1. HOTEL INDUSTRY STRUGGLES TO FIND STAFF: The hotel industry is thriving in the United States, except when it comes to finding workers. Chip Rogers, president and chief executive of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, told the New York Times that the labor market is the smallest its been in a generation, while the demand for hotels is the highest. According to the association’s new report, more than 2,270 hotels were opened in the U.S. the past three years, bringing the total number of properties in the country to 55,900. The New York Times: “While the study did not examine how many job openings exist in the lodging industry, the overall hospitality field has more than one million unfilled jobs, said Rosanna Maietta, president of the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Foundation, the trade association’s nonprofit branch that focuses on work force development and research. For travelers, the labor shortage might mean lines at the front desk, rooms that aren’t ready at check in, hotel pools without lifeguards, delayed maintenance, and fewer on-site dining options. In Maine, it forced a nonprofit to close two of its four backcountry lodges.” 2. MAJOR CRUISE LINES PLEDGE $1 MILLION EACH TOWARD HURRICANE DORIAN RELIEF EFFORTS: The cruise industry has collaborated to donate to Hurricane Dorian relief efforts in the Bahamas. Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Carnival, and Disney cruise lines have each pledged at least $1 million to help those affected by the hurricane, which ravaged the Bahamas for two days and killed at least 20 people. Adweek: “Royal Caribbean is also matching every dollar of guest and employee donations toward the community development nonprofit Pan American Development Foundation. Norwegian Cruise Line is matching Royal Caribbean, committing its own $1 million donation, as well as relaunching the brand’s hurricane relief campaign in partnership with the nonprofit All Hands and Hearts, vowing to match dollar for dollar donations to assist with the rebuilding efforts.” 3. HOW TIFF IS CATERING TO WORKING PARENTS: To cater to parents in the film industry, the Toronto International Film Festival is offering in-hotel babysitting and private breastfeeding and changing stations at festival venues. Anita DeVille, a service coordinator at Imagine That Child Care, which is offering the services, said the goal is to give industry mothers more time to work and parent during the event. The Hollywood Reporter: “Festival guests can choose one of several Kids & Company daycare centers in downtown Toronto, while one center near Bell Lightbox will remain open on TIFF's two weekends, when the festival is in full swing. Toronto film producer Lauren Grant and her peers at the Parenting at Film Festivals Group advised TIFF after their own breakthrough experience with Cannes' Le Ballon Rouge initiative earlier this year where onsite childcare and a space for nursing and changing babies was offered.” | 