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
Avianca Award Sale: Flights to Central and South America Starting at ~2,600 Miles One-Way
LifeMiles has launched an award sale covering most Avianca routes from the United States to Central and South America. Economy one‑way awards start at roughly 2,600 miles, while business class seats begin at about 13,000 miles. The promotional pricing applies to travel through May 31 2026, but bookings must be made by February 28 2026. The deal is limited to U.S. residents and LifeMiles cardholders, with a maximum of eight tickets per account and no stopovers.
Azamara Cruises Introduces Travel Advisor Council
Azamara Cruises has launched a Travel Advisor Council composed of ten high‑performing advisors across North America. The council members, each with at least five years of cruise experience and AWA graduation, will commit to a 12‑month term to test ideas,...
Highlights From Highgate’s Most Recent Charitable Foundation & ESG Efforts
Highgate has spotlighted its charitable foundation and ESG program, underscoring a $500,000 infusion into the Associate Relief Fund for emergency support. The company reports 122 eco‑certified hotels, more than 200 properties powered by 100% renewable electricity, and significant conservation metrics...
Student Airline Discounts: Do They Really Exist?
Student airline discounts have largely vanished, with major carriers such as Southwest, Delta and JetBlue offering no dedicated student fares. United remains the sole airline advertising a student discount, providing a modest 5% reduction on basic‑economy tickets. Accessing United's discount...
Flight Review: Delta One, Airbus A350-900, Paris to Los Angeles
Delta’s Airbus A350‑900, introduced in 2017 with the Delta One Suite, remains the airline’s flagship on long‑haul routes but shows signs of age after nearly a decade. The reviewer praised the suite’s privacy, lie‑flat comfort, and attentive service, including champagne...
Matt Talks Hospitality: A Smarter Housekeeping Model for Hotels, Teams & the Planet
In the latest Matt Talks Hospitality episode, general manager Floris Licht introduced Hotels for Trees, letting guests skip daily stay‑over cleaning in exchange for planting a certified tree. The model reduces cleaning costs from €10‑12 to a net €3.70 per...
Hapi Launches Folio Finder
Hapi has launched Folio Finder, a standard API that lets hotel brands and hospitality tech providers instantly search and retrieve guest folios and invoice details across multiple property‑management systems. The tool tackles fragmented billing data by delivering real‑time access without...
National Restaurant Association Show Names 20 Kitchen Innovations Award Recipients for 2026
The National Restaurant Association Show announced the 2026 Kitchen Innovations Awards, honoring 20 food‑service equipment and technology solutions that improve automation, sustainability, and operational resilience. The winners were chosen for their ability to help kitchens cope with labor shortages, tighter...
National Restaurant Association CEO: ‘Cautious Optimism’ for Growth in 2026
The National Restaurant Association’s 2026 State of the Industry report shows 2025 delivered only 1% sales growth after inflation, with 42% of restaurants operating at a loss and food and labor costs soaring 38% and 35% respectively since 2019. Despite...
Hyatt Vivid Grand Island FAM
Mexico FamTrips announced its 2026 Hyatt Vivid Grand Island FAM, scheduled for September 23‑26 in Cancun. The three‑night, all‑inclusive program costs $650 per participant, covering accommodations, transfers and on‑site training, but excludes airfare. Attendees will receive guided inspections and education sessions...
Outback Steakhouse, Noodles & Company, CAVA
Outback Steakhouse recorded a 0.9% traffic increase in Q4, its first rise in four years, driven by the popular Aussie 3‑Course value meals, though same‑store sales slipped 0.6% because of lower pricing. The chain will allocate $50 million toward further restaurant...
Restaurant Review: Luna Omakase, London
Luna Omakase, a 12‑seat Japanese‑Mexican tasting bar hidden inside Los Mochis on Liverpool Street, has added a second dinner sitting, now serving guests at 6 pm and 8:30 pm Tuesday‑Saturday. The restaurant offers a meticulously choreographed 12‑course omakase priced at £230 per...
Elite Voyages’ 9-Day China FAM Tour
Elite Voyages is launching a 9‑day, 7‑night China familiarization (FAM) tour for travel advisors, with departures on March 29 and April 12, 2026. The itinerary spans Beijing’s Great Wall and Forbidden City, Xi’an’s Terracotta Army, and Shanghai’s Bund, offering a...
