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
American Airlines Upgrades App With Delay Transparency
American Airlines has rolled out a major update to its mobile app that provides real‑time flight‑delay transparency. The new interface pulls data from multiple sources, including the airline’s own operations center and third‑party flight‑tracking services, to display expected departure and arrival times. Passengers receive push notifications for gate changes, cancellations, and evolving delay estimates. The upgrade is part of AA’s broader digital‑customer‑experience strategy aimed at reducing frustration and improving loyalty.
Air Astana Increases Flight Frequencies for Nauryz Holiday
Air Astana is boosting its international schedule from Almaty for the Nauryz holiday. The carrier adds nine extra Almaty‑Phuket flights and upgrades Almaty‑Phu Quoc to Boeing 767s, raising capacity by 35 %. Additional frequencies include 13 more Almaty‑Delhi services and increased flights...
NH Collection Maldives Reethi Reveals the World’s First Certified Underwater Aged Rum by a Resort
NH Collection Maldives Reethi Resort, in partnership with Planteray Rum, completed the world’s first certified underwater ageing of rum. Over twelve months, bottles were sealed in glass and placed ten metres below the sea in custom metal cages, where hydrostatic...
THE MICHELIN GUIDE HAS AWARDED 2 STARS TO HAKUBA, THE JAPANESE RESTAURANT OF CHEVAL BLANC PARIS
The Michelin Guide has awarded two stars to Hakuba, the Japanese restaurant launched by Cheval Blanc Paris in March 2024. The accolade recognizes the collaborative kaiseki‑sushi concept created by chefs Arnaud Donckele, Takuya Watanabe and Maxime Frédéric. Hakuba’s "Yume" tasting...
Arival Announces Full Speaker Lineup and Expanded Program for European Headline Event in Valencia
Arival has released the full speaker lineup and expanded program for its Arival 360 Valencia conference, scheduled for April 27‑29, 2026. The event, themed “The Tomorrow Operator: Europe & the Future of Tours & Experiences,” will feature more than 60 speakers from operators,...
NH Collection Palacio De Córdoba Brings Refined Design and Hospitality to the City’s Jewish Quarter
NH Collection Hotels & Resorts has opened NH Collection Palacio de Córdoba, a five‑star hotel housed in a fully restored 18th‑century palace in Córdoba’s UNESCO‑listed Jewish Quarter. The property blends historic architecture with a contemporary aesthetic, offering 89 rooms, including...
Flight Disruption Deepens as Middle East Conflict Escalates
Airlines worldwide are scaling back Middle East services as the US‑Israel‑Iran conflict intensifies. Cathay Pacific announced cancellations of Dubai and Riyadh flights through April 30, while Scoot, Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines and the Lufthansa Group have extended suspensions across key hubs...
Private Jet Arrivals Rise in Maldives as Overall Tourist Numbers Decline
Private jet arrivals in the Maldives surged 166% year‑over‑year, with 128 jets landing between Feb 18 and Mar 14, while overall tourist arrivals fell due to Middle East conflict disrupting key transit hubs. The high‑end segment now represents less than 1% of...
Amadeus Links UnionPay Payments to Airline Booking Channels
Amadeus’s Outpayce unit partnered with UnionPay International to embed UnionPay cards directly into airline payment systems via the Xchange Payments Platform. Native acceptance across direct and indirect booking channels is slated for the first half of 2026, with a global...
Nepal's Danfé Airlines Obtains NOC Amid Launch Efforts
Danfé Airlines secured a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Nepal's civil aviation authority, clearing a key regulatory hurdle toward launch. The carrier plans to operate ATR turboprop aircraft on domestic routes, building on an AOC application filed in May 2025....
Scenic Group to Add Three New River Cruise Ships for Europe and Asia
Scenic Group announced a three‑ship river cruise expansion slated for 2027‑2028, adding vessels on Portugal’s Douro River and Vietnam‑Cambodia’s Mekong River. The new ships—Emerald Nova, Scenic Aria and Scenic Spirit II—join an existing fleet that already includes Emerald Astra, Emerald Lumi...
