On Tuesday, United States District Judge Robert Pittman issued a fifty-page order that will likely have a profound impact on retailers that currently sell or are looking to sell alcoholic beverages in Texas. The lawsuit, brought in 2015 by Wal-Mart Stores […]
In order to be liable for the improper sale or provision of alcohol to a minor, it must be shown that: (1) the person or provider was an adult that was at least 21 years old, who was not the minor's parent, guardian, spouse or custodian; (2) the […]
On January 1, 2018, a new Texas law went into effect permitting a merchant to request a government-issued photo identification to verify the identity of a credit or debit card user – and decline the transaction if the buyer refuses to show it. & […]
Tip pooling in the hospitality industry has long been a method of increasing pay to certain employees and to allow the employer to pay lower "wages" than would otherwise be required. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA" […]
It is no secret that the advent of online commerce has eroded the value of retail properties for landlords and tenants alike. Brick and mortar - or stick and brick - retailers have been steadily losing market share to online giants such as the […]
Following the recent mass shooting in Las Vegas hoteliers are taking a second look at balancing guest security with a welcoming atmosphere. Some have described security in the hospitality industry as a "conundrum" because "the concept […]
A provider is someone who sells or serves alcoholic beverages. Generally, in Texas, providers are licensed and regulated by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission ("TABC"). However, a person need not be licensed by the TABC to be classified as a […]
In an era where retailers face mounting pressures forcing increased store closings and bankruptcy filings, the full impact on the industry in the wake of devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey is still unfolding. A preliminary estimate by Moody's Analytics […]
By now, the names Harvey and Irma have become synonymous with havoc and destruction. Aside from the devastating effects of these storms on personal property, they also caused businesses to grind to a halt. Flooding, loss of business inventory, irreparable […]
Gift cards from retailers, restaurants, and hospitality clients continue to be a growing aspect of the industry. In 2009, Congress passed the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act which governs store gift cars, gift certificates […]
According to Money Magazine, 22 Retailers are on the verge of bankruptcy! The article cites a report released last week by Moody’s Investors Service that indicates ratings of Caa or worse—defined as “subject to very high credit risk”—to […]
While working a private event at a Hawaii hotel, Honolulu Police Department Officer Kinchung Chung intervened in a verbal disagreement involving a private security guard, Aaron Okura, and a patron, Dillon Bracken, who stepped over a rope to enter an […]