Explore the Habsburg Empire (Prague, Vienna & Budapest)
Tour Specialists Inc. is launching a seven‑day familiarization (FAM) trip for travel advisors that explores Prague, Vienna, and Budapest, the historic capitals of the former Habsburg Empire. The escorted program runs from May through October 2026 with five departure windows...
Papa Johns Will Close 300 Restaurants
Papa Johns announced it will shutter 300 underperforming North American restaurants by the end of 2027, targeting sites that generate less than $600,000 in annual sales and typically post negative four‑wall earnings. The closures are part of a broader transformation...
SA Express Wind-Up Nears End, Brand Value $10k
South African Express, the state‑owned carrier, is set to complete its liquidation by April 2026, six years after entering provisional liquidation. The liquidators have recovered movable assets, tax refunds and interest, leaving a free residue of roughly ZAR 3.7 million for distribution....
Wyndham Enhances Group Travel Platform
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has upgraded its group direct‑booking platform, powered by Groups360, adding real‑time visibility, customizable booking pages, and seamless integration with hotel systems. The enhancements let planners manage reservations, rates, rewards and early/late stays from a single dashboard,...
River Cruise FAM Opportunities
AmaWaterways, via FamTrips.Travel, is offering reduced‑rate familiarization (FAM) cruises for travel advisors in 2026, covering European rivers and Colombia’s Magdalena River. The program includes multiple sailings on vessels such as AmaReina, AmaMora, AmaLea, AmaDolce, AmaDante and AmaMagdalena, with pricing starting...
Paul Eckert Named Trailborn Hotels & Resorts COO
Trailborn Hotels & Resorts announced the appointment of Paul Eckert as chief operating officer as the brand accelerates its national rollout. Eckert will oversee operations for the expanding portfolio, including upcoming properties in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Mendocino, California. He...
Help Your Direct Bookings Bloom with Creative Seasonal Strategies
Spring’s longer days and holiday breaks create a prime travel window, prompting hotels to revamp direct‑booking channels. The article showcases seasonal tactics—bright homepage layers, limited‑time discounts, and gamified Easter hunts—that turn seasonal enthusiasm into bookings. Real‑world examples from Savoyen, Penta...
Luxury or Performance? Inside the Debate Over “Authentic” Cultural Experiences at Five-Star Resorts in Bali
Luxury resorts in Bali are swapping opulent amenities for curated cultural experiences, from batik workshops to Balinese purification rituals. The Ritz‑Carlton’s program exemplifies a broader industry shift toward “authentic” immersion, driven by high‑net‑worth travelers seeking depth. Yet scholars and local...
Jet2 Announces New Destinations for Summer 2027
Jet2 will launch three new summer 2027 routes, adding Reus from Bournemouth Airport and Crete (Chania) plus Pula from Edinburgh Airport. The Bournemouth service runs weekly on Sundays from 2 May to 31 Oct, while Edinburgh offers weekly Wednesdays to Crete (5 May‑27 Oct)...
These Are Mexico’s 5 Safest Cities According To The US State Department
According to the U.S. State Department, only Yucatán and Campeche states in Mexico carry a Level 1 “Exercise Normal Precautions” advisory, the same rating given to Japan and Switzerland. Within those states, the department highlights five cities—Mérida, Valladolid, Progreso, Campeche, and...
Burger King Has Upgraded Its Signature Whopper
Burger King announced its first Whopper reformulation in nearly ten years, driven by guest feedback. The new version keeps the quarter‑pound flame‑grilled beef but adds a premium bun, upgraded mayo, and serves the sandwich in a heat‑retaining box, while eliminating...
Carnival Cruise Line Rolls Out Fleetwide Lottery with $1M Prize
Carnival Cruise Line has introduced Carnival Millions, the cruise sector’s first fleet‑wide linked lottery, linking ships in North America and Europe for a daily draw that can award up to $1 million. Guests purchase tickets through the Carnival HUB app, receiving...