Stay and Explore with JW Marriott Singapore South Beach
JW Marriott Singapore South Beach has launched a Stay & Explore package aimed at travelers seeking a city‑centric stay with added convenience. The offering requires a minimum three‑night booking and bundles complimentary round‑trip airport transfers, two Discover tickets for either the Hop‑on Hop‑off...
Cathay Pacific Extends Dubai, Riyadh Flight Suspension to April 2026
JUST IN: Cathay Pacific cancels passenger and cargo flights to Dubai and Riyadh until April 30, 2026 due to the volatile situation in the Middle East. Initially, the suspension of operations to these two destination was until March 30, 2026....
EasyJet Plus Offers British Airways Club Elite Members a £125 Discount to Defect
easyJet is offering British Airways Club Bronze, Silver and Gold members a 50% discount on its easyJet Plus subscription, reducing the annual fee from £249 to £124. The promotion, valid for applications emailed by 31 March and usable until 30 April, grants...
Emirates Develops Plant-Powered Dishes to Meet Increasing Demand
Emirates announced that new plant‑based dishes will debut onboard in 2027, expanding its vegan menu across all cabins. The carrier now rotates 488 vegan recipes on 140 routes, a 60% increase since 2024, and serves roughly half a million vegan...
Creative Nature Thins Launch Exclusively on Austrian Airlines
Creative Nature has launched its Lightly Salted, Light & Crunchy Thins on Austrian Airlines’ long‑haul flights, offering a snack that is free from the top 14 allergens and vegan‑friendly. The exclusive partnership was initiated at the World Travel Catering &...
Snackbox To Go Highlights Sustainability Tools
Snackbox To Go will unveil its newest sandwich and snack portfolio at WTCE 2026, featuring pizza bagels and other items designed for sustainability and halal compliance. The company will also debut a Sustainability Monitor, a data‑driven platform that measures the environmental...
Foodcase Unveils New Brand Identity as Global Travel F B Partner
Foodcase has unveiled a refreshed brand identity that positions it as a full‑service food and beverage partner for the global travel industry. The new messaging emphasizes end‑to‑end capabilities, from concept design through onboard execution, across airlines and other travel operators....
Procurall to Showcase Luxury Inflight Solutions at WTCE
Procurall Solutions will exhibit its luxury inflight serviceware at the World Travel Catering Expo (WTCE) 2026, occupying booth 4D50. The showcase features a designer collaboration with Michael Graves, delivering plates, cutlery, and glassware that blend timeless aesthetics with sustainability. Additionally,...
Linstol Joins United Nations Global Compact
Airline supply chain firm Linstor has become a member of the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability platform. The membership obligates Linstor to adhere to the UNGC’s Ten Principles covering human rights, labor, environment and anti‑corruption, and...
Sheraton Atlantic City Gets Approval to Convert Half Its Rooms to Senior Housing
On Tuesday, the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) approved Scannapieco Development Corp.’s proposal to convert roughly half of the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel’s 502 rooms into 130 senior‑housing units, leaving 252 rooms for hotel use. The...
Hilton Signs First Conrad Hotel in Mongolia, Targeting Luxury Market by 2028
Hilton announced on March 18, 2026 that it has signed a development agreement for Conrad Ulaanbaatar, its first hotel in Mongolia. The 227‑room luxury property will sit in the Eco Tower mixed‑use complex in Ulaanbaatar’s central business district and is...
Hyatt to Add Over 30 Select‑Service Hotels Across the Southeast, Expanding Mid‑Scale Footprint
Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced today that it will develop more than 30 new select‑service properties—including Hyatt Studios, Hyatt Select, Hyatt Place, and Hyatt House—in the Southeast United States, targeting roughly 4,000 rooms across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi....
Marriott to Rebrand Kapalua Bay Resort as St. Regis, Expanding Luxury Footprint in Hawaii
Marriott International announced on March 18, 2026 that it will manage and rebrand The Resort at Kapalua Bay in Maui, Hawai‘i as a St. Regis Hotels & Resorts property by 2027. The 25‑acre oceanfront resort, owned by Kemmons Wilson Hospitality Partners...
New Orleans Pushes $500M Omni Hotel to Secure 2031 Super Bowl Bid
New Orleans officials and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center announced on March 11, 2026 that the city will seek demolition of the Sugar Mill venue to build the $500 million, 1,000‑room Omni Headquarters Hotel. The project, pending New Orleans City...
