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
The 4:30 Am Grind: How a Cotton-Field Startup Turned Into an Artisan Pizza Empire
Joe Carlucci transformed a COVID-era pizza food truck into Valentina’s Pizzeria & Wine Bar, now a 196‑seat, full‑service restaurant in Alabama. Starting with a 1,500‑sq‑ft space and 12 employees, the operation has grown to over 50 staff and a curated cocktail, beer, and wine program. Carlucci’s focus on local ingredients and award‑winning recipes has earned multiple International Pizza Challenge honors, which he leverages as marketing. The brand positions itself as an upscale dining experience rather than a conventional pizza joint.
Top 5 Travel Destinations in the USA with the Strongest Hotel Pricing Growth in 2026
Lighthouse’s H1 2026 report shows U.S. hotel pricing overall falling 6.6% YoY, yet five cities posted double‑digit gains. Park City, Utah led with a 19.9% increase, followed by San Jose, Tallahassee, Oakland and Lakewood. The growth stems from strong seasonal tourism, tech‑sector...
Report: Montréal Seasonal Short-Term Rental Ban Risks Millions in Tourism Revenue
An independent analysis by Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton estimates Montreal’s seasonal short‑term‑rental ban will leave a deficit of more than 26,000 accommodation nights during the 2026 Formula 1 Grand Prix and UCI World Cycling Championships. The shortfall translates into over $19 million in lost visitor...
South Asian Destinations Draw Rising Interest From Indonesian Travellers
South Asian destinations are seeing rising interest from Indonesian outbound travelers, with demand shifting toward experience‑focused journeys and lesser‑known locales. At the 43rd TTC Travel Mart, industry players highlighted India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and even Pakistan as emerging favorites...
7 Proven Ways Digital Guest Directories Can Transform the Way Guests Interact with Hotel Amenities and Services
Digital guest directories are evolving from static print guides into interactive platforms that shape the modern hotel guest journey. By delivering real‑time content, integrated booking links, and QR‑code access, they enable instant upselling of rooms, amenities, and local experiences. The...
Work to Continue on Madrid-Barajas Airport Terminal Expansions
The Spanish Ministry of Transport announced that Aena will invest €4.48 billion in a 2027‑2031 development plan for Madrid‑Barajas Airport, targeting major expansions of terminals T4 and T4S, a new processing building, and renovations of T1‑T3. The plan also includes intermodal...
Global Entry Restored Back to Normal Operations — Supposedly
Global Entry, the U.S. trusted‑traveler program, was announced as restored on March 11, 2026 at 5 a.m. ET after a three‑week suspension caused by the federal government shutdown. The suspension began on February 22, 2026, while TSA Pre✓ was reinstated almost immediately following public pressure....
Restaurant Operators Need to Prepare for the Next Wave of GLP-1 Users
Research from the Food Away from Home Association shows that cheaper GLP‑1 medications will modestly reshape dining habits at quick‑service and family‑style restaurants. Currently 11% of consumers have tried GLP‑1s and another 22% are curious, with most users being Gen...
Dark Clouds Over Hawai‘i Tourism: Congressman Ed Case Warns of Impact on Visa Waiver Travelers
U.S. Representative Ed Case warned that a pending Department of Homeland Security rule could force Visa Waiver Program travelers to disclose extensive personal data, including up to five years of social‑media history. The proposal targets ESTA applicants and aims to...
Most Important Hotel KPIs in 2026
Hotel operators must modernise their KPI frameworks to stay competitive in 2026. Traditional metrics such as guest satisfaction, revenue management and operational efficiency remain core, while sustainability, digital engagement and employee retention are emerging as critical indicators. Advanced technology—cloud‑based PMS,...
Cathay Rewards Staff with 11‑week Bonuses After $1.38B Profit
Cathay Group’s employees will receive over 11 weeks of bonuses & a salary increase this year after the group reported a full-year 2025 profit of US$1.38 billion (HK$10.8 billion) driven by higher capacity, load factors & strong cargo demand.
Iran Conflict Already Costing Global Tourism $600 Million Per Day, WTTC Warns
The World Travel & Tourism Council warns that the Iran conflict is wiping out roughly $600 million in international visitor spending each day. Airspace closures and flight cancellations are disrupting the Middle East’s role as a critical aviation crossroads, affecting hubs...
