Hospitality & Leisure

Dallas – September 09, 2026 -- TGI Fridays has signed a development agreement with Devolli Group to build 10 restaurants across Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia, marking the American casual dining chain's first entry into the Balkans.

Devolli Group secures exclusive sub-franchise rights across three Balkan markets

Under the agreement, Devolli Group will develop the 10 units and holds exclusive rights to sub-franchise the TGI Fridays brand throughout the territory, creating a platform for further expansion across Southeast Europe.

Cheyenne – September 08, 2026 -- White Knight Capital Corp. is in advanced negotiations with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) to restructure LIV Golf Enterprises through a debt-to-equity conversion and a planned reverse merger into a Nasdaq-listed entity, targeting a 2027 launch of "LIV Golf 2.0."

White Knight requests $100 million in fresh PIF equity alongside a $500 million bank-backed facility

Under the proposed terms, White Knight would take an assignment of PIF's existing rights, obligations, and claims tied to LIV Golf. The Wyoming-based firm has requested that PIF commit an additional $100 million in direct equity into the post-merger public company. Separately, White Knight has arranged a $500 million equity facility through a major Wall Street investment bank, contingent on completion of the merger and other closing conditions.

Kitzbühel – September 08, 2026 -- Kitzbühel Tourismus received the TIROLERIN Award in the category "Tourism & Regional Value Creation" at a gala in the Imperial Hofburg in Innsbruck, recognizing the destination's shift to a year-round tourism strategy. Managing Director Dr. Viktoria Veider-Walser accepted the award on behalf of the organization before more than 200 guests from business, culture and politics.

Jury cites brand relaunch and strategic repositioning as key drivers

Florian Neuner, head of industry and corporate communications at Tirol Werbung, praised Kitzbühel Tourismus in his laudatory speech for its consistent strategic development process, highlighting the multi-award-winning 2024 brand relaunch. The relaunch was built on five defined success patterns, a core service proposition and a clear positioning statement, forming the basis for Kitzbühel's long-term development as a contemporary, year-round destination.

Los Angeles – September 08, 2026 -- Hozpitality Group will convene senior women executives from Marriott International, Delta Air Lines, FIFA World Cup 2026 Los Angeles and The Music Center at an exclusive leadership forum on October 7, 2026, at Cameo Beverly Hills.

Forum caps attendance at 50 to 80 senior industry leaders

The Hozpitality Women Leadership Forum 2026 runs from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM under the theme "Breaking Barriers & Building Success: How Women Leaders Are Shaping the Future of Hospitality & Tourism." Organizers expect a curated audience of approximately 50 to 80 senior professionals and invited media, drawn from hospitality, aviation, sports, entertainment and the arts.

Edison, N.J. – September 08, 2026 -- McCann Systems has won two 2026 Commercial Integrator Awards, taking Best Healthcare Project and Best Casino Project honors for AV integration work completed this year. The win marks the ninth consecutive year McCann has received a "Best Of" award from Commercial Integrator.

McCann's Client Experience Center integration earns Best Healthcare Project

The award recognizes McCann's work on a 5,000-square-foot immersive Client Experience Center built for a Fortune 500 company. The project integrates interactive LED displays, personalized content, and dynamic experiential spaces designed to guide guests through the client's story and solutions, supported by centralized AV control infrastructure.

Northbrook, Ill. – September 07, 2026 -- Hilco Real Estate, LLC is accepting bids until September 22 for a four-property portfolio along the Guadalupe River in the New Braunfels-Canyon Lake area of Texas, sold through a Chapter 11 bankruptcy process.

Bankruptcy sale offers assets individually or combined

The sale is directed by Gregory S. Milligan of Harney Partners as Chief Restructuring Officer for two jointly administered debtors, Kona Coast Venture, LTD and Hideout on the Horseshoe, LLC. The case is pending before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division, under Case No. 26-51866. Buyers can pursue any single asset or combination, according to Hilco.

Burbank, Calif. – September 07, 2026 -- Sony Pictures' Spider-Man: Brand New Day has become the highest-grossing film in CJ 4DPLEX history, generating more than $104 million across its SCREENX and 4DX premium formats in just 33 days.

Film shatters prior record set by Avatar: The Way of Water

The title surpassed the previous all-time CJ 4DPLEX box office record of $103 million held by Avatar: The Way of Water, which took 228 days to reach that figure. Spider-Man: Brand New Day achieved the milestone in roughly one-seventh of the time.

Film draws 6.7 million admissions across 1,200 screens worldwide

Since its global release, the film has logged more than 115,000 shows across 1,200 screens in premium formats, reaching over 6.7 million admissions. It posted a record 40% average occupancy rate and set opening records for SCREENX in 36 countries and for 4DX in 22 countries.

Mesa, Ariz. – September 07, 2026 -- Arizona Athletic Grounds (AAG) has signed a seven-year, multimillion-dollar Founding Partnership naming PepsiCo the official soft drink partner of its 275-acre Mesa campus.

PepsiCo's beverage portfolio takes over concessions across a 275-acre campus

Under the agreement, PepsiCo brands including Gatorade, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Starry, Aquafina, LIFEWTR, Starbucks, Celsius, Alani Nu and Rockstar Energy will be served at concessions, three fieldhouses, the sports bar, food court, performance center and all outdoor competition venues at AAG. The deal also includes signage, digital and IPTV inventory, and year-round activation rights at AAG tournaments.

Las Vegas – September 07, 2026 -- UrVenue, a hospitality technology provider for venues, hotels and resorts, has opened a new corporate headquarters at 3327 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Suite 3400, directly on the Las Vegas Strip, alongside a round of senior hires and internal promotions across customer success, business development and marketing.

UrVenue relocates headquarters to the Las Vegas Strip to sit closer to core clients

The company chose the Strip location to be physically nearer to the gaming, nightlife and entertainment operators that make up much of its customer base. Interim CEO Emily Curtin said the site marks where UrVenue built its earliest and deepest customer relationships, as the firm pushes growth across both its venue and resort business lines.

Gibraltar – September 07, 2026 -- Pragmatic Play has signed actor and comedian Kevin Hart to host live casino broadcasts on 6 and 7 November, marking one of the iGaming content supplier's highest-profile celebrity tie-ups to date.

Hart will front four hosting sessions across two days

Hart will appear on the live casino studio floor for four distinct sessions spanning the two-day event, presenting a selection of Pragmatic Play's live casino titles. The specific tables he will host will be disclosed to players on each broadcast day, with availability restricted in the UK and potentially limited in other jurisdictions.

Cash prizes and Free Chip promotions accompany the broadcasts

Pragmatic Play will run promotional campaigns ahead of the event offering Free Chips across live casino games, including those Hart hosts. During his sessions, the operator will additionally distribute random cash prizes to players in real time.