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NFL, players association determine no concussion protocols were violated in latest Tua Tagovailoa injury

December 31, 2022 Published by

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News 

An investigation by the NFL and NFLPA determined that Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa did not show concussion symptoms during last Sunday’s game.

Tagovailoa was able to finish the Christmas Day game against the Packers. On Monday, he was placed in concussion protocol after reporting symptoms to the team. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel later confirmed that the quarterback was in the protocol for the second time this season.

The league and players association’s joint review concluded that there were no violations of the concussion protocol during the game.

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The NFL and NFLPA previously performed a joint review of the Dolphins’ handling of a Tagovailoa concussion. The first came after a Week 4 game against the Bengals, when Tagovailoa was knocked unconscious after a sack by the Cincinnati Bengals. He was carted off the field and was later briefly hospitalized.

AARON RODGERS THINKS DOLPHINS SHOULD CONSIDER SHUTTING TUA TAGOVAILOA DOWN FOR REST OF SEASON

“Yeah, I remember the entire night up until the point I got tackled,” he said about that hit against the Bengals via Yahoo Sports. “After I got tackled, I don’t remember much from there. Getting carted off, I don’t remember that. But I do remember things that were going on when I was in the ambulance and when I arrived at the hospital.”

That investigation found that the team had followed protocol, but it also determined that the protocol itself needed to be amended. The unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant involved in Tagovailoa’s evaluation earlier in the season was also terminated by the players association.

Tagovailoa would miss the next two games against the Jets and the Vikings after he suffered the head injury in Cincinnati. He returned to the field against the Steelers on Oct. 23.

TUA TAGOVAILOA’S TRAINER SPEAKS ABOUT QUARTERBACK’S FUTURE AFTER CONCUSSION SCARE: ‘UNO AIN’T GOING ANYWHERE’

In a joint statement released on Saturday, the NFL and NFLPA said, “The protocol is initiated when a player receives an impact to the head and exhibits or reports signs or symptoms suggestive of a concussion. The review established that symptoms of a concussion were neither exhibited nor reported until the following day at which time the team medical personnel appropriately evaluated and placed Mr. Tagovailoa in the concussion protocol.”

During the second quarter of the Dolphins’ loss to the Green Bay Packers, Tagovailoa’s head hit the turf after he was tackled from behind. He did remain in the game, but he proceeded to throw three interceptions on three consecutive drives.

The Dolphins have already ruled Tagovailoa out for Sunday’s game against New England.

 

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[World] Ginni Thomas: US Supreme Court justice's wife says she regret her post-election texts

December 31, 2022 Published by
Virginia "Ginni" ThomasReuters

Virginia Thomas is married to US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas
By Kayla Epstein
BBC News

A Supreme Court justice’s wife expressed regret for her texts fanning conspiracies about the 2020 presidential election – in one among dozens of witness transcripts rushed out in the final days of activity by a congressional inquiry into last year’s riot at the US Capitol.

The committee is racing to make the disclosures this week before it is expected to be disbanded by Republicans when they take over the House of Representatives in four days.

Former President Donald Trump, a Republican, has called the investigation a “witch hunt”.

His son, Donald Trump Jr; his son-in-law Jared Kushner; former adviser Stephen Miller; his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson were among the 56 witnesses featured in this week’s disclosures.

The committee placed the blame for the riot squarely on Mr Trump’s shoulders when they released their final, 845-page report last week; many of their conclusions were based on the interviews they are now publishing in full. Taken together, the new transcripts show a White House in disarray after Mr Trump lost the election, and paralysed into inaction as his supporters laid siege to the Capitol on 6 January 2021.

Here are a selection of interesting details from the committee’s interviews with Mr Trump’s family members, aides and allies.

‘I regret all of these texts’

The panel released interviews with right-wing activists and candidates who had backed Mr Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election had been stolen from him.

One of them, Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, a conservative operative and wife of US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, came under intense scrutiny after the Washington Post and CBS News reported that she had texted White House chief of staff Mark Meadows urging them to continue challenging the election results.

Her texts raised ethical concerns over the wife of a Supreme Court justice engaging in partisan activity.

“I regret all of these texts,” Ms Thomas told the January 6 committee when interviewed about these communications.

“It was an emotional time,” she said. “I was probably just emoting, as I clearly was with Mark Meadows somewhat.”

In her testimony, she told the committee that, “I worried that there was fraud and irregularities that distorted the election but it wasn’t uncovered in a timely manner, so we have President Biden.”

Melania Trump, wife of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, arrives to speak on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016Getty Images

Melania Trump

Melania Trump said to have snubbed Jill Biden

US media had previously reported on Mr Meadows’ alleged practice of burning documents.

Stephanie Grisham, the former chief of staff for Melania Trump, testified that the first lady pushed back against a suggestion that she invite her incoming successor, Jill Biden, to the White House for tea.

Instead, she testified, Mrs Trump wanted to be on the “same page” as the president’s office, which was resisting some transition efforts.

During the attack, Mrs Trump also refused to send a tweet that encouraged her husband’s supporters to engage in “peaceful protest” and not “lawlessness and violence”, Ms Grisham told investigators.

Trump thought Capitol rioters looked ‘very trashy’

Ms Grisham also gave insight into Mr Trump’s actions while the riot unfolded.

