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
Understanding Direct Channel Benchmarking and Key Metrics
Rising acquisition costs and heightened competition are forcing hoteliers to scrutinize their direct booking channels. Direct channel benchmarking compares a hotel’s website and booking engine performance against a defined competitive set, revealing gaps and opportunities. The article outlines five metric groups—conversion, revenue, demand, rate parity, and visitor profile—that provide a comprehensive view of direct‑booking health. By leveraging real‑time competitive data, revenue leaders can turn insights into actionable strategies and reduce reliance on costly third‑party distributors.
CoStar: U.S. Hotel Industry Reports Nearly Flat Year-Over-Year Comparisons
CoStar’s latest week‑long data (Feb 22‑28 2026) shows the U.S. hotel sector essentially flat year‑over‑year, with occupancy holding at 62.8% and both ADR and RevPAR slipping 0.2% to $159.03 and $99.85 respectively. Among the top 25 markets, New Orleans posted the steepest ADR...
Conservation and Culture Meet at the Oasyhotel Tuscany
Oasyhotel, located within the 1,000‑hectare Oasi Dynamo Nature Reserve in Tuscany, will reopen on 1 April 2026 with 17 contemporary forest lodges offering luxury amenities and WWF‑affiliated conservation credentials. The resort features a yoga deck, wildlife observatory, floating pool, and farm‑to‑table dining...
US's Fly Live Charter Begins Executive Jet Operations
Fly Live Charter has launched executive jet operations by adding a 1980-built Cessna Citation II (N173AA) to its Part 135‑certified fleet. The seven‑seat jet is based at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport and joins two Piper PA‑31s, expanding the carrier’s offering of longer‑range,...
Choice Promotes Jeff Lobb to SVP, General Counsel & Secretary
Choice Hotels International has promoted Jeff Lobb to senior vice president, general counsel, and secretary, effective March 26. Lobb, a Choice veteran since 2006, succeeds retiring executive Simone Wu, who led the legal function for 14 years. In his new...
A | T Collective Introduces Evoke | Inspire Luxury Brand
Under A | T Collective, the company has launched Evoke | Inspire, a new luxury FIT travel brand that replaces Journese. The brand offers a curated portfolio of 4.5‑ and 5‑star hotels, private villas, yachts, jets and rail, supported by a dedicated...
Treefrog Expands Collection of White Oak Veneers
Treefrog has broadened its white oak veneer line to ten distinct styles, adding cooler European tones, warmer American hues, and a range of grain structures. All veneers are prefinished with a color‑matched backer, delivering seamless edges and consistent sheet‑to‑sheet quality....
Remington Hospitality Adds Costa Sur Resort, Classico Collection by Sonesta, to Its Portfolio
Remington Hospitality announced it has taken over management of Costa Sur Resort, part of Sonesta’s Classico Collection, on Puerto Vallarta’s southern coast. The ocean‑front property features 189 rooms, multiple dining venues, a heated pool, spa, and event space. Remington plans to...
![Canadians Get a 27% Discount in Las Vegas — And It’s Bringing Them Back Because Demand Curves Slope Down [Roundup]](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/b30404bfa3055b77f0fefd8e6bf1eb5c.webp)
Canadians Get a 27% Discount in Las Vegas — And It’s Bringing Them Back Because Demand Curves Slope Down [Roundup]
Las Vegas launched the Vegas At Par program, offering Canadian tourists a 27% discount on hotel rooms and select bar tabs at three downtown properties. The initiative leverages the Canadian dollar’s current 73‑cent exchange rate, giving visitors more buying power. Early data...
Shaw Contract Hospitality Expands ROAM Collection
Shaw Contract Hospitality has unveiled ROAM Tropical Retreat, the latest addition to its ROAM custom series. The collection features tile, broadloom, and rug options designed to evoke natural landscapes and provide immersive hospitality environments. Multiple construction types—including EcoSolution Q nylon...
JetBlue Expands to Its 11th Destination in Florida With Flights to Destin-Fort Walton Beach Today
JetBlue launched nonstop service to Destin‑Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) on March 5, offering five weekly seasonal flights from both New York JFK and Boston Logan. The route marks the carrier’s 11th Florida destination and adds to more than 30...