PTE Preview: Sara Solis, Circular Economy Lead, Royal Schiphol Group
Royal Schiphol Group’s circular economy lead, Sara Solis, outlines how the airport embeds circular principles—avoidance, low‑impact choices, lifespan extension, and material recovery—directly into design, procurement and operations. She highlights that upstream decisions in construction and asset design generate the biggest...
AC Hotel Scottsdale Old Town Officially Opens in Scottsdale’s Entertainment District
AC Hotel Scottsdale Old Town opened on February 26, 2026, adding 168 European‑inspired guestrooms to Scottsdale’s vibrant Entertainment District. Developed and managed by PEG Companies, the six‑story property creates 50 new hospitality jobs and offers a blend of modern design,...
Taos Ski Valley Announces Winter 2027 Season Passes with Pass Assurance Included for the First Time
Taos Ski Valley unveiled its Winter 2027 season passes, introducing six tiered options at the lowest prices of the year. For the first time, Pass Assurance is included for free on all passes bought during the Spring Pass Sale, allowing refunds...
Princess Cruises Announces 2028 World Cruise: 115-Day Global Voyage Visiting 49 Destinations
Princess Cruises unveiled its 2028 World Cruise aboard the 2,000‑guest Coral Princess, a 115‑day, 36,000‑nautical‑mile itinerary that touches 49 ports in 24 countries across five continents. The voyage features a maiden call to Mossel Bay, South Africa, and includes 39...
Discover Puerto Rico Launches “Awaken Your Senses,” A Global Campaign Built on Consumer Psychology
Discover Puerto Rico unveiled "Awaken Your Senses," a global campaign that uses consumer‑psychology insights to market the island as a sensory‑rich travel destination. The initiative builds on the award‑winning "Live Boricua" platform and highlights music, food, landscapes, and community interaction across...
Vivid Sydney 2026 Program Revealed
Vivid Sydney 2026 will run from 22 May to 13 June, delivering a 23‑day festival that blends light, music, food and new artistic disciplines. More than 80 percent of the program, including the 6.5‑kilometre Vivid Light Walk, remains free to the public. Brett Sheehy...
My Stay in Switzerland’s Oldest Mountain Inn – Where Winter Sports Aren’t Allowed
The Grimsel Hospiz, first recorded in 1142, is Switzerland’s oldest mountain inn perched at 2,000 m in the UNESCO‑listed Jungfrau‑Aletsch region. The hotel has been fully modernised, drawing power and waste‑heat from the nearby Kraftwerke Oberhasli hydroelectric plant, and offers 28...
I Visited Finland’s Secretive Invite-Only Arctic Lodge – Here’s What It’s Like Inside
Octola II, the new ultra‑lodge in Finnish Lapland, remains hidden behind an invite‑only policy that requires applications and background checks. The property sits on 800 private hectares of forest and offers five bespoke bedrooms, a glass‑igloo suite, and a master suite...
Cathay Marks 80th Year with Hong Kong Art Aircraft Livery
Cathay Pacific has unveiled a special "Spirit of Hong Kong – 80th Anniversary Edition" livery on a Boeing 777‑300ER, created in partnership with the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA). The design, featuring artwork by multimedia artist Victor Wong, debuted...
Global Entry Service to Resume Wednesday Morning After Shutdown Suspension
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that Global Entry will restart at 5:00 a.m. EST on March 11, ending a pause that began on Feb 22 during the partial government shutdown. The suspension was caused by staffing and administrative disruptions despite the...
Club Eurostar Has Launched a Big Reward Seat Sale – Worth an Amex Transfer?
Club Eurostar has opened a 20% discount sale on all reward seats, with no blackout dates and travel allowed through 12 December. Bookings must be completed by 4 p.m. on Thursday 19 March, and the reduced pricing applies to Standard, Plus and Premier...
Huge Accrued Financial Losses at Beijing Capital Airport – COVID and Dual Hub Operations to Blame
Beijing Capital International Airport, once the world’s second‑busiest hub, has slipped to 15th place in 2025 with passenger volumes at just 70% of 2019 levels. Over the past five years the airport has accumulated roughly $1.6 billion in losses, and analysts...
