Charleston, South Carolina, Jan. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Michael and Amy Bennett School of Hospitality and Tourism Management is making its debut at the College of Charleston, marking a defining moment for the university and the city. The gift was announced at a ceremony on Friday, Jan. 9, at Hotel Bennett on King Street.   The school will reside in the College’s School of Business. It’s named for the owners of Bennett Hospitality, which was founded in 1983 and includes the internationally renowned ...

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Sphere Entertainment Co. (NYSE:SPHR) upgraded from "Neutral" to "Buy" by Seaport Global.Partnership with Delta Air Lines for the Delta SKY360° Club, enhancing Sphere's brand presence in the hospitality sector.SPHR's stock shows significant activity with a current price of $91.37, indicating investor interest and market volatility.Sphere Entertainment Co. (NYSE:SPHR) recently received an upgrade from Seaport Global, moving from a "Neutral" to a "Buy" rating. This change came when SPHR's stock was priced at $ ...

Core Insights - The article discusses how top executives from various companies have navigated crises and transformed their organizations, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and strategic decision-making in uncertain business environments [1][2]. Group 1: Executive Strategies - Ted Sarandos of Netflix made a pivotal decision to invest $100 million in original content, marking a significant shift in strategy when licensing from studios decreased [3][5]. - Danny Meyer, founder of Shake Shack, created a fund to support employees during the pandemic after laying off 95% of his staff, demonstrating a commitment to employee welfare [6][7]. - Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, prioritized safety and transparency following a crisis involving faulty ignition switches, fostering a culture of open communication [12][14]. - Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, focused on rebuilding trust by addressing the company's internal issues and promoting a culture of change [16][20]. - Neal Mohan, CEO of YouTube, responded to a major advertising boycott by hiring thousands of human reviewers and investing in technology to manage harmful content, establishing a balance between free expression and community guidelines [21]. - Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, took decisive action during a crisis by implementing a property damage guarantee, which evolved from $50,000 to $3 million, showcasing leadership in times of adversity [22][23]. - Barry Diller, chairman of IAC and Expedia, chose to proceed with a $1 billion acquisition of Expedia despite the 9/11 crisis, believing in the resilience of the travel industry [24][27]. - Marvin Ellison, CEO of Lowe's, focused on supply chain transformation and employee investment, which allowed the company to adapt quickly during the pandemic [28][30]. Group 2: Lessons Learned - Executives emphasized the need for a culture that encourages dissent and open dialogue to foster innovation and adaptability [5][6]. - The importance of making bold decisions during critical moments was highlighted, as many leaders faced existential threats that required immediate and decisive action [3][22]. - A common theme among these leaders is the recognition that crises can present opportunities for significant change and improvement within their organizations [19][20].

Core Insights - Guangzhou has launched a series of consumer-friendly policies and activities for the New Year holiday, resulting in a 15.7% increase in overall consumption compared to the same period last year [1] - The "old-for-new" subsidy policy has been implemented, covering various categories of products, which has stimulated consumer spending [1][3] Group 1: Consumer Market Performance - From January 1 to 3, 2026, Guangzhou's consumption growth was driven by significant increases in beverages (110%), communication equipment (85.6%), cosmetics (55.4%), and clothing (18.9%) [1] - The restaurant industry also saw an 18.9% growth during the same period [1] Group 2: Promotional Activities - The "old-for-new" subsidy policy was launched on January 1, covering 203 categories of products, with major retailers offering combined discounts [1] - The "Eat in Guangzhou" campaign provided dining vouchers with tiered discounts, encouraging spending across various platforms [1] Group 3: Key Shopping Districts - The Tianhe Road shopping district attracted over 2.7 million visitors from January 1 to 3, a 25.4% increase year-on-year, with sales up by 22% [3] - The Beijing Road shopping district recorded a total foot traffic of 1.765 million, marking a 37.3% increase compared to the previous year [3] Group 4: Thematic Events and Experiences - Various themed events such as the "New Year Song Friends Meeting" and "Snowy Joy Parade" were organized to enhance the shopping experience [4] - The Guangzhou Haixinsha "INNO Carnival" featured a mix of daytime leisure and nighttime entertainment, attracting significant visitor engagement [4][6] Group 5: Cultural and Culinary Integration - The Guangzhou Restaurant Wenchang flagship store reopened with a unique "living heritage" Cantonese cuisine museum, enhancing the cultural dining experience [6] - The "Lingnan Lantern Festival" showcased traditional performances, enriching the nighttime economy and attracting visitors [6]

