as Chief Commercial Officer Christopher Finazzo departs the company.

Miller rises to President after three decades inside the organization

Miller moves up from Chief Parks Operations Officer to President, a role in which he will work with CEO Marc Swanson and the executive team on growth strategy and operations across the company's park portfolio. He joined Busch Entertainment Corporation in 1995 and previously served as Park President of SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove and Aquatica Orlando. "Kyle has a unique understanding of our business, our culture, and our commitment to delivering experiences that matter," Swanson said.

Burbank – – September 22, 2026 -- CJ 4DPLEX and Pathé Cinémas have signed a new agreement to install four SCREENX auditoriums across France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, with all locations set to open by the end of 2026.

Pathé adds two Belgian sites, one French and one Dutch location under the new deal

The rollout includes two SCREENX venues in Belgium, one in France, and one in the Netherlands, expanding the format's footprint in three of Europe's most active cinema markets. The agreement extends a partnership that began with the introduction of 4DX to European audiences and led to the launch of SCREENX at Pathé La Villette in Paris in 2018.