Today's Hotels Pulse
Business Travel to the U.S. Powered by Key International Hubs
A Business Traveller analysis maps the countries and cities that generate the most business travel to the United States, underscoring their impact on hotel demand.
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By the numbers: Airbnb leads $58M Series C in WeRoad
Flights to Atlanta Resume With Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines announced the resumption of scheduled flights between Addis Ababa and Atlanta, launching service on May 21, 2026 with Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350 aircraft. Economy seats are priced as low as $999, but tickets must be purchased by April 30, 2026. The promotion applies only to flights inbound to Atlanta and includes all taxes and carrier fees. The carrier highlights its recent SKYTRAX accolades, including Best Airline in Africa for 2024.
Elite Island Resorts Launches Antigua Campaign With Agent Tools
Elite Island Resorts has unveiled “A Love Letter To Antigua,” a multi‑component campaign designed to equip travel advisors with ready‑made itineraries, an interactive 360° map, and a summer promotion offering a free fifth night at The Verandah Antigua. The initiative...
This Dad Is A Vacation Hero — Sprinting For Pool Chairs So His Family Can Actually Relax
A growing number of resort guests are sprinting for pool chairs, turning a simple leisure activity into a competitive sport. High‑priced hotels often provide insufficient loungers, forcing families to arrive before dawn or even sleep on chairs to secure a...
Royal Caribbean Announces Quantum of the Seas’ Singapore Journeys
Royal Caribbean announced that its Quantum of the Seas will resume operations from Singapore for the 2027‑28 season, running from October 2027 through March 2028. The ship will offer a mix of 3‑ to 10‑night itineraries visiting Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam,...
Chase Travel Introduces Price Match Guarantee for Sapphire Reserve Cardmembers
Chase Travel has begun beta‑testing a Price Match Guarantee for Sapphire Reserve for Business cardmembers, allowing refunds when a lower prepaid hotel rate is found. Eligible members must submit a claim within 24 hours to receive the price difference. Early...
Sand Bathing: The Ancient Wellness Ritual Making a Global Comeback
Sand bathing, an ancient therapeutic practice that involves lying in heated sand, is experiencing a resurgence across luxury spas and wellness retreats worldwide. Modern practitioners cite benefits such as improved circulation, muscle relaxation, and stress reduction, while recent studies highlight...
Explore Worldwide Announces First Morocco Familiarization Trip
Explore Worldwide has opened applications for its inaugural North American familiarization (FAM) trip to Morocco, a seven‑day, small‑group tour scheduled for June 7‑13, 2026. The program will host up to ten travel‑industry professionals, offering hands‑on exposure to the operator’s responsible‑travel...
3-Hour Security Queues? Closed Airports? What to Know About TSA and the Shutdown
The ongoing federal shutdown has frozen funding for the Department of Homeland Security, leaving TSA screeners without pay and triggering a surge in employee call‑outs. As absenteeism climbs above 10% at many locations, airports such as Atlanta, JFK, Houston Hobby,...
GHA Approaches 1,000 Properties with Addition of Japan’s Tokyu Hotels
Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) announced that Tokyu Hotels & Resorts will join its network, adding 42 Japanese properties across Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Okinawa. The addition pushes GHA’s portfolio to roughly 950 hotels, edging it toward the 1,000‑property milestone. Tokyu’s...
British Tourist Ryan Cullen Found in Benidorm After Family’s Frantic Search
Ryan Cullen, a 27‑year‑old from North Ayrshire, was located in Benidorm after disappearing on March 18 while solo travelling without a phone. His sister Donna Cullen confirmed contact with a “lovely lady” who had found him, and the family is...
Airlines That Let You Extend Elite Status for Life Events (New Kid, Illness, School, and More)
Airlines are increasingly allowing elite members to pause or extend their status when major life events—such as a new child, serious illness, job change, or school enrollment—reduce travel frequency. Currently, eleven carriers, including Aegean, Alaska, Delta, and Qantas, have published...
Virgin Limited Edition to Open Hotel Near Marrakech
Virgin Limited Edition, part of the Virgin Hotels Collection, announced a new 37‑suite luxury hotel set on a 10‑hectare private agricultural estate near Marrakech, slated to open in 2027. The project, developed with local real‑estate firm Sazanes Immobilier, blends Moroccan...
