American Express Global Business Travel is defending its proposed $570 million acquisition of CWT against a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit, arguing the deal, slated to close in March, would not harm competition despite DOJ concerns over pricing and innovation. Meanwhile, luxury hotel brand Belmond is promoting its properties with hour-long ambient videos, aiming to differentiate itself from competitors who focus on short social media clips. Lastly, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced plans to raise taxes on holiday rentals, aligning with a new EU directive and addressing concerns about their impact on housing availability and affordability.

• American Express Global Business Travel pushed back on a recently filed U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit
• Ultra-luxury hotel brand Belmond is sharing hour-long videos with minimal action
• Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced plans on Monday to raise taxes on holiday rentals

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