Global News

[ad_1] Pedestrians walk past Yum! Brands Inc. Pizza Hut and KFC restaurants in Shanghai, China. Qilai Shen | Bloomberg | Getty Images China is leaving behind pandemic lockdowns, and U.S. companies like Procter & Gamble , Starbucks and MGM Resorts International say the country's recovery is boosting their overall sales as consumers in their home markets watch their wallets. With its large population and swelling middle class, China is a desirable market for many multinational companies that have seen their U.S. businesses mature. But its zero- Covid policy, which imposed harsh restrictions to stop the spread of the virus, hurt the country's economy — and revenue for the many U.S. companies that sell their goods or services there. After rolling back the policy in December, China's economy grew 4.5% in the first quarter. U.S. companies are reporting that demand in China is returning, boosting their sales at a time when many U.S. consumers are pulling back their spe...

[ad_1] FanDuel CEO Amy Howe stands out in a crowd — in spite of her slight stature. In a room full of executives in the sports or gambling industries, she's often one of very few women. But Howe has the spotlight, and a megaphone, as the chief executive of the nation's market leader in sports betting. FanDuel announced this week that during the fourth quarter it increased its market share to 50% of legal sports betting in the U.S. Howe joined Caesars CEO Tom Reeg and New England Patriots President Jonathan Kraft at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics conference this week to discuss the deepening relationship between the betting and sports industries, the need for better technology to acquire and keep customers, and the competitive landscape. Howe's gender never came up. But in many conversations — off the stage and behind the scenes — it's clear Howe stands as a role model to other women in sports and gambling. And here, she keeps good company. Renie Anderson is execut...

[ad_1] Marriott and MGM Resorts International announced a partnership Monday to link their loyalty programs and give customers more options for cashing in. Under the deal, MGM guests in the United States can earn Marriott Bonvoy rewards points and Bonvoy members will in turn have access to 17 MGM properties when they spend their points. related investing news MGM's 40,000 rooms will increase Marriott's global portfolio offerings 2.4%. The partnership seeks to capitalize on frequent or business travelers, who can be fiercely loyal to certain hotel brands in effort to rack up rewards. Those loyalty programs drive business and help differentiate competitors at a time when travel is continuing to rebound from a pandemic pause. "The value is in the quantity and the quality of the customer," MGM CEO Bill Hornbuckle told CNBC in an interview Monday. Bonvoy has more than 180 million members. If members want to use their reward points for a stay on the Las Vegas Strip, ...