The Compliance and Security Risks of Uncontrolled Hotel Communication
Hotel staff increasingly rely on personal messaging apps, creating fragmented communication channels that jeopardize guest data and operational efficiency. This lack of centralized control makes it difficult to track conversations, enforce access policies, and meet regulatory standards such as GDPR...
Adam Krueger, Grubhub
Adam Krueger, a senior leader at Grubhub, oversees the end‑to‑end business for merchant advertising, promotions, and monetization. Leveraging more than 15 years of marketplace growth experience and a lifelong connection to the restaurant industry, he built Grubhub’s operational and advertising...
These 6 Restaurant Chains Will Close Hundreds of Units This Year
Six publicly traded restaurant chains announced large‑scale closures in 2026, targeting a combined 1,000‑plus under‑performing units. Wendy’s plans to shutter roughly 300‑350 stores, Papa John’s 300, Pizza Hut 250, Jack in the Box 50‑100, Noodles & Company about 35, and Darden will wind down Bahama Breeze with 14...
Ani Gujrathi Joins Otelier as Chief Technology & Product Officer
Otelier has appointed Ani Gujrathi as chief technology & product officer, consolidating its engineering, product, data, UX and cloud operations under a single leader. Gujrathi arrives with more than two decades of B2B SaaS experience, most recently scaling Conexiom to...
Agentic Hospitality Launches AI Connectivity Platform for Hotel Reservations
Agentic Hospitality unveiled the TravelOS Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server, an AI connectivity platform that links hotel central reservation and property management systems directly to AI assistants and conversational interfaces. The middleware streams real‑time availability, rates, and policies into AI...
IATA Urges EU to Review Emissions Trading System to Protect Aviation Competitiveness
The International Air Transport Association is urging the European Union to overhaul its Emissions Trading System, arguing that the current scheme threatens aviation competitiveness and adds costly complexity. IATA recommends full alignment with the ICAO‑led CORSIA framework for all international...
How Snow Derailed Olive Garden’s Traffic Growth
Olive Garden posted a 3.2% same‑store sales increase in Q3 FY2026, marking its sixth straight quarter of growth, but traffic slipped 0.4% due to severe winter storms. At the peak of the snow, up to 40% of locations were temporarily...
Trump’s DHS Pick Markwayne Mullin Signals Tougher Road Ahead for International Travelers
President Trump’s nominee, former Congressman Markwayne Mullin, is poised to lead the Department of Homeland Security, signaling a continuation of stringent border policies. Mullin’s agenda emphasizes expanded traveler vetting, mandatory social‑media disclosures, and potential financial guarantees for certain visas. The...
Clear and Blacklane Partner to Provide 'Home-to-Gate' Chauffeur Service
Blacklane announced a partnership with Clear to deliver a "home‑to‑gate" experience, combining its global chauffeur service with Clear's concierge security lane. Unveiled at SXSW on March 18, the joint offering will launch in April for select Blacklane guests and Clear+...
Anthony Gianino, KBP Brands
Anthony Gianino has been appointed Senior Vice President of Marketing at KBP Brands, one of the nation’s largest quick‑service restaurant franchisees with more than 1,100 KFC, Taco Bell, Arby’s and Sonic locations. In his new role he will bridge national...
John Dillon, La Madeleine
John Dillon, an award‑winning executive with experience across restaurants, hospitality and consumer brands, is serving as President and CEO of la Madeleine Bakery & Cafe. He is steering a disciplined modernization effort that targets guest experience, unit‑level economics, and operational...
Finalists Announced for the 22nd Annual HD Awards
Hospitality Design magazine has unveiled the finalists for its 22nd annual HD Awards, recognizing excellence across 34 project and 15 product categories. More than 1,000 submissions were judged by two expert panels, resulting in a diverse slate of finalists ranging...
How AI-Powered BI Is Transforming Hotel Revenue Management
Hotel revenue managers still rely on fragmented spreadsheets, slowing decisions. Flyr Hospitality’s Insights platform introduces a self‑service BI tool with an AI‑powered conversational assistant that transforms raw data into instant, actionable insights. The solution centralizes data across properties, letting revenue...
