Hilton partners in Brazil. Hilton and Brazil’s Atlantica Hotels have signed a management license agreement allowing Atlantica to develop and manage DoubleTree by Hilton hotels in Brazil. As part of this agreement, the companies also announced the first planned DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Porto Alegre, Brazil, introducing the brand in the country. DoubleTree by Hilton joins Atlantica’s portfolio of 19 brands represented by 120 hotels in Brazil, including four Hilton Garden Inns. The companies plan to open two additional Hilton Garden Inn hotels in Fortaleza and São Paulo.
Republicans call out Trump report. Congressional Republicans on Monday demanded that an internal government watchdog who had issued a critical report related to President Trump’s Washington, D.C., hotel support her conclusions. The news signals that Trump’s allies in Congress plan to aggressively defend his business dealings as his company comes under increasing scrutiny by House Democrats and others. A January 16 report by inspector general Carol Ochoa criticized the government’s decision that allowed Trump to keep the lease on the hotel, which is in a building owned by the GSA.
Challenging price parity in Australia. Accommodation Association of Australia CEO Richard Munro told a Federal Senate inquiry in Melbourne on Tuesday that price parity as a practice must be banned. Munro was testifying before a Senate hearing into a proposed amendment to Treasury Laws aimed at ensuring offshore-based multinationals pay their fair share of tax in Australia and prevent passing on any tax increases directly to contracted accommodation providers. Under current contracts between some major online travel agents and individual accommodation providers, clauses are in place legally prohibiting hotels, motels and serviced apartments from competing against the big OTAs with their own promotions or reduced rate offers.