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
Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport Named Best Overall Nonhub Airport in the U.S. for 2025
Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB) was named the 2025 Best Overall Non‑hub Airport in the United States by Swelbar‑Zhong Consultancy, a leading aviation research firm. The award recognizes GRB’s superior air‑service options, high‑quality passenger experience, strong financial performance, and overall value to travelers and the region. Swelbar‑Zhong’s rankings combine quantitative metrics with industry benchmarks to evaluate airports nationwide. Airport Director Marty Piette and local officials highlighted the honor as a testament to community support and the airport’s role in regional connectivity.
New FIS Unveiled at Norfolk International Airport
Norfolk International Airport unveiled a new two‑story, 26,000‑square‑foot Federal Inspection Services (FIS) building, designed to streamline customs and baggage handling. The $31 million project, funded partly by $13.5 million in federal aid, features floor‑to‑ceiling windows, an open floorplan, and a dedicated Global...
American AAdvantage Miles Vs. Loyalty Points: What's the Difference?
American Airlines displays two balances—award miles and Loyalty Points—on its member portal. Award miles are the redeemable currency for flights, upgrades and seats, and they never expire for active accounts. Loyalty Points, however, are the metric used to qualify for...
Free Roundtrip Flights to Anguilla With Zemi Beach House Stay
Zemi Beach House in Anguilla has teamed with AnguillAir to cover the full cost of round‑trip flights between Newark (EWR) and Anguilla (AXA) for guests staying three nights or more. The promotion runs for bookings made by March 15, 2026, with...
Turo Amex Offer: Get 20% Back, up to $30 (Rental Car Alternative)
American Express is offering a one‑time 20% statement credit, up to $30, for U.S. cardmembers who book a single rental on Turo’s platform before May 31 2026. The credit applies to reservations made on the U.S. or Canadian Turo website or app...
Sunrise Dominicana Seeks Clearance for U.S. Flights
Sunrise Dominicana, a Dominican carrier certified in 2025, has filed a request with the U.S. Department of Transportation for a five‑year exemption to operate scheduled and charter flights between the Dominican Republic and the United States. The airline plans to...
The 4 Best Ways To Use Points and Miles for Emirates First Class in 2026
Emirates First Class remains a coveted award cabin in 2026, but tighter availability and elite‑status requirements make booking increasingly challenging. Travelers can secure seats directly through Emirates Skywards, either by redeeming full‑fare miles or by upgrading a Business Class award,...
Save Up to 35 Percent at Resorts With Radisson Hotels
The episode outlines a limited‑time Radisson Hotels promotion that offers up to 35 % off resort stays of three nights or more, including breakfast and 2,000 bonus Radisson Rewards points. Discounts are tiered: 25 % off for three‑ or four‑night stays and...
Indy Airport to Launch Incubator Space for Culinary Talent
Indianapolis International Airport will open a culinary incubator in Civic Plaza by fall 2027, giving emerging Indiana chefs mentorship and exposure to the airport’s 10.6 million annual travelers. The project, led by James Beard‑award‑winning chef Steve Oakley and operated by CC Holdings,...
Achieve Perfect Fried Chicken in Less Than 3 Minutes
Fried chicken sandwiches now appear on 12.3% of full‑service restaurant menus, a 30% increase over four years, while consumer awareness sits at 95% and trial at 86%. Hormel Foodservice’s FLASH 180™ Battered Sous Vide Chicken offers a pre‑cooked, batter‑coated product that...
Comedian Jim Breuer Paid For First Class From Hawaii—American Airlines Took His Seat For A Pilot And Moved Him To...
Comedian Jim Breuer paid for first‑class tickets to Honolulu, but American Airlines removed him and his wife from the cabin to seat deadheading pilots, re‑assigning them to coach row 18. The airline cited overbooking rules and offered a $500 voucher,...
How Avocado Is Spreading Across Menus
Avocado’s surge in consumer demand is prompting operators to seek reliable, high‑yield solutions for menu inclusion. Traditional whole‑fruit handling often results in 50‑75% usable yield due to bruising, over‑ripeness, and waste, threatening margins. WHOLLY® avocado products, processed via high‑pressure technology,...
