Know What's Happening in Hotels
Know What's Happening in Hotels
Proper Hospitality and Realberry lock $298M financing for Cal Neva redevelopment
Proper Hospitality and Realberry have secured a $298M financing package to redevelop the historic Cal Neva Hotel into the Lake Tahoe Proper Resort and Casino, slated to open in 2027. The capital stack includes a $223M C‑PACE loan from Nuveen Green Capital, the largest ever in Nevada, and a $75M senior secured construction loan from Banc of California.
Las Vegas is experiencing a noticeable dip in overall visitor traffic, even as high‑roller and VIP activity stays robust. Casinos have shuttered card rooms, and restaurants are cutting hours to cope with reduced discretionary spending. The slowdown is linked to broader economic pressures, including President Trump’s tariffs, heightened immigration rhetoric, and rising travel costs. Analysts view the city’s fortunes as a leading indicator of national consumer health.
Restaurant operators are shifting from reactive review replies to proactive guest insight collection using QuickFeedback’s QR‑code system. The platform lets diners submit anonymous, real‑time comments without logging in, feeding data directly to managers. AI then clusters feedback into trends, highlighting...
A partial DHS shutdown has left 61,000 TSA workers unpaid for six weeks, extending airport security lines and prompting President Trump to sign an emergency pay order. Combined with soaring jet fuel prices, the travel disruption is pressuring hotel operators,...
A wave of loyalty program promotions is set to expire between March 28 and April 10, with more than 56 offers across airlines, hotels, and credit cards ending or changing. Notable deadlines include a 15% Amex transfer bonus to LifeMiles, 30%‑50% transfer...
Boston‑based influencer Joleen Weiss posted a two‑minute TikTok after Ryanair staff in Porto removed her from a flight, claiming she missed check‑in and insulted gate agents. The video quickly hit 1.4 million views, prompting a wave of European users defending Ryanair’s...
American Airlines’ Allied Pilots Association, representing about 16,000 pilots, demanded a board‑level meeting to address management failures. CEO Robert Isom responded by offering only a personal meeting and vague assurances that "things will get better," without a concrete turnaround plan....
Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels announced a full‑year profit of RMB925.5 million ($130 million), up 1.6% from the prior year, while revenue fell 1.8% to RMB13.81 billion ($1.93 billion). The results highlight a modest earnings boost amid a softer top line, raising questions about...
In this brief episode, veteran travel journalist Peter Greenberg reports from the Terranea Resort in California, reflecting on its history as the former Marineland site and segueing into a deep dive on recent aviation safety crises, notably the LaGuardia runway...
Delta Air Lines faced two empty first‑class seats at Salt Lake City, prompting a gate agent to stage a break‑dance contest for the upgrades. The airline now allocates only about 12 % of first‑class seats to complimentary upgrades, down from 81 %...
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Luxury eco‑resorts are booming on Costa Rica’s Peninsula Papagayo, led by the 2025 opening of the Ritz‑Carlton Reserve Nekajui, which blends 107 rooms and 36 residences into the forest canopy. Following Nekajui, brands such as Waldorf Astoria and a forthcoming...
Silversea finished its 2025‑26 Antarctic season with 38 voyages across three expedition ships, including 20 Drake Passage crossings and 18 fly‑cruise itineraries. The operator’s record‑setting polar plunge participation and plans for 41 new voyages next season underscore a rapid expansion...
Red Sea Global has launched ADRENA Adventure District, a purpose‑built luxury adventure tourism zone on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. The project aims to blend high‑end hospitality with extreme outdoor activities, positioning the kingdom as a new hotspot for affluent...
Chef Grant Achatz’s avant‑garde cocktail bar, The Aviary, is launching a month‑long residency at The Vault in Bellagio on the Las Vegas Strip. The pop‑up runs Wednesdays through Sundays in May 2026, costs $175 per guest, and caps off Achatz’s...
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The iconic Route 66 celebrates its 100th anniversary, prompting a wave of restorations at historic motels and hotels along the corridor. Properties such as the Campbell Hotel in Tulsa, the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, and the Historic Grand Canyon Hotel...
Summit Hotel Properties (INN) has been reaffirmed as a Buy, driven by a robust balance sheet, a 7.46% dividend yield and a deep valuation discount. The company holds $240 million in liquidity, no debt maturities until 2028, and 77% of its...
