Hospitality & Leisure

New York – October 14, 2026 -- LALIGA North America and Panini America announced a multi-year extension of their regional partnership, which dates back to 2023, after the 2026 U.S. Gaming Challenge generated more than 40 million impressions and 5.2 million video views.

Panini America stays on as title sponsor of the U.S. Gaming Challenge

Panini America, a subsidiary of the Panini Group, returns as title sponsor of the LALIGA North America U.S. Gaming Challenge presented by Panini. It has held the sponsorship since 2023. The Challenge launched in 2021 and has become a fixture in the league's annual calendar in the region.

Fans and amateur gamers compete for collectibles and prizes. They can also play against celebrities and soccer legends, and the top prize is a trip to Spain.

Kissimmee – – October 14, 2026 -- Experience Kissimmee has launched Film Kissimmee, the official film commission for Osceola County, with more than 100 scouted filming locations ready for production companies, location managers and digital content creators.

Location scout documents 100+ sites across Osceola County

Experience Kissimmee hired a professional location scout with more than 20 years of experience to identify and document the sites. The locations are being added to an online directory powered by Reel-Scout, a location management platform. Filmmakers can use it to search available properties, review photography and access production-related information.

The portfolio covers natural waterways, cypress-lined wetlands, historic downtown streets, ranchlands, hospitality properties and modern innovation centers. It also includes vacation homes, from luxury estates and themed properties to contemporary residences and resort-style retreats.

Atlanta – October 14, 2026 -- Capacity Sports Group now owns the 78-acre LakePoint Sports property in Emerson, Ga., comprising the Baseball Village and Publix Fields, and holds a lease to operate the 170,000-square-foot Champions Center Indoor Pavilion.

Capacity takes ownership of two venues and leases a third at LakePoint

The transaction expands the multisport operations of the youth sports company, which brings together event brands, operators and facilities. The source does not disclose financial terms. LakePoint Sports sits near Atlanta and welcomes millions of guests annually.

Three venues anchor the destination. The Baseball Village has eight major league-sized synthetic turf fields. The Champions Center accommodates 12 basketball courts or 24 volleyball courts. Publix Fields offers three multiuse turf fields for soccer, lacrosse and football.

Las Vegas – – October 14, 2026 -- The China National Tourist Office (CNTO) in Los Angeles is pitching six Chinese destinations to North American meeting buyers from an approximately 1,000-square-foot pavilion at IMEX America 2026, held Oct. 13-15 at Mandalay Bay.

China Pavilion groups Beijing, Hunan, Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Sichuan and Guangxi under one theme

The island runs under the theme "China: Where Business Meets Extraordinary Experiences" and includes MICE industry partners alongside the six destinations. It targets meeting planners, incentive travel companies and corporate decision makers, and presents convention facilities, international hotel networks and customized incentive programs.

Each destination carries a distinct selling point:

Talladega, Alabama – October 14, 2026 -- Eggs Up Grill, which describes itself as the largest and fastest-growing daytime restaurant franchise in the U.S., has tied its Alabama expansion push to NASCAR's Yellawood 500, with more than 200 restaurants open and in development.

The partnership covers race weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, October 23-25. The brand will appear on driver Cole Custer's No. 41 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet Camaro, sponsored by Sysco, during Sunday's premier race.

Franchisee base leans toward multi-unit ownership

More than 60% of Eggs Up Grill franchise owners operate or are developing multiple locations. The company says it sees significant whitespace for expansion across Alabama and nationwide, and it is actively recruiting qualified franchisees for new communities.

The company says its simplified restaurant format and daytime-only operations continue to appeal to franchise groups seeking scalable concepts.

New York – October 14, 2026 -- CSTS Enterprises, a New York-based sports, entertainment, integrated media and travel technology group, has appointed Professor Robert Li, who heads the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Business School, to its Advisory Board.

Li will advise CSTS on sports tourism and hospitality innovation

Li will provide strategic guidance on sports tourism, hospitality innovation and the broader experience economy. CSTS is expanding its international footprint and developing new hospitality products, partnerships and experiences for clients, destinations and global audiences.

Group CEO and Executive Director Abel Zhao called Li "one of the most respected voices in global tourism and hospitality."

Ljubljana – October 14, 2026 -- Bilateral goods trade between Serbia and Slovenia reached approximately US$2.04 billion in 2025, according to the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, and EXPO 2027 Belgrade is using that base to recruit Slovenian tourism and business partners.

Visit Serbia event opens ticket sales to travel partners

The Visit Serbia B2B Networking event takes place on 15 October 2026 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the InterContinental Ljubljana. It is part of the EXPO 2027 Belgrade international roadshow. The programme introduces the exhibition, officially launches ticket sales for travel partners and includes B2B networking in tourism and business.

Slovenia's pavilion concept will be presented, and the two sides will sign a Memorandum of Cooperation.

LONDON – October 13, 2026 -- Corvex Management, Whitbread's largest active shareholder with c.6.4% of ordinary shares, is urging investors to back its resolution to elect Partner James Gemmel to the board as the hotel group commits to a further c.£2.5bn of capital expenditure.

Corvex holds an economic interest of approximately 7% in Whitbread PLC. The fund manager responded to the company's interim results, saying they do not change its core concerns about capital allocation.

Corvex says record capex is funded by record sale-and-leasebacks

Whitbread is guiding to all-time high capital expenditure this year, according to Corvex. The investor says the spending is funded by all-time high sale-and-leasebacks. It also notes that pre-tax profit has fallen and that UK gilt yields sit near two-decade highs.

Corvex acknowledged RevPAR strength across the portfolio, but said the results leave its position unchanged.

Kohler – October 13, 2026 -- Kohler Co. has appointed Nina Kohler Chief Executive Officer – Hospitality, effective immediately, to run a portfolio across Kohler, Wisconsin; St. Andrews, Scotland; Green Bay, Wisconsin; and Chicago, Illinois. She takes charge of strategy, growth, talent and guest experience as the company advances a multi-year investment in its flagship Wisconsin destination.

Kohler Hospitality reports record results in 2024 and 2025

The company reported consecutive years of record performance in 2024 and 2025. For the past four years, Nina Kohler worked as a consultant and strategic advisor to Kohler Hospitality, advising its leadership team on strategy, brand positioning, design and guest experience. Her work, according to the company, shaped the business's long-term direction and modernization, building on its championship golf reputation while developing wellness, dining and year-round recreation.

Vancouver, Wash. – October 13, 2026 -- Shoot 360 has set a goal of 200 locations open or in development across Asia by 2030, after opening its eighth international site in Quezon City, Manila, on September 17, 2026.

The Manila debut brings the technology-powered basketball training franchise to eight international locations across five countries: Canada, the Republic of Georgia, Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan.

Japan and the Philippines each expected to add at least two locations within a year

Shoot 360's Asia master franchisee is leading the regional expansion. Hong Kong, Indonesia and Thailand are among the markets targeted for future development.

Asia CEO Sean Cheng said development opportunities are now progressing in China, Indonesia, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand. He described the model as a basketball community built around technology and coaching, serving young players, returning adults and families.