How Middle East Instability Could Shift Demand to Southern Europe
Recent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are prompting travelers to seek safer alternatives, shifting demand toward Southern European beach destinations such as Spain, Italy, Portugal, Croatia and France. Hospitality analysts expect a surge in last‑minute and redirected bookings for...
Revenue Management Isn’t Just Pricing Anymore (Not for a While)
Revenue management, once confined to pricing, is evolving into a strategic function for hotels. Leaders now prioritize demand insight, segment mix, and long‑term positioning over daily rate decisions. The role now intersects forecasting, budgeting, marketing, and sales, acting as a...
#319 Bjarke Just Nielsen Founder at Norrlyst Koncernen - Scaling Restaurant Quality with Tech and Culture
In this episode, Michael Tinser chats with Bjarke Just Nielsen, founder of Nordust, about how his restaurant group has scaled to 20 venues, 550 staff and nearly a million guests by treating the business as a tech platform rather than...
TrustYou and HSMAI Europe Celebrate Strategic Partnership at Berlin Industry Gathering
TrustYou presented its data‑driven Excellence Award to Hotel Maistra 160, which earned a 98.75 guest‑satisfaction score, at an HSMAI Europe and HFTP networking evening in Berlin on March 4, 2026. The ceremony highlighted the two‑year strategic partnership between TrustYou and HSMAI Europe, aimed...
Aena Presents Updated Innovation Roadmap at PTE World
Aena unveiled an updated innovation roadmap at PTE World, centering on four pillars: enhanced passenger experience, autonomous airport capabilities, new business opportunities, and sustainability. The airline‑operator introduced its dual‑track innovation model, featuring Aena Ventures for startup collaboration and Innova for...
Dave Luz, Flower Child
Dave Luz, a veteran restaurant executive with more than three decades of experience, has been appointed VP of Operations for Flower Child, the healthy fast‑casual brand owned by Fox Restaurant Concepts. Luz began his career as a server at The...
SITA Calls for Practical Collaboration to Fix Intermodal Travel
SITA released a white paper urging transport operators to collaborate on data sharing and coordinated action to smooth intermodal handovers. It argues that real‑time, shared visibility of passenger flows can cut stress, reduce disruption, and protect revenue without building new...
Visit Hungary Expands Use of Amadeus Media Solutions to Drive Demand to the Destination
Visit Hungary has deepened its partnership with Amadeus Media Solutions, adding travel‑agency targeting to its digital campaigns. Leveraging Amadeus Travel Intelligence, the destination saw a 20% year‑over‑year increase in bookings generated by travel sellers. The data‑driven approach enables continuous audience...
Hotel Review: The Trafalgar St. James, London
The Trafalgar St. James, part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, completed a £6 million refurbishment that introduced a redesigned lobby, the Rockwell Bistro & Wine Bar, and the Spring Garden Suites. The design‑led overhaul earned the Hotel Design UK Award in September 2025, highlighting...
Cuba Is Running Out of Time—And the World Is Looking Away
Cuba faces a deepening crisis as power outages, fuel shortages and dwindling tourist arrivals cripple its fragile private sector. U.S. sanctions remain ambiguous, offering no clear path toward reform or relief, while regional partners stay muted to avoid diplomatic fallout....
Air Charter Scotland Secures Continuation of Wick-Aberdeen-Wick PSO Route
Air Charter Scotland has secured additional government funding to keep the Wick‑Aberdeen‑Wick public service obligation (PSO) route operating until 14 August 2026. The carrier launched the lifeline service on 15 January after Eastern Airways withdrew, initially using a Beechcraft King Air 200 and adding...
Hilton Launches Hilton AI Planner
Hilton has introduced the Hilton AI Planner, a generative‑AI digital concierge that assists travelers in discovering and booking stays across its global portfolio. The tool uses conversational intelligence to guide users through destination selection, property comparison, and amenity exploration, delivering...
