November, 2019 - HospitalityLawyer.com®

Wildfire Severity Factors and Risk Mitigation Tips

by Haylie Mikulak in Risk Management, Safety & Security, Travel. Posted November 30, 2019

A wildfire is considered any unwanted or unplanned fire burning in forest, shrub, or grass. Wildfires are one of the most destructive natural disasters that exist and occur year-round all over the world. Some of the most common areas susceptible to wildfires are as follows: Western US: August – December Southeastern US: October – December ...

New York AG Files Lawsuit Against Dunkin’ Donuts For Attacks On Customer Accounts

by Brian Kint in Food & Beverage, Legal, Technology. Posted November 28, 2019

On September 26, 2019, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against Dunkin’ Brands, Inc., the franchisor of Dunkin’ Donuts (“Dunkin’”). The lawsuit involves security issues surrounding Dunkin’s stored value cards, which customers can use to purchase Dunkin’ food and merchandise. Customers can create an online account through Dunkin’s website or mobile app, ...

Checklist: How To Clean Up Your Digital Self

by BCD Travel in Technology, Travel. Posted November 26, 2019

If you run out of storage or can’t find important information on your computer, smartphone or in the cloud, it’s time to clean up your digital devices. But that’s not the only reason why a clean-up is a good idea. It’s much easier to protect personal and company data when you know what’s stored on ...

The Perils of Social Media Promotions in the Hospitality Industry

by Elizabeth Brunins in Legal, Lodging, Technology. Posted November 23, 2019

Truth in advertising is not only a best practice; it’s the law. It applies to all media – from newspapers and magazines to radio spots to online platforms, such as blogs or social media. It is required in both overt advertisements and implied claims buried in otherwise innocuous posts. As such, it creates a minefield ...

Texas Updates Breach Notification Requirements

by Wilson Elser in Legal, Technology. Posted November 21, 2019

Effective January 1, 2020, the Texas legislature will impose new notification requirements on businesses that maintain personal information of customers. House Bill 4390 amends the Texas Identity Theft Enforcement and Protection Act by requiring that Texas residents be notified of a data security breach within sixty (60) days of the determination that a breach has occurred. A ...

Strategies to Defend & Mitigate Against Sex Trafficking Lawsuits in the Hospitality Industry

by Jennifer Miller in Legal. Posted November 19, 2019

Federal and state laws define human trafficking as compelling someone through force, coercion or fraud to perform work or engage in sex acts. According to the Department of Homeland Security, it is a global issue with millions of adults and children being victimized to generate billions of dollars in profits for traffickers and others engaging ...

Reptile Theory: Using the Primitive Brain to Increase Plaintiff’s Verdicts

by Michael Phillips in Legal. Posted November 16, 2019

Jane Doe was the victim of a sexual assault while a guest at Marrilton Garden Inn & Courtyard Suites. She has filed a multi-million-dollar suit against Heavenly Hospitality Management, LLC d/b/a Marrilton Garden Inn & Courtyard Suites, Marrilton, Inc., (several subsidiaries of Marrilton, Inc.) and Gwen Causey (hotel manager). Scenario: Jane Doe, a guest, checks ...

Company Hotline & Incident Management Benchmarking: How Does Your Program Compare?

by Tricia Fratto in Human Resources. Posted November 14, 2019

Encouragement of internal misconduct reporting is on the rise for public and private businesses and organizations of all sizes, and whistleblower protection laws across the globe are being strengthened. See how employees are voicing their concerns today and what companies are doing to address them. Reporting Channels According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners ...

What Employee Accommodations are Required Under the ADA?

by KPM Law in Legal. Posted November 12, 2019

I. What are Your Responsibilities as an Employer?The federal American with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and many similar state laws require employers to “reasonably” accommodate an otherwise qualified disabled applicant or employee to perform the essential job functions of the position or enjoy equal benefits of employment as similarly situated employees. Similarly, other federal and state ...

HVS 2019 Hotel Parking Survey

by Rodney Clough in Hotel Development. Posted November 9, 2019

Most hotels in urban centers profit considerably off of available parking capacity and, depending on the garage size and operational strategy of the hotel owner, garages can be significant value drivers. Our experience reflects that parking garages can operate with departmental profit as high as 40% to 50% if managed internally, or garages can be ...

Monthly Archives: November 2019