Dear Round-Up Readers,

Heavy news this week, despite the fact that 72% of Americans objected, on Friday the Supreme Court made a landmark decision to overturn Roe v Wade, which protected a woman's right to abortion in the United States since 1973. I am guessing you've already heard this as it is top of all the headlines and wasn't a surprise, coming just weeks after a draft opinion was leaked, and after warnings from healthcare providers and activists that abortion access was at risk.

The fight for reproductive rights is about human rights. All people should have the right to decide what happens to their bodies. But if that wasn't reason enough (it should be) abortion bans have a devastating impact on the economy, and seriously hinder women’s education, employment, and earning prospects.  Yet, in the lead-up to this landmark decision, corporate America has been mostly silent. 

In this "Special Edition" of Round-Up, the focus is on what this new ruling means, what you can do, and what to read, along with some light coverage of other news and hertelier stories. 

Some not-so-fun facts:

• the new abortion ban makes the US one of just four nations to roll back abortion rights since 1994 (and by far the wealthiest and most influential nation to do so.) The other three nations to curtail abortion rights are Poland, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights.  
• More than half (58%) of all US women of reproductive age – or about 40 million – live in states that either already have trigger laws or will enact abortion bans.

• 11 states now ban or severely limit abortion. 12 others have laws — not yet in effect — to do the same, for a total of 23, but some estimate it may rise to 26 states. 

This decision is already reshaping reproductive care in America—and will especially burden people of color, low-income individuals, young people, and those living in rural areas.  While we are still processing this, and learning more about the next steps, here are some things you can do today:

• Donate to AbortionFunds.org, KeepOurClinics.org, and Planned Parenthood. For more suggestions, read 7 Things You Can Do to Help Protect Reproductive Rights in Fast Company.

• If someone you know needs an abortion, send them to ineedana.com

• Learn more about what's happening with abortion pills and find how to access them on Plan C Pills.

Due to the complexity of the issues surrounding reproductive rights, I will focus on sharing articles and resources that relate to travel or go beyond the basic headlines in the weeks to come.  For this week, in addition to what I've linked above, consider: 

• Some Companies Will Cover Travel Costs for Abortion (so far for the travel industry, I've only seen Airbnb, Alaska Air, Disney, and Lyft mentioned.  Have any hotel companies made announcements? I've not seen any published. If your company has issued a policy, please email me.
• The Economic Case for Abortion Access
• My Pregnancy was Unlucky, My Abortion Wasn't
• We're Not Going Back In Time, We're Going Somewhere Worse: an essay from the New Yorker on entering an era not just of unsafe abortions but of the widespread criminalization of pregnancy. If you read one link, let this be the one you choose.

Other stories on Women in Business: 

• Non-Promotable Work: the WSJ ran a story about how female workers are disproportionately burdened with unwanted tasks that aren’t core to their jobs and don’t lead to promotions, aka "non-promotable work (NPW)." The article explains why this is bad for the company (reduces morale, causes employees to leave) and how companies can better distribute this kind of work (start tracking it and balance it out). Further info: 

  • read this: 9 Women Share their experiences with NPW

  • listen to this: "How to Say No to Office Housework" on Career Contessa

Travel & Hospitality news:

• A Big Disconnect Between Consumers and the Hospitality Industry, Questex's David Eisen says the data regarding inflation, airfares, gas, mortgages, and rent don't support all the predictions for a booming summer of travel.  He cites a report from Barclays, "A recent analysis by the bank noted that spending on services like travel, which was growing more than 30 percent from 2021 rates this year, has now slowed to half that pace."  
• Travelers are Upset By Rising Costs, but Most Aren't Cancelling Plans Just Yet: On the other hand, CNBC reports Americans are booking more and spending more despite rising costs, and that business travel is way up.
• The Surprising Reason Everyone Loves Bedtime in a Hotel: a new survey of 2,000 Americans says:
  • 43% said that the fresh smell was their favorite part about sleeping away from home.
  • 41% chalked it up to the mattress
  • 39% said being able to sleep in.
• A new "Zero Star Hotel" where guests pay 325 Swiss Francs (approx $338) to sleep on a platform with a bed beside a roadside gas station in Switzerland. Is it art? Created by twin brothers, the purpose is "to make people think about the problems in the world and inspire them to act differently."
• The Rise of Entrepreneurial Tourism: from Skift, a fast-growing sub-sector that blends startup culture and venture capital with hospitality. An example is Draper House, part of the VC billionaire Tim Draper's investor funding network. A chain of 30 hostels across 25 countries that cater to both entrepreneurs and investors, offering workshops, a digital community, and funding opportunities, Draper House is looking to franchise the concept for growth. Other players include The Launch House, Selina, and The Student Hotel (which sold a majority stake this week).
• 6 Food Trends to Watch in 2022 and Beyond: from the recent Fancy Foods Show in NYC, items range from vegetable snacks and new plant-based milks to flavored honey and hibiscus.

On hertelier this week:

Welcome to our new subscribers! The story in Forbes, How Women Are Changing The Hotel Industry, keeps bringing new readers! Super excited to have you here. Lots of stories to share! 

• Making History at The Carlyle: Marlene Poynder is the First Woman to Lead the Iconic NYC Hotel. Saying yes to opportunities that "nobody else wants" has led Australian Marlene Poynder to a place everyone wants to be, leading a bastion of New York City's style and glamour, The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel. We chat with Marlene to learn more about her career journey from "Down Under" to the Upper East Side.

• Grape Expectations: English Wines with Sommelier Audrey Annoh-Antwi

  It's English Wines Week!  Have you tried English wines?  We get the juice from London sommelier Audrey Annoh-Antwi.

Are you still here? I'd love to hear from you. Why do you read hertelier and what would you like to see covered? Is there someone you'd like to suggest for a profile?  My goal in 2022 is to get to know more of our readers, just reply to this email. I am a real person 😃 

Have a good week,

Em