She told investigators that she had “heard from several people in the West Wing” that Mr Trump “was sitting in the dining room, and he was just watching it all unfold, and that a couple of his comments – some of his comments were that these people looked very trashy, but also look at what fighters they were”.

“He was kind of revelling in the fact that these people were fighting for him. But he also didn’t like how they looked,” Ms Grisham said.

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Watch dramatic new footage of police under attack at the Capitol riot

Documents allegedly burned in White House fireplace

The transcripts show the source material for many significant revelations, which trickled out steadily throughout the 18-month investigation and during 10 high-profile hearings this year.

For instance, in a newly released transcript, White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson, said she had seen her boss, chief of staff Mark Meadows, burn documents in his office fireplace between December 2020 and January 2021.

Ms Hutchinson, who provided some of the inquiry’s most damning testimony about 6 January, said she did not know what the documents contained.

With the committee likely to disband in the coming days, it remains to be seen how much more of their trove of evidence they will make public before the new Congress begins on 3 January, 2023.

source

U.S. Senator Slams Treasury Over Electric Vehicle Tax Credit Move

December 31, 2022 Published by

TheStreet 

A new interpretation of the definition of free trade agreement is praised by the European Union and criticized by a prominent U.S. politician.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 was signed into law by President Joe Biden on Aug. 16, 2022. The previous year it had already passed the House of Representatives.

After getting through the House, the bill would need to pass the Senate to get to Biden’s desk for the signature that would make it a law. But negotiations in the Senate faced some political challenges, most conspicuously finding a way the Democrats could agree unanimously on the specifics.

The Senate was divided 50-50 among Democrats and Republicans. No Republicans were going to vote for the bill. So the only way it would pass was for all 50 Democrats to vote for it and then for Vice President Kamala Harris to cast the tie-breaking vote as required by the U.S. Constitution.

First introduced as a $3.5 trillion bill, the Build Back Better Act, after spirited legislative maneuvering, was ultimately renamed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Its price tag was reduced to $737 billion, not nearly as costly but still an enormous spending bill. On Aug. 7, it passed the Senate 51 to 50, with Vice President Harris casting the tiebreaking vote.

Provisions of the law include Affordable Care Act subsidies, lowering prescription drug prices, investing in domestic energy, tax reform and promoting clean energy.

One aspect of the clean energy requirements has received an elevated level of scrutiny and is already having an effect on individuals and auto manufacturers. A purchaser of an electric vehicle (EV) is eligible to claim a tax credit of up to $7,500, but with this law it only applies if the vehicle’s final assembly occurs in North America.

Foreign automakers such as Hyundai were surprised by the immediate application of the condition and are rushing to find ways to comply.

Specifics on other ways for consumers to save when buying zero emission cars, though, are still being negotiated. For example, the Treasury Department has said that more guidance on electric vehicle tax credits regarding battery requirements will be coming in March 2023.

A new Free Trade Agreement Interpretation is Announced

The Treasury Department said in a white paper Dec. 29 that it was using a broad definition of which countries have a free trade agreement with the U.S. The effect would be that cars produced by international automobile manufacturers could qualify for some tax credits.

Also announced was guidance for a separate tax credit for commercial clean vehicles that would give non-U.S. car companies a chance at eligibility.

The European Union officially praised the policy decision.

“New guidance issued today by the U.S. reaffirms that E.U. companies can benefit from the Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit scheme under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act,” the European Commission said in a statement. “The E.U. welcomes this guidance, which reflects the constructive engagement as part of the EU-US Inflation Reduction Act Task Force at senior official level.”

The statement did, however, include an opinion on policy around the main tax credits.

“The EU continues to seek similar, non-discriminatory treatment of EU clean vehicle producers under the Clean Vehicle Credits of the Inflation Reduction Act,” it clarified. “This scheme remains of concern to the EU, as it contains discriminatory provisions which de facto exclude EU companies from benefiting. Discriminating against EU produced clean vehicles and inputs violates international trade law and unfairly disadvantages EU companies on the US market, reduces the choices available to US consumers and ultimately reduces the climate effectiveness of this green subsidy.”

One Senator Voices His Disapproval

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., a vocal advocate of the North America final assembly provision and supporter of U.S.-based manufacturing of EVs, was not pleased with the new free trade agreement leniency.

The Treasury Department’s explanation “bends to the desires of the companies looking for loopholes and is clearly inconsistent with the intent of the law,” he said, according to Politico. 

On Twitter, Stock Talk Weekly (@stocktalkweekly) quotes Manchin being very blunt about the action he would like to see.

“U.S. Senator Joe Manchin says ‘I urge the U.S. Treasury to halt the implementation of electric vehicle tax credits,'” it said in a tweet.

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Idaho murder suspect Kohberger wearing suicide-prevention vest, police used crime scene DNA: sources

December 31, 2022 Published by

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News 

Bryan Kohberger is wearing a suicide-prevention vest while being held at the Monroe County Correctional Facility in Pennsylvania following his arrest in conjunction with a quadruple homicide in Moscow, Idaho, Fox News confirmed Saturday with a law enforcement source.

Suicide vests are used to “ensure warmth and comfort” while not obstructing the wearer’s movements, according to PSP Corp, a suicide prevention company. 

The vests also cannot be rolled or torn and prevent inmates “from using the fabric to create a weapon or hanging mechanism.”

IDAHO MURDERS: SUSPECT BRYAN CHRISTOPHER KOHBERGER ARRESTED IN KILLINGS OF 4 UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Kohberger, 28, was arrested Friday for the Nov. 13 murder of four University of Idaho students while at his parents’ home in eastern Pennsylvania.