Why Do Some Hotel Rooms Have a Window Between the Bathroom and the Bedroom?
Some hotels, notably DoubleTree by Hilton Taipei Zhongshan and Hyatt Regency Taoyuan, feature a glass pane separating the bathroom from the bedroom. The partitions range from fully transparent to frosted, allowing light to flow but raising privacy questions. Designers often...
From St. Regis to Autograph Collection: 10 Best Marriott Points Redemptions for Luxury Stays
Marriott Bonvoy’s luxury portfolio continues to generate outsized value for members, with ten properties delivering well above the program’s average 0.93 ¢ per point. Data from AwardWallet shows Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace topping the list at 4.34 ¢ per point, while...
The Point Group Reopens Hotel Harry Following Renovation
Hotel Harry, a historic Surry Hills venue owned by The Point Group, has reopened as Harry’s following a major renovation that blends its 1912 heritage with contemporary design. The refreshed space features an open‑kitchen bistro, al fresco terraces, and a...
Travel Cheaper by Skipping Peak Seasons
Travel costs are based on supply and demand, and if you are willing to avoid busy seasons, you can save significant amounts of money. https://t.co/g0l2iAc2jo
Logan’s Roadhouse Acquired by Multi-Concept Operator SSCP Management
Logan’s Roadhouse has been sold to SSCP Management, with the transaction closing on December 3. The acquisition adds more than 100 steakhouse locations across 22 states to SSCP’s portfolio, which already includes over 500 restaurants under various concepts. The deal follows...
Vegas Goes (Sort of) All-Inclusive with This New Conrad Las Vegas Package
Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World is rolling out a "Conrad Complete" add‑on from May 26 through Sept. 8, priced at $150 per guest per night with a two‑guest minimum. The package bundles valet parking, Club 66 lounge access with breakfast and cocktail...
Roger Berkowitz Returns to Logan Airport with Fast Casual Seafood Concept
Former Legal Sea Foods CEO Roger Berkowitz opened Roger’s Fish Co., a fast‑casual seafood outlet, in Boston Logan Airport’s Terminal A satellite. The 700‑sq‑ft venue offers counter service with items like double clam chowder, lobster BLTs, and fried haddock chips,...
Japan’s Cherry Blossom Season 2026 Draws Global Travelers to Celebrate Sakura
Japan’s 2026 cherry‑blossom season is set to arrive earlier than usual as February‑March temperatures rise, shifting the traditional sakura front northward. Forecasts place first blooms in Nagoya on March 17 and the final peak in Sapporo by early May, compressing the...
Hilton CEO Calls Out Slide in U.S. Tourism but Sees Economic Boost Ahead
Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta warned that the United States’ share of global inbound tourism has halved over the past three decades, falling from roughly 10% to 5%. He attributed the recent dip to short‑term geopolitical shocks, notably the Iran‑Middle East...
Main Street Hospitality Names Michael Lamb Senior Vice President of Operations
Main Street Hospitality announced Michael Lamb as Senior Vice President of Operations, bringing decades of leadership from Hillstone, Corner Table, Ralph Lauren, and MCR Hotels. The appointment aligns with the company’s 2026 growth plan, which targets portfolio enhancements and new...
CRAFT Restaurant & Beer Market to Open in Dallas
CRAFT Restaurant & Beer Market is opening its first Texas and U.S. location in Dallas on April 1, featuring more than 100 beer taps, a rooftop patio, and a menu that blends Asian‑inspired dishes with classic American fare. The venue,...
MIA Debuts First Wait N’ Rest Sleep Rooms in North America
Miami International Airport inaugurated the first Wait n’ Rest luxury sleep rooms in North America, featuring 15 suites in Concourse D. The suites offer hotel‑level bedding, private showers, touchscreen controls and a curated snack bar, with hourly rates from $40...
Universal Volcano Bay Nights Returns This Summer
Universal Orlando Resort will host Volcano Bay Nights on select evenings from May 3 to August 21, 2026. The after‑hours event offers lower wait times on flagship attractions, a Beach Bash with a live DJ, and meet‑and‑greets with DreamWorks characters. Guests receive an...