Core Insights - The "Enjoy Warm Winter, Benefit from Jiuquan" consumption season event was launched on December 31, 2025, aimed at boosting local consumer spending [1][2] - The event focuses on key consumption sectors such as automobiles, home appliances, supermarkets, and dining, offering government subsidies and enterprise discounts to enhance consumer experience [2] Group 1 - The event is expected to drive consumption by 500 million yuan [2] - Since the beginning of 2025, the city has implemented various measures to stimulate consumption, including a total of 1.93 billion yuan in funds for the old-for-new policy and 1.5 billion yuan in consumption promotion funds [2] - A total of 195 promotional activities have been conducted, directly boosting consumption by 2 billion yuan, indicating a stable and prosperous consumption market [2]

Core Insights - The article highlights the significant increase in consumer spending during the New Year holiday in Hebei Province, driven by various promotional activities and policies aimed at stimulating consumption [2][3][6]. Group 1: Consumer Demand and Sales Performance - During the New Year holiday, Hebei's consumer market showed a steady release of demand, with key monitored enterprises achieving a total revenue of 13.58 million yuan, marking a 16.09% year-on-year increase [2]. - In Tangshan, 14 key commercial enterprises recorded a foot traffic of 773,000, a 12.1% increase, and sales of 97.46 million yuan, up 7.4% [2]. - Xingtai's 14 large supermarkets saw a daily foot traffic of 331,000, a 6.5% increase, with sales reaching 13.61 million yuan, a 5.2% rise [2]. - In Shijiazhuang's Luquan District, the North Country Outlets experienced an 8% increase in foot traffic and sales of 15.47 million yuan, up 20% [2]. - Qinhuangdao's eight large supermarkets had an average daily foot traffic of 300,000, more than tripling compared to pre-holiday levels, with sales of 25 million yuan, a 15% increase [2]. - Handan's 73 monitored hotels and inns achieved an occupancy rate of 68.9%, with revenue of 4.38 million yuan, a 4.3% increase [2]. Group 2: Policy Initiatives and Consumer Programs - On January 1, 2026, Hebei launched a comprehensive "old-for-new" consumption policy covering key sectors such as automobiles, home appliances, and digital products, aimed at stimulating consumer demand [3][4]. - From January 1 to 2, the total sales of home appliances, digital, and smart products reached 590 million yuan, with 81.32 million yuan utilized in "old-for-new" subsidies [6]. - Over 11,000 enterprises participated in the "old-for-new" program, completing over 42,000 transactions and achieving sales of 216 million yuan, a 130% increase compared to the same period last year [6]. Group 3: Enhanced Consumer Experience - Various regions have created immersive and interactive shopping experiences, significantly enhancing market attractiveness during the holiday [7]. - In Shijiazhuang, the Zhengding Ancient City hosted over 80 themed activities, attracting an average daily foot traffic of 51,000 [7]. - The Wanli Temple Walking Street received 1.42 million visitors during the holiday, a 35% increase, generating 25 million yuan in revenue, an 18% rise [7]. - Zhangjiakou's "Ice and Snow Chongli" venues attracted nearly 200,000 visitors with immersive experiences [7]. - Handan's HeTou Old Street welcomed over 200,000 tourists, while Tangshan's banquet events featured diverse performances, drawing 13,800 visitors on New Year's Day [7].

