(JULY 29, 2026) WASHINGTON, D.C. – Hotels Canada and the American Hotel & Lodging Association Foundation (AHLAF) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), formalizing a partnership to combat human trafficking across the hotel industry.

The agreement builds on Hotels Canada's No Room for Trafficking campaign and the AHLA Foundation's initiative of the same name. Together, the organizations will align resources, expand industry participation, strengthen awareness, and education and enhance survivor
support efforts across Canada and the United States.

"Human trafficking is a complex issue that requires collective action," said Beth McMahon, President & CEO, Hotels Canada. "This partnership will create a stronger, more coordinated international response by expanding awareness, increasing access to resources, and strengthening our industry's capacity to help prevent and combat human trafficking."

"Human trafficking knows no borders and our response should not either," said Kevin Carey, President & CEO of the AHLA Foundation. "By partnering with Hotels Canada, we are reinforcing our shared commitment to equipping hotel employees with the training and resources they need to help identify and prevent trafficking. Together, we can build a stronger, more united hospitality industry committed to protecting vulnerable individuals."

Through the Memorandum of Understanding, Hotels Canada and AHLAF have committed to:

• Aligning No Room for Trafficking programming and educational resources.
• Promoting free anti-human trafficking training opportunities for hotel employees in both Canada and the United States.
• Strengthening survivor support by promoting employment opportunities and fostering connections with survivor-serving organizations.
• Expanding collaboration through advisory council participation, regular knowledge sharing, and coordinated industry engagement.

The agreement will amplify Hotels Canada's next No Room for Trafficking awareness campaign, planned for early 2027.

The partnership with AHLAF reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that the hotel industry
remains a leader in combating human trafficking and supporting survivors.

To learn more about Hotels Canada's No Room for Trafficking initiative and access free training resources, visit https://hotelscanada.ca/no-room-for-trafficking/.

LONDON, 23 July 2026 - Hilton Hotels & Resorts (brand value up 28% to USD19.2 billion) retains its position as the world's most valuable hotel brand for 11 consecutive years, according to the Hotels 50 2026 report from Brand Finance, the world's leading brand valuation consultancy.

The brand's growth was supported by strong revenue expectations, underpinned by continued global expansion and the increasing contribution of its premium full-service portfolio. Its flagship brand, Hilton Garden Inn also generates significantly higher revenue per property than many of its peers, reflecting its premium positioning and strong international presence.

Hilton's continued leadership comes as the global hotel sector builds on its post pandemic recovery. Collectively, the world's top 50 hotel brands increased their combined brand value by 21% to USD69.8 billion in 2026, up from USD57.8 billion in 2025, reflecting resilient travel demand, disciplined expansion strategies and sustained pricing power across the industry.

Hyatt (brand value down 6% to USD7.5 billion) retains second place despite being the only brand among the top five to record a decline in brand value. With international markets accounting for an increasing share of its future pipeline, Hyatt remains well positioned to capture long term growth opportunities despite short term pressure on brand value.

Marriott (brand value up 23% to USD4.6 billion) ranks third following another year of robust global expansion and portfolio diversification. Strategic initiatives, including the acquisition of citizenM and the launch of Series by Marriott, further strengthened its brand portfolio and global reach. Meanwhile, Marriott Bonvoy’s membership grew to 271 million members, reinforcing customer loyalty and supporting sustained revenue growth across its extensive international network.

Henry Farr, Global Sector Head of Hotels, Brand Finance commented:

"The global hotel sector continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience, with leading brands benefiting from sustained travel demand, disciplined expansion strategies and strong pricing power. Brands that are combining asset light growth, premium guest experiences and investment in digital capabilities are strengthening both their financial performance and brand value. At the same time, our research shows that brand strength is increasingly shaped by customer trust, loyalty and consistent delivery of exceptional guest experiences, highlighting the importance of balancing rapid expansion with long term brand investment."

Meanwhile, Delta Hotels & Resorts (brand value up 79% to USD476 million) is the fastest growing hotel brand in this year's ranking. The brand's exceptional performance has been driven by accelerated international expansion, and its growing role within Marriott International's premium full-service portfolio.

Vinpearl (brand value up 86% to USD381 million) emerges as the strongest hotel brand this year, with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 95.4/100 and retaining its AAA+ brand strength rating. The brand's strong performance was supported by its Wonder Summer 2025 campaign, which offered promotional packages across destinations including Phu Quoc, Ha Long, Nam Hoi An, and Nha Trang.

Taj (brand value up 32% to USD878 million) retains its position as the second strongest hotel brand, achieving a BSI score of 93.5/100 and an AAA+ brand strength rating. Brand Finance's data highlights Taj's exceptional performance across key brand strength metrics, particularly familiarity, consideration and preference in its home market. Taj is also featured as brand to watch in the Hotels 50 2026 ranking, reflecting the brand's ambitious expansion strategy and continued investment in strengthening its position within the global luxury hospitality market.

Scandic Hotels remains as the world's third strongest hotel brand, achieving a BSI score of 91.3/100 and an AAA+ brand strength rating. The brand continues to strengthen its position through a customer centric strategy focused on digital innovation, seamless guest experiences and long-term loyalty.

Alongside the Hotels 50 ranking, Brand Finance also evaluates adjacent segments within the broader travel and tourism ecosystem, highlighting the continued strength of leisure and tourism brands that are shaping global consumer experiences across accommodation, travel platforms, entertainment and attractions.