Deadline Extended: HD/West Elm Student Product Competition
Hospitality Design and West Elm have extended the deadline for their eighth annual student product design competition to March 13. The brief calls for an original, high‑traffic lounge chair that reflects West Elm’s aesthetic while using mixed materials and supporting...
Courtyard by Marriott Columbus Airport Listed for Sale as Columbus Market Expands
CBRE Hotels has listed the 150‑room Courtyard by Marriott Columbus Airport for sale. The three‑story hotel, built in 1997 and fully renovated within the past four years, sits just one mile from John Glenn International Airport and near key attractions such...
Hyatt House Seattle/Downtown Listed for Sale After $3.2 Million Renovation
Hyatt House Seattle/Downtown, a 172‑room upscale extended‑stay hotel, is now listed for sale following a $3.2 million renovation that cost roughly $19,000 per key. The fee‑simple, debt‑free asset is operated by Hotel Equities and sits in South Lake Union, a tech‑dense...
Essex Hotel Management Partners with Larkin Hospitality
Essex Hotel Management has signed a partnership with family‑owned Larkin Hospitality, adding six properties and 581 keys to its portfolio and bringing the total to 17 hotels. The agreement expands Essex’s presence into the New England market and introduces its...
Blaze Pizza Partners with Marvel Television's 'Daredevil: Born Again Season 2'
Blaze Pizza has launched a limited‑edition Sweet Heat pizza in partnership with Marvel Television’s Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, debuting on Disney+ March 24. The pizza, featuring spicy red sauce, double pepperoni, roasted red peppers, mozzarella and Mike’s Hot Honey, hit U.S....
Vantage Aviation Appoints New CFO
Vantage Aviation announced the appointment of Torsten Schneider as its chief financial officer. Schneider joins from APP Jet Center, where he served as CFO of its FBO network, and previously led a finance team of over 25 at a ground‑handling...
French Investor Snaps up Inverness Travelodge for £4.1m
French real estate manager Epsicap REIM, via its SCPI vehicle Epsicap Nano, acquired the 54‑room Travelodge hotel in Inverness for £4.1 million. The property, refurbished in 2017, is under a 20‑year lease with Travelodge, marking the fund’s first hotel investment. The...
Historic Hotels of America Inducts Harbor Court Hotel
Harbor Court Hotel, a 1926 Beaux‑Arts former YMCA on San Francisco’s Embarcadero, has been inducted into Historic Hotels of America. The program, run by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, recognizes properties over 50 years old that hold historic designations....
Marriott Monterey Hotel Receives $75M Refi
Sunshine‑Eichner arranged a $75 million non‑recourse first‑mortgage loan to refinance the Marriott Monterey hotel in downtown Monterey, California. The five‑year, interest‑only loan carries a fixed rate with an all‑in cost below 6% after securing a low‑200s credit spread among 19 competing...
Volotea to Create Tailored Traveller Experiences with Navitaire Stratos
Volotea, the Barcelona‑based low‑cost carrier, has signed on to Navitaire Stratos, an AI‑powered, cloud‑native retailing platform from Amadeus. The solution promises personalized offers, a streamlined shopping‑cart experience and expanded self‑service options for travelers. By integrating with partner airlines, car‑rental and hotel...
Qmatic Launches Qmatic Aiva – AI Voice Agent for Enterprise Customer Journeys
Qmatic announced the launch of Qmatic Aiva, a multilingual AI voice agent that integrates with its appointment‑booking and queue‑management platform. The agent operates 24/7, handling inbound calls, scheduling, rescheduling, real‑time availability checks, and FAQs. Supporting over 30 languages and concurrent...
This West Coast City Is One Of America’s Cheapest Spring Getaways
Portland, Oregon has been identified as the most affordable spring getaway in the United States, with hotel rates averaging in the $130 range and several properties below $80 per night. The city’s extensive public‑transport system offers a $5.60 TriMet day...
Beyond Silos: How Ecosystem Thinking Elevates the Airport Experience
Airport leaders highlighted ecosystem thinking as a strategic shift from siloed operations toward integrated collaboration. Examples such as Fraport Bulgaria’s themed open‑air gates and Rotterdam The Hague’s community data platform illustrate how shared data and design improve passenger experience and...