A US travel magazine has added Vietnam's Bai Tu Long Bay to its list of seven Southeast Asian wonders for 2026, spotlighting the lesser‑known inlet. The designation is expected to draw new visitors while prompting officials to weigh tourism growth...
Keikyu, a major Japanese railway operator, opened a three‑day postpartum care pilot at a Tokyo business hotel, pricing rooms at 25,000 yen ($170) per night. The program sold out within two days and generated a waiting list, underscoring growing interest...
Melco Resorts’ Crystal Dragon in Manila will host “The Dragons’ Ascent,” a one‑night, 72‑seat six‑chef Michelin‑starred dinner on April 11. The event brings together chefs from Jade Dragon, Pearl Dragon and Crystal Dragon, offering a six‑course menu at roughly $212...
A NerdWallet analysis of 160 U.S. hotels revealed that mandatory resort fees range from $15 to $50 per night, averaging $33. The finding has ignited consumer outrage and comes as the FTC tightens rules on price transparency for hotel bookings.
Jinlong Village in Chongqing’s Nanchuan district has turned its annual cherry blossom festival into a catalyst for rural tourism, attracting thousands of visitors and spurring economic growth. The festival’s float parade, cultural market, and family activities have helped the village...
Seoul’s hotel market hit a record demand surge in 2026 as international tourists extend stays to explore the city’s culture, cuisine, and entertainment. Luxury properties in Gangnam, Myeongdong and Insadong now command premium rates, while mid‑range and boutique hotels also...
Kentucky has joined Wyoming, Louisiana, Montana, Kansas and Alabama as severe wildfires spread across the United States, threatening a tourism collapse. A fire near Hazard reignited from burning debris under dry, windy conditions, scorching more than 60 acres and coming...
Japan recorded more than four million foreign residents by the end of 2025, the highest level in its history. The influx, driven by skilled‑worker visas and long‑term settlement programs, is reshaping major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto into...
Lufthansa will begin serving Veuve Clicquot’s prestige cuvée La Grande Dame on all long‑haul First Class cabins starting at the end of March 2026. The champagne, a Pinot Noir‑dominant blend, is positioned as a permanent feature of the airline’s newly refreshed “Future Onboard...
The airline industry uses the RASM‑CASM spread—the difference between revenue per available seat mile and cost per available seat mile—to gauge operating profitability. A typical example is 14 cents of revenue versus 12 cents of cost per ASM, delivering a two‑cent margin....
Ponant Explorations has extended its exclusive partnership with Smithsonian Journeys through May 31 2026, adding a $1,000 shipboard credit and a $500 booking gift card to all 2026 sailings. The collaboration pairs Ponant’s small‑ship expertise with Smithsonian’s research and cultural authority, featuring...
Universal Destinations & Experiences is set to launch Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas, slated for 2026. The family‑focused theme park will feature seven immersive lands, including Jurassic World Adventure Camp and SpongeBob’s Bikini Bottom, alongside a 300‑room on‑site hotel....
San Antonio International Airport opened the Terminal A ground‑load expansion, adding new gates, passenger areas and a federal inspection station. The ground‑load facility lets passengers board aircraft at curbside level, boosting operational capacity and reducing reliance on jet bridges. The...
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Southwest Airlines filed 42 new nonstop routes for the March‑May 2026 spring season, expanding its network to 929 city pairs and averaging 4,016 daily flights. The additions include four new cities—Anchorage, Knoxville, St. Maarten and Santa Rosa—bringing the carrier into Alaska for...
U.S. Bank has raised the Business Altitude Connect card’s welcome bonus to 75,000 points, redeemable for a $750 deposit after $6,000 of spend within 180 days. The card carries a $0 introductory annual fee, rising to $95 after the first...
Lawsuit: Marriott Hotel Told Black Guest ‘You People’ Can’t Stay Here — Then Called Police - View from the Wing https://t.co/06ClGlQvZ2
Thailand's Tourism Authority has rolled out the "Healing Journey Thailand" campaign, positioning the country as a premier wellness‑focused luxury destination. The effort highlights the Phulay Bay Ritz‑Carlton Reserve in Krabi and a new marketing push aimed at Indian travelers seeking...
