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
American Express Business Hilton Issue (140k Posting Instead Of 175k)
American Express’ Hilton Honors Business Credit Card is currently crediting only 140,000 points instead of the advertised 175,000 when the spend threshold is met through a referral link. The discrepancy appears on Hilton’s portal, even though Amex records the full 175,000 transfer. The problem was first flagged by Twitter user @TravelandCredit and confirmed by American Express, which says it is investigating and will contact affected members directly. The issue is limited to referrals, not standard public or affiliate applications.
Tech Tracker: Toast and Instacart Team up to Tackle Emergency Restaurant Supply Challenges
Toast, a restaurant POS leader, has teamed with Instacart to launch a joint solution for emergency inventory replenishment. The integration lets operators order pantry staples, produce, and cleaning supplies through Toast’s interface and receive same‑day deliveries, often within an hour....
American Adds Flights for Kentucky Derby
American Airlines announced a temporary surge in service to Louisville, Kentucky, to meet demand for the May 2 Kentucky Derby. The carrier will boost flights from its seven existing hub airports and launch special routes from 13 cities that normally lack...
Sean Duffy Orders Airlines to Halt DEI Pilot Hiring Or Face Enforcement Action
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy directed the FAA to issue an Operations Specification that bars U.S. airlines from using diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) criteria when hiring pilots. The order, framed as a merit‑based safety measure, applies to all Part 121...
Mozambique Goes Digital: New E-Visa Platform Signals a Forward-Looking Tourism Strategy
Mozambique has launched a cloud‑based e‑visa platform, powered by VFS Global, that lets travelers from 183 countries apply online for multiple visa categories, including tourism, business, and oil‑gas. The system automates processing while retaining final approval authority with Mozambican officials. By...
ABQ Opens Six Retail Concepts
Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) unveiled six new retail concepts operated by WHSmith North America in partnership with local entrepreneurs. The lineup includes Los Poblanos farm goods, Museum of New Mexico Foundation shops, Mountain Standard Time boutique, Duke City Station vendor...
ATL Launches Duff’s Deli
Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has opened Duff’s Deli + Market in Concourse C, bringing a New York‑style deli experience to the terminal. The concept, created by Food Network star Chef Duff Goldman, offers reimagined classics such as pastrami sandwiches, matzo ball soup, and...
Bobby’s Burgers To Open At MCO
Bobby’s Burgers, the Bobby Flay‑backed fast‑casual chain, will debut at Orlando International Airport (MCO), marking its first Florida location. The outlet will be developed and operated with OTG Management, offering signature items such as the Crunchburger, a veggie burger, fries,...
GRR Taps Abukar For IT Director
Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority has named Ghassan Abukar as its new director of information technology and telecommunications. Abukar previously served as chief information officer for the Joint Aviation Security Partnership and held senior IT roles at the Cleveland...
Missed Out on World Cup Tickets? Chase Might Give You 5,000 Points
Chase opened an exclusive World Cup ticket sale for Sapphire Reserve and Preferred cardmembers on Feb 10, but the platform crashed, leaving many users stuck in queues. The glitch prompted a flood of complaints, and Chase began offering a consolation of...
You Can Buy Spirit Airlines Silver Status for $79 or Upgrade to Gold From $199 — Here’s How
Spirit Airlines is selling its Free Spirit elite status for a limited time. Travelers can purchase Silver status for $79, requiring only a travel‑rewards credit card. Existing Silver members—or former Gold members—can upgrade to Gold for $199 (or $399 for...
Delta Rolls Out Airbus A321neo Aircraft With Massive 44-Seat First Class Cabin
Delta is temporarily configuring seven new Airbus A321neo aircraft with a 44‑seat First Class cabin, more than double the usual layout for this narrow‑body type. The expanded cabin will debut on high‑traffic Atlanta‑to‑West‑Coast routes beginning in June, with bookings opening...
(Update) Bilt 5x Points Welcome Promo Details
Bilt Rewards launched a 5x points welcome promotion for new cardholders, originally slated for February 7‑12, 2026, with a maximum of 50,000 points on $10,000 spend. Many users reported the bonus not crediting, prompting Bilt to email affected members to file...
