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.
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By the numbers: Airbnb leads $58M Series C in WeRoad
Cleveland’s Rosy Is a New Neighborhood Restaurant Serving Cuisine Inspired by the Istrian Peninsula
Rosy, a new 53‑seat restaurant in Cleveland’s Hingetown, opened on Feb. 26 under the partnership of Andrew Watts and chef Vinnie Cimino, known for Cordelia. The eatery serves "ancestral European" dishes inspired by the Istrian Peninsula, featuring a 12‑item rotating board that changes with daily‑available ingredients. Nearly all produce is sourced within a 200‑mile radius and cooked using a custom hearth that infuses fire into butter, roasts, and pastas. Rosy also offers a per‑person communal dining experience and provides full employee benefits, a rarity among independent operators.
Capella Hotel Group Appoints Roland Fasel as President
Capella Hotel Group announced the appointment of Roland Fasel as president, effective 6 April 2026. Fasel brings over 30 years of luxury‑hospitality leadership, most recently as COO of Maybourne Hotel Group and previously as COO of Aman Resorts. He will oversee operational excellence and...
Why Darden Restaurants Prioritizes an Inclusive Workplace
Darden Restaurants’ chief people officer Sarah King is championing an inclusive workplace that now boasts roughly 60% women and people of color in its executive ranks. Four of the company’s brands—LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood and Seasons 52—are...
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California Pizza Kitchen Extending Retail Lineup Beyond Frozen Pizza
California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) announced its first expansion beyond frozen pizza since 1999, adding new appetizers and entrée items to its consumer‑packaged goods lineup. The company will roll out these products in U.S. grocery stores in early 2027 and is...
The Atlas Opens Its Doors in Boston
The Atlas Hotel has opened in Boston as the city’s first boutique lifestyle destination, situated at the gateway of Harvard University’s Enterprise Research Campus. Developed by Tishman Speyer in partnership with Harvard and operated by Highgate, the property offers 246 guestrooms—including...
Applebee’s March Madness Promotion Focuses on the To-Go Business
Applebee’s is running a March Madness promotion that offers boneless wings for just 50 cents each when ordered to‑go through its website or mobile app from March 17‑22 and April 4‑6. The deal targets the chain’s off‑premises segment, which saw a 6.5% year‑over‑year sales...
The View Lounge Meets International Travelers' Comfort Expectations
Can a shared lounge space provide the level of comfort and amenities that international travelers expect? We explore The View Lounge at BRU: https://t.co/MnF5tFqtya #PaxEx #AvGeek https://t.co/V2PTDdgGPL
MUC Boosts Checkpoint Inclusivity
Munich Airport opened Germany's first inclusive security checkpoint on March 9, 2026. The barrier‑free area is tailored for passengers with reduced mobility, non‑visible disabilities, and families with young children. Staff‑assisted boarding replaces automated readers, and the design includes child‑friendly films...
USALI 12 & Water: What Hotels Need to Know About Water Reporting
The 12th Revised Edition of USALI introduces an Energy, Water, and Waste (EWW) schedule that obliges hotels to report both the cost and consumption of water in their financial statements. By capturing gallons or cubic meters alongside monetary expenses, properties...
Procure Impact Announces Partnership with Highgate to Advance Social Procurement Across Its Hotel Portfolio
Procure Impact has partnered with Highgate to embed social procurement across the hotel chain’s portfolio, creating curated marketplaces featuring more than 6,000 mission‑driven products. The collaboration will roll out in 2026, integrating these items into amenities and guest touchpoints. Highgate...
Green Globe Gold Awarded to Hotel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes
Hotel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes earned Green Globe Gold certification, marking five consecutive years of sustainability progress as it celebrates its centennial. The French Riviera landmark has cut energy and water use with LED lighting, motion sensors, and water‑saving fixtures,...
Only 69% Full: British Airways' 10 Emptiest US Routes Revealed
British Airways remains the largest European carrier to the United States, moving 7.6 million passengers between December 2024 and November 2025. Its overall US load factor of 83 % placed it 13th among European airlines, trailing carriers such as TAP and Air France. The...