In the leisure & tourism sector, Booking.com (brand value up 16% to USD12.1 billion) retains its position as the most valuable leisure and tourism brand, benefiting from strong travel demand and continued expansion of its connected travel ecosystem.

Despite a decline in brand value, Tokyo Disney Resort (brand value down 11% to USD2.8 billion) is the strongest leisure and tourism brand globally, achieving BSI score of 94.3/100 and an AAA+ brand strength rating. The brand continues to benefit from exceptional consumer perceptions around experience quality, service excellence and immersive entertainment.

Meanwhile, among the top 10 luxury hotel brands, Hilton Hotels & Resorts remains the world's most valuable luxury hotel brand, supported by its strong premium positioning and global reputation for high-quality hospitality. Growth has been underpinned by continued investment in its luxury portfolio, including Waldorf Astoria, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts, and NoMad Hotels, alongside expansion into high demand luxury destinations.

Taj Hotels retains its position as the world's strongest luxury hotel brand. As luxury travellers increasingly seek authentic and experience led stays, Taj continues to differentiate itself through its distinctive blend of Indian heritage, personalised hospitality and timeless luxury.

Richmond, B.C. (July 23, 2026) — With many employers hiring seasonal staff during the summer months, WorkSafeBC is reminding employers that young and new workers remain at higher risk of workplace injury during their first months on the job.

In 2025, WorkSafeBC accepted more than 7,000 claims from young workers who were injured on the job in B.C. Between 2021 and 2025, 18 young workers lost their lives due to workplace incidents.

WorkSafeBC's research has consistently shown that while young workers value safety and want to do a good job, many hesitate to speak up about unsafe work. New research from WorkSafeBC identifies why: the barrier is often less about recognizing hazards and more about feeling confident and able to raise concerns in the moment, particularly when workers are concerned about job security or how they will be perceived.

“Young workers often recognize when something isn’t right, but that doesn’t always mean they feel comfortable saying so,” says Todd McDonald, Head of Prevention Services at WorkSafeBC. “Young workers focus on making a good impression, which can make it harder to ask questions, raise concerns, or refuse unsafe work. Creating a workplace culture where questions are welcomed and concerns are taken seriously supports young workers and is critical to preventing injuries.”

Every worker has the right to know about workplace hazards, participate in health and safety, and refuse unsafe work, Effective risk management depends on workers being encouraged to identify hazards, assess risks, and help develop controls.

WorkSafeBC has launched a new campaign, Before You Ask a Bot, Ask Your Boss, to encourage young workers to speak with a supervisor before starting an unfamiliar or potentially unsafe task. Informed by research showing many young workers turn to AI tools and chatbots for answers, the campaign reinforces that workplace safety questions should be directed to a supervisor who understands the specific job and its risks. It also reminds employers that creating a workplace where questions are encouraged and concerns are welcomed is a shared responsibility that helps prevent injuries.

Employer responsibilities

Under the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, employers must ensure all workers, including young and new workers, receive job site orientation and role-specific training before they begin work. Employers must also provide ongoing supervision to ensure workers can perform their jobs safely and effectively. Training should reflect the tasks and hazards of the role and be reinforced over time.

“Young workers bring different levels of experience and familiarity with workplace hazards. Employers should tailor orientation, training, and supervision to the individual worker rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach, which can leave gaps that increase risk,” says McDonald.

Young workers who feel their concerns haven’t been addressed can contact WorkSafeBC’s Prevention Information Line at 1‑888‑621‑7233 to speak confidentially with a prevention officer.

Resources

Worksafebc.com offers a range of free resources to help young workers, parents, and employers build strong safety habits, including online tools, orientation checklists, and classroom-ready materials.

• Young & new workers
• Student WorkSafe
• Getting a Job? Ask Questions About Safety
• Support for employers: Training and orientation for young and new workers
• “Before you ask a bot, ask your boss” campaign

ARLINGTON, Va. – 22 July 2026 – Canada’s hotel industry reported its first monthly occupancy decline since December 2025, according to June 2026 data from CoStar, a leading global provider of commercial real estate information, analytics, and online property marketplaces.

June 2026 (percentage change from 2025):

• Occupancy: 73.0% (-3.5%)
• Average daily rate (ADR): CAD252.63 (+5.4%)
• Revenue per available room (RevPAR): CAD184.33 (+1.6%)

Among the provinces and territories, Nova Scotia reported the largest gains in ADR (+15.7% to CAD270.46) and RevPAR (+20.2% to CAD228.22), helped by the 2026 Canada Sail Grand Prix held in Halifax.

Newfoundland and Labrador, which hosted the Iceberg Festival, saw the highest occupancy lift (+4.6% to 86.4%) and the second-largest increases in ADR (+13.8% to CAD235.68) and RevPAR (+19.0% to CAD203.61).

Among the major markets, Vancouver registered the largest jump in ADR (+21.3% to CAD406.34) but the steepest occupancy drop (-15.8% to 73.2%). The market hosted five World Cup matches during the month.

Montreal posted the highest occupancy increase (+6.9% to 78.5%), but the largest ADR decline (-16.0% to CAD257.89). The decrease in ADR was due to the Canadian Grand Prix calendar shift.

Toronto, which also hosted five World Cup matches in June, reported the highest rise in RevPAR (+10.4% to CAD247.18) thanks to the second-highest ADR gain (+19.0% to CAD321.27).

For more information about the company and its products and services, please visit www.costargroup.com.