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GameStop to Close More Than 300 North American Stores in 2020

by Taylor Williams

GRAPEVINE, TEXAS — Video game retailer GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME) plans to close more than 300 North American stores in 2020, the Grapevine, Texas-based company recently announced during its fourth-quarter earnings call. GameStop did not specify which stores and markets would be affected by the closures, but said that it anticipates the total number of shuttered stores to be equal to or greater than the 320 stores that it closed in 2019. GameStop saw its total comparable stores sales across the globe decrease 26.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019 relative to that period a year earlier. Although the company reported a 2 percent increase in global comparable sales in March 2020 relative to March 2019, GameStop executives said that the market disruption caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 has prompted it to move forward with its “global de-densification” plan. In fielding questions from analysts on the call, GameStop CEO George Sherman noted that although “every day brings a new challenge and new information as we navigate this very dynamic environment brought on by COVID-19,” the de-densification plan had been in effect prior to the healthcare crisis. In particular, he said, the plan centered on the transference of revenue …

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Company NewsDistrict of ColumbiaHospitalitySoutheast

AHLA Launches ‘Hotels for Hope’ to Assist First Responders During COVID-19 Outbreak

by Alex Tostado

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) has launched “Hotels for Hope,” a new initiative that aims to connect participating hotels with the health community struggling to find housing and support as the COVID-19 public health crisis grows. Washington, D.C.-based AHLA has identified more than 6,500 properties nationwide that are can work with the U.S. Department of Health, Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Army CORPS of Engineers to provide access to hotel properties to support the health community and our nation’s first responders and local emergency management and public health agencies. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the hotel industry is seeing vacancy rates soar across the United States, with some markets, including Boston, Seattle and Austin, reporting more than 80 percent vacancy. Markets including Chicago are reporting single-digit occupancy rates. More than 4 million hotel jobs could be lost in the coming weeks, according to AHLA. In mid-March, the U.S. Travel Association and AHLA requested $150 billion from the federal government for economic relief as the travel sector is especially affected by the coronavirus. AHLA is working to establish a national database with the HHS so that local, state and federal officials will be able to …

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Company NewsGeorgiaIndustrialSoutheast

Kia Motors to Close Manufacturing Plant in West Point, Georgia Until April 13

by Alex Tostado

WEST POINT, GA. — Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia Inc. (KMMG) will temporarily halt production at its West Point facility starting Monday, March 30 and is planned to reopen Monday, April 13 in the face of the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak. While operations are suspended, KMMG will perform additional cleaning and disinfecting processes of workstations throughout the plant. The factory produces 340,000 vehicles annually, including the Telluride CUV, Sorento CUV and Optima midsize sedan. The facility spans 2,200 acres and operates 24 hours per day.

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Company NewsDistrict of ColumbiaLoansMultifamilySeniors HousingSoutheastStudent HousingTop Stories

Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae Enact 90-Day Financial Relief Plan for Multifamily Borrowers, Tenants

by John Nelson

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have separately announced nationwide initiatives to provide financial relief for their multifamily borrowers and tenants affected by the outbreak of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). The two government-sponsored enterprises are enacting programs that allow their borrowers to defer monthly payments for up to 90 days by showing hardship as a consequence of COVID-19 and by gaining lender approval. Additionally, participants in the program must agree to not evict their renters who are facing financial hardship due to the current health crisis. The agencies anticipate the initiatives could impact more than 54,000 apartment communities across the country. “This program is historic in its size, and it has the potential to provide relief to millions of families in multifamily rental homes financed through a Freddie Mac loan,” says Debby Jenkins, executive vice president and head of Freddie Mac Multifamily, which implemented a similar forbearance plan in 2017 following Hurricane Harvey in Houston. “Countless Americans are facing unimaginable hardships, and Freddie Mac is doing what we can to provide relief as our nation addresses this global pandemic,” says Jenkins. The outbreak of COVID-19 is likely to push the United States into a recession as the …

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Company NewsRetailTexas

Studio Movie Grill Temporarily Closes All Venues

by Taylor Williams

DALLAS — Texas-based entertainment concept Studio Movie Grill will temporarily close all locations nationwide in an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19. The company, which has 14 venues in Texas, said it would refund pre-purchased ticket sales and suspend billing on all subscription plans until its theaters have fully reopened. The company also pledged to actively maintain health insurance benefits for employees and to create a fund to support team members’ in dire financial circumstances.

