Today's Hotels Pulse
FAA says Spirit’s LaGuardia slots belong with another low‑cost carrier
The FAA Administrator argues that the coveted take‑off slots Spirit Airlines holds at New York’s LaGuardia should be reallocated to a different low‑cost carrier. Meanwhile, Spirit is preparing to auction off those slots to the highest bidder.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Airbnb leads $58M Series C in WeRoad
Electric Boat Taxi Service Launches on Bangkok’s Historic Canals
TTA Mariner Co. and mobility platform MuvMi have launched an electric boat taxi service on Bangkok’s historic canals, operating between 09:00 and 17:00 with an initial fleet of eight vessels. The boats, each seating six passengers and cruising at about 12 km/h, connect 14 piers along Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem and Khlong Bang Lamphu. After a free trial ending mid‑April, fares begin at 35 baht per passenger, with private charter options starting at 1,000 baht per hour. The service aims to cut emissions by up to 65% compared with diesel‑powered boats.
Airlines Slash Thousands of Flights Over Rising Fuel Costs
Scandinavian Airline SAS would cancel 1000 flights in April due to high oil prices, CEO Anko van der Werff told Swedish media Dagens Industri. The airline has already cancelled a few hundred flights in March mostly domestic routes in Norway...
Can an Austrian Hostel Give a Luxury Ski Chalet a Run for Its Money?
St Josefsheim, a newly opened youth hostel in Schruns, offers families an affordable alternative to traditional luxury ski chalets in Austria’s Montafon valley. Housed in a historic 1900s villa, the hostel sits just two minutes from a gondola and provides self‑check‑in,...
The Earn and Burn Challenge for Aspirational Flagged Hotels
The hotel industry’s “earn and burn” dilemma sees guests accumulate loyalty points at mid‑scale or upscale properties and later redeem them for free stays at aspirational flagship hotels. While this drives brand loyalty, it depresses revenue per available guest (RevPAG)...
More Red Tape for Holiday Lets Sector in Wales
Wales' Senedd has approved the Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation Bill, creating a mandatory national register for holiday lets and other self‑catering rentals. Providers must display a registration number and pay an average £172 annual licence, with...
Vueling Expands IFEC Experience with Viasat
Vueling, an IAG airline, has launched a free onboard entertainment portal powered by Viasat. The service streams movies, series and additional features directly to passengers’ personal devices without requiring Wi‑Fi, and is already installed on more than half of the...
Virgin Australia Plans Modest Capacity Gains as Aircraft Deliveries Finally Ramp Up
Virgin Australia will receive seven new aircraft in the second half of FY2026, meeting its full‑year delivery target after a period of delays. Its regional arm, VARA, is slated for four Embraer E190‑E2 deliveries, enabling retirement of older planes. The...
Nespresso Rolls Out Butter‑yellow Vertuo Pop+ Under $100 as Dua Lipa Fronts New Campaign
Nespresso introduced the limited‑edition Vertuo Pop+ butter‑yellow coffee maker priced below $100 and announced pop icon Dua Lipa as its new global brand ambassador. The launch coincides with the April 14 "Vertuo World" campaign, a push to attract Gen Z...
Sad Trombone: Chase Adds Lifetime Language To Another Business Card
Chase has introduced a lifetime eligibility clause to the IHG Business Card, preventing members who have ever held the card from receiving the new sign‑up bonus. The previous terms only barred current cardholders or those who earned a bonus within...
Indy Airport Says ‘Hello Avelo’
Indianapolis International Airport announced that ultra‑low‑cost carrier Avelo Airlines will begin service on June 18, adding twice‑weekly nonstop flights to Concord, North Carolina, and New Haven, Connecticut. The routes make Avelo the airport’s 12th passenger airline and its fourth ULCC,...
Delta Under Fire As Musician Blasts Airline For Ruined Bags
Rapper Chika alleges Delta Air Lines cracked several premium Rimowa suitcases worth roughly $5,000 during a recent flight, sparking a viral backlash. She posted photos of the damage and claimed this was not her first negative experience with the carrier....
Did You Know About Szalonej Środy With LOT Polish Airlines?