Inside Travel Launches New Experience-Rich ‘Luxury Japan’ Tour
Inside Travel and its Japan specialist brand InsideJapan have unveiled a new 14‑night Luxury Japan small‑group tour launching in 2026. The itinerary spans six destinations, from Tokyo and Kyoto to Inuyama, Lake Biwa, Fukuoka and Nagasaki, blending iconic sights with...
3 Hotel Stocks to Watch for Now as Industry Headwinds Persist
U.S. hotel and motel sector faces persistent cost and demand headwinds, squeezing margins as labor, utilities and maintenance expenses rise. Despite weak performance—industry rank #179 and under‑performance versus the S&P 500—analysts see modest recovery beginning in 2026 with RevPAR and ADR...
How Hotels Are Reinventing F&B for Profit and Growth
Hotels are overhauling their food and beverage operations to become a primary profit center. By leveraging data analytics, direct sourcing, and kitchen automation, they are cutting waste and procurement costs while enhancing guest experiences. The shift also emphasizes community‑focused concepts...
Hilton Honors Premium Clubs: Where to Find Them and How to Access These Exclusive Spaces
Hilton has launched a network of Premium Clubs across its high‑end brands, offering exclusive lounges with elevated food, beverage and concierge services. Diamond Reserve members now enjoy complimentary entry for themselves and one guest, a benefit that replaces the previous...
LAM Mozambique Faces Five Criminal Probes
Mozambique’s flag carrier LAM is facing five separate criminal investigations into alleged mis‑management, corruption and embezzlement. Probes cover irregular aircraft sales, a questionable lease of a B737‑300F freighter, a suspect MoU with South African consultancy Fly Modern Ark, and inflated...
Press Release: ZIPAIR Launches Starlink Inflight Wi-Fi on 787
ZIPAIR Tokyo launched SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet on a Boeing 787, marking Asia’s first commercial passenger flight equipped with the service. Flight ZG045 from Tokyo to Incheon offered free, high‑speed, low‑latency Wi‑Fi to every seat, matching ground‑based broadband performance. Installation...
![Ritz-Carlton Guests Robbed Of $425,000 Seconds After Security Guard Vanishes—Was It An Inside Job? [Roundup]](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/675a3b9b19d9492a05b94ed3884b5361.webp)
Ritz-Carlton Guests Robbed Of $425,000 Seconds After Security Guard Vanishes—Was It An Inside Job? [Roundup]
A Michigan couple has sued the Ritz‑Carlton on St. Thomas, alleging they were robbed at gunpoint of more than $425,000 in jewelry and luxury items. The lawsuit claims a security guard left the guests alone to retrieve a replacement key,...
Best Western Rewards United States, Canada & Caribbean Triple Points February 26 – May 31, 2026 (Book Feb 26 –...
Best Western Rewards has introduced a triple‑point promotion for stays in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. Members must register and book between February 26 and March 3, 2026, and any qualified stay completed by May 31 will earn three times the...
The 8 Best Luxury Sleep Retreats to Book In 2026
The luxury travel sector is capitalising on a booming $0.5 trillion sleep economy by launching specialised sleep retreats that blend clinical diagnostics with high‑tech amenities. Properties such as Murrieta Hot Springs, Lefay Resort, and Carillon Miami embed biometric tracking, AI‑powered beds,...
Now Open: Ômage Hotel Montréal/Laval
Ômage Hotel Montréal/Laval opened after a ten‑month transformation of the former Hilton Laval, joining Marriott Bonvoy’s Tribute Portfolio. The boutique property offers 190 guestrooms across ten floors, including 42 extended‑stay suites with full kitchens. Designed around natural elements, the hotel...
BCHA Unveils 2026 Awards of Excellence Finalists
The British Columbia Hotel Association (BCHA) has released the finalists for its 2026 Awards of Excellence, covering categories such as Culinary Excellence, Housekeeping, Sustainability Champion, and Hotelier of the Year. The awards ceremony will take place during the BCHA Summit...
Transavia Expands Distribution Agreement with Amadeus
Transavia has broadened its global distribution agreement with Amadeus, granting travel sellers access to every fare class, including the Smart Fare and a new Fare Family Upsell feature. The deal covers both Transavia France and the Netherlands, ensuring consistent content...