Sara Anghel Elected to ISHA Board of Directors
Sara Anghel, president and CEO of the Greater Toronto Hotel Association, has been elected to the International Society of Hotel Associations (ISHA) Board of Directors, becoming its only non‑U.S. member. Her appointment brings a Canadian viewpoint to ISHA’s leadership team,...
The Parkside Hotel & Spa Elevates Corporate Retreats
The Parkside Hotel & Spa launched the Parkside Retreat & Wellness Guide, a planning tool that frames corporate off‑site meetings around restoration and purpose. The guide highlights naturally lit meeting rooms, a private theatre, rooftop garden terrace and a suite...
Embracing New Frontiers Through Secure and Robust Connectivity
Airlines are expanding passenger check‑in beyond traditional airport counters to mobile kiosks, pop‑up desks and portable stations, demanding a flexible, secure departure control system. Legacy DCS platforms struggle with real‑time data and consistent performance across dispersed locations. SITA’s Connect Go SSE...
Renovated International Arrivals Area Opens at Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport opened the final phase of its international arrivals renovation, unveiling a reconfigured primary customs processing area and a new secondary screening zone. The upgrades replace a 1992 layout and integrate biometric checks, Global Entry and Mobile Passport...
Six Senses Marks London Launch with Whiteley Hotel
Six Senses has debuted in the UK with a flagship hotel occupying a quarter of the former Whiteley’s department store in London. The 109‑room property, complemented by 14 branded residences, blends Art Deco heritage with modern design, green roofs and...
Tristan Auer to Deliver First Rosewood Ski Resort
Rosewood is launching its first ski resort in mainland France, the Rosewood Courchevel Le Jardin Alpin, designed by Tristan Auer. The 51‑room property offers ski‑in, ski‑out access to Les Trois Vallées and blends contemporary design with 1960s Alpine glamour. Hand‑crafted...
Del Taco's Turnaround Plan Brings Back some of Its Old Ways
Del Taco’s new owners launched an 18‑month turnaround called Project Sunrise, promising to restore the chain’s classic menu items and original preparation methods. The plan reintroduces legacy burritos, the Jack’d Up line, and a limited‑time $6 combo for loyalty members...
Black Rock Coffee Bar Sees a Path to 1,000 Shops
Black Rock Coffee Bar, a specialty coffee chain that went public in September 2025, announced a roadmap to expand from roughly 620 locations to 1,000 stores within three years. The IPO raised about $150 million, providing capital for accelerated franchising and...
Qatar Airways Is Moving Its Operations to Muscat to Start Repatriation Flights as Iranian Missile Attacks Continue Against Doha
Qatar Airways has relocated its operations to Muscat Airport to resume a limited set of repatriation flights after Iranian missile and drone attacks shut Qatar’s airspace in late February. The airline will operate flights from Muscat to several European capitals...
EIB to Provide Advisory Support for VÆRIDION Aircraft Development
The European Investment Bank will provide advisory services to German start‑up VÆRIDION under the EU Innovation Fund Project Development Assistance programme. The support is aimed at moving VÆRIDION’s Microliner – a nine‑seat, fully electric regional aircraft – from prototype to...
How to Stay Hydrated on Business Trips
VOSS has introduced a 250 ml still water bottle made from 100 % recycled PET, aimed at business travelers who value convenience and premium design. The compact format offers the brand’s signature Norwegian‑sourced water in a portable, luxury‑styled package. The product is...
Jet2's Collection of Certified Sustainable Hotels Grows to 1,500
Jet2holidays has expanded its Certified Sustainable Hotel programme to 1,500 properties, up from 800 at launch in 2023. The certification follows ABTA’s standards, covering energy, water, waste, local sourcing and community support. A dedicated trade portal now lets agents easily...
MNAA Boosts Leadership Team
The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority announced two senior leadership appointments. Caleb Douglas was promoted to director of operations planning and project coordination, where he will oversee the $3 bn New Horizon expansion at Nashville International Airport. Samantha Hamilton was named director...
The Spring Thaw Is a Moment to Reset and Get Ahead
Spring’s thaw turns predictable winter discipline into a volatile testing ground for restaurants. As days lengthen, traffic spikes and stalls with weather, prompting operators to recalibrate menus, beverage programs, and staffing. The National Restaurant Association notes warmer temperatures lift dining‑out...