Authorities used DNA to track him and his vehicle that was placed at the scene of the crime, a separate source told Fox News. 

He has been charged with four counts of murder and burglary for the alleged stabbing of Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and Madison Mogen, 21.

Fox News confirmed through a police source that investigators have only been focused on Kohberger as their suspect “the last few days.”

Genetic genealogy work on DNA left at the scene of the crime was instrumental in leading them to Kohberger, Fox News was told. 

The Moscow police faced criticism for the time it took investigators to locate a suspect or persons of interest as questions remained unanswered for roughly a month and a half.

UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO MURDERS TIMELINE: WHAT WE KNOW

The local police worked with the FBI and Idaho State Police throughout the investigation.

In an interview with Fox News Saturday, Moscow Police Chief James Fry described the process as a “puzzle.”

“We’re building the picture, and we’re putting those pieces to get that picture,” he said. 

Fry said the department “truly believe[s] we have the individual that committed these crimes.”

Kohberger’s connection to the victims – if any – remains unknown.

“That’s part of that investigation that we’re still putting pieces together,” he added. 

Kohberger was a Ph.D. student studying criminal justice at Washington State University in Pullman – roughly 15 miles from the victims’ shared rental home. 

 

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Disney Closing Legendary Roller Coaster for a Long Time

December 31, 2022 Published by

TheStreet 

The Paris version of the ride made a major theme change. Could the U.S. version follow?

Whenever a Disney ride closes, it creates speculation on what will happen to the ride. Will Disney just perform routine maintenance, or will it add to the theme or completely retheme the ride? Walt Disney himself knew before opening any theme park it would take constant updating.

Walt Disney World  (DIS) – Get Free Report in Orlando, Fla., is closing one of its rides for a lengthy time at its Hollywood Studios theme park. Disney World takes advantage of the least appealing weather during the winter and uses it as its ‘off season’ in January and February, meaning lots of rides will be scheduled to be down for periods of time. Hollywood Studios will permanently end these rides, Jedi Training Academy: Trials of the Temple, Star Wars: Galactic Spectacular, and Voyage of the Little Mermaid. Disney will temporarily close Frozen Sing-Along Celebration in January, it should reopen by the end of January.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will close Kali River Rapids starting on Jan 9 with the end date undetermined and ,it will permanently close and demolish Primeval Whirl. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will be down for only a few days in January. Over in the Magic Kingdom, it is closing its iconic Splash Mountain on Jan. 2, 2023, and it will get a completely new theme.

Curtain Call on Disney Ride

Hollywood Studios is closing the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster that features legendary band Aerosmith that has been around for roughly half a century. 

Disney has said that the ride is just closed for routine maintenance and should reopen summer of 2023, according to BlogMickey.com. The ride originally opened to the public in 1999. There was a sister coaster in Disneyland Paris, which opened in 2002, closed in 2019 and was rethemed with the Avengers.

Since the Paris ride was rethemed, the speculation is high on whether or not the Hollywood Studios Florida ride meets the same fate. The retheme could be Star Wars or any number of Pixar films. Any retheme of the ride probably wouldn’t be Marvel since there is a deal between Universal Studios Florida and the MCU. So even if the Hollywood Studios Rock ‘n’ Roller coaster does get a makeover, it likely will not be the same as the one in Paris. 

When One Door Closes Another Opens

Disney will always be in the midst of changing its theme parks. Walt Disney knew in the very beginning that to stay relevant and new, the parks would always be refurbishing, retheming and reimagining the rides and attractions all over the park. 

When the news broke about the refurbishment of the Rock ‘N’ Roller ride via Twitter, fans began to pitch new themes and also said the ride definitely needs some work done. 

“It needs it, badly… great ride that is showing some aging scuffs…” – tweeted @GlenCarballo. 

“This lengthy refurbishment probably has more to do with the launch system than anything else. The Aerosmith contract ends in a few days, but Disney can still pay UMG to use the songs.” -tweeted Frank @kingdomadvntrs. 

While other tweets went on to suggest other new themes. It is clear, there are a mixed bag of feelings about the ride and its theme. With such a huge fanbase Disney always faces some sort of backlash for any change to its existing attractions, even after the attraction has truly outlived its purpose and audience. 

Splash Mountain being the perfect case, as Disney fans love the ride, but the outdated theme needs to be redone. The retheme will bring the “Princess and the Frog” to the outdated attraction. Whereas instead of having a profound negative connotation of “Song of the South,” it will showcase a “Princess and the Frog” character Tiana chasing her dreams and empower young women. This is the direction that audiences want to see Disney move towards. 

While many Disney fans will miss rides and attractions that bring that nostalgia back from their childhood, sometimes it is best to retheme.  Disney said it best in “Frozen,” “Let it Go.”

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Your ultimate guide to Hilton hotel brands

December 31, 2022 Published by

The Points Guy 

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, updated with new information.

Think hotels have too many brands? You’re not the only one.

It can be confusing to decipher distinct brand identities when individual hotel companies have so many. For instance, Marriott International ended up with 30 brands following its 2016 takeover of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Meanwhile, Paris-based Accor clocks in at more than 40 brands.

TPG will spend the next few months examining each of the major hotel companies and their many brands, starting today with Hilton. While Hilton might be Marriott’s chief rival in the hotel arena, it follows a different ethos when it comes to its brands.

