Hoteliers respond to staffing struggles, the Justice Department may block JetBlue-Spirit merger, and the architecture world mourns the loss of Rafael Viñoly. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Prolific architect Rafael Viñoly passes away
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Uruguayan-born architect Rafael Viñoly passed away unexpectedly in New York at the age of 78, according to a statement released by Rafael Viñoly Architects on behalf of Viñoly’s son, Román Viñoly. “He leaves a rich legacy of distinctive and timeless designs that manifested in some of the world’s most recognizable and iconic structures, among them the Tokyo International Forum, the Cleveland Museum of Art, Carrasco Airport in Montevideo, and 20 Fenchurch Street in London,” the statement reads. Viñoly studied at the University of Buenos Aires before co-founding his first studio, Estudio de Arquitectura Manteola-Petchersky-Sánchez Gómez-Santos-Solsona-Viñoly, in 1964. He relocated to the U.S. in 1979 and launched his namesake firm, which operates offices in New York, London, Buenos Aires, and California today.
Africa redefines the safari tourism experience
The Xigera Safari Lodge in Botswana
In response to COVID-induced changes and shifts in travelers’ priorities, many safari lodges across Africa are adjusting their offerings, Bloomberg reports. When revenue—and visitors—disappeared in 2020, operators were able to reconsider how to achieve their environmental and civic goals. Travelers, simultaneously, began to desire more private accommodations, flexibility in schedules, and increased exclusivity. The result is a more holistic experience that goes beyond admiring the area’s wildlife, with smaller, more intimate tours that are less disruptive, and more.
U.S. hotels are entering a hiring spree
According to a new survey conducted by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), hoteliers are offering benefits and incentives in hopes of offsetting staffing shortages that have been felt across the industry. For example, 71 percent of those surveyed are increasing wages, 64 percent are offering more flexible hours, and 33 percent are expanding benefits. More than 80 percent, however, are still experiencing difficult filling open positions. Seventy-nine percent of respondents are experiencing a staffing challenges, and, for many, their most critical staffing need is housekeeping.
Government looks to halt Spirit Airlines purchase
Photo courtesy of Markus Mainka/Adobe Stock
On Tuesday, the Justice Department file a lawsuit that would potentially stop JetBlue from purchasing Spirit, The New York Times reports. The lawsuit argues that the $3.8 billion acquisition violates antitrust laws and would reduce competition, resulting in higher fares and fewer options for travelers. According to the article, JetBlue is prepared to defend the merger and had planned to close the deal in the first half of 2024. “They’re losing perspective here as to the overall benefits,” says JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes. “We are as committed to low fares as anybody else.”
The Shed selects artists for its third commissioning program
The 2023–2024 Open Call artists. Standing, left to right: Kayla Hamilton, Bryan Fernandez, Christopher Radcliff, Calli Roche, Garrett Zuercher, Armando Guadalupe Cortés, Jake Brush. Seated, left to right: Kyle Dacuyan, Lizania Cruz, Asia Stewart, Luis A. Gutierrez, Minne Atairu, Sandy Williams IV, Jeffrey Meris. Not pictured: Cathy Linh Che, The Dragon Sisters, Nile Harris, NIC Kay, Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre; photo by Dana Golan and courtesy of the Shed
The Shed, a cultural institution in New York’s Hudson Yards, has announced 18 local artists and collections that were selected for the third iteration of Open Call, a commissioning program for early-career artists across visual and performing arts disciplines. Each artist will create and present new work to be displayed at an exhibition this October or performed at the Shed’s Griffin Theater in summer 2024. “This group brings together artists at the vanguard of their fields, pushing boundaries and defining the now and the next of art and culture in New York,” says Tamara McCaw, the Shed’s chief civic program officer.