Reclaim Expands Luggage Management Network with Addition of Voco The Darwin
reclaim, the premium luggage‑management platform, has added on‑demand service for the voco The Darwin Atlanta Midtown hotel, an IHG property. Guests can schedule bag pickup from the hotel lobby up to six hours before departure, with tamper‑evident tags and real‑time...
Speaker Spotlight: Chris Noffze, Director of Direct Franchising and Operations, Gong Cha
Chris Noffze, director of direct franchising and operations for Gong cha Americas, will speak at the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit in San Diego (March 16‑18). In his role, he guides franchisees through onboarding, store openings, and ongoing operations to ensure...
Update: Royal Jordanian Status Match Soft Landing Policy, One Level Down!
Royal Jordanian’s status‑match program grants a one‑year Gold Sparrow tier for a $149 fee, then automatically downgrades non‑requalifying members to Silver Jay (oneworld Ruby) rather than stripping elite status entirely. The soft‑landing policy ensures members retain basic oneworld benefits for...
Save On IHG Hotel Stays With Amex Offers ($50 Off $250+, Targeted)
American Express has launched a targeted Amex Offers promotion for IHG hotel stays. Cardholders who spend at least $250 on eligible IHG properties between February 25 and May 26, 2026, receive a $50 statement credit, effectively a 20% rebate. The offer applies to...
Flydubai Posts $531m Profit, Hits Record Passengers
flydubai posts US$531m profit after tax for FY2025, reinforcing the momentum behind its expanding network strategy. The Dubai-based carrier reported US$591m pre-tax profit on revenues of US$3.7b, up 6% year-on-year. A record 15.7 million passengers flew with the airline, with Business...
Mott MacDonald Strengthens MAG Ties
Engineering consultancy Mott MacDonald has secured a five‑year appointment on Manchester Airports Group’s Capital Investment Consultancy Services Framework. The firm will deliver advisory, design and fire‑engineering services for major projects at Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports. The partnership aligns...
ICE Trains to Serve Brussels Airport Under DB and Brussels Airlines Cooperation
Deutsche Bahn and Brussels Airlines have signed a codeshare agreement to launch the first direct ICE high‑speed rail link to Brussels Airport, slated to begin on 7 September 2026. The service will run twice daily between Cologne Central Station and the airport, continuing onward...
Changi and Airport Resilience
Singapore’s Changi Airport Group announced a S$3 billion, six‑year investment to upgrade Terminals 1‑4, targeting baggage handling, check‑in, immigration and Skytrain links. The upgrades replace aging systems and are designed to boost capacity ahead of Terminal 5, slated for the mid‑2030s. Changi currently...
ITB Berlin and IPK International: Stable International Travel, Holidays Dominate
Just before ITB Berlin opens in March 2026, IPK International’s World Travel Monitor shows global international trips rose 4% year‑on‑year in 2025, nudging the market back toward pre‑pandemic levels. Europe matched the global average with a 4% increase, while North...
Andy Tan to Lead Varel Singapore as GM
Andy Tan has been appointed general manager of Varel Singapore, a new Tribute Portfolio hotel slated to open in April 2026. Tan brings more than three decades of hospitality and travel experience, most recently serving in a senior leadership role...
Capella Debuts in Kyoto, Japan
Capella Kyoto will open on 22 March 2026, offering 89 rooms that fuse modern luxury with traditional machiya architecture in Kyoto’s historic Miyagawa‑cho district. Designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates and Brewin Design Office, the hotel opens during cherry‑blossom season to attract high‑end travelers...
Reclaiming the Singapore Left Behind
Hidden Heritage, a Singapore‑based tour operator founded by Amanda Cheong and Stanley Cheah, curates guided experiences of the city’s abandoned factories, wartime shelters, and low‑income back‑alleys. Their signature "Industrial Relics & Wartime Secrets" tour began after the founders staged a...
Oceania Cruises® Introduces the Oceania Club Ambassador Program
Oceania Cruises has launched the Oceania Club Ambassador Program, a referral initiative that grants a US $200 future cruise credit to both the referring Club member and the newly booked guest. The offer applies only to first‑time, full‑fare bookings and credits...