Hospitality, Travel & Events

Fort Worth, Texas – – September 25, 2026 -- Crescent Real Estate LLC has closed the sale of The Hotel at Avalon, a 330-room luxury property in Alpharetta, Georgia, marking one of the most notable hotel transactions in the Atlanta market in recent years.

Crescent acquired the property in September 2020 during peak pandemic uncertainty

The firm bought the hotel amid what it called "unprecedented uncertainty" in the hospitality sector, betting on the long-term strength of the asset despite widespread investor caution at the time. Christopher Goff, Senior Managing Director and Head of Capital Formation at Crescent, said the firm acquired the property at a basis reflecting that period of extraordinary market disruption.

Winnipeg – September 25, 2026 -- Activate has ranked No. 35 among 375 companies on The Globe and Mail's 2026 list of Canada's Top Growing Companies, posting 958% growth and placing No. 2 in the arts, recreation and entertainment category.

Activate expands from 50 to over 80 locations across 12 countries

The Manitoba-based entertainment company has grown from more than 50 locations to over 80 since first appearing on the Globe and Mail list in 2024. Activate now operates in 12 countries spanning North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and has served more than 14 million players worldwide.

CEO ties international scale-up to Canadian R&D base

Adam Schmidt, CEO of Activate, said the company continues to invest in games, technology and innovation from its Winnipeg headquarters even as it expands internationally, calling this the foundation of its growth.

Washington – September 25, 2026 -- Gamblers scored 3.93 out of five on a standard financial literacy index versus 3.72 for non-gamblers, according to new research commissioned by the American Gaming Association (AGA), with 41% of gamblers classified as highly financially literate compared with 27% of non-gamblers.

Prediction market users overstate their mathematical ability, study finds

Sports bettors demonstrated the highest combination of mathematical confidence and objectively tested capability among all gambling segments surveyed. Prediction market users reported nearly equivalent confidence levels but performed on objective math tests at levels closer to non-gamblers, exposing a gap between self-assessed skill and actual ability.

Tampa – September 25, 2026 -- Colony Grill has signed on as the Official Pizza Partner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, placing its thin-crust pizza in Raymond James Stadium through the 2030 season.

Four concession stands and premium suites will carry Colony Grill's menu

The deal covers three signature items -- plain cheese, pepperoni and the Original Hot Oil Pizza -- sold at four concession locations in Sections 109, 134, 311 and 336. Club-level seating will offer in-seat delivery in co-branded Colony Grill and Buccaneers personal-sized pizza boxes, while larger-format pizzas will be available in suites, the Champions Club and the Hall of Fame Club.

Shakopee, Minnesota – September 25, 2026 -- Businesses planning corporate golf outings in Shakopee, Minnesota are increasingly evaluating venues on tournament logistics, clubhouse capacity, and weather contingency planning rather than tee-time availability alone, according to a new HelloNation report featuring insights from Golf Expert Einar Odland of Stonebrooke Golf Club.

Pace of play determines outing atmosphere

The report identifies course layout and pace of play as direct factors in event success, noting that venues capable of keeping groups moving prevent scheduling delays during corporate tournaments. Practice facilities such as driving ranges and putting greens are cited as key amenities for accommodating both experienced golfers and first-time participants at business events.

Miami Beach, Fla. – September 25, 2026 -- PickleRage, one of the largest indoor pickleball club franchises in the United States, is opening its first California location in Bakersfield and a third Florida club in Tampa, the company confirmed.

Bakersfield becomes PickleRage's entry point into California and the West Coast

The Bakersfield club will be the franchise's first in California, owned and operated by local franchisees Daniel Marlowe and Jon Knutson. CEO Rich Destasio called the move an important step in the brand's broader West Coast expansion strategy.

Santa Fe, N.M. – September 25, 2026 -- Snow Secure's insulated mats retained 85% of stored snow volume through a full Colorado summer, according to drone measurements taken by Aspen Snowmass management on September 25, 2026, at the resort's Buttermilk and Snowmass locations.

Aspen Snowmass tested Colorado's first deployment of the European snow-storage system

Snow was covered under the insulated mats in April 2026, marking the first-ever Colorado deployment of Snow Secure's patented technology. Continuous temperature monitoring ran from April 30 through August 31, tracking how the insulation performed against seasonal heat and sun exposure.

Las Vegas – September 25, 2026 -- Global Fight League (OTC: GFLE) has signed a seven-figure binding Letter of Intent with investor Ryan Brockbank for the rights to own and operate the league's first independently owned franchise, marking its inaugural third-party ownership deal.

GFL secures non-refundable payment to fund Argentina proof-of-concept event

GFL has received and deposited a non-refundable initial payment toward the seven-figure purchase price, with the remaining balance due in 2027. The capital will help finance an international proof-of-concept event in Argentina during the fourth quarter of 2026, with further details expected in the coming week, as well as preparations for the league's first full season of competition in 2027.

Toronto – September 25, 2026 -- EdgeLabs gaming studio will unveil Blue Bird Bonus Extreme, a higher-multiplier spin-off of its Blue Bird Bonus title, at SBC Summit Lisbon, running September 29 to October 1 at Stand B551, Hall 2.

EdgeLabs expands its live demo lineup with new volatility mechanics

The studio will let operators play Blue Bird Bonus Extreme live on the show floor alongside Steampunk Fortune. Attendees will also get an early look at upcoming releases built around 3Pot and 4Pot mechanics, modeled on the studio's existing Flaming Skulls title.

"There's a big difference between hearing about a new game and sitting down to play it," said Marina Rodov, CEO of EdgeLabs. "We're bringing our new releases to Lisbon so operators can experience them for themselves."

Henderson, Nevada – September 24, 2026 -- Gaming Compliance International (GCI) has appointed Tim Miller, former Executive Director of Policy and Research at the UK Gambling Commission, as Strategic Advisor to guide its regulatory strategy and international expansion.

Miller brings a decade of UK regulatory experience to GCI's global growth push

Miller spent 10 years at the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) before founding GamReg Consulting, an advisory practice focused on gaming regulation. GCI becomes one of Miller's first clients under the new venture, where he will work directly with GCI CEO Matt Holt to shape product development and regulatory policy through a former regulator's lens.