For starters, Hilton’s brand line-up is a lot smaller, with only 18. The McLean, Virginia-based company also tends to favor organically launching hotel brands as opposed to acquiring them from existing companies. The Hilton brand spectrum also ranges from ultra-luxury — with its Waldorf Astoria collection — to the more affordably priced, extended-stay brand Homewood Suites. It even boasts a timeshare arm with Hilton Grand Vacations.

If you’re already confused, don’t fret. You’ve come to the right place for a crash course in Hilton brands.

Waldorf Astoria

HILTON

32 hotels and resorts located across 15 countries and territories

Hilton’s pitch to hotel owners and developers: “In landmark destinations around the world, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts reflect the culture and history of their extraordinary locations. With a fresh, modern expression of its rich, authentic legacy, Waldorf Astoria provides guests the exceptional environment and the personalized attention of True Waldorf Service that creates unforgettable experiences for our discerning travelers.”

TPG’s takeaway: Waldorf is one of the hotel brand grand dames. A wide array of historical figures and celebrities — from Winston Churchill to Frank Sinatra to Paris Hilton — have stayed (or lived) at the original Waldorf in New York City. Although it stands out for its place in history, Waldorf is no longer a big fish in a small pond of luxury hotel providers. The brand faces tough competition in the points world from Marriott’s St. Regis and Ritz-Carlton brands as well as Accor’s Raffles. Smaller, high-end brands such as Aman and Capella appeal to ultra-luxury connoisseurs who don’t mind cash rates.

The True Waldorf Service initiative is a great selling point for those who want or need butler service during a stay, but that’s a baseline expectation in this stratum of hotel brands. The robust Hilton Honors points and loyalty network gives Waldorf some competitive advantage. However, we are watching to see what happens as Hilton beefs up this iconic brand into more cities — and tries to differentiate it from the pack.

Reviews: The Trump-turned-Waldorf Astoria in D.C., Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, Waldorf Astoria Maldives

LXR Hotels & Resorts

BENJI STAWSKI/THE POINTS GUY

Nine hotels across seven countries and territories

Hilton’s pitch to hotel owners and developers: “Found in the world’s most alluring locations, LXR Hotels & Resorts immerse you in truly profound travel experiences. We’ve connected legendary luxury properties into a network of hotels offering singular service and remarkable experiences.”

TPG’s takeaway: Major hotel companies like Hilton desperately want to beef up their luxury footprints. However, that doesn’t mean every luxury hotel owner wants to tap into a Waldorf license agreement and go through all the hassle of retrofitting a property to that brand’s design and experience standards. Enter: LXR Hotels & Resorts. These hotels enjoy inclusion on the Hilton Honors loyalty network but maintain the unique, bespoke feel of an independent top-tier hotel.

Reviews: Oceana Santa Monica, Hotel 1000

Conrad Hotels & Resorts

Agua Viva. MELANIE LIEBERMAN/THE POINTS GUY

44 hotels and resorts across 22 countries and territories

Hilton’s pitch to hotel owners and developers: “Never just stay. Stay inspired. Smart luxury is at the core of everything Conrad Hotels & Resorts does. We offer access to a world of infinite connections, intuitive services and inspired experiences along our guests’ journeys. We are the destination of a new generation of smart luxury travelers for whom life, business and pleasure seamlessly intersect.”

TPG’s takeaway: This is essentially the JW Marriott of the Hilton brand family — but not just because they are both named after their respective founders. The brand operates in a bit of purgatory between the upscale spectrum of Hilton Hotels & Resorts and the luxury segment commanded by Waldorf and LXR. Think of these properties as affordable luxury options that work in both cities and resort destinations. While you stay at one, you can debate if Conrad Hilton’s last words really were, “Leave the shower curtain on the inside of the tub.”

Reviews: Conrad Los Angeles, Conrad Miami, Conrad New York Downtown

Canopy by Hilton

HILTON

37 hotels across 10 countries and territories

Hilton’s pitch to hotel owners and developers: “Positively Yours. For those seeking an energizing experience, Canopy by Hilton is the hotel brand that creates ‘a positive stay’ with its simple, guest-directed service and thoughtful, local choices.”

TPG’s takeaway: Canopy is one of Hilton’s newer kids on the block. It was initially included in a wave of brands like Moxy and Aloft that aimed to attract younger travelers — though Hilton refrained from using the m-word (millennial) as much as its competitors. Fast forward to today, and the brand is more of a play for the lifestyle hotel sector. Its properties integrate more into their surrounding neighborhoods and offer elevated food, beverage and dining experiences for guests.

Reviews: Canopy New Orleans, Canopy Reykjavik City Centre

Signia by Hilton

HILTON

Two hotels across the U.S.

Hilton’s pitch to hotel owners and developers: “Signia by Hilton is a new portfolio of premier hotels in highly sought-after urban and resort destinations. Each Signia by Hilton hotel offers unparalleled, dynamic meetings and events capabilities with world-class design, state-of-the-art technology, signature food and beverage experiences and premium wellness offerings, all backed by the Hilton name and award-winning Hilton Honors program.”

TPG’s takeaway: While it was a head-scratcher to see Hilton move ahead with a convention brand in the depths of the pandemic (though the brand itself was launched prior to then), the hotel company did just that. The brand fills a hole in Hilton’s network by allowing it to compete with the likes of Omni and Gaylord in the convention business.