Explora Journeys Marks Fleet Milestones in Genoa
Explora Journeys celebrated three shipbuilding milestones at Fincantieri's Genoa yard, including the technical launch of Explora IV, a coin ceremony for Explora V, and the steel‑cutting of Explora VI. The event marks the third triple ceremony in 18 months, bringing the brand’s six‑ship...
Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa Completes Guestroom Renovation
Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa has finished a comprehensive renovation of all 297 guestrooms, completed in December 2025. The redesign draws on Hawaii Island’s coastal palette, organic textures, and native flora, featuring custom shoji screens that echo Pili grass....
Cabo Verde’s 737 MAX 8 Set For March 31 Relaunch Of US Operations
Cabo Verde Airlines will restart flights to the United States on March 31, linking the Cape Verde archipelago with Providence’s T.F. Green International Airport using a Boeing 737 MAX 8. The service marks the carrier’s first US operation since 2021 after a...
NEWS & OFFERS: Air Fares Already Rising, Melia up to 40% Off and Club Eurostar 20% Off Reward Seats
Airline fuel costs have spiked dramatically after the Middle East conflict, with United reporting a 58% jet‑fuel price jump in a week and U.S. carriers abandoning most hedging strategies, prompting early fare hikes and potential surcharges on transatlantic routes. European...
Carnival Cruise Line Launches Express Dining
Carnival Cruise Line has rolled out Express Dining, a streamlined multi‑course service that delivers meals in under an hour for parties of six or fewer. The program is live on 15 ships and will cover the entire fleet by the...
Save Up to 15% on Select Flights With Vueling Airlines
Vueling Airlines is offering up to 15% off select direct flights scheduled between April 7 and June 21, 2026. The discount requires no promo code and is automatically applied at booking, provided the purchase is completed by March 13, 2026, 6:59 PM EDT. Taxes and administration...
Portugal Hotel & Chains Report 2026
The Horwath HTL Portugal Hotel & Chains Report 2026 shows a maturing hospitality market, with total accommodation revenues near €7 billion and occupancy stabilising around 62‑63%. International operators are expanding rapidly, driving a 21% rise in chain hotels and a 15% increase in...
Wellness Tourism Growth Positions Philippines Among Top Global Destinations
The Philippines’ wellness economy surged to $47.3 billion in 2024, a 31% increase since 2019, now representing 10.2% of national GDP. The country hosted 3.18 million wellness trips last year, up 16.8% from 2023, and ranked 23rd globally for wellness‑economy size. Growth...
Ted’s Montana Grill Hires Mathieu Smith as Controller
Ted’s Montana Grill announced the appointment of Mathieu Smith as its new Controller, adding him to the senior leadership team. Smith arrives with a 12‑year track record in restaurant finance, most recently at 4Top Hospitality in Nashville. His experience spans...
Marriott Bonvoy Introduces Sports-Themed Campaign and Podcast Series During March Madness
Marriott Bonvoy rolled out the "Where Gameday Checks In" campaign to ride the March Madness wave, debuting a limited‑run podcast series called "Live From the Bracket" hosted by NBA player Sophie Cunningham and journalist West Wilson. The initiative also includes...
NoMad’s Senton Hotel Trades Hands for $27M
Stayway Holding Group, linked to Lee Fung Fong and Henry Zheng, purchased the 71‑room Senton Hotel in Manhattan’s NoMad district for $27.2 million. The seven‑story property at 39 West 27th Street was sold by Calvin Kamuluddin, with Avison Young brokering the...
The Turnover Trap: Why Hotel Staffing Remains Fragile—And What Operators Can Do About It
Hospitality faces a chronic staffing crisis, with hotel turnover hovering between 70% and 80% annually—far above the 10‑15% national average. Traditional levers such as wage hikes, referral bonuses, and refreshed job ads are no longer sufficient to stem the churn,...
Final Phase of Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal Transformation Completed
The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal has completed the final phase of its multi‑year renovation, refreshing all 112 guest rooms, suites, casitas and villas with a lighter palette and custom sea‑turtle metal accents. Public areas such as the Beach Club Restaurant, adult pool and...