American Airlines Expands Presence at Edinburgh Airport
American Airlines has launched a summer service from Edinburgh to New York JFK, expanding its transatlantic footprint in Scotland. The new route joins the Philadelphia‑Edinburgh flight that resumed last year, giving the airport two direct US connections. The airline will operate...
Impact on “Travel & Adventure” Conference Los Angeles, 2026
The Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show, one of the nation’s largest consumer travel expos, convened thousands of travelers, tour operators, cruise lines, and destination marketers in early March 2026. The multi‑stage format featured expert panels on emerging travel trends, destination...
Why Hotels Are Rethinking Traditional Cable TV
Hotel operators are reevaluating traditional coaxial cable TV as guest expectations shift toward streaming and seamless in‑room technology. Research shows Wi‑Fi remains a priority, but access to personal streaming apps now outranks linear television. Aging cable infrastructure incurs rising maintenance...
AutoCamp Asheville Is Officially Open
AutoCamp Asheville has opened and is now bookable through Hilton’s official channels, allowing Hilton Honors members to earn and redeem points for stays. Guests receive exclusive on‑property perks such as a complimentary firewood bundle, a s’mores kit, and upgrade opportunities...
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Villas Completes Renovation
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Villas announced the completion of a multi‑year, $100 million renovation that adds a 2.2‑acre Crystal Lagoons‑powered lagoon, a 5,600‑square‑foot waterfront event venue, and a Toptracer golf‑bay range. The project also refreshed the Windflower Spa and...
Dreamscape Hospitality Adds Two Marriott Properties
Dreamscape Hospitality announced it will manage two Marriott‑branded hotels—Courtyard by Marriott Houma in Louisiana and Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Springdale in Arkansas—both owned by Verge Hospitality Management. The partnership expands Dreamscape’s midscale portfolio and leverages its operational expertise...
Accor Announces Appointment of Laurent Choain as Global Chief People & Culture Officer
Accor has appointed Laurent Choain as its Global Chief People & Culture Officer, effective April 1, 2026. He will also sit on the Premium, Midscale & Economy Executive Committee, overseeing the group’s talent agenda and cultural transformation. Choain brings more...
Cherko Fusco Realty Brokers Two Hotel Transactions
Cherko Fusco Realty brokered the sale of two East Coast hotels: the 226‑key Portland Sheraton at Sable Oaks in Maine, sold to a Colwen Hotels affiliate, and the 138‑key Aloft Fort Lauderdale Airport, acquired by an MHG Hotels affiliate. Both...
Scaling Baggage Innovation for Operational Resilience in 2026
Airports are moving from experimental baggage pilots to a 2026 rollout of fully integrated, software‑driven handling systems. The upcoming webinar highlights how AI, robotics, computer vision and IoT‑enabled tags will turn baggage handling from a cost‑center into a predictive, resilient...
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay to Host 2026 Food, Wine & Garden Festival
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay will host its annual Food, Wine & Garden Festival on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through May 10, 2026. The event showcases more than 65 international dishes, wines, craft beers and cocktails, plus a new series of wildlife‑inspired garden...
Hilton Garden Inn New York/Tribeca Sells for $69M
The Generation Essentials Group, a subsidiary of AMTD Digital, acquired the Hilton Garden Inn New York/Tribeca for $69 million and rebranded it as the AMTD IDEA Tribeca Hotel. The deal, announced jointly by AMTD Group, AMTD IDEA Group and AMTD Digital,...
Book Early for 2026: Walt Disney World Reintroduces Free Dining Plan for Select Vacation Packages
Walt Disney World is bringing back its free dining plan for 2026, but only for guests who purchase qualifying vacation packages. The promotion, limited to select resort and ticket combinations, offers unlimited quick‑service meals and snacks at no extra cost....
Avanti Destinations Releases Europe Travel Guide for Advisors
Avanti Destinations has launched a 200‑page printed Europe travel guide for advisors, covering 26 countries and featuring 113 new vacation packages, 351 new hotels, and 534 new tours for the 2026 season. Each itinerary includes a QR code that connects...
LEGOLAND California’s Galacticoaster: A New Thrill for Spring Breakers in 2026
LEGOLAND California Resort will debut the Galacticoaster during spring break 2026, marking the park's first new roller coaster in more than two decades. The family‑oriented coaster blends high‑thrill elements with LEGO branding, aiming to attract spring‑break travelers and repeat visitors....