Hilton Hotels & Resorts

ANTONIO CUELLER/HILTON

601 hotels and resorts across 95 countries and territories

Hilton’s pitch to hotel owners and developers: “For nearly a century, Hilton Hotels & Resorts has been proudly welcoming the world’s travelers. With more than 584 hotels across six continents, Hilton Hotels & Resorts provides the foundation for exceptional travel experiences and values every guest who walks through its doors. The most recognized name in the industry, Hilton remains synonymous with the word ‘hotel.’ From inaugural balls and Hollywood award galas to business events and days to remember, Hilton is where the world makes history, closes the deal, toasts special occasions and gets away from it all. As the flagship brand of Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts continues to set the standard for hospitality, providing new product innovations and services to meet guests’ evolving needs.”

TPG’s takeaway: It’s the namesake brand with locations all over the world. Think of it as the hotel version of a McDonald’s and Starbucks: It offers standardized service that isn’t always going to knock your socks off but reliably offers a clean place to sleep, shower and get on with your travel. Of course, there are a few properties that stand out (such as the Beverly Hilton, which typically hosts the Golden Globes) and give Hilton its global brand power.

Reviews: Hilton Mauritius, Hilton Tel Aviv, Hilton Reykjavic Nordica

Curio Collection by Hilton

VIKTOR KERY PHOTOS/HILTON

133 hotels and resorts across 34 countries and territories

Hilton’s pitch to hotel owners and developers: “For the Curious. Curio is a collection of independent, remarkable hotels whose only unifying characteristic is their glorious individuality. Each hotel is hand-picked for its distinct character and personality, appealing to passionate travelers seeking local discovery.”

TPG’s takeaway: Curio is another of Hilton’s soft brands that seem more like a boutique hotel collection rather than one with rigid brand standards like Canopy and DoubleTree. The portfolio’s outposts are mainly located in North America and Europe, but Curio-flagged properties now dot Asia and the South Pacific. Consider this a way to get a rich, local experience without paying the higher rates of an LXR-branded hotel — all while earning or redeeming Hilton Honors points.

Reviews: Maison Astor Paris, WB Abu Dhabi, SAii Lagoon Maldives

DoubleTree by Hilton

DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Fiji. KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

649 hotels and resorts across 51 countries and territories

Hilton’s pitch to hotel owners and developers: “Come for a stay and see how nice travel feels. Something happens when you stay at a DoubleTree by Hilton hotel. Maybe it’s all the little things we do to show we care. From thoughtful touches and friendly service to our warm chocolate chip cookie welcome, we’re here to make your stay as comfortable as possible, right from the start. The niceness you experience with us stays with you long after you check out, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.”

TPG’s takeaway: Who cares about the guest rooms? We’re just here for the free chocolate chip cookies! DoubleTree is a middle-tier brand catering to business and leisure travelers. It may not be the stuff of a dream vacation, but it offers consistency across its portfolio largely focused on North America and Europe. However, the brand does have a presence in destinations like New Zealand and Fiji.

Reviews: DoubleTree Wellington, DoubleTree Amsterdam, DoubleTree Fiji

Tapestry Collection by Hilton

CHRIS RANDALL/HILTON

90 hotels across 12 countries and territories

Hilton’s pitch to hotel owners and developers: “Weave your own story. Tapestry Collection is a gathering of unique hotels that have been chosen because of a commitment to weaving their own story, meant for the traveler who never wants exactly the same experience twice.”

TPG’s takeaway: Rounding out Hilton’s soft brand trinity is Tapestry Collection. The boutique hotel movement centered on the world’s largest cities, but there has been a wake-up call across the industry that travelers to smaller cities also like the feel and experience of a cool, one-off property. These independent-minded hotels that tap into Hilton’s loyalty network are usually more affordable than their siblings in the Curio Collection and are typically found in smaller markets.

Embassy Suites by Hilton

EMBASSY SUITES BY HILTON NAPA VALLEY/FACEBOOK

261 hotels across five countries and territories

Hilton’s pitch to hotel owners and developers: “Embassy Suites by Hilton defines the upper-upscale, all-suite hotel category with its mix of two-room and studio suites, along with an atrium space designed to house the value-added food & beverage offerings, including free made-to-order breakfast and complimentary Evening Reception. With significant market share premiums and consistent best-in-class customer service, Embassy Suites engenders enormous loyalty amongst owners and customers alike.”

TPG’s takeaway: It is beauty. It is grace. It recently won TPG’s award for best free hotel breakfast in the U.S. The suites-only hotel is good for those looking for more than just a limited-service hotel: Along with the free breakfast (complete with made-to-order omelets), Embassy Suites offers a daily evening reception with free snacks and drinks. My hometown Embassy Suites back in Memphis, Tennessee, is even home to one of the city’s nicer Italian restaurants.

Tempo

HILTON

No hotels open yet

Hilton’s pitch to hotel owners and developers: “Tempo by Hilton is a stylish and contemporary lifestyle hotel brand dedicated to exceeding the expectations of the ambitious, yet balanced, class of discerning traveler — the modern achiever. Thoughtfully designed and uplifting, Tempo offers dynamic public space including an open lobby concept with dedicated spaces to relax and work, as well as premium culinary options, such as the brand’s signature coffee fuel bar, a casual breakfast café and an inviting bar experience. Each Tempo will include well-being offerings, state-of-the-art fitness facilities and programs, as well as flexible meeting and working spaces.”

