Overview

Ruth focuses on hospitality operations and intellectual property and technology transactions in the hospitality industry.

Ruth advises clients on matters such as group sales and event contracts, various vendor and consulting relationships, SaaS licenses, spa and restaurant third-party management agreements, in-licensing of video-on-demand technology, music licensing and co-branding and marketing agreements and practices. She also advises clients on contests and sweepstakes matters and other advertising and marketing-related issues.

Professional Activities

Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International, Member
Meeting Professionals International, Member

Experience

Online inventory distribution agreements
Online inventory distribution agreements with major European online travel agents, such as GTA and Booking.com.
CRS platform, support and technology consultation agreement
Completed central reservation system (CRS) platform, support and technology consultation agreement.
Co-branded credit card agreements
Co-branded VISA card agreements (U.S.) with card brand and bank issuer.
International loyalty program and co-marketing agreements
Multiple international loyalty program and co-marketing agreements for hotel clients (e.g., MasterCard Europe, Visa/Kiwi, Jet Airways, Qatar Airlines, Air Singapore).

Blog Posts

Intellectual Property in the Digital World
Duff on Hospitality Law, 3.7.17
Reading the Fine Print: Changes in Legal Framework for the Assessment and Display of Service Charges
Duff on Hospitality Law, 10.19.16
Brand Protection in the Era of Exploding Domains
Sports & Entertainment Beat, 7.29.15
The Bitter Truth: Lagunitas Tastes the Complexity of Trademark Infringement Suits
Duff on Hospitality Law, 1.22.15
Brand Protection in the Era of Exploding Domains
Duff on Hospitality Law, 11.10.14
The Old One-Two: Boxing and the Practice of Law
Duff on Hospitality Law, 9.13.13
The Fine Print on Daily Deals and Flash Sites
Duff on Hospitality Law, 4.19.13
Hospitality Upgrade Shout Out
Duff on Hospitality Law, 4.16.13
Visa, MasterCard Propose 6+ Billion Dollar Settlement in Merchant Class Action Litigation Over Interchange Fees
Duff on Hospitality Law, 3.20.13
TNT Travel & Technology Conference Explodes Onto the Northwest Scene
Duff on Hospitality Law, 10.31.12
Rate Parity as Price Fixing: UK’s Office of Fair Trading Statement Suggests Trouble Ahead for Industry Standard Online Travel Agent Contract Provisions
Duff on Hospitality Law, 8.3.12
Buzz, Skepticism about Room Key Hotel Search Site
Duff on Hospitality Law, 1.23.12
Protect Your Brand! Sunrise Period for Preemptive Registration of .XXX Domain Names
Duff on Hospitality Law, 9.25.11
Cease and Desist! Copyright Infringement
Duff on Hospitality Law, 8.24.11
Do You Know What's Happening on Your Network? Copyright Infringement
Duff on Hospitality Law, 7.11.11
Comment Period for New FDA Draft Regulations About Menu Labeling Ends June 6
Duff on Hospitality Law, 5.20.11
Premises Liability Part 2: Denny's Shooting and a Record-Setting Jury Verdict
Duff on Hospitality Law, 3.17.11
2011 Hospitality Law Conference Highlight: Contests and Sweepstakes
Duff on Hospitality Law, 2.11.11
Washington State Liquor Control Board Proposed Rule Making
Duff on Hospitality Law, 1.14.11
November 30, 2010: Hotel Industry Security Forum--Protect Yourself, Your People, Your Properties
Duff on Hospitality Law, 12.3.10
BMI Strikes Again, Brings Music Licensing Lawsuit Against Kirkland Restaurant
Duff on Hospitality Law, 11.19.10
Where Do We Go From Here? Event Contracting in the New Norm
Duff on Hospitality Law, 9.14.10
Travel Agent "Victory" on Occupancy Taxes in Missouri: Developing Trend?
Duff on Hospitality Law, 7.20.10
Recent Developments in Data Privacy and Security Laws
Duff on Hospitality Law, 5.28.10

News & Insights

News

Greg Duff and Ruth Walters Highlight Potential Legal Issues of Post-COVID Social Media Efforts in Hotel Executive
Hotel Executive, 2.7.21

Speaking Engagements

Past Appearances

"Group Sales and Event Contracting During (and After) COVID-19,” The Virtual Hospitality Law Conference
Speaking Engagement
Virtual Event, 10.8.20
Revenue Optimization Conference
Speaking Engagement
New Orleans, LA, June 22, 2016
"Rate Parity Update", HSMAI ROC Conference
Speaking Engagement
New Orleans, LA, 6.22.16
"Contracting in the Hospitality Business", MPI Cascadia Educational Conference
Speaking Engagement
Sunriver Resort, OR, 3.13.16
"Hotel & Restaurant Relationships," Hospitality Law Conference
Speaking Engagement
Houston, TX, 2.10.14
Best Western Owners’ Fall Marketing Meeting
Speaking Engagement
Silverdale, WA, 9.17.13
"Perspectives on Non-Traditional Online Distribution Channels," 2013 Hospitality Law Conference
Speaking Engagement
Houston, TX, 2.12.13
"Contracting in the 21st Century: The Rising Significance of Guest Information and Intellectual Property," HFTP’s Annual Convention & Trade Show
Speaking Engagement
Orlando, FL, 10.18.12

Legal Alerts

Brand Protection in the Era of Exploding Domains
7.29.15

Publications

Intellectual Property in the Digital World
HOTEL Yearbook 2017, 3.7.17
So What's in a Name? Understanding, Identifying, Protecting and Using Trademarks: The Basics for Hoteliers
HSMAI, 9.12.14
Protect Your Good Name... Keyword Advertising and Trademark License
Hospitality Upgrade, 3.1.13

Ruth Walters

Overview

Professional Activities

Experience

Experience

Blog Posts

Blog Posts

News & Insights

News

Speaking Engagements

Past Appearances

Legal Alerts

Publications

Services

Admissions

Education