Written by Stanley S. Jutkowitz, Jennifer L. Mora, Minh N. Vu , Ashley S. Jenkins, Sara Beiro Farabow, Steven J. Kmieciak, Amadeo Cantú, Alyssa Rutherford and Jiten Patel from Seyfarth Shaw LLP on May 22, 2025
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Part 1: Navigating Cannabis in the Hospitality Industry
The first installment of the series will focus on complex challenges and regulatory frameworks surrounding the use of cannabis in a hospitality workplace. During the program, presenters will address the following topics:
- Current legal status: medical vs. adult use and jurisdictional variations
- Can a hotel prohibit marijuana use in a state where it is legal?
- Employment protections for marijuana users and issues for regulated employers
- Considerations for drug testing and managing accommodation requests
- Marijuana best practices for the hospitality industrySpeakers Stanley S. Jutkowitz, Senior Counsel, Seyfarth Shaw LLP Jennifer L. Mora, Senior Counsel, Seyfarth Shaw LLPPart 2: ADA Title III Implications for Hotel and Lodging BusinessesThe second installment of the series focuses on ADA Title III implications for hotel and lodging businesses. During the program, presenters address the following topics:
- Do hotels have to provide lowered beds for guests with mobility disabilities?
- What are the risks associated with using self-service kiosks that are not accessible to the blind?
- What is the proper and compliant procedure for handling reservations for accessible rooms?
- What do hotels need to know about website accessibility lawsuits?
- SpeakersMinh Vu, Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP Ashley Jenkins, Associate, Seyfarth Shaw LLPPart 3: Adapting Standard Construction Forms for Use in Overseas Hospitality OperationsThe third installment of the series focuses on adapting standard construction forms for use in overseas hospitality renovations. During the program, presenters address the following questions:
- What factors should be considered when deciding whether to modify the hotel owner’s or brand’s bespoke project contract forms, or start afresh by drafting new contracts reflecting the country’s local laws and construction practices?
- What are best practices for selecting and efficiently working with local counsel when entering a new foreign construction market?
- What are the key local law requirements, such as those concerning money laundering and human trafficking; workplace safety requirements; payment terms (including customs and laws governing prompt payment and withholding of payments and retainage); performance and payment security; warranties of workmanship and acceptance?
- Should the dispute resolution provisions in the construction project agreements require arbitration and how should they be drafted?
- Speakers Sara Beiro Farabow, Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP Steven J. Kmieciak, Senior Counsel, Seyfarth Shaw LLPPart 4: Unique Real Estate Issues and Challenges in Hotel Sales and AcquisitionsThe fourth and final installment of the series addresses unique issues and challenges pertaining to the sale and acquisition of hotels. During the program, presenters discuss the following topics:
- How hotels are operating businesses, and how the sale and acquisition thereof differs substantially from the sale and acquisition of other real estate assets.
- Labor and employment issues, including the WARN Act, unions, collective bargaining agreements, and union pension plan withdrawal liability.
- Considerations with respect to hotel management agreements and the role of the hotel manager.
- What to look for with respect to Franchise Agreements and Franchise Agreement related obligations.
- Speakers Amadeo Cantú, Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP Alyssa Rutherford, Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP Jiten Patel, Associate, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
