Joan Eisenstodt interviews members of the Rigling family about multiple generations in the hospitality industry.

Here is an update on what's new, incoming and in store for the future for the hotel and event venue scene in Texas.

Nearly 8,000 UNITE HERE hotel workers at Marriott-operated hotels in four North American destinations will hold strike votes the week of September 10. The strike votes by approximately 7,800 workers come on the heels of the Labor Day demonstrations UNITE HERE Marriott workers across the country protesting what the union claims is Marriott’s lack of movement with contract negotiations on key labor issues, including wages, basic job protection and safer working conditions and standards. According to UNITE HERE, more than 100 hotel workers were arrested in multiple cities for staging acts of civil disobedience outside Marriott hotels on September 3, 2018.

Katherine Lugar, president and CEO of American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is departing the organization later in 2018. Lugar has accepted a new position as president and CEO of the American Beverage Association (ABA).

Tourism industry leaders, including Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, and 13 member CEOs, met Sept. 4 with President Donald Trump to discuss pressing travel issues, including inbound international visitor arrivals, and the importance of tourism to the U.S. economy.

Michael Drudy is executive director with Railway Systems Suppliers, Inc. in Jacksonville, Florida.

The list of great off-site venues for group events in Nebraska is as sprawling as its prairies and as high as its tallgrass. There are many interesting options to choose from throughout the state, including popular tourist attractions that have impressive meeting spaces, and equally impactful stand-alone venues. A world-class museum, a lakeside meeting hall and a furniture factory turned event venue are a few ideas in the following lineup of possibilities for planners to consider. 

Being the female leader of a travel company featuring an all-woman team of six travel counselors, London-based Crossing Travel CEO Sangeeta Sadarangani is quite aware of the challenges women face when traveling for business.

San Francisco police arrested 75 hotel workers on Labor Day who were protesting outside the J.W. Marriott’s Westin St. Francis San Francisco, a Union Square hotel, for blocking the street, according to AP News. Those arrested face misdemeanor charges of failing to obey a police officer.