This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news concerning hotels, restaurants, casinos, gaming operations, event and sports venues, cruise lines, theme parks, ski resorts, outdoor spaces, RV and caravan parks, and all hospitality, travel and tourism professionals. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Want to track GR news in adjacent industries related? Don’t miss this week’s updates in Arts & Culture. Also consider subscribing to our Hospitality & Retail - Ottawa edition covering critical GR news north of the border.

Dates: 2026-03-22 to 2026-03-28

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News
• 📜 Legislative Updates
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Federal Government News

USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service Advances Proposal to Revise Establishment Size Definitions

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on March 24, inviting stakeholder comment on potential revisions to the agency's definitions for meat, poultry, and egg establishment size. Since 1996, FSIS has relied on employee counts and annual sales to determine HACCP size categories for regulatory impact analysis, while also applying production volume thresholds for aspects such as sampling frequency and fee eligibility. As of December 2025, FSIS oversees 2,961 very small, 2,847 small, and 508 large establishments. The agency’s proposal requests input on whether to update size criteria and, if so, which metrics—production volume, employee count, annual revenue, ownership structure, or others—should be prioritized. Prior recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection suggest a dual-metric system, integrating both production volume and business size. The agency is soliciting data and comment through May 26, 2026, via regulations.gov and other channels, aiming to ensure new classifications align with industry realities and federal program eligibility.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

White House Addresses TSA Employee Pay During DHS Shutdown

President Trump issued a memorandum on March 27 directing the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to use available funds for compensating Transportation Security Administration employees affected by a six-week Department of Homeland Security shutdown. The action follows nearly 500 TSA officer resignations, elevated sick leave rates, and extended airport security wait times. Approximately 60,000 TSA employees, including 50,000 security officers, remain unpaid while operations face disruption. The memorandum stipulates that funding adjustments should occur when congressional appropriations are restored and clarifies that no enforceable rights or benefits are created by the directive.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

White House Reports Historic Net Negative Migration Across U.S. Metropolitan Areas

On March 26, the White House released data indicating net negative migration in every U.S. metro area for 2025. The administration attributes the shift to border security measures enacted during President Trump's term, citing Census Bureau estimates showing substantial declines in net immigration rates in cities such as Laredo, El Centro, Denver, and Chicago. The announcement characterizes the change as reversing longstanding immigration patterns and impacting workforce demographics.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

Legislative Updates

Bill 4244: Protections for Frequent Flyer Programs and Co-Branded Credit Cards

The bill aims to amend chapter 423 of title 49, United States Code, establishing protections for participants in frequent flyer programs and users of co-branded credit cards. The latest action, dated March 26, is that the bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Bill 6427: Airport Regulatory Relief Act of 2025

The Airport Regulatory Relief Act, received by the Senate on March 25, is designed to reduce regulatory burdens for airports. The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Bill 4160: Prohibition of Certain Event Contracts Involving Sports and Casino-Style Games

This bill, which proposes amendments to the Commodity Exchange Act to prohibit certain event contracts tied to sports and casino games, was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry on March 23.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Bill 4624: Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act of 2026

The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act was received in the Senate on March 25 and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. It seeks to support the sports and recreation sector.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Bill 8128: Same-Day Paratransit Services and Minimum Standards for Paratransit Technology

This bill, introduced on March 26, focuses on expanding same-day paratransit services for individuals with disabilities and setting standards for paratransit technology. It was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Bill 8102: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Amendments

Bill 8102 seeks to enhance the performance accountability system under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and allocate funding to skills development. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce on March 26.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• The Biggest Names in Fine Dining Now Have Rock-Star Residencies: Renowned chefs are taking up short-term residencies at top restaurants, influencing the fine dining landscape.
• Hotel fees are draining Americans' wallets as expert reveals how to avoid paying hundreds extra: Travelers face high hotel fees, with advice offered on minimizing surprise charges.
• Is It a Hotel or an Exclusive Social Club? The Answer Is Both: Hybrid models blend hotels with social club memberships, targeting upscale leisure travelers.

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