PONANT Launches Epic 62‑Day Antarctic Expedition
PONANT Explorations will launch a 62‑day luxury cruise that circles Antarctica aboard the hybrid‑electric icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot in January 2028. The itinerary splits into a 30‑day western leg from Ushuaia to Hobart and a 31‑day eastern return, covering roughly...
Wendy’s Pulls Back on Breakfast Hours
Wendy’s is giving franchisees greater flexibility to trim or shift breakfast hours as demand wanes, a move announced by interim CEO Ken Cook during the February earnings call. The adjustment is part of the chain’s Project Fresh initiative aimed at...
Air Transat Will Drop All US Flights by June 2026
Air Transat announced it will cease all United States flights by June 2026, removing its remaining Quebec‑Florida routes. The carrier cites a weak demand environment, noting that US leisure traffic accounts for only about 1% of its capacity. The airline...
Tourism Seychelles Leads With Transparency as Seasonal Mosquito Advisory Remains Under Control
Seychelles’ tourism authority announced that seasonal chikungunya and dengue cases are falling, with no hospitalisations and no travel restrictions. Health officials attribute the decline to intensified mosquito‑control programs and public‑awareness campaigns. Tourism Seychelles has proactively communicated these facts to international...
Little Houses on the Icelandic Prairie
Parisian fashion entrepreneur Djamel Cheboub launched Harmony, a two‑cabin retreat on Iceland’s southern coast offering glass‑walled lodges, private saunas and hot tubs at $800 per night, emphasizing slow, nature‑focused travel. The piece also commemorates photographer Martin Parr, whose posthumous memoir...
Holland America Line Marks 100 Years of Caribbean Cruising
Holland America Line commemorated a century of Caribbean cruising, recalling its inaugural Veendam II voyage on 18 February 1926 that linked New York with Havana, Kingston, Panama, Cartagena, San Juan and Bermuda. To mark the milestone the line extended its ‘Start Your Journey Sale’ through...
Jane McDonald TV Series Boosts Scenic's Antarctica Bookings
Travel agents reported a sharp rise in Antarctica bookings for Scenic after the six‑part series "Jane McDonald: From Pole to Pole" aired on Channel 5. Billy Rusbridge secured two bookings worth over £65,000 for the 13‑day Antarctica In‑Depth itinerary, while three...
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer: Spontaneous Escapes for February 2026
Singapore Airlines has launched its February 2026 KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes promotion, offering a 30% discount on Saver‑level award tickets booked with KrisFlyer miles. Travelers must book by 28 February 2026 for travel between 1 March and 31 March 2026, with discounts covering economy, premium economy and...
Harry Styles Fans Plan New York Trips Ahead of Madison Square Garden Residency
Harry Styles announced a 30‑night residency at Madison Square Garden beginning Aug 26, 2026, prompting fans nationwide to plan trips to New York. Within days, Priceline reported flight searches to the city surged 1,273 percent and hotel searches jumped 414 percent. Social media platforms...
Picture of the Week: Valentine’s Day Poems for Passengers at London City Airport
London City Airport welcomed Valentine’s weekend travelers with a poet‑in‑residence who hand‑wrote personalized verses in the terminal. The activation, led by poet Laurie Bolger, aimed to add a heartfelt, memorable touch to journeys across the airport’s European network. CEO Alison...
Miles and Points On Sale — February 13 2026
The Gate with Brian Cohen released its weekly roundup of miles‑and‑points sales for Friday, February 13 2026, highlighting discounts and bonus offers across 15 major loyalty programs. Hilton Honors and Wyndham Rewards each promise a 100 percent bonus, while Avianca LifeMiles tops out...
U.S. Hotel Results for Week Ending Feb. 7
The U.S. hotel sector posted modest year‑over‑year gains for the week ending Feb. 7, with occupancy at 56.4% (+1.1%), ADR at $158.69 (+1.7%) and RevPAR at $89.55 (+2.8%). San Francisco led the top‑25 markets, driven by Super Bowl LX, posting occupancy of 78.7%...
