What to do if ICE comes to your hotel

Welcome to your pit stop for all things hospitality. This week: it's fast cars, fierce style and future-forward hotels. Formula 1 is showing that fashion isn’t just for the runway, it’s for revving up fandom. We’re also spotlighting how the industry can shift into solution mode to close the talent gap. And if you need a design fix, check out the dreamy Austin hotel where greenery meets grandeur. Buckle up—this issue is all about staying ahead of the curve.

Vroom service. Formula 1 is proving that fashion fuels fandom—and indie hotels can do the same. Think limited-edition merch, curated uniforms and experiences that guests wear (and share). From the racetrack to the runway, divine design drives buzz.

Multi-purpose, but make it très chic. This roundup of French hybrid hospitality brands shows how blending stays, coworking, cafés and local culture under one roof is a fresh blueprint for reworking your space into a destination. Steal these ideas to enhance guest loyalty and spark new revenue streams.

Wake me when it’s savasana. June 21 marks the International Day of Yoga, and boutique hotels coast to coast are offering sunrise stretches, nature-infused flows and tranquil moments that’ll leave you glowing.

Booking this easily may cause spontaneous trips. PayPal's new hotel booking feature, powered by Selfbook, allows users to search, book and pay for hotels directly. By appearing directly in the PayPal app, hotels can bypass OTAs and third-party platforms, boosting bookings and improving profit margins.

Well, well, well. RLA Global’s 2024 Wellness Real Estate Report shows that “minor wellness” properties—those making under $1M or less than 10% of revenue from wellness initiatives—led RevPAR and TRevPAR growth thanks to growing demand for spas, fitness and sleep-focused perks. Guests are prioritizing well-being, and hotels meeting that demand are seeing serious returns.

How to Prioritize Workforce Protection

Hotels across the country have experienced the brunt of the Trump administration’s aggressive ICE enforcement sweeps through labor-intensive industries. We asked immigration attorney Scott Malyk, a senior partner at Meyner and Landis LLP and the go-to advisor for businesses who need counsel on immigration issues, to walk us through the proactive measures every hotel owner and operator needs. -Emily Kelchen

President Trump campaigned on overhauling our nation’s immigration laws and we are now seeing that play out. Were most of the businesses you work with prepared for this shift?

No. It’s created a lot of uncertainty and really disrupted a lot of businesses in the hospitality industry.

Historically, I-9 compliance was widely ignored by small and middle-market companies. Or for some businesses, perhaps their hiring needs outweighed concerns about potential fines. Now everyone is paying attention, and immigration attorneys like me are urging our clients to take steps to protect themselves and their employees. 

What does that look like?

As the old saying goes, "The best defense is a good offense.” That is, the most effective way to protect yourself, your business, and your employees is to be proactive rather than passively waiting for ICE to come knocking at your door:

• Maintain organized employment records and documentation systems.
• Retain qualified counsel who specialize in immigration compliance to conduct a self-audit of your I-9 forms and train your onboarding staff on how to comply with the regulations going forward. 
• Enroll in E-Verify if your business is not already enrolled.
• Research different software programs—some specific to the hospitality industry—that assist you with the proper onboarding of employees, many of which offer an “audit trail” that is easily printed and turned over to ICE in the event of NOI [notice of inspection] issues. But beware, not all such programs get you to 100% compliance, so these programs should be vetted by counsel.
• Designate a response team to an ICE intervention. 

What do you mean by response team?

This is fairly straightforward—choose a point person for each location (with a backup) to handle any interaction with ICE (e.g. HR director, compliance officer, legal counsel).  

The response team should:

• Know who to contact immediately in the event of an ICE visit (business owners, counsel, human resources) and do so;
• Ask the ICE agents to identify themselves and provide their credentials;
• Request a copy of any documents the ICE agents brought with them; and
• Be familiar with how to verify warrants and respond to such warrants as required by law. 

If the ICE representatives are there to serve an NOI, under no circumstances should the response team waive the 3-business-day window provided in the NOI to produce documents, unless legally required. Use this time to work with counsel to review and prepare documents for turnover to ICE. 

What are some signs that a business might be on ICE’s radar?

ICE does not forecast its strategies to the public—these are largely covert operations. That being said, ICE has limited resources, so historically, it tends to target businesses in labor-intensive industries for which the agency is confident will have the highest concentration of unauthorized workers, like those in the hospitality industry.

Botanical and beautiful

The Loren Hotel at Lady Bird Lake in Austin takes “bringing the outside in” to new heights with a vertical garden that weaves through eight stories, bringing greenery into every space. It’s a masterclass in blending biophilic design with luxury—perfect inspiration for hotels aiming to elevate aesthetics and guest wellness.

Why it matters: Lush plants are used to define public spaces like the lobby, spa and bar, creating a calm, immersive atmosphere. Paired with local stone, wood and metal finishes, the design tells a strong sense-of-place story while meeting surging guest interest in restorative, nature-connected spaces. (Design Milk) 

Above: A living wall at The Loren Hotel Austin. (Courtesy The Loren Hotel Austin/Casey Woods)

Play that funky music

Marketing and strategy agency Giant Step takes a deep dive into how music, nightlife and hospitality have fused, revealing hotels as cultural stages. The series highlights how deliberately curated music and entertainment can turn your property into a cultural anchor that leaves a lasting impression.

Why it matters: With insider perspectives from renowned hoteliers like Ian Schrager and Liz Lambert and music industry titan Mark Ronson, the series is a must-read for those looking to deepen brand identity through sonic storytelling. (Giant Step)

The price is right

Staying top of mind is everything in any economy—especially this one—so managing rates well is crucial. In TakeUp’s inaugural Voice of Independent Hospitality report, nearly 200 owners and managers candidly voiced their opinions about what’s working and what’s getting in the way.

Why it matters: Doesn’t it feel good to know you’re not alone? Also, in case you need some assistance in the revenue management department, TakeUp is an AI-powered revenue optimization platform designed specifically for independent hotels, which uses real-time, market-specific data to automate and optimize pricing recommendations. (HospitalityNet)

Mind the (talent) gap

Hiring headaches? Skift breaks down how hospitality can close the talent gap with a mix of upskilling, tech fluency and making hotel jobs actually feel worth sticking around for.

Why it matters: Investing in continuous learning—especially in areas like digital hospitality, eco-standards and guest personalization—builds a workforce that can match evolving guest expectations. Bonus: Operators who actively develop talent position themselves as employers of choice, driving both employee loyalty and long-term business resilience. (Skift) 

💯 Enjoying Mint Pillow? Share it with a friend.
👋 Have a story idea or want to say hello? Email us at newsletter@mintpillow.co