Snooze to Reopen Chapel Hill Location on March 1
Snooze is set to reopen its Chapel Hill location on March 1, ending a months‑long closure caused by extensive water damage from July flooding. The 4,567‑square‑foot restaurant will debut three new menu items—a biscuits & gravy plate, a three‑cheese fire‑roasted...
Pure Wellness Announces Partnership With Prime Group US
Pure Wellness has teamed with Prime Group US and Shaner Hospitality to roll out its Pure rooms at three Florida properties—Playa Largo Resort & Spa, Art Ovation Hotel, and Hilton Aventura Miami. The Pure rooms use a proprietary multi‑step treatment that delivers 99% anti‑viral and anti‑microbial protection,...
JWA Opens Three New Concessions
John Wayne Airport announced the launch of three new concessions: a Dunkin’ coffee shop operated by HMSHost, the Harbor Exchange boutique run by Paradies Lagardère, and a Brookstone electronics and travel‑retail outlet managed by Hudson. The additions broaden the airport’s food‑and‑beverage...
PHL Opens PrimoHoagies
Philadelphia International Airport has added a PrimoHoagies cafe, bringing the South Philly sandwich staple to travelers. The outlet is part of the airport’s “Founded in Philly” initiative and is run through a partnership between The Grove Inc., ACDBE partner M2 Concepts,...
SSP Canada Opens Two Eateries At YLW
SSP Canada has opened two new dining concepts at Kelowna International Airport (YLW): Vintners Exchange Gastrobar, featuring Okanagan wines curated with sommelier Bram Bolwijn, and Ellison Field Taphouse Kitchen & Bar, a BC Ale Trail‑partnered craft‑beer venue. The launches were...
Press Release: Kobe’s Journey From Domestic Gateway to Global Hub
Japan’s Kobe Airport has launched a new international terminal, shifting from a domestic‑only facility to a regional gateway linking the Kansai area with major Asian cities such as Seoul, Shanghai and Taipei. The terminal incorporates SITA’s Flex Essentials platform, common‑use...
Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok Unveils the First Chapter of ‘Unfolding Legacies’, Its 150th Anniversary
Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok marked its 150th anniversary by launching the first chapter of the multi‑year Unfolding Legacies programme. The celebration began with a gala dinner on 14 February 2026, held under the patronage of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The event featured a...
Hand Picked Hotels Makes Three Senior Hires for Channel Islands Division
Hand Picked Hotels announced three senior appointments for its Channel Islands division. Will Jackson will serve as general manager of L’Horizon Hotel & Spa in Jersey, José Simoes as hotel manager of Braye Beach Hotel in Alderney, and Jaime Short...
Is Your Hotel Technology Stack Ready for the Future? 7 Key Considerations for Revenue Managers - By Jonathan Gough
The article outlines seven essential considerations for hotel revenue managers aiming to build a future‑proof technology stack. It stresses the shift from legacy tools to AI‑driven platforms that automate pricing, distribution and demand analysis. Consolidating solutions, leveraging real‑time data, and...
COMO Hotels and Resorts to Open COMO Cordeillan-Bages in Bordeaux in May 2026
COMO Hotels and Resorts will reopen the historic COMO Cordeillan‑Bages in Pauillac, Bordeaux on May 1, 2026. The 19th‑century estate will feature 28 rooms and suites, a 25‑meter pool, gym, sauna, and a restaurant, all designed by Paola Navone. A...
Opinion: English Fizz Is Shaking Champagne’s Hold on Luxury Travel
English Fizz, a premium non‑alcoholic sparkling water, is gaining traction among first‑class and private‑jet travelers, eroding champagne’s traditional dominance in luxury travel. Airlines and high‑end hotels are adding English Fizz to their beverage carts, citing health‑conscious passenger demand and lower...
Club Med Expands Its Vision in Seychelles, Blending Tourism Growth with Community Impact
Club Med’s deputy CEO met with Seychelles President Patrick Herminie to discuss deepening the resort’s role in the islands’ tourism ecosystem. The dialogue highlighted the brand’s premium all‑inclusive model, strong occupancy rates and its commitment to local employment and sourcing....