AC Marriott Hotel Ann Arbor Downtown Debuts
First Martin Corporation and First Hospitality have opened the AC Marriott Hotel Ann Arbor Downtown, a six‑story, 81,745‑sq‑ft property featuring 139 guest rooms. The hotel showcases a "Modern Industrialist" design with local art, custom copper metalwork, and a sixth‑floor lounge...
Delta Just Gave Employees $1.3 Billion in Bonuses Plus Announced Raises—While American and United Workers Get Left Behind
Delta Air Lines paid $1.3 billion in profit sharing, roughly 8.9 % of an employee’s salary, and announced a wage increase for its workforce. This marks the ninth year the carrier has exceeded $1 billion in profit‑sharing payouts, outpacing the combined totals of...
Alaska Airlines Allows Rabbits Back In Cabin But Moves To Ban Household Birds
Alaska Airlines has reinstated its policy allowing domesticated rabbits to travel in the passenger cabin on continental United States and Alaska routes, after a brief ban earlier this year. Rabbits must be placed in a soft‑sided carrier that fits under...
Quality Inn & Suites Kissimmee by the Lake Sold
DSH Hotel Advisors arranged the sale of the Quality Inn & Suites Kissimmee by the Lake, originally listed at $10.9 million, though the final price remains undisclosed. The firm acted as exclusive advisor for both seller JC Investments FL LLC and...
Hertz Status Match For Marriott Ambassador, Titanium & Platinum For 2026
Marriott Bonvoy’s top‑tier members can now claim elite status with Hertz Gold Plus Rewards through a tier‑match program. Ambassador Elite members receive President’s Circle status, while Titanium Elite members are granted Five Star status, and Platinum Elite members gain a...
The Grinch, Spongebob, Popeyes
McDonald’s leveraged a Grinch‑themed meal, boosting same‑store sales 6.8% and achieving its highest single‑day sales ever, while expanding its value menu and testing a broader beverage lineup. Burger King’s SpongeBob movie tie‑in lifted U.S. same‑store sales 2.6% with $5 and...
Turkish Airlines Unveils Its 500th Aircraft Featuring a Special Livery of 100,000 Employees
Turkish Airlines unveiled its 500th aircraft, dubbed “TK Family,” featuring a special livery that showcases photographs of its 100,000 employees and retirees. The ceremony at Istanbul Airport included children of martyrs, senior executives and a ceremonial flight that traced the...
Maison L’Occitane en Provence Re-Launches Aromachologie Collection
Maison L’Occitane en Provence has re‑launched its Aromachologie amenities collection for premium hotels, restaurants and wellness centres. The line now features a semi‑transparent 300 ml RPET dispenser and 1‑litre recycled‑plastic refills, alongside a new matte black bracket option. All products are...
Chad's Royal Airways Eyes Subsidiary in Cameroon
Royal Airways, Chad's emerging carrier, announced plans to launch a subsidiary in Cameroon, marking its first foray beyond national borders. The move targets the Central African market, leveraging the airline's existing ATR42‑300 fleet for regional routes. International operations are projected...
PREVIEW: ALL Accor+ Explorer With 2,000 Bonus Points February 17 – March 13, 2026
Accor+ Explorer relaunched with uniform pricing and a limited‑time offer for new members. From February 17 to March 13, 2026, sign‑ups receive 2,000 bonus points—equivalent to a €40 rebate—on top of the standard membership fee, which averages $229 but varies by country....
Deadgood Launches ‘Beautifully Unexpected’ Rug Collection
British design brand Deadgood has launched a new rug collection inspired by abstract elements such as mossy textures, sea‑edge vistas and the graphic lines of pink wafer biscuits. The range uses high‑performance digital printing to deliver bold patterns with a...
Nigeria's Fly Elite Adds First Bombardier Aircraft
Fly Elite, a Lagos‑based aircraft management specialist, has added its first Bombardier Challenger 604 to its fleet, marking the company’s entry into the larger business‑jet segment. The 2004‑built jet, configured for up to ten passengers, completed its inaugural flight on 10 February,...