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the articles highlights the significant increase in consumer spending during the New Year holiday period, driven by promotional activities and government subsidies [1][2][3] - The monitored sample enterprises in the city achieved a total sales revenue of 1.67 billion yuan over the three-day holiday, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 9.5% compared to the previous year's single-day data [1] - The retail, catering, and accommodation sectors saw transaction amounts increase by 30%, 36.5%, and 214% respectively, indicating a robust recovery in consumer spending [1][2] Group 2 - The implementation of the national "old-for-new" subsidy policy for home appliances and digital products was synchronized across online and offline channels, resulting in over 40,000 units sold within the first two days of the campaign [2] - The automotive sector also benefited from the new subsidy policy, with many consumers actively seeking to purchase new vehicles before the Spring Festival [2] - A well-organized New Year's Eve promotional event led to a 35.9% increase in retail, 66.7% in catering, and 121.9% in accommodation transaction amounts on that day, showcasing the effectiveness of the promotional strategies [3]

Core Insights - The consumption market in Sichuan is experiencing a vibrant start in 2026, driven by favorable factors such as the New Year holiday, the "old-for-new" national subsidy policy, and the launch of the "Tianfu Boutique" Spring Consumption Month [1] Group 1: Sales Performance - From January 1 to 2, 550 key commercial enterprises in Sichuan achieved an average daily revenue of 610 million yuan, representing a year-on-year increase of 0.9% [1] - Offline consumption in Sichuan totaled 19.733 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 3.54% [1] Group 2: "Old-for-New" Policy Impact - A total of 7,293 enterprises in Sichuan actively promoted the "old-for-new" policy through various channels, stimulating consumer demand [2] - Sales of home appliances and digital products under the subsidy program reached 182,000 units, generating 740 million yuan in consumption [2] - Major retailers like JD.com and Suning launched promotional activities, with discounts as low as 75% and maximum subsidies of 3,000 yuan for mobile phone exchanges [2] Group 3: Consumer Experience and Events - Various cross-year activities were organized across Sichuan to enhance the festive atmosphere, significantly boosting consumer engagement [4] - In Chengdu, the "Chengdu Lights Up for You" event attracted thousands, leading to a revenue increase of 93.7% in the Jiazi Park business district, with visitor numbers up by 111.4% [4] - The integration of culture, tourism, and sports is being promoted to create immersive holiday experiences, with significant impacts on local consumption [5] Group 4: Dining and Online Consumption Trends - The restaurant sector saw a daily average revenue of 230 million yuan from 139 enterprises, marking a year-on-year increase of 6.5% [6] - Online consumption demand surged, particularly for grocery delivery and restaurant takeout services, with a notable increase in revenue for key restaurants in Chengdu [6]

Market Overview - U.S. stock markets are experiencing mixed premarket activity as 2025 comes to a close, following a three-day losing streak, despite significant annual gains driven by the AI and technology sectors [1][2] - Major U.S. market indexes are set to close 2025 with impressive annual gains: Nasdaq Composite is up approximately 21%, S&P 500 is up around 17%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average has climbed roughly 14% [5] Individual Stock Movements - Nike (NKE) shares rose 1.54% due to a significant stock purchase by CEO Elliott Hill [3] - Intel (INTC) gained 1.34% in premarket trading [3] - Autolus Therapeutics (AUTL) surged 5.35% after receiving a strategic upgrade from Needham & Co. [3] - Vanda Pharmaceuticals (VNDA) experienced a significant jump of 18.7% following FDA approval for its drug [3] - DigitalBridge Group (DBRG) shares surged 9.6% on news of acquisition by SoftBank Group Corp. valued at approximately $4 billion [13] - Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical (RARE) shares plunged 42.3% after disappointing Phase 3 trial results [13] - Tesla (TSLA) forecasted a decrease in fourth-quarter sales, expecting to sell 1.64 million vehicles in 2025 [13] Technology Sector Highlights - Nvidia (NVDA) remains a dominant player in AI, with ByteDance planning to increase spending on Nvidia's AI chips to ¥100 billion ($14 billion) in 2026 [13] - Meta Platforms (META) acquired AI startup Manus for over $2 billion [13] - Caterpillar (CAT) saw stock surges attributed to sales of generators related to AI infrastructure [13] Economic Data and Federal Reserve Insights - Initial Jobless Claims reported at 199,000, below the expected 220,000, indicating a slowing but stable labor market [7] - The Federal Reserve's recent meeting minutes revealed a divided debate on interest rate cuts, with expectations for further reductions in 2026 [6]