LOT Polish Airlines launched its "Szalonej Środy" (Crazy Wednesdays) promotion, offering round‑trip economy tickets for as low as $121 USD. The deal applies to flights from Poland to Malta, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Nice, Podgorica and Tirana, with travel windows from April 1...
Art’otel London Battersea Power Station Opens Rooftop Bar and Infinity Pool with Panoramic City Views
Art’otel London Battersea Power Station will launch its rooftop venue in April 2026, featuring the JOIA bar, a heated infinity pool, and sweeping city views. The bar and restaurant are open to the public, while the pool remains exclusive for...
Doherty Enterprises Opens the First Dual-Branded Applebee’s/IHOP Restaurant East of the Mississippi in Hawthorne, N.Y.
Doherty Enterprises opened the first Applebee’s/IHOP dual‑branded restaurant east of the Mississippi in Hawthorne, New York. The location was converted from an existing Applebee’s in a 10‑day remodel, adding IHOP’s breakfast menu and branding. The move follows Dine Brands’ rollout of...
PIE Taps Sprague As Director
Pinellas County appointed Mark Sprague as the new director of St. Pete‑Clearwater International Airport (PIE). Sprague previously served as deputy and interim director at PIE and brings extensive pilot experience from Comair and Spirit Airlines. He also held operational roles at...
A Herald Square Hotel Renovation Was a Disaster. For Jeffrey Epstein, It Was an Opportunity for Loyalty
Stephen Hanson and developer David Mitchell launched the Life Hotel in Manhattan as a high‑profile comeback, converting the former Life Magazine headquarters into a boutique property with a celebrity chef. The venture quickly ran out of cash, prompting frequent $2,000‑$2,600...
Tier Qualification Requirements Reduced by 25% With Etihad Guest
Etihad Airways announced a 25% cut in tier qualification requirements for its Etihad Guest loyalty program, citing recent airspace restrictions caused by the Middle East conflict. The temporary adjustment aims to make elite status more attainable as flight schedules normalize....
U.S. Travel Breaks 9-Month Losing Streak — But Just Barely
U.S. inbound tourism ended a nine‑month decline in February, posting a modest 0.8% rise to 2.2 million international arrivals. The rebound was powered primarily by Asian markets, with China’s arrivals jumping 35.8% year‑over‑year. In contrast, visitor numbers from Western Europe, Africa...
How San Pedro Fish Market Built a $30M Legacy
San Pedro Fish Market, a 70‑year‑old California seafood institution, turned a forced 2022 eviction into a $30 million revenue surge by relocating to a parking‑lot operation and later a container‑based kitchen. CEO Michael Ungaro leveraged digital storytelling, launching the reality series “Kings...
Chipotle Introduces Cilantro Lime Sauce
Chipotle Mexican Grill is rolling out a limited‑time Cilantro Lime Sauce nationwide, debuting Thursday after a successful pilot in Los Angeles that generated two‑to‑three times the order rate of previous sauces. The fresh‑daily sauce blends cilantro, Mexican spices, sour cream,...
Lufthansa Introduces BABOR Skincare as Part of New Onboard Experience and Amenity Kits
Lufthansa is rolling out premium BAB B OR skincare kits in its First Class cabins this month, with Business Class upgrades slated for early May. The partnership is part of the airline’s Future Onboard Experience (FOX) program, which emphasizes comfort, personalization, and...
The Future of Free Hotel Breakfasts
Free hot breakfasts, once a staple at budget hotels, are under pressure from rising labor and food costs. Major chains such as Marriott are shifting to paid buffet models, while Holiday Inn splits its approach: full‑service hotels charge, but Holiday Inn Express retains...
March / April 2026 Digital Issue
Hotelier’s March/April 2026 digital issue spotlights International Women’s Month, featuring profiles of female trailblazers reshaping hospitality. It also highlights the Housekeeping Awards winners, examines solo‑travel trends targeting female guests, and details hotels’ proactive safety and staff‑training initiatives. Additional coverage includes...
Gas Price Spikes Don’t Impact Restaurant Traffic: BTIG
Rising gasoline prices linked to the Iran conflict are unlikely to curb restaurant traffic, according to BTIG analyst Peter Saleh, who cites two decades of data showing weak correlation between fuel costs and dining footfall. Even when pump prices briefly...