A Tale of 2 Mike’s: Jersey Mike’s Franchisee Adds Mike’s Red Tacos to Portfolio
Michael McGuire, who runs over 23 Jersey Mike’s Subs, is adding Mike’s Red Tacos to his 825 Ventures portfolio. The franchisee will open 15 birria‑focused locations, marking the first official franchise agreement for the San Diego‑born concept. Mike’s Red Tacos, a food‑truck‑to‑brick‑and‑mortar brand, has already secured more...
Speaker Spotlight: Jay Jhun, Senior Director, Loyalty and Digital, Church's Texas Chicken
Jay Jhun, senior director of loyalty and digital at Church's Texas Chicken, will speak at the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit’s “Grinding Your Franchise into Omnichannel Overdrive” session. He oversees the brand’s first‑party online ordering, the Real Rewards loyalty program,...
Tips, Advice for Selecting the Right Franchise Location
Restaurant franchising success hinges on selecting high‑traffic sites, as highlighted at the upcoming Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit in San Diego. Experts from Smoothie King, Little Caesars, Parlor Doughnuts, and Wienerschnitzel warned that overlooking fundamentals like rent‑to‑sales ratios, parking, and trade‑area strength can...
![[Outliers] J.W. Marriott: Building an Empire Without a Master Plan](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://fs.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Cover-Black-1024x1024.png)
[Outliers] J.W. Marriott: Building an Empire Without a Master Plan
J.W. Marriott transformed a modest $6,000 root‑beer stand in Washington, D.C., into the world’s largest hotel chain, now valued at roughly $4 billion. He pursued growth without a detailed master plan, focusing instead on minimizing downside risk and controlling variables such...
Passenger Traffic Across Europe Rises in January
ACI Europe reported that passenger traffic at European airports rose 4.6% in January versus a year earlier. Growth was led by international travel (+5.5%) and was strongest in the non‑EU market, which posted an 8.8% increase compared with 3.6% in...
Maldives Announced as Host Country of ITB Berlin 2027
The Maldives has been confirmed as the Official Host Country for ITB Berlin 2027, a partnership sealed at the 2026 edition of the trade show. Visit Maldives and Messe Berlin signed the agreement, positioning the island nation at the centre...
NBAA-BACE Headed to New Orleans for 2028
The National Business Aviation Association announced that its flagship NBAA‑BACE convention will take place in New Orleans from October 10‑12, 2028, marking the event’s inaugural visit to the city. The show will be hosted at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and nearby Louis Armstrong...
Business Jet Opens New Hangar Complex at Dallas Love Field
Business Jet has finished a two‑hangar, 70,000 sq ft complex at Dallas Love Field, expanding its campus to more than 475,000 sq ft across 19 hangars and two executive terminals. Both structures are fully leased; the west hangar offers a single‑tenant, custom‑floor, conditioned bay...
Jet Linx Resumes Local Investor Programme to Fuel Expansion
Jet Linx is relaunching its Base Partner Program, revamping the equity‑based model that pairs the private‑jet operator with local investors nationwide. The new structure gives investors a stake in the performance of all Jet Linx locations rather than individual bases,...
MakeMyTrip to Acquire Majority Stake in Flamingo Transworld
MakeMyTrip has signed an agreement to acquire a majority stake in regional tour operator Flamingo Transworld, though the purchase price remains undisclosed. Flamingo, with a 30‑year history, runs group travel packages across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh through 51...
Air Tahiti Nui Announces the Opening of a Direct Route Between Tahiti and Australia
Air Tahiti Nui announced a new direct, non‑stop service between Papeete and Sydney, launching its inaugural flight on 14 December 2026. The airline will operate two weekly flights, cutting travel time and simplifying itineraries for both passengers and freight. The route supports...
Trip.com Group Reinforces AI Innovation and European Collaboration at ITB Berlin
Trip.com Group showcased its AI-driven travel solutions at ITB Berlin, highlighting rapid growth in its TripGenie assistant and the launch of the all‑in‑one Trip.Planner itinerary hub. The company reported a 400% year‑over‑year rise in AI‑assisted bookings and a 300% surge...