Introduction to Hospitality Law Episode Two: Operational Legal Risks & Compliance (Presented by HospitalityLawyer.com)

Stephen Barth, founder | HospitalityLawyer.com®

Stephen Barth, author of Hospitality Law and coauthor of Restaurant Law Basics, is an attorney, the founder of HospitalityLawyer.com, the annual Hospitality Law Conference series, and the Global Travel Risk Summit Series. As a professor at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, University of Houston, he teaches courses in hospitality law and leadership. He is #3 on Global Guru’s Top 30 Hospitality Thought Leaders & Influencers for 2023. In addition to legal and travel risk mitigation insight, Stephen specializes in communicating the importance of Emotional Intelligence in leadership roles; and has provided valuable insight to many companies including The Methodist Hospital System, Wyndham Worldwide, Dine Equity, Business Travel News and Aramark. His fun, fast-paced presentations provide practical information and solutions to enhance your personal and professional life.

• Education & Credentials

He earned a B.A. in Economics, an M.A. in Communications, and a J.D. from Texas Tech University. His faculty profile also describes decades of work in hospitality law and leadership education, alongside litigation-support and expert-witness work in hospitality-related matters.

• Recognition & Leadership

He has received University of Houston teaching recognition, including the Career Teaching Excellence Award, and other teaching honors noted in his professional materials. He has also been recognized by GlobalGurus in its hospitality rankings, including being listed as the #1 hospitality professional for 2022 and appearing in the 2023 and 2024 lists.

• Professional Involvement

His work includes building HospitalityLawyer.com as a platform serving hospitality lawyers and industry leaders with legal, safety, and risk-management resources. He is also associated with industry-facing conferences and summits that convene professionals around hospitality legal risk and travel risk management.

• Experience

Across more than three decades at the University of Houston’s Hilton College, his profile notes teaching and speaking activity at significant scale, including thousands of students taught, extensive publishing, and hundreds of industry presentations. His work also includes being retained in litigation contexts and contributing expertise on hospitality-related standards of care and operational risk.

Justin Bragiel, General Counsel | Texas Hotel & Lodging Association

Justin R. Bragiel serves as General Counsel and Legislative Director for the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association, advising the lodging industry on legal risk and legislative developments that affect day-to-day hotel operations across Texas. His role spans both legal counsel and government affairs, positioning him at the intersection of compliance, regulatory change, and operational decision-making for hospitality businesses.

• Education & Credentials

He earned a Juris Doctor from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law (2007) and a B.A. in Government from The University of Texas at Austin (2001). He is admitted to the State Bar of Texas (admitted Nov. 2, 2007) and is also listed as a registered lobbyist in Texas and a notary public.

• Recognition & Leadership

Within THLA, he serves in a senior leadership capacity combining legal counsel and legislative strategy, including representing the lodging industry before the Texas Legislature and other governmental bodies. His role includes developing legislative agenda and strategy and communicating legal and policy updates to THLA leadership and members.

• Professional Involvement

He is listed as a member of professional organizations including the Austin Bar Association, Austin Young Lawyers Association, and Texas Young Lawyers Association, along with industry-aligned associations such as the Texas Society of Association Executives and the International Society of State Hotel Association Executives. He also authors hospitality-focused legal content through HospitalityLawyer.com.

• Experience

He has served as General Counsel at THLA since 2008, overseeing a legal program supporting association members and advising on a wide range of hospitality operational issues—explicitly including hotel occupancy tax, ADA, regulatory compliance, contracts, employment, and related risk areas. His experience also includes advocacy work at the state and local levels, and he is described as primary legal counsel to multiple local lodging associations across Texas.

I. Understand Price Gouging Laws and How They Apply During Declared Emergencies | 12:00pm – 12:20pm

This segment explains how emergency declarations can trigger price gouging restrictions that affect lodging rates, fees, and availability decisions. It walks through the operational moments where risk spikes, dynamic pricing changes, displaced-guest demand, and communications with the public. Attorneys leave with a clearer framework for advising on defensible pricing, documentation, and escalation protocols.

II. Evaluate Firearm and Weapons Policies Within Hotels and Restaurants | 12:20pm – 12:40pm

This portion focuses on how hospitality businesses can structure and enforce weapons policies in a way that is both workable for staff and aligned with applicable legal constraints. It emphasizes practical enforcement realities, notice, consistency, de-escalation, and when to involve security or law enforcement. Attorneys gain guidance on reducing negligent-security and incident-response exposure through policy design and training.

III. Clarify Occupancy and Lodging Tax Obligations and Common Compliance Pitfalls | 12:40pm – 1:00pm

This section addresses recurring lodging tax issues that create audit risk and contractual disputes, including exemptions, long-stay rules, fees and packages, and third-party booking complications. It highlights where breakdowns typically occur between the property, management company, and platforms, and what records matter most when questions arise. Attorneys come away better prepared to help clients build audit-ready processes and avoid costly assessments.

Break | 1:00pm – 1:10pm

IV. Identify Practical Risk Management Strategies for Hospitality Operators | 1:10pm – 1:25pm

This segment translates legal requirements into operational controls that prevent small issues from becoming claims, investigations, or reputational damage. It emphasizes clear SOPs, incident documentation, staff scripting, and decision logs that support defensibility after the fact. Attorneys learn how to craft guidance that frontline teams can implement consistently.

V. Apply Legal Best Practices to Daily Operational Decision-Making | 1:25pm – 1:40pm

This closing topic ties the legal principles back to everyday judgment calls, what managers should do in the moment, what to document, and when to escalate to counsel. It uses real-world operational contexts to connect compliance to outcomes like guest disputes, enforcement attention, and liability allocation. Attorneys leave with a practical lens for advising clients in real time rather than after a problem has matured.