The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village appoints new Director of Hotel Sales

Marwan Haddad brings nearly two decades of global sales and marketing-related experience to his new role, with the majority of his career dedicated to championing hotels within the Marriott family.
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Facing possible recall, Newsom under fire from fellow Democrats over COVID-19 response

Nearly a year into the pandemic, more California Democrats are beginning to criticize Gov. Gavin Newsom as the governor struggles to respond to the crisis.
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Column: The six stages of pandemic emotion

Hint: They've got a lot in common with the five stages of grief
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Appointments pushed back, confusion reigns over 2nd COVID-19 vaccine dose

Tightening COVID-19 vaccine supplies and online scheduling snafus are contributing to concerns about whether people will be able to get their second dose shots within the recommended time period.
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Mark Beveridge appointed operations Director of Aberdeen International Airport

Mark Beveridge will succeed Roger Hunt who acted as interim Managing Director of the airport in addition to his current role as Chief of Business Services for AGS Airports.
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Despite Cal/OSHA's emergency COVID-19 safety rule, workers say little has changed

Business groups are suing to reverse the 2-month-old workplace safety rule. Cal/OSHA, which staffers say has just four people performing criminal investigations of 650 worker deaths, hasn't yet used the rule to issue any citations.
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Jurny continues U.S. market expansion into Baltimore

Hospitality tech company to enhance guest experience and streamline operations at Baltimore’s iconic hotel Brexton.
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Growing racial inequities in L.A. County vaccine rollout raise concern

L.A. County officials said they are concerned about low COVID-19 vaccination numbers among healthcare workers in South L.A. and other communities of color.
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Premier Worldwide Marketing strengthens executive leadership team for Karisma Hotels & Resorts

Industry veterans to lead Karisma through historic expansion in 2021.
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Bay Area outdoor dining reopens again, but no one knows if pandemic will cooperate

The San Francisco Bay Area won kudos for tamping down the coronavirus. Then it came roaring back. Now the region is partly reopening again.
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Vista Global companies record strong growth in membership and market share across all key markets in 2020

Flexible and adaptable business model, and global service offerings critical to robust 2020 performance and driving confidence into the start of 2021. A record-breaking year for VistaJet’s On Demand services with an acceleration in bookings of 15%.
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In a time of great need, student nurses step up to get shots into arms

The pandemic has meant less in-hospital time for many nursing students. But Cal State student nurses are now jump-starting their careers with the vaccine rollout.
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Annie Petsonk to serve as principal deputy assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs at the DoT

EDF statement from Fred Krupp, President.
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'Need a lot of both.' Will California's vaccine ramp-up squeeze out COVID-19 testing?

California's ability to multitask is being tested as health officials scramble to find staff for vaccination sites while maintaining testing and contact tracing.
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Could a homegrown coronavirus strain be partly to blame for California's surge?

California scientists have discovered a new coronavirus strain that appears to be propagating faster than any other variant in the Golden State.
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Triumph and heartbreak as thousands line up, desperate for COVID-19 vaccine

Tens of thousands of people face confusion, contradiction and chaos amid the state's uneven vaccine rollout.
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Hotelbeds and HotelRunner extend partnership

HotelRunner’s accommodation partners will benefit from access to the more than 60,000 high value travel trade buyers - including retail travel agents, airlines, loyalty point schemes and tour operators – that form Hotelbeds’ portfolio. Over 40,000 hotels and hostels properties from HotelRunner’s inventory will also be available to Hotelbeds’ travel trade clients.
http://dlvr.it/Rr5RXQ

Newsom promised 1 million COVID-19 vaccinations in 10 days. The state can't say if he met his goal

Gov. Gavin Newsom said 1 million additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine would be administered in California over the course of 10 days. But due to the state's data collection issues, it is unclear whether he met that goal.
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AGS Airports led Consortium to develop UK’s first medical delivery drone netowrk

The CAELUS (Care & Equity – Healthcare Logistics UAS Scotland) project started on 1 December and will involve live drone flight trials.
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Editorial: Lucky me. I got my first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. But why?

Right now, getting the vaccine seems to have more to do with whom you know and where you live than how badly you need it
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Completion of multi-million-dollar renovation of 298-room DoubleTree by Hilton Washington, D.C. North/Gaithersburg.

Lesly Connolly named Director of Sales & Marketing.
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Iranians demand a COVID-19 vaccine, not politics, from their leaders

Iran's top leader has banned Western-made COVID-19 vaccines but is facing mounting fury from a populace devastated by the coronavirus.
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Qatar Airways becomes the first global airline in the world to achieve a 5-star COVID-19 airline safety rating by Skytrax

Hamad International Airport was the first airport in the Middle East and Asia to be awarded a Skytrax 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating.
http://dlvr.it/RqscNZ

Grand Hyatt Al Khobar Hotel and Residences opens

The opening marks the first Grand Hyatt branded hotel in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
http://dlvr.it/RqnyWJ

Another new coronavirus variant found across California, including L.A. County

As the number of coronavirus infections in California approaches 3 million, health officials said Sunday that a new strain — different from a highly contagious variant first identified in the U.K. — is popping up across the state.
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Forum to serve as a coronavirus vaccination distribution site

Health officials hope to eventually distribute up to 4,000 coronavirus vaccinations a day at the Forum in Inglewood.
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Danny Crowe joins Go Inspire Group to grow strategic marketing performance offering

Danny Crowe’s 40 years of industry experience is similarly wide-ranging, embracing in-house roles at major financial services, retail and travel brands, as well as agency roles developing clients’ commercial success in IT, travel, DIY, media and e-commerce.
http://dlvr.it/Rqcgqz

Federal rent relief is coming. Here's what to expect in California.