New Perspective: Thom Geshay Brings Management Expertise to His Role as AHLA Vice Chair
Thom Geshay, longtime CEO of Davidson Hospitality Group, has been appointed vice chair of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) for 2026, partnering with Chair Liam Brown. Geshay brings a management‑company perspective, stressing the split performance between upscale/luxury and...
HVS Report - Room Supply Constraints Limiting Convention Growth in Hartford - By Jimmy Radwan
Hartford’s hotel market has rebounded, with occupancy and ADR surpassing pre‑pandemic levels. Yet the city has shed roughly 1,300 rooms since 2019, and recent conversions have turned former hotels into residential units. The shortfall leaves the Connecticut Convention Center with...
He Checked Into a $149 NYC Hotel Room—Then Claimed To Own the Entire Skyscraper. Eight Years Later, He’s Guilty of...
In 2018 Mickey Barreto checked into the Wyndham New Yorker Hotel for a single night and invoked New York’s rent‑stabilization law to claim permanent‑tenant status. He filed a fraudulent deed that transferred the entire hotel to his self‑named nonprofit, then...
Exceptional Investment Opportunity: Ohio 2-Motel Boutique Portfolio in Premier Lakefront Resort Location
Laurel Real Estate Co. is marketing a two‑motel boutique portfolio in Geneva‑on‑the‑Lake, Ohio, for $2.4 million. The assets—The Palms Motel and Pete’s Lakefront Motel—offer 32 keys and sit on a prime lakefront strip with private beach access. Recent capital improvements exceeding...
Chipotle Giving Away Chips and Queso Blanco
Chipotle will give away a free side of its handmade chips and queso blanco on digital orders from February 23 through February 25 to celebrate National Tortilla Chip Day. The promotion spotlights chips made each morning with fresh lime and a queso...
CoStar: U.S. Hotel Industry Reports Positive Year-Over-Year Comparisons
The U.S. hotel sector posted solid year‑over‑year gains for the week of Feb 8‑14, 2026, with occupancy climbing to 61.5% (up 2.6%), ADR rising to $167.98 (up 1.9%), and RevPAR reaching $103.35 (up 4.6%). Los Angeles led the top‑25 markets, posting an...
Jack in the Box Launches Matcha
Jack in the Box has rolled out a matcha platform nationwide, featuring a Matcha Iced Latte and an Oreo Matcha Shake. The launch is framed as a “beverage‑forward” innovation aimed at expanding the chain’s flavor palette. Executive chef Ciaran Duffy...
Why Scoring Hotel Image Quality Matters More Than Ever
Hotel images now shape traveler perception before price or reviews. Platforms and AI algorithms increasingly classify and rank photos, turning visual content into a data quality issue. To address this, hotels adopt structured image quality scores, typically 0‑100, evaluating dimensions...
How Clean Connected Data Improves Pricing and Distribution
Hospitality operators often juggle disparate systems—PMS, channel managers, and finance—resulting in conflicting reports and gut‑driven decisions. The article argues that clean, connected data unifies these sources, delivering a single source of truth for pricing, distribution, marketing, and staffing. By standardising...
Room Pricing Mistakes and How Channel Managers Can Help
Hotel room pricing mistakes—such as ignoring local demand drivers and maintaining inconsistent rates across channels—continue to drain revenue for many properties. Relying on outdated, intuition‑based methods leaves hotels underpricing high‑demand periods and overpricing low‑demand times. A channel manager centralizes rate...
World of Hyatt and American Airlines AAdvantage® Partnership: How It Works and What You Get
World of Hyatt and American Airlines revamped their 2019 partnership in 2024, replacing direct point‑earning with tiered Loyalty Point Rewards and Milestone Rewards. AAdvantage members can trade loyalty points or miles for Hyatt elite status and free‑night awards, while Hyatt...
Building Unity Through Community
The article positions the restaurant industry as a natural community connector that fuels growth for founders and creates belonging for patrons. By sharing experiences through events like the Founderology Growth Summit, leaders expand perspectives and accelerate progress. February’s calendar of...
CLIA Names Azamara and WorldVia Executives as Committee Co-Chairs
The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has named Michelle Lardizabal, Azamara’s Chief Sales Officer, and Joshua Harrell, WorldVia’s Chief Revenue Officer as co‑chairs of its Trade Relations Committee for the 2026‑2027 term. The committee serves as a strategic bridge between...