Germany Joins Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, and More as Tourism Booms with Norway’s New Visa...
Norway’s passport has risen to fourth place globally, now offering visa‑free or visa‑on‑arrival entry to 185 destinations. Recent bilateral agreements across Europe, Asia and the Americas have removed pre‑travel visa hurdles, unlocking new tourism corridors. Germany has joined a wave...
How Restaurants Can Prepare for an Influx of Aging Diners
U.S. restaurants face a demographic pivot as Baby Boomers enter retirement, pushing the 65‑plus segment to 25 % of the population by 2060 and to 18 % of restaurant spending by 2030. Older diners visit less often but spend more per check,...
Rove Keeps Rolling: SAS EuroBonus Joins as a New Rove Miles Transfer Partner
Rove Miles announced a new 1:1 transfer partnership with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) EuroBonus, making it the sole U.S. conduit for the carrier’s award program. The launch coincides with a limited‑time 20% transfer bonus that runs through April 8, 2026. SAS’s SkyTeam network...
Thailand Tourism Growth Slows Due to Middle East Tensions, but European and Chinese Markets Thrive
Thailand’s tourism sector recorded 322.6 billion baht in revenue this year, but growth slowed as arrivals from the Middle East dropped sharply due to the ongoing war. In contrast, Chinese visitors continued to dominate the market, and European travelers increased, cushioning...
Latvia Welcomes Back a Legendary Flying Partner as SAS Returns to Riga with a New Copenhagen Route to Restore the...
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has resumed operations in Riga, launching a new daily route to Copenhagen. The service marks the airline’s return after a multi‑year hiatus, restoring a key north‑south corridor for the Baltic region. By linking Latvia’s capital with a...
Langham Names Michele Grosso U.S. Operations Lead
Langham Hospitality Group has appointed Michele Grosso as regional vice‑president of U.S. operations, while he continues as managing director of The Langham Boston. In his expanded role he will oversee the company’s two U.S. brands—The Langham Hotels & Resorts and Eaton—working closely with...
Exit Interview: Marriott CFO Leeny Oberg Reflects on Decades-Long Career
Marriott International CFO Leeny Oberg is retiring after 26 years, including a decade in the finance chief role. She oversaw the 2016 Starwood acquisition that birthed the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program and guided the company through the COVID‑19 crisis. Oberg...
Mediterranean Fitness Tourism Heats Up as Limassol Hosts Global Workout Festival by the Sea
Limassol, Cyprus, launched a global workout festival along the Molos promenade, drawing thousands of fitness enthusiasts from across Europe and beyond. The three‑day event featured marquee brands, high‑intensity classes, and wellness seminars, delivering an estimated €12 million in direct tourism spend....
Bloomington Unites Chesterton, Evansville, South Bend, Carmel, Indianapolis, And Fort Wayne For A High-Impact Indiana Forest-To-City Travel Revolution That Is...
Bloomington has forged a collaborative tourism framework with Chesterton, Evansville, South Bend, Carmel, Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, creating a forest‑to‑city travel corridor across Indiana. The initiative leverages a digital platform to stagger visitor arrivals, diverting tourists from overcrowded hotspots to lesser‑known...
Pattaya and Other Beach Destinations Now Dominate Songkran 2026 Travel Demand in Thailand
Thailand’s 2026 Songkran festival saw a sharp shift in domestic travel patterns, with Pattaya emerging as the top destination. Beach locales across the country collectively attracted the majority of holiday bookings, reflecting heightened consumer spending on leisure. The surge signals...
Toulouse’s 2025 Takeoff: Record Appeal In A Controlled Boom
Toulouse’s 2025 tourism strategy delivered a record‑high visitor count, surpassing eight million arrivals – a 12% rise over 2024. The city paired this influx with €500 million in public‑private investment targeting transport, heritage preservation, and new hospitality capacity. A purpose‑built film...
Moxy Atlanta Downtown Opens
Hospitality brand Moxy opened its 183‑room Atlanta Downtown property, managed by LBA Hospitality, adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park and major stadiums. The hotel blends lodging with nightlife, featuring Bar Moxy, a rooftop Jagger Suite, a hidden speakeasy called The Powder...