TPG’s takeaway: Tempo is another Hilton play for the lifestyle hotel segment, this time at a more affordable price point. These hotels are meant to feature a midcentury modern style — so travelers can feel like they’re sleeping in a West Elm catalog. They have co-working spaces, elevated fitness centers and even wellness rooms, designed in partnership with Peloton.

Related: Can Hilton win over new travelers with its just-launched brand?

Motto

JOE THOMAS/HILTON

Three hotels across the U.S.

Hilton’s pitch to hotel owners and developers: “Motto by Hilton is Hilton’s new micro-hotel with an urban vibe in prime global locations that empowers guests by giving them the freedom to create their own experiences in the world’s most sought-after cities. Motto offers travelers centrally located, reasonably priced and less traditional lodging that provides a one-of-a-kind experience. At its core, Motto is a beacon for today’s modern, global community of travelers, delivering a flexible innovative hospitality experience with guest-empowered service.”

TPG’s takeaway: At first glance, Motto might seem like Hilton’s version of Marriott’s Moxy or Hyatt’s new Caption brand. However, the vibe here doesn’t avoid family travel, either. TPG’s hotels team toured the new Motto in New York City and saw how three adjoining rooms with different floorplans connect to create a two-bedroom suite; there’s even a living room in between thanks to flexible furniture that can make a bed double as a living area couch. It may have a small footprint today, but Motto could grow to become a formidable player in the family travel space for those looking to get to a major city.

Reviews: Motto Philadelphia

Hilton Garden Inn

The Hilton Garden Inn Mongkok is an excellent deal in Hong Kong. HILTON

960 hotels across 56 countries and territories

Hilton’s pitch to hotel owners and developers: “Hilton Garden Inn is the laid-back sophisticated brand offering heartfelt service and award-winning amenities.”

TPG’s takeaway: It’s hard to fit Hilton Garden Inn into one box. You’ll find them everywhere from Grand Forks, North Dakota, to Tangier, Morocco. Given that it’s one of Hilton’s larger brands, Hilton Garden Inn is clearly a hit with business travelers as well as leisure travelers looking for a standardized product that offers made-to-order breakfast and amenities like a business center and gym.

Hampton

HAMPTON INN AND SUITES, PORTSMOUTH

2,839 properties across 35 countries and territories

Hilton’s pitch to hotel owners and developers: “Hampton by Hilton is the industry’s leading upper-midscale brand. Every Hampton Inn and Hampton Inn & Suites is committed to the 100% Hampton Guarantee providing an exceptional guest experience and consistent, high-quality accommodations and amenities. When you invest with Hampton, you join a brand of more than 2,500 hotels in 29 countries and territories around the world backed by Hilton’s power, reputation, scale and performance engine.”

TPG’s takeaway: Hampton Inns may come in all shapes, sizes and locations, but consider this Hilton’s workhorse in the roadside and airport hotel space. With more than 2,800 locations, Hampton is Hilton’s largest brand by far. The brand is generally a mainstay off highways. It offers a clean, consistent product to road warriors on the hunt for a spot to pull off, grab some shut-eye and enjoy a free breakfast the next morning.

Tru

TRU BY HILTON/FACEBOOK

227 hotels across three countries and territories

Hilton’s pitch to hotel owners and developers: “Catch The Spirit. Welcome to Tru by Hilton, a place that embraces vibrant simplicity and is fun and engaging. We stand for the love of simplicity, we embrace the human spirit, and we champion the value-conscious traveler. This is a back-to-basics experience with soul.”

TPG’s takeaway: When TPG first did a Hilton brand lineup, we said Tru was focused on cost-conscious millennial travelers. In my opinion, the way to appeal to this audience is by launching a vacation platform like Airbnb. After all, are any millennials really staying loyal to any of these millennial-minded brands? That said, Tru and its simple, smaller rooms are taking off with more than 200 hotels largely located across the U.S.

Homewood Suites

Homewood Suites by Hilton Steamboat Springs. KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

533 hotels across four countries and territories

Hilton’s pitch to hotel owners and developers: “Homewood Suites by Hilton is the upscale, all-suite, residential-style, extended-stay leader in satisfaction and performance. This innovative brand offers travelers a unique approach to longer stays by allowing guests to stay in their routines while on the road for business or leisure. Homewood Suites offers developers a cutting-edge blueprint for success that has fueled unprecedented growth and demand for the brand. Homewood Suites is an exciting investment opportunity for a balanced hotel portfolio and is flexible enough to complement a variety of site locations.”

TPG’s takeaway: Those on the hunt for a higher-end, extended-stay booking will find solace at Homewood Suites. Suites typically include a kitchen, bedroom and living room along with free breakfast and a complimentary evening happy hour. Extended-stay hotels can often feel like sterile corporate housing, but Homewood Suites has a nice hospitable touch to elevate it over the pack.

Related: Best budget hotels for families who need space

Home2 Suites

HOME2 SUITES BY HILTON/FACEBOOK

560 hotels across three countries and territories

Hilton’s pitch to hotel owners and developers: “Home2 Suites by Hilton is a fresh take on the mid-scale, all-suite hotel targeted to the value-conscious extended-stay (5+ night) traveler. The brand’s innovative prototype combined with our sustainable practices and products ensures cost-effective development and operation. Home2 Suites drives a strong value proposition for owners while offering unique amenities for guests, including our eco- and pet-friendly spaces plus free breakfast, laundry and fitness centers and more.”