Florida Lawmakers Approve Bill to Rename Palm Beach International Airport After Donald Trump
Florida lawmakers have passed legislation to rename Palm Beach International Airport after former President Donald Trump, clearing the Senate 25‑11 and the House 81‑30. The bill now awaits Governor Ron DeSantis' signature and subsequent FAA approval before becoming effective in...
United, American to Inject $200 Million Into Brazil’s Azul
United Airlines and American Airlines have each pledged $100 million to recapitalize Brazil’s Azul as it emerges from Chapter 11, while existing creditors will contribute an additional $100 million. United’s cash will flow through a public equity offering and American will use warrant...
Modest Lift in RevPAR Forecasted for World Cup Months
The revised U.S. hotel outlook from CoStar and Tourism Economics projects a 1.7% RevPAR increase during the World Cup months of June and July 2026. This modest lift contributes to an overall 0.6% RevPAR growth for the year, up from...
Sean M. Dell’Orto Named Park Hotels & Resorts COO
Park Hotels & Resorts announced that Sean M. Dell’Orto will serve as chief operating officer while continuing as executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer. Dell’Orto has held the CFO and treasurer positions since the company’s 2017 spin‑off from...
Global Rescue Survey: 20 Percent of Travelers Plan More Trips With Longer Stays in 2026
The Global Rescue Winter 2026 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey finds that 20 percent of respondents plan to take more trips with longer stays next year, while 11 percent expect longer stays but fewer trips. Nearly half—49 percent—anticipate no change in travel frequency...
StepStone Hospitality Promotes Kristina Randorf
StepStone Hospitality has promoted Kristina Randorf to senior vice president of revenue management, where she will steer enterprise revenue management, strategic analytics, and innovation. Randorf joined the firm in 2017 as an on‑property revenue manager and progressed through area, regional,...
Tourists Are Flocking To These 3 Underrated Destinations In Mexico
Oaxaca state in southern Mexico logged a record 6,289,000 visitors in 2025, marking its strongest tourism year to date. Three fast‑growing spots—Puerto Escondido, Huatulco, and Oaxaca City—account for over 54% of arrivals and generate 86.6% of the region’s tourism‑related economic impact....
Extreme Hospitality Adds The Franklin on Rittenhouse to Portfolio
Extreme Hospitality has incorporated The Franklin on Rittenhouse, a 20‑room boutique lifestyle hotel in Center City Philadelphia, into its managed portfolio. The property boasts individually decorated guestrooms and a Prohibition‑themed speakeasy, the Franklin Mortgage & Investment Company, reflecting a rebellious...
Dusit Thani Maldives Welcomes Michelin-Starred Chef Christophe Chiavola
Dusit Thani Maldives on Mudhdhoo Island will host Michelin‑starred Chef Christophe Chiavola for a five‑day culinary residency from 5 to 10 March 2026. The program features four intimate events—a masterclass by the ocean, an island‑produce workshop, a sunset cocktail‑dinner, and a one‑night‑only...
New Deal Europe to Host Annual Marketplace and Forum Next Month
New Deal Europe will host its 2026 Marketplace and Forum at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium next month. The B2B event recorded a 20% year‑on‑year rise in attendance and attracted record numbers of UK and international buyers. The Marketplace showcases suppliers from...
Speaker Spotlight: Liz Williams, CEO, El Pollo Loco
Liz Williams, CEO of El Pollo Loco, will speak at the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit in San Diego on March 16‑18, 2026. In the interview she outlines her career path from a paper route to leading a national fast‑casual...
Choice Hotels International Debuts New Prototype for Everhome Suites
Choice Hotels International unveiled a re‑designed prototype for its Everhome Suites brand, aiming to cut construction costs and boost operational efficiency. The new layout reduces per‑room development expenses by roughly 13% while expanding capacity to about 120 suites per property....
Trump's Blockade Collapses Cuba's Tourism Industry
#CubaWatch🇨🇺: Thanks to Trump's blockade, Cuba's tourism industry has entirely collapsed. Major hotels and airlines have completely shut down. Stay tuned. https://t.co/BF6qoIAgu0