The Airport Leader’s Report 2026: Leading Through the Digital Age
The International Airport Review’s 2026 eReport compiles strategic insights from the International Airport Summit, roundtables, and its Advisory Board. It offers airport executives a framework to decouple growth from capital intensity, adopt AI‑driven operational intelligence, and build digital foundations that...
Automatic Cutlery Sorter Makes Banging Impression at WTCE
Diskomat and Wexiödisk are re‑introducing the ACS400HC Automatic Cutlery Sorter at WTCE after a strong debut last year. The machine can sort up to 5,000 pieces per hour and be programmed for as many as 30 airline or cabin configurations....
Business Travel in 2026: Resilient Demand Meets Risk, Cost and Strategic Reset
Business travel in 2026 is rebounding, with corporate buyers expecting spending to stay flat or grow, and global budgets projected to rise about 5 %. The recovery is occurring in a tighter environment marked by cost constraints, geopolitical volatility, and heightened...
What Are Points Worth? Reasonable Redemption Values Explained | Coffee Break Ep97 | 3-17-26
The Coffee Break podcast episode (Ep 97) breaks down Reasonable Redemption Values (RRVs), a framework for estimating the real‑world worth of airline miles and credit‑card points. Host explains how RRVs are derived, where to find the data, and why they differ...
Wendy’s Seeks An Influencer for New Chief Tasting Officer Role
Wendy’s announced a contest to appoint its first Chief Tasting Officer, a brand‑ambassador role paid $100,000. The company asks applicants to post a one‑minute video on TikTok or Instagram using #WendysCTOContest, highlighting personal taste and creativity. The posting emphasizes a...
Antigua and Barbuda Honours Diaspora Champions at New York Celebration
The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) hosted its second annual Diaspora Celebration in Manhattan, honoring a group of U.S.-based supporters who have driven the destination’s visibility. Honorees ranged from hotel sales director Marcia Skyer James and Grammy‑nominated singer Kathy Sledge...
Frontier Airlines Adds Four New Routes Launching This Spring
Frontier Airlines announced four new routes launching between May and June, adding service to seven major U.S. airports. The network expansion includes daily DFW‑EWR and FLL‑IAD flights, plus four‑weekly DFW‑SNA and LAS‑BNA services. These routes target high‑traffic corridors and aim...
Omnevo Appoints Jan Christoph Meyer as Chief Executive Officer
Omnevo announced Dr. Jan Christoph Meyer as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective April. Meyer brings over 20 years of leadership in aviation, transport, and food‑service, previously holding senior roles at Lufthansa Group, LSG Group and Deutsche Bahn. He will steer Omnevo’s profitable...
American Airlines’ Creative Systemwide Upgrade Promotion Could Be Lucrative
American Airlines is running a limited‑time promotion that guarantees systemwide upgrades to business class for passengers who purchase premium‑economy tickets on eligible international flights departing in August 2026. The upgrade is confirmed within hours as long as business‑class seats remain...
American Airlines Improves but Still Hides Delay Reasons
@americanair finally fixed one of the most annoying parts of flying, but only halfway… It’s a good start, but American should let everyone see delay and cancellation reasons. Right now, the only “hack” is to enroll in text alerts for every flight...
STORY Hospitality Announces New Premium Property in Montenegro
STORY Hospitality announced the launch of its newest premium resort in Montenegro, slated to open in late 2026. The €80 million development will feature 120 luxury rooms, a full‑service spa, rooftop dining and extensive conference facilities. Positioned on the Adriatic coast,...
From Dining to Lodging: Restaurant Brands Expand Into Hotels
Restaurant groups such as Nobu, Cipriani, The Wolseley and Soho House are extending their iconic dining brands into the hotel sector, creating integrated lifestyle properties. The shift taps into the rise of experience‑driven travel, where guests seek immersive food, design...
Johnny Carino’s Is Debuting a New Restaurant Prototype, Brand Refresh
Johnny Carino’s is launching a next‑generation restaurant prototype in Laredo, Texas on March 25, marking the first location with a completely revamped look. The 6,000‑square‑foot space features an open interior, larger bar, open kitchen, private dining, and an outdoor patio...