TPG’s takeaway: This is the place to stay when looking for an extended-stay reservation on a budget. Properties in the Home2 Suites portfolio generally offer a pool, outdoor space, a gym and a laundry facility for those needing a place to call (temporary) home.

Hilton Grand Vacations

73 resorts across seven countries and territories

Hilton’s pitch to hotel owners and developers: “A vacation state of mind. At Hilton Grand Vacations, we are committed to the idea that life is incomplete without vacations. With an ever-growing collection of resorts in spectacular settings around the world, Hilton Grand Vacations invites you to experience a lifetime of vacations in spacious, comfortable elegance with our innovative vacation ownership program. Guests enjoy accommodations offering the comforts of home, amenities tailored to each destination, and the legendary service synonymous with the Hilton name.”

TPG’s takeaway: The timeshare sector may not be the sexiest product in the travel orbit, but it — along with all-inclusive resorts — garnered attention from the hotel business community during the pandemic.

Timeshare brand Wyndham Destinations acquired media brand Travel + Leisure in 2021 for $100 million and now goes by Travel + Leisure Co.; this move is a major way to court younger travelers to this type of travel that is typically associated with a more mature demographic. Similarly, Hilton Grand Vacations made its own acquisition play and bought Diamond Resorts for $1.4 billion in 2021. The beefed-up Hilton Grand Vacations has a presence largely in the U.S. and Caribbean, but there are even some properties in Japan.

Members book stays using either Hilton Honors points or ClubPoints accrued via membership in the HGV network. TPG previously noted timeshares are usually lackluster in terms of redemption rates and wasn’t advocating this as an option to redeem points. However, given all the branded blitz in this sector over the last two years, it is certainly one to watch. This is especially true as the competition to court younger travelers — who represent the fastest-growing demographic in timeshare and vacation club membership — heats up.

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Making the hospital price transparency rule a reality on its two-year anniversary

December 31, 2022 Published by

Just In | The Hill 

New Year’s Day marks the second anniversary of a federal hospital price transparency rule that has the potential to substantially lower outrageous healthcare costs burdening patients, workers, businesses, and taxpayers. The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services recently announced the nation spent $4.3 trillion on healthcare in 2021, nearly 20 percent of GDP and almost two times the developed-world average. The Biden administration can mark this occasion by committing to robustly enforce the rule to turn it into a reality for American healthcare consumers. 

The rule addresses the root of exorbitant hospital prices: hospitals’ opaque charging practices that blind consumers to prices, then blindside them with inflated bills they often never would have agreed to if prices were known upfront. It requires hospitals to publish their discounted cash prices and negotiated insurance rates by health plan. Armed with this information, consumers can survey well-documented wide price variations for the same care, even at the same hospital, to avoid price gouging and access care at fair market rates. 

Robust price transparency can hold hospitals accountable for egregious overcharging such as $5,000 MRIs and $100,000 knee surgeries that cost $250 and $18,000 at cash-based centers, respectively. Employers and unions knowing pricing data will allow them to benefit from competition. Price discovery will usher in quality transparency. 

Consider the union SEIU 32BJ, which saved $30 million on its health plan by shopping for care. It recently dropped New York-Presbyterian Hospital from its health plan after analyzing its claims data and determining the hospital was price-gouging its members. For example, the hospital billed the plan an average of $10,368 for outpatient colonoscopies versus $2,185 at the city’s public hospitals. Hospital price transparency can make it easier for other employers and unions to follow in SEIU 32BJ’s footsteps and significantly reduce healthcare costs. 

Unfortunately, the price transparency rule has been marred by widespread hospital noncompliance.

A recent study by PatientRightsAdvocate.org finds that only 16 percent of hospitals nationwide are following it. Most are not publishing their prices broken down by health insurer and plan as required, and some post no prices at all. 

By refusing to comply, hospitals are perpetuating a pricing scam that has saddled 100 million Americans with healthcare debt. This patient misery funds hospital private equity. The nation’s “nonprofit” hospitals are sitting on more than $283 billion in financial assets they invest Wall Street-style to generate even higher returns. HCA Healthcare, the nation’s largest private healthcare system, made $7 billion in profits in 2021. 

CMS has assisted hospitals by choosing not to enforce the rule robustly. It has issued financial penalties on only two hospitals out of the thousands nationwide that are noncompliant. Yet even this meager response indicates that enforcement works. The two fined hospitals quickly became compliant and posted exemplary price files. 

At a conference earlier this month, CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure was non-transparent about future enforcement, stating: “We have a lot of priorities, and the things that we will do in terms of enforcement always are ongoing and not things that we share.” 

This lack of resolve is out of step with the American public. According to a new Kaiser Family Foundation poll released last week, 95 percent of Americans want policymakers to make healthcare price transparency a key priority — more than any other proposed healthcare reform. 

The two-year anniversary of the hospital price transparency rule is an occasion for the Biden administration to stand up for American healthcare consumers and step up to properly enforce the rule. Doing so can generate a consumer revolution that ushers in a functional, competitive healthcare marketplace that stops hospital overcharging and reverses outrageous national health expenditures.

