Loyer or Law-yer: How Do You Say It?
A federal court in Washington, D.C. recently ruled that the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) does not have authority to issue environmental regulation sunder the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969,...more
In good news, the State Department has announced the roll-out of its new online passport renewal system. Eligible individuals can renew their 10-year passports online without having to mail in any documentation. Be sure to...more
On March 19, 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States issued two decisions: FBI v. Fikre, 22-1178: This case addresses when the “voluntary cessation of a challenged practice” renders a lawsuit moot. Yonas Fikre, a...more
Yonas Fikre, a U.S. citizen who had emigrated from Sudan, found himself placed on the No Fly List by the FBI and unable to return to the United States from an international trip. This action followed Fikre’s having been...more
On July 6, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) updated the existing Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application to add questions focusing on an applicant’s travel and connection to Cuba,...more
The Interior Ministry has once again extended its policy of not taking enforcement measures against the employment of Ukrainian citizens who are in Israel because of the war in Ukraine. According to this policy, enforcement...more
As of November 2020, the State of Colorado has updated marijuana laws pertaining to the possession and sale of Marijuana. Upon the legalization of marijuana in December of 2012, Colorado become one of few states where an...more
On May 17, 2021, Vermont enacted Act 31 (H.89), an Act Relating to Limiting Liability for Agritourism. Governor Scott signed the bill into law just in time for visitors to make their way to the Green Mountain State for a...more
Seeking to prevent San Francisco’s return-to-work program from reigniting a surge of COVID-19 cases, the city’s Board of Supervisors (“Board”) has passed the “Healthy Buildings Ordinance” (“Ordinance”). This temporary...more
The Republic of Korea (South Korea or ROK) had been tracking the spread of the novel coronavirus in a manner sensitive to the privacy of its citizens, but the government has now admitted that personally identifiable data is...more
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has designated Poland as the newest member of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)....more
Vacasa Nearly Doubles Real Estate Footprint - ("Vacation rental platform Vacasa will pay $162M to acquire Wyndham Vacation Rentals," GeekWire on Jul 30, 2019) We learned last week that Portland-based Vacasa plans to...more
Agritourism continues to grow in North Carolina as residents and visitors look to explore and strengthen the connection between farm and table. In the western part of the state, options span from flower and produce farms...more
This week's Update includes a story detailing yet another state’s efforts to close existing tax loopholes so that it may collect proper sales/occupancy taxes from OTAs. I hope you enjoy....more
• Applicants for a green card and for most nonimmigrant visas (including work, student and tourist visas) will be subject to the new DHS rule on “public charge” determination. This will affect the processing of...more
Court of Justice of the European Union, 6 September 2018, Case C-488/16 P BSGE v EUIPO/Freistaat Bayern - King Ludwig II. of Bavaria was without a doubt an architectural visionary. During his reign in the second half of...more
August has been a slow month in the distribution world as this week’s Update reflects....more
This week’s OTA & Travel Distribution Update for the week ending May 18, 2018, is below. This week’s Update features our fourth installment in our 6-part series on alleged anti-trust abuses by hoteliers arising from their...more
Our weekly client OTA & Travel Distribution Update for the week ending May 11, 2018 is below. This week’s Update features a variety of stories, including the third installment in our six-part series dissecting recent...more
This week’s OTA & Travel Distribution Update for the week ending September 29, 2017 is below. This week’s Update is a lengthy one and contains a number of stories that, although not directly associated with distribution, I...more
Our weekly client OTA & Travel Distribution Update for the week ending July 28, 2017 is below. Two Expedia companies top this week’s Update...more
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is a system used to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), and whether such travel poses any law...more
The November general election obviously represents a sea change in how business will be conducted at the Minnesota state capitol when legislators return to work on January 3, 2017. House Republicans will enjoy a comfortable...more
Seattle, Washington, where I practice, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the U.S. Its natural beauty and cosmopolitan vibe are two of its biggest attractions. But increasingly, Cannabis Tourism has been a...more
The loosening of the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba has generated significant discussion regarding the country's potential for economic transformation. Most analysts agree that Cuba will be a very different country 10 years from...more