Another Flight Attendant Strike at Lufthansa Could Be On The Horizon As Airline Demands ‘Radical Overhaul’ of Work Rules
German flag carrier Lufthansa has presented a “radical overhaul” of its collective agreement for flight attendants, targeting working hours, rest periods and sick‑pay provisions. The UFO union rejected the proposal outright and warned it will not resume talks until the...
Agentic Hospitality’s Brad Brewer to Speak at First-Ever ‘Destination AI Virtual Conference’ on the AI Distribution Shift
Brad Brewer, Co‑Founder and Chief AI Officer of Agentic Hospitality, will speak at the inaugural Destination AI Virtual Conference on March 13, 2026. The session, "How AI Channels Will Drive Hotel Revenue in the Next 3 to 5 Years," warns...
8 Hotels Around the World With Breathtaking Bedscapes (2026)
The article spotlights eight luxury hotels that turn beds into architectural statements, from ice‑carved sleeping platforms in Sweden to a bird‑nest canopy in Kenya. Each property pairs its distinctive bed design with immersive experiences, commanding nightly rates that range from...
KLM Facing Legal Action In Netherlands Over “Fake” Real Deal Days Discounts
KLM is facing legal action in the Netherlands over its “Real Deal Days” promotions, which consumer watchdogs allege were deceptive. Data shows fares to destinations like Curaçao and London dropped significantly after the sales ended, suggesting prices were inflated beforehand....
Swan Hellenic Adds Unique 32-Night Antarctica Grand Voyage
Luxury cruise line Swan Hellenic announced its 32‑night Antarctica Grand Voyage, sailing from Ushuaia to Dunedin in February 2027 and again in 2028. Priced from £21,620 per guest, the itinerary includes iconic sites such as Lemaire Channel, Peter I Island,...
Stop Talking About Price, Start Talking About Food
Restaurant chains are being urged to abandon price‑centric strategies and refocus on food quality to win customers over the long term. The opinion piece notes that many brands are only now recognizing that competing on price erodes margins, especially amid...
Can AI Help Bring Down Delivery Costs? Not Just Yet
Restaurant operators are eyeing AI‑driven chatbots as a way to bypass costly third‑party delivery services, but early deployments are actually inflating expenses. Uber Eats has recently raised delivery fees for select partners, underscoring the pressure on margins. The article highlights...
Up To 17-Hour Nonstop Flights: Qatar Airways' 10 New Ultra-Long Routes In 2026
Qatar Airways is launching ten ultra‑long nonstop routes in 2026, many exceeding 15 hours, reinforcing its position as a leading long‑haul carrier. The Doha‑Auckland service will operate with a retrofitted 777‑200LR in a 272‑seat configuration, while the Doha‑Dallas/Fort Worth link uses...
Consider Sandals Ochi for an April Break
Sandals Ochi, an adults‑only all‑inclusive resort in Jamaica, is being promoted for an April getaway. Unique UK tour operator Unique Caribbean Holidays Ltd. (UCHL) offers a seven‑night stay in a new Butler Villa Suite starting at £2,419 per adult, inclusive...
Ambiente’s Expanding Influence Opens New Doors for Hoteliers
Ambiente, the Frankfurt‑based consumer‑goods trade fair, has become a pivotal platform for the hospitality sector, drawing major hotel groups and HoReCa decision‑makers. Exhibitors such as Lodge Manufacturing and THE CUSTOM CHEF cite the event’s dense concentration of international buyers as a catalyst...
Bristol Airport & Equilibrion Complete Feasibility Study for SAF & Hydrogen Production
Bristol Airport and Equilibrium have completed a feasibility study exploring large‑scale production of nuclear‑derived sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and hydrogen in the South West of England. The study shows that Small Modular Reactors could supply both fuels, supporting the airport’s...
As Dinner by Heston Blumenthal Prepares to Close, I Tried Its Most Playful Dining Experience
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, the two‑Michelin‑star venue at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, will shutter in January 2027 after more than a decade in London. The author experienced the restaurant’s “Topsy Turvy” tasting menu, which flips the traditional sequence by serving dessert...