Adventure Travel Evolved From ‘Granola-Crunchy Ecotourism’ to an Experiential Market
The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) traces the sector’s evolution from a small, niche market in 1990 to a mainstream, values‑driven experiential industry. Over three decades, professionalization, digital booking platforms, and the pandemic accelerated growth, expanding traveler demographics, safety standards,...
Air Seychelles Resumes Long Haul Flights, Temporarily, Using Etihad 787
Air Seychelles will temporarily resume nonstop Mahé‑Paris flights from 22 March to 29 April 2026, operating three times weekly using a leased Etihad Boeing 787‑9 Dreamliner. The carrier’s own fleet of A320neos and Twin Otters cannot cover the 4,871‑mile sector,...
Maggiano’s Raises Portion Sizes in Chili’s-Style Value Play
Maggianno’s Little Italy is boosting pasta and protein portions by roughly 20% while keeping menu prices steady, aiming to improve perceived value. The chain also expands its Family Style menu with 15 new shareable dishes to attract larger groups. These...
Marriott Bonvoy Elite Breakfast Benefit Simplified
Marriott Bonvoy is the world's largest hotel loyalty program, but also the most complicated. How does the program's elite breakfast benefit work? Here's as simple of an explanation as you'll get... https://t.co/Sh9DnjeSYJ
Papa Johns Selects Deliverect to Modernize U.S. Delivery Operations with AI-Powered Unified Ordering Platform
Papa Johns announced a strategic partnership with Deliverect to roll out its Smart Dispatch & Delivery Management platform across all U.S. restaurants by the end of 2027. The AI‑driven system unifies first‑party and third‑party delivery channels into a single orchestration...
Wetzel’s Pretzels Plans to Double C-Store Presence
Wetzel’s Pretzels announced plans to double its presence inside convenience stores within the next two years, expanding from the 20 c‑store sites it currently operates. The chain has 10‑15 additional locations in development and is targeting new markets across the...
GMH Hotels: Hyatt’s Midscale Push, Delta Demand & Plane Drama
Hyatt is accelerating its entry into the mid‑scale segment with new brands such as Hyatt Select, Hyatt Studios and Unscripted, aiming to close the gap with Marriott and Hilton in smaller markets. United Airlines and Marriott are turning seat‑back screens...
Maximize Marriott Bonvoy Free Nights: Earn, Redeem, Optimize
There are several ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy free night awards. How can they be redeemed, and what are the best uses? Here's a rundown... https://t.co/jD84eCM8CX
UK Travel to Nashville Rises 11% Year-on-Year
Nashville International Airport reported 143,440 UK passengers in 2025, an 11% increase from the previous year. European travelers now represent 33% of the airport’s international traffic, with overall European arrivals up 19% year‑on‑year. BNA has risen to the second spot...
Mallorca Steps up Efforts to Protect the Serra De Tramuntana
Mallorca's Consell de Mallorca has introduced the Law of the Serra de Tramuntana, a comprehensive regulatory framework aimed at strengthening protection of the UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape. The draft expands the protected zone to include farms, settlements and historically...
United CEO Scott Kirby Says Buying JetBlue Is Up To Them — As Government Travel Falls 50%
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told investors that government travel is down roughly 50%, eroding about 4‑5% of the carrier’s revenue. United is responding by retiring 21 aircraft early, cutting redeye flights and shifting its yield‑management system to fill seats...
Korean Air Has Ended Airbus A380 Flights On 11 Routes: Full List
Korean Air has retired Airbus A380 service on 11 routes, leaving it with six super‑jumbos – the joint‑second‑smallest A380 fleet worldwide. The carrier previously operated ten A380s, scrapping four, and has already phased out the Boeing 747‑8i. The A380’s last regular European...
Global Hotel Industry Shows Signs of Two-Speed Recovery
The global hotel industry is undergoing a two‑speed recovery. Luxury hotels are seeing about 3% RevPAR growth and record ADRs above $1,200, while economy hotels posted over 4% decline. Midscale and economy segments face slower demand due to cost pressures...
Room00 Plans €330 Million Investment to Scale Platform in 2026
Room00 announced a €330‑€420 million investment plan for 2026 to add 20 properties and more than 1,400 rooms across Spain, Italy, Portugal and the UK. Eighty percent of the capital will fund acquisitions of existing hostels and hotels, with the remaining...