The new stimulus bill passed by Congress includes $25 billion in rental relief for struggling tenants, $2.6 billion of which is coming to California. Can I apply?
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Preferred Hotels & Resorts renews successful strategic partnership with Sabre to fuel future growth

The renewal marks the latest chapter in the valued and long-standing relationship between Sabre and Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest independent hotel brand representing more than 750 distinctive hotels, resorts, residences, and unique hotel groups across 85 countries.
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15 Kaiser San Jose patients test positive for coronavirus after Christmas Day outbreak

The news comes after an outbreak on Christmas Day, when an asymptomatic employee came to work in an inflatable holiday tree.
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Vermont lodging industry creates a more powerful voice in the State

New Vermont Lodging Association formed to strengthen the industry’s Advocacy and Education Network
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Not a drive-in: An L.A. theater gets city approval for an outdoor stage

The Fountain in East Hollywood gets city permission to turn its parking lot into an outdoor theater with distanced seating for up to 84 people.
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Hutton Brickyards reimagines 73 acres of Riverside Hudson Valley history

The brickyards’ heroic covered pavilions create outdoor entertainment hubs, ensconcing visitors in effortless Hudson Valley style at monumental scale directly on the Hudson River.
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L.A. County faces 'worst disaster' in decades as coronavirus rages unchecked

"The end of this surge only happens when more people and more businesses take control and do the right thing," Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said.
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New Covid-19 testing provider, TACKL Health, begins service at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

Travelers can get results on their phone in as little as 15 minutes.
http://dlvr.it/RqK54L

California approaches 30,000th COVID death amid continuing surge

Five of the highest single-day death tallies for California have been recorded in the last week.
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'A mass fatality event': California struggles with backlog of bodies of COVID-19 victims

With hospital morgues and funeral homes full and deaths mounting, California struggles to store the bodies of COVID-19 victims.
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As COVID-19 rages, an L.A. hospital plans to close it doors, sparking criticism and questions

After a sale to UCLA, Olympia Medical Center says it will shut down March 31. Workers and community members said they were blindsided by the decision.
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Cambria Hotels continues United States expansion with suburban Detroit opening

Posted January 5th, 2021 for Choice Hotels International, Inc.
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'The virus is out of control': 1 in 5 COVID tests are positive in L.A. County

Around Nov. 1, roughly the starting point of the latest coronavirus surge, only about 1 in 25 tests was confirming a coronavirus infection.
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Digital passes to boost consumer confidence by enhancing efficiency, safety and data privacy

Digital passes and certificates intend to lower the risk of COVID-19 infection by providing accurate health status (in terms of COVID-19) details of passengers, says GlobalData, a leading research and consulting company.
http://dlvr.it/Rq4Bjl

Newsom proposes $600 payments to Californians in need and extending COVID-19 eviction moratorium

With a state law protecting California tenants from pandemic-related evictions expiring at the end of this month, Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed Wednesday to extend the protections tand expedite distribution of $2.6 billion in federal rental assistance for low-income tenants.
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Peachtree Hotel Management forms strategic partnership with Zenique Hotels

Zenique’s current portfolio includes four hotels located throughout California.
http://dlvr.it/Rq0X2d

As some firefighters refuse COVID-19 vaccine, LAFD offers prizes to encourage getting shots

Top LAFD brass are using free Lyft rides, Google Nest gear and home security systems to entice firefighters unwilling to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
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Pleasant Holidays and Journese eliminate brand change fees

In all destinations for new land vacation bookings made by March 31, 2021.
http://dlvr.it/RpwmjS

Maskless protesters storm a grocery store and Westfield Century City mall

Anti-maskers harassed customers and employees at a supermarket and Century City mall Sunday to protest COVID-19 health mandates.
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Profit plunge has hotel industry looking to brighter 2021

Occupancy was down 4 percentage points over October to 24.2% and coupled with an average rate at $143.74 produced RevPAR of $34.76, which was down more than 78% year-over-year and 15% over the month prior.
http://dlvr.it/Rps98k

L.A. homeless sites 'overwhelmed' by COVID-19, putting more stress on healthcare system

The coronavirus is finally hitting people living in L.A. County homeless shelters, after months of surprise the pandemic had not already ravaged a vulnerable community.
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It's 'World War III,' says L.A. County doctor beset by intensely sick COVID-19 patients

"It's mentally, physically and emotionally draining," said Dr. Nick Kwan, who struggled to articulate the toll that COVID-19 has placed on patients and L.A. County hospitals.
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Spiraling COVID-19 deaths leave morgues overflowing and funeral homes turning away grieving families

A months-long surge of coronavirus cases in Los Angeles County is reaching its grim if inevitable zenith
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