The Chicago City Council voted to increase the hotel occupancy tax to 19%, creating the highest hotel tax rate in the United States. The hike, driven by budget pressures and a push for greater tourism funding, will add roughly six...
Transcend Cruises has inked a new‑build agreement with Den Breejen Shipyard for two additional river vessels, expanding its fleet to four ships by 2028. The company’s inaugural ship, Connect, is slated for a July 2026 launch as the first river...
Restaurant operators who can read their profit and loss (P&L) statements gain a real‑time scorecard rather than a tax‑only report. Monthly close cycles let owners compare actual results against budgets and spot variances instantly. This visibility uncovers hidden cost leaks...
Rental Escapes’ REwards program, launched in 2023, lets travel advisors earn points for every villa booking and redeem them for complimentary stays worldwide. Over three years the initiative has amassed more than 80 million points and facilitated over 90 free villa...
Ontario International Airport reported a 6.3% year‑over‑year increase in February passenger traffic, handling 478,625 travelers, with domestic traffic modestly up 2.1% and international traffic jumping 55.1% to 55,531 passengers. Year‑to‑date figures show a 5% rise to over 971,000 passengers, driven...
The City of Charlotte has appointed Jeffrey Perry as chief operating officer of Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). Perry previously served as COO of the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority and held several senior roles, including airport operations director for Charlotte....
Jack in the Box is rolling out Smashed Jack Sliders on April 6 to mark its 75th anniversary, offering a 3‑piece slider for $9.49, a Munchie Meal for $14, and a Party Pack for $24. The Munchie Meal includes a surprise...
Miami International Airport turned its terminals into a Miami Music Week venue on March 26, featuring a three‑hour live set by rising DJ Amal Nemer. The event entertained hundreds of travelers while showcasing the airport’s $12 billion capital improvement program. Nemer,...
Hospitality operators are shifting from static, incremental budgets to driver‑based budgeting, a method that links financial plans directly to operational metrics such as occupancy, ADR and labor hours. The new approach turns the budget into a dynamic model that updates...
Independent hotels often swing between underpricing to fill rooms and overpricing that scares guests away, both eroding RevPAR. Misaligned rates can deepen OTA dependence, dilute brand value, and leave revenue on the table even when occupancy looks healthy. Simple market...
HVS’s March 2026 Market Pulse shows U.S. hotel RevPAR up 3.9% year‑over‑year, with occupancy rising across luxury, midscale and economy segments despite inflation, the Middle‑Eastern conflict, and longer airport security lines. Luxury properties lead the RevPAR gains, while economy and midscale...
Explorer X unveiled the 2026 Hero Travel Fund, a program that will fully finance personalized travel experiences for teachers, social workers and other community heroes. Applications run March 26‑August 31, with recipients to be announced in December, expanding access to...
Campo del Drago, the flagship restaurant of Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco in Montalcino, has been awarded its first Michelin star under Executive Chef Matteo Temperini. The honor spotlights the estate’s commitment to hyper‑local Tuscan cuisine and elevates the Val d'Orcia...
Corporate sports sponsorship spend by North American hotel and holiday‑accommodation firms hit $303.11 million in 2025, representing 50.1% of global spend and 436 deals. The region’s dominance stems from the U.S. and Canadian sports ecosystem, especially the big‑four leagues and college...
Jill Chalmers, Managing Director of Glenapp Castle, received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Scottish Excellence Awards in Edinburgh. With more than 30 years in hospitality, she has transformed the historic estate into a five‑star destination, tripling turnover and doubling...
Capital One equips several of its travel cards with rental‑car collision‑damage waiver insurance, offering either primary or secondary protection depending on the product. The Venture X card stands out with primary coverage up to $75,000 and a 15‑day domestic rental limit, while...
Fashion houses are rapidly entering hospitality, turning hotels into runway‑ready destinations. Recent collaborations include Christian Louboutin’s Vermelho Hotel in Portugal, Thebe Magugu’s suite at Belmond’s Mount Nelson, and Chanel’s takeover of Raffles Singapore, while Louis Vuitton eyes a Paris hotel. The...
Picnic Island, a private retreat 800 m offshore from Coles Bay near Freycinet National Park, has reopened after extensive renovation. The island now features four luxury accommodations—including a new primary suite and two copper‑clad structures—for up to eight guests. With a...