This Uber Driver Is Serving Coffee And Breakfast Tacos In His Car
A New York City Uber driver has turned his backseat into a mini café, offering freshly brewed coffee, breakfast tacos and bottled water to riders. The setup, captured in a viral Instagram Reel, showcases a Keurig machine and a portable...
Wyndham Member Month 2026: Week 3 Offers up to 25% Off Wyndham Vacation Clubs and Sweepstakes Opportunities
Wyndham Rewards Member Month enters Week 3, offering up to 25% off Wyndham Vacation Club bookings with tiered discounts based on length of stay, bonus dining points worth five points per dollar, and a sweepstakes featuring trips to Antigua, Orlando and...
Dubai, Doha Cruise Delays Force Celestyal to Pull Mediterranean Sailings Amid Middle East Conflict: Everything You Need to Know
Celestyal Cruises has cancelled four Greek‑Island sailings for March 2026 after its two ships, Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey, became stranded in Dubai and Doha amid the escalating Middle East conflict. Both vessels are operational but cannot reposition to the...
Denmark Joins UK, Germany, India, Canada, Italy, Qatar, UAE, And Several Other Nations In Fast-Tracked Re-Entry Agreement As Thousands Of...
Israel has granted an automatic 30‑day visa extension to foreign nationals whose visas expired or will expire between Feb 28 and Apr 21 2026, and fast‑tracked re‑entry agreements with Denmark and other countries. The measure eases legal status for thousands of expats, tourists,...
Mike Reeber Takes the Helm as Director of Sales & Marketing at Albert Hotel, Fredericksburg, Promising a New Era of...
Mike Reeber has been appointed Director of Sales & Marketing at the Albert Hotel in Fredericksburg, bringing more than a decade of hospitality leadership to the property. His mandate includes revitalizing the hotel's sales pipeline, expanding corporate and leisure client...
UK Joins Switzerland, France, Denmark, Netherlands, Ireland, Spain, And More Countries In Confronting Major Travel Roadblock As Thousands Of Tourists...
On March 18, 2026, the Verdi service workers’ union staged a full‑day strike at Berlin‑Brandenburg Airport, forcing a complete shutdown of Germany’s primary eastern hub. The disruption stranded thousands of travelers from the UK, Switzerland, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Ireland,...
Is Tipping Out of Control?
A WalletHub 2026 survey finds over 80% of Americans think tipping has spiraled out of control, with more than 40% favoring a ban. Respondents cite social pressure, perceived wage substitution, and aggressive digital prompts as key frustrations. While 57% believe...
Fueling Growth From 1 Cup to 100+ Locations
Ziggi’s Coffee co‑founder Brandon Knudsen recounts how he grew the brand from a single shop to over 100 locations across 22 states. After a failed licensing experiment, he stress‑tested the franchise model himself before selling it, proving that solid systems...
Milestone for Hong Kong International Airport’s SKYTOPIA Project
Airport Authority Hong Kong has signed a contract with specialist art‑storage firm Eythos to operate a new 53,000‑sq‑ft Art & Valuables Storage Facility within the SKYTOPIA development at Hong Kong International Airport. The stand‑alone facility, located in a non‑restricted area,...
NoMad Hotels Appoints Chief Brand Officer
NoMad Hotels has elevated Kristen Millar to Chief Brand Officer as the brand gears up for its next wave of international expansion. The luxury chain will debut its first Asian property, NoMad Hilton Singapore, later this year and unveil a...
STORY Hospitality Unveils New Premium Destination in Montenegro: STORY Budva Riviera
STORY Hospitality announced STORY Budva Riviera, a premium branded‑residence project in Montenegro’s Milocer Garden overlooking the Adriatic Sea. The development will feature 200 luxury apartments—from studios to three‑bedroom units and penthouses—supported by 24/7 concierge service and a suite of wellness‑focused amenities such...
MD of The Stafford Collection McLean Steps Down
John McLean has resigned as managing director of The Stafford Collection after a 20‑month tenure, having been promoted from general manager in January 2025. During his brief leadership, the flagship Stafford London completed a high‑profile repositioning with chef Michael Caines,...