From AI Agents to Front Desk: How to Personalize the Guest Experience with Both
The Hotel Moment podcast with Revinate CMO Karen Stephens and Twilio CMO Chris Koehler highlights that the real hurdle to hospitality personalization is data acquisition, not merely data collection. They argue that clean, connected guest profiles are essential for turning raw...
Australia Launches “Green and Gold Promise” To Drive a Sustainable Tourism Future
Australia has launched the nation‑wide “Green and Gold Promise,” a sustainability program aimed at protecting natural and cultural assets while bolstering the tourism sector. Backed by Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell and Tourism Australia, the initiative responds to a...
Hotel Valuations Stall Across Europe, Impacted by War, Instability and US Leadership
Hotel consultancy HVS reported that Europe’s hotel valuation index barely rose, expanding just 0.2% in 2025 despite robust travel demand. The continent logged three billion overnight stays, a 2.4% increase, driven largely by leisure tourists. Growth was uneven: Copenhagen posted...
A Pacific Boom Meets Its Limits: Fiji Bets Big on Luxury Resorts Amid Surging Touris
Fiji is witnessing a surge in luxury resort development as global brands such as Radisson, Marriott and Kerzner launch high‑end projects across Denarau, Yasawa and other islands. Tourist arrivals have rebounded to near one million annually, pushing room rates to...
Bless Collection Hotels Expands Its Portfolio in Ibiza
Palladium Hotel Group announced that BLESS Ibiza The Site, a new 5‑star luxury hotel, will open in June 2026 as part of its expanding portfolio in Ibiza. The 461‑room property joins The Unexpected Ibiza Hotel and Ibiza Gallery within The...
The Airlines See Only Sunshine and Rainbows
At the JP Morgan Industrials Conference, U.S. legacy carriers reported record‑breaking demand as Q1 closed. Delta, American and United each logged multiple top‑sales days or weeks, while JetBlue and Frontier lifted revenue outlooks. United disclosed a $4.6 billion jet‑fuel cost hit and...
IHG Accelerates Growth in Mexico, Reinforcing Long Term Commitment to Key Americas Market
IHG Hotels & Resorts announced plans to nearly double its growth pace in Mexico, adding 62 new hotels with 8,600 rooms to its existing portfolio of 187 properties and 30,000 rooms. The country is IHG’s fifth‑largest market worldwide, and the...
How Better Data Is Improving Restaurant Lead Conversion for Technology Solution Providers and Other Restaurant Vendors
Timing is the decisive factor in restaurant‑technology sales, with most vendor decisions made months before a restaurant opens. Preopening Restaurants Resource offers an intelligence platform that uncovers restaurants in development, under construction, or early planning stages, allowing vendors to engage...
White Lodging, JW Marriott Indianapolis Announce Retirement of General Manager Phil Ray
Longtime General Manager Phil Ray will retire on May 31, 2026, ending a 40‑year hospitality career that included a decade at JW Marriott Indianapolis. Ray has overseen the 1,013‑room property, its extensive meeting space and recent brand enhancements such as Dean’s Steak &...
Maui Nonprofit’s $700 Monthly Cash Pilot Aims to Stabilize Fire Survivors
Maui Rapid Response is providing 69 fire‑displaced households with $700 a month on a prepaid Mastercard for a year. The pilot, known as the Kahua Card, is already improving food security and reducing anxiety among participants, highlighting a new model...
Promise of AI-Driven Efficiencies Draws Investors to Hotels, C&W Reports
European hotel investors remain bullish for 2026, driven by AI‑enabled cost efficiencies, according to Cushman & Wakefield. 58% plan to allocate more capital than in 2025, and 54% intend to be net buyers, while only 7% expect to sell. AI is...
AndBeyond Enters Its Next Chapter in Asia
andBeyond is concentrating on deepening its existing foothold in Asia—particularly India, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka—rather than launching new destination‑management operations. The company is reshaping its African safari DNA to suit forest‑rich, culturally diverse Asian landscapes, emphasizing collaboration with local partners....
Agoda Joins Forces with Gangwon State to Boost International Tourism
Agoda has signed a two‑year memorandum of understanding with South Korea’s Gangwon State to promote the region as an international travel destination. The partnership will see Agoda provide destination‑marketing support and share market data insights to raise Gangwon’s visibility abroad....