Earn 1,500 Bonus Points: Link Your Marriott Bonvoy and Uber Accounts — Plus…
Marriott Bonvoy and Uber are extending their partnership with a limited‑time offer that grants members 1,500 bonus points for linking accounts by March 31 2026. Once linked, members earn Marriott points on qualifying Uber rides—3 points per dollar on Premium services, 2...
Spring in Europe: Tivoli Hotels & Resorts Offer Seasonal Experiences for Travelers
Tivoli Hotels & Resorts is rolling out spring‑focused experiences across its European portfolio, from Easter celebrations in Porto to tulip‑season stays in Amsterdam. The offerings combine cultural activities, culinary workshops, and wellness programs, targeting both city‑savvy travelers and families seeking...
Global Air Passenger Demand Expected to Double by 2050, IATA Projects
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) projects global air‑passenger demand to more than double by 2050, reaching 20.8 trillion revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) under its mid‑range scenario. Growth is driven by a 3.1% compound annual growth rate, with higher‑growth and lower‑growth...
Capital One Launches New Travel App With Some Cool Features
Capital One unveiled a dedicated travel app for iOS and Android, consolidating its travel technology and operations into a single consumer‑focused platform. Since its 2021 debut, Capital One Travel has seen booking volumes increase more than tenfold, and the new...
JLL Lists 249-Room Candlewood Suites Portfolio in Bluffton and Charleston
JLL has placed two Candlewood Suites extended‑stay hotels in South Carolina on the market, comprising 249 rooms across Bluffton‑Hilton Head (124 rooms) and Charleston‑Northwood (125 rooms). The assets can be purchased as a combined portfolio or individually, and are offered...
“Deaf” Passenger Says Frontier Removed Her For “Not Listening,” But Airline Says Alcohol Violation To Blame
A Georgia passenger alleges Frontier Airlines removed her from a flight because crew mistook her deafness for non‑compliance, while the airline counters that she was expelled for bringing an open alcoholic beverage aboard, a violation of federal law and company...
Research Finds Luxury Travel Demand Growing Among Aspiring Travelers
Arrivia’s new "New Luxury Travel Playbook" surveyed 2,190 U.S. leisure travelers and found a growing appetite for luxury experiences among households with $100,000‑$1 million net worth. Comfort, convenience, privacy and attentive service now outweigh price as primary luxury drivers, with 34%...
Delta Keeps 20-Minute Bag Guarantee but Makes One Big Change
Delta Air Lines is keeping its 20‑minute baggage guarantee, still offering 2,500 SkyMiles when checked bags miss the carousel. The airline has slashed the claim‑submission window from three days to just two hours after arrival. The change applies to all...
Global Wellness Summit to Hold 20th Anniversary Event at Angsana Laguna Phuket in 2026
The Global Wellness Summit will celebrate its 20th anniversary at Angsana Laguna Phuket from November 10‑13, 2026. The invite‑only conference is slated to be the largest in the organization’s history, drawing CEOs, physicians, investors, technologists and policymakers. Four co‑chairs—representing finance,...
Tempo by Hilton Tucson Uptown Tops Out, Targets January 2027 Opening
Tempo by Hilton Tucson Uptown has topped out, completing its vertical structure and moving toward a planned opening in January 2027. The five‑story, 144‑room hotel sits at 7400 N. Uptown Dr., within Bourn Companies’ 2 million‑square‑foot redevelopment of the former Foothills Mall site. Operated by...
TUMI Launches Alpha Collection with Lando Norris and Wei Daxun
TUMI unveiled its next‑generation Alpha Collection, spotlighting Formula 1 champion Lando Norris and Asia‑Pacific actor Wei Daxun as brand ambassadors. The line emphasizes functional luxury with FXT™ Ballistic Nylon, silent magnetic closures, and streamlined pocketing, while introducing the vivid Ultra Blue accent...
PHL Unveils Travel Essentials Store
Philadelphia International Airport launched the Onsite Travel Essentials market between Terminals B and C, adding a new retail space that sells snacks, grab‑and‑go meals, electronics, toiletries, and a curated selection of local Philadelphia brands. Operated by PHL Food & Shops, the store also...