Cynthia A. Fisher is founder and chair of PatientRightsAdvocate.org

​Healthcare, Opinion Read More 

Foo Fighters confirms band will be ‘different’ after Taylor Hawkins death, but vows to see fans ‘soon’

December 31, 2022 Published by

Just In | The Hill 

(NEXSTAR) – The rock band Foo Fighters, which canceled its tour earlier this year after the sudden death of drummer Taylor Hawkins, is vowing to see its fans again “soon,” according to a New Year’s Eve message posted to the group’s social media channels.

The band had been on tour in South America when Hawkins died at the age of 50 in Bogota, Colombia, on March 25. All remaining tour dates were subsequently canceled.

Foo Fighters performed together twice in the months since, at tribute concerts for Hawkins in London and Los Angeles.


Taylor Hawkins poses with 9-year-old who played drums outside his hotel

On Saturday, the band posted a message on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter addressing the loss of Hawkins while hinting at the announcement of upcoming performances.

“Without Taylor, we never would have become the band that we were — and without Taylor, we know we’re going to be a different band going forward,” the statement read, in part.

“We also know that you, the fans, meant as much to Taylor as he meant to you. And we know that when we see you again — and we will soon — he’ll be there in spirit with all of us every night,” the message concluded.

No official cause of Hawkins’ death has been given. A toxicology report from the Colombia Attorney General’s Office indicated that 10 substances had been detected in his urine, including “[marijuana], tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines and opioids, among others.”

“The National Institute of Forensic Medicine continues to conduct the necessary medical studies to ascertain the cause of death,” the AG’s office wrote at the time.

A statement from the Bogota Ministry of Health also indicated Hawkins was experiencing chest pains before he died.

Hawkins had joined Foo Fighters in 1997. In addition to drums, he also performed lead vocals for several songs included on the band’s albums over the years.

​Nexstar Media Wire News Read More 

Storm brings flooding, landslides across California

December 31, 2022 Published by

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Landslides of rock and mud closed roadways Friday across California as heavy rains kicked off what will be a series of storms poised to usher in the new year with downpours and potential flooding across much of the state and multiple feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada.

The atmospheric river storm, a long and wide plume of moisture pulled in from the Pacific Ocean, began sweeping across the northern part of the state Friday and was expected to bring more rain through Saturday, according to the National Weather Service in Sacramento.

A winter storm warning was in effect into Sunday for the upper elevations of the Sierra from south of Yosemite National Park to north of Lake Tahoe, where as much as 5 feet (1.5 meters) of snow is possible atop the mountains, the National Weather Service said in Reno, Nevada.

A flood watch was in effect across much of Northern California through New Year’s Eve. Officials warned that rivers and streams could overflow and urged residents to get sandbags ready.

Landslides already had closed routes in the San Francisco Bay Area, between Fremont and Sunol, as well as in Mendocino County near the unincorporated community of Piercy and in the Mendocino National Forest, where crews cleared debris into Friday night.

Humboldt County, where a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck on Dec. 20, also saw roadways begin to flood, according to the National Weather Service’s Eureka office. A bridge that was temporarily closed last week due to earthquake damage may be closed again if the Eel River, which it crosses, gets too high, officials said.

It was the first of several storms expected to roll across California over the next week. The current system is expected to be warmer and wetter, while next week’s storms will be colder, lowering snow levels in the mountains, said Hannah Chandler-Cooley, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Sacramento.

The Sacramento region could receive a total of 4 to 5 inches (10 to 13 centimeters) of rain over the span of the week, Chandler-Cooley said.

The California Highway Patrol reported some local roads in eastern Sacramento were under water and impassable at times on Friday. By nightfall, nearly 5 inches (12.7 centimeters) of rain had fallen over the past 24 hours in the Sierra foothills at Blue Canyon about 70 miles (112 kilometers) northeast of Sacramento, the weather service said.

Sacramento’s fire officials planned to broadcast evacuation announcements from a helicopter and a boat along the American River — a spot where many unhoused people live in encampments — to warn of flooding.

A winter storm warning was in effect through 4 a.m. Sunday for much of the Sierra, including the highest elevations around Lake Tahoe where more than a foot of snow was expected near the shores at an elevation of about 6,200 feet (1,889 meters) and up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) above 8,000 feet (2,438 meters) with winds gusting up to 100 mph (160 kph) over ridgetops.

“Strong winds could cause tree damage and lead to power outages and high waves on Lake Tahoe may capsize small vessels,” the weather service in Reno said.

Avalanche warnings were issued in the backcountry around Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Lakes south of Yosemite.

On the Sierra’s eastern front, flood watches and warnings continue into the weekend north and south of Reno, Nevada, where minor to moderate flooding was forecast along some rivers and streams into the weekend.

At Susanville, California about 85 miles (137 kilometers) north of Reno, the Susan River was forecast to rise from about 5 feet (1.5 meters) Friday to a foot (30 centimeters) above the flood stage of 12 feet (3.6 meters) by Saturday morning, causing moderate flooding that could affect some homes, roads and bridges, the National Weather Service said.

In Southern California, moderate-to-heavy rain was forecast for Saturday. The region will begin drying out on New Year’s Day and the Jan. 2 Rose Parade in Pasadena should avoid rainfall.

Heavy showers are forecast for Tuesday or Wednesday, the National Weather Service in Oxnard said.

The rain was welcomed in drought-parched California, but much more precipitation is needed to make a significant difference. The past three years have been California’s driest on record.


source

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