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Company NewsHospitalityTop Stories

Marriott to Furlough Two-Thirds of Domestic, International Corporate Staff

by Taylor Williams

BETHESDA, MD. — Marriott International Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) will furlough approximately two-thirds of its 4,000 corporate staff members in the company’s Bethesda office, as well roughly two-thirds of its international corporate staff, according to multiple media sources. A company spokesperson first confirmed the news to The Wall Street Journal, which also reported that most furloughs are expected to last 60 to 90 days. Hospitality and travel blog One Mile at a Time reported the same time frame. The announcement comes on the heels of Marriott’s decision last week to furlough what could ultimately be tens of thousands of employees at its hotels around the world. According to the company’s website, Marriott owned and operated about 7,300 properties under 30 brands in 134 countries. Those properties total more than 1.3 million rooms. Marriott also employs some 130,000 people worldwide. On a conference call late last week, Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson told investors that after seeing strong growth in revenue per available room (REVpar) in its European and North American hotels during the first two months of the year, these properties were now seeing an average occupancy rate of about 25 percent. That figure stood at roughly 70 percent a year ago, …

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Company NewsRetailSouth CarolinaSoutheast

United Development to Close Myrtle Beach Mall Today Until Further Notice Due to COVID-19 Outbreak

by Alex Tostado

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — United Development Co. will close Myrtle Beach Mall at 7 p.m. local time today indefinitely due to growing concerns of the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak. The owner said the exterior entrances to Belk, Bass Pro Shops, Books-A-Million and JC Penney will remain open as long as those retailers continue to be open to the public. The owner also said that a deep cleaning will be initiated immediately following the closing, then again prior to the reopening. Myrtle Beach Mall is situated at 10177 N. Kings Highway, 11 miles north of downtown Myrtle Beach.

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Company NewsDistrict of ColumbiaSoutheast

SIOR Launches Nationwide Outreach Program to Aid Nonprofits Impacted by Coronavirus

by Alex Tostado

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) has launched a nationwide program to help nonprofit organizations remain open and operating in the midst of the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak. The Community Assistance and Relief in Emergencies (CARE) program will help get charities and nonprofits in touch with local SIOR members to share the organization’s contact information, circumstances and needs. The SIOR member can then provide real estate advice, contacts and, if applicable, direct the organization to a property owner(s) that can help accommodate the group’s needs. Through this initiative, SIOR hopes that organizations searching for a commercial real estate space can quickly get up and running. “Our organization was founded during World War II with the goal of assisting the United States government in fulfilling critical space needs,” says Mark Duclos, SIOR global president. “Today, we are in a new global crisis, one that calls upon all of us to do our part. There has never been a more important time to use our knowledge, resources and network to help our nation get through this together.” Organizations interested in getting in contact with CARE can do so at www.sior.com/care.

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Company NewsOfficeTexas

Integra Realty Resources Opens Seventh Texas Office in Rio Grande Valley

by Taylor Williams

EDINBURG, TEXAS — Integra Realty Resources (IRR), a provider of valuation, counseling and advisory services, has opened a new office in the Rio Grande Valley city of Edinburg that will be the company’s seventh in Texas and 56th overall. The opening comes on the heels of the company debuting a new office in Lubbock. William Robinson, who served as managing director in the company’s San Antonio office, will lead the new office as managing director along with Adam Solis, who joins IRR from Lone Star National Bank and will serve as a senior analyst.

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AcquisitionsCompany NewsRetailWashingtonWestern

Costco Wholesale Acquires Innovel Solutions for $1B to Expand Last-Mile Capacity

by Amy Works

ISSAQUAH, WASH. — Issaquah-based Costco Wholesale Corp. has acquired Innovel Solutions, a provider of third-party logistics solutions with nationwide capabilities, for $1 billion. Innovel was a subsidiary of Transform Holdco, which operates Sears and Kmart stores. The acquisition was funded with the company’s existing cash balances. Innovel provides last-mile delivery, complete installation and white glove capabilities for large and/or bulky products. Its network offers coverage to nearly 95 percent of the United States and Puerto Rico. Products served through Innovel include major appliances, furniture, mattresses, televisions, grills, patios, fitness equipment and wine cellars. Innovel employs over 1,500 people and operates 11 distribution and fulfillment center, as well as more than 100 final-mile, cross-dock centers with over 15 million square feet of warehouse space. The company also operates dedicated call centers. Costco has been a customer of Innovel since 2015, and under Costco’s ownership Innovel will continue to serve Sears and other existing third-party customers. “We have a great relationship with Innovel and share a philosophy of taking care of our members,” says Craig Jelinek, Costco’s CEO, “We believe the acquisition will allow us to grow our e-commerce sales of ‘big and bulky’ items at a faster rate.” Costco currently operates …

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