Avinor Trials Multiple Operations at Remote Tower Centre in Bodø
Avinor has launched a trial at its Remote Tower Centre in Bodø that lets a single AFIS representative manage multiple airports from one workstation. The pilot covers four airport pairs – Rørvik‑Namsos, Mehamn‑Hasvik, Vardø‑Berlevåg and Røst‑Svolvær – and operates under...
AirX Receives Approval to Operate in Saudi Arabia
AirX has secured approval from Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation under the Part 129 framework, allowing the Malta‑based private jet operator to expand its charter services within the Kingdom. The company currently operates a fleet of 21 aircraft, including...
Signature Aviation Launches Digital Portal for Customers
Signature Aviation introduced Signature Vision, a digital portal that consolidates reservations, service updates, and pricing for its customers. The platform offers trip management, real‑time notifications, and visibility into location‑based pricing across fuel types. It also integrates enrollment in the BRAVO...
Kelli Valade Tapped to Lead Women’s Foodservice Forum
Kelli Valade has been appointed president of the Women’s Foodservice Forum, succeeding Therese Gearhart. Valade arrives from a string of C‑suite roles, most recently as CEO of Denny’s and previously leading Red Lobster, Chili’s Bar & Grill, and analytics firm Black Box Intelligence. In her new...
Speaker Spotlight: Eddie Flores, Co-Founder L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, Chairman of L&L Franchise, Inc.
Eddie Flores, co‑founder of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue and chairman of L&L Franchise, Inc., will deliver the opening keynote at the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit in San Diego on March 16‑18, 2026. In his talk, “Franchising the American Dream,” he...
Nobu to Launch Hotel, Residences and Restaurant in the Maldives
Nobu Hospitality announced its inaugural Maldives project, a resort on Munyafushi Island in Laamu Atoll. The development includes 26 beach villas, 30 overwater villas, and a collection of ten Nobu Island Estate Residences sold as private‑island ownership. A standalone Nobu...
Nick Lim to Lead Railbookers Group as Asia VP
Railbookers Group announced the appointment of Nick Lim as Vice President for Asia, bolstering its executive team in the region. Lim brings more than 25 years of travel‑industry experience, most recently serving as CEO, Asia at The Travel Corporation. He...
Aviramp Secures New Irish Contract
Aviramp has installed a solar‑powered, step‑free boarding ramp at Ireland West Airport in Knock. The ramp offers a gentle slope, added passenger shelter, and is designed for wheelchair users, parents with prams and other travelers with reduced mobility. Airport operations...
Palisociety to Debut in Beverly Hills with The Hôtel Lili
Palisociety will launch its first Beverly Hills property, The Hôtel Lili, in April 2026. The 1939 private residence has been transformed into a 44‑room boutique hotel that fuses European‑inspired style with classic Los Angeles charm. Design highlights include soft whites,...
Travel Takes the Lead
Visa’s latest Spending Momentum Index shows travel as the fastest‑growing consumer category in Asia‑Pacific, expanding about 2.5 times faster than overall spend in 2025. Cross‑border card use surged as tourists adopted digital wallets, while affluent consumers generated roughly three‑quarters of...
Singapore Airlines 30% Off Spontaneous Escapes For Travel March 1 – 31, 2026 (Book February 28)
Singapore Airlines is offering KrisFlyer members a 30% mileage discount on its Spontaneous Escapes program for travel between March 1‑31, 2026. The promotion covers Economy, Premium Economy and Business cabins on a wide range of routes across Southeast Asia, West Asia, Africa,...
British Airways Quietly Appoints New Head Of Customer Experience And Boy Does She Have Her Work Cut Out
British Airways has quietly installed former Lufthansa executive Victoria Schuster as its new Director of Customer Experience, succeeding Calum Laming who is set to depart. Schuster joins after a rapid rise at Lufthansa, most recently serving as VP of customer...
Reykjavik Keflavik International Airport Redevelops Arrivals Area
Reykjavik Keflavik International Airport is modernising its decades‑old arrivals area, with construction slated for completion in spring 2026. The project expands the arrivals lobby, upgrades the customs corridor and adds new service counters for car‑rental firms. Retail space is being enlarged,...