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
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey Is Putting Messinia on the Travel Map
Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film “The Odyssey,” releasing July 17, 2026, was partially filmed in Greece’s Messinia region. The 20‑day shoot centered on the Costa Navarino resort, putting the southwest Peloponnese on the map. Costa Navarino, a luxury complex of four five‑star hotels, is already rolling out Odyssey‑themed experiences such as the Nestor’s Feast dinner. Analysts expect the movie to trigger a new wave of set‑jetting, boosting international visitor numbers to Messinia.
Caribbean Innovation Takes Center Stage at UN Tourism Bahamas Challenge
The United Nations World Tourism Organization, together with the Bahamian Ministry of Tourism, launched the Bahamas Sustainable Islands Challenge to spotlight Caribbean innovators tackling climate‑related tourism risks. The competition recognized winners in ocean conservation, community‑based tourism, and green technology, awarding...
Brigade Hotel Ventures to Invest ₹1,000 Crore in Karnataka Hospitality Expansion
Brigade Hotel Ventures Limited announced a ₹1,000 crore (~$122 million) investment in Karnataka over the next five years, aimed at new hotel projects and modernising existing assets. The spend is part of its Vision 2031 roadmap, which targets roughly 1,700 additional room keys...
Bits: Singapore Airlines Boosts Gatwick and Manchester, IAG Weathers Rocky First Quarter
Singapore Airlines is expanding its UK network, moving Manchester to a daily service on July 13 and upgrading Gatwick to a double‑daily schedule from October 25, both operated by A350s with a chef‑curated menu. The carrier also adds Munich flights and a...
Earn Double Points with IHG Business Rewards – the Small Business and PA Loyalty Scheme
IHG Business Rewards, the loyalty scheme for travel bookers and small firms, is offering double points through August 31 2026. Bookings made by that date earn six IHG One Rewards points per US $1, double the usual three points, with stays required by...
Paulo Airaudo Launches Two‑Michelin‑Star Amelia at San Sebastián’s Hotel María Cristina
Chef Paulo Airaudo has opened Amelia, a two‑Michelin‑starred restaurant, inside the historic Hotel María Cristina in San Sebastián. The venue blends Airaudo’s Italian‑omakase concept with the hotel’s century‑old elegance, reinforcing the city’s reputation as a global gastronomy hub.
Tripadvisor Q1 2026 Revenue Falls 4% as Geopolitical Turmoil Hits Hotel Bookings
Tripadvisor reported consolidated revenue of $382 million for Q1 2026, a 4% decline driven by macro‑related disruptions in its Hotels & Other segment. The company flagged a 20% revenue drop in that segment and outlined AI partnerships and cost cuts as...
Why I Spend $15,000 Each Year on My Hilton Surpass Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card offers a $150 annual fee, a 130,000‑point welcome bonus after $3,000 spend, and automatic Hilton Gold status. By spending $15,000 each year, cardholders receive an uncapped free‑night certificate usable at virtually any Hilton...
Cruise Industry on Alert After Norovirus Spreads Aboard Caribbean Princess
More than 100 passengers and crew on the Caribbean Princess fell ill after a norovirus outbreak, prompting the ship to isolate cases and step up sanitation. Federal health officials reported at least 115 infections, triggering CDC reporting requirements and mandatory...
PORTUGAL'S ALGARVE TURNS TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHTS INTO A LUXURY TOURISM ENGINE
Portugal's Algarve is shifting from seasonal beach tourism to a year‑round luxury destination by adding direct transatlantic flights, notably a nonstop United Airlines route between Faro and Newark. The region is courting affluent North American and Latin American travelers through...
ITALIAN WINE TOURISM BOOMS BUT FACES COORDINATION AND DIGITAL CHALLENGES
Italian wine tourism welcomed 15 million visitors last year, generating roughly $3.3 billion and raising average spend to $198 per guest. While the sector grows at 13% annually, 36.8% of operators point to fragmentation, limited funding and weak public support as major...
EL SALVADOR BREAKS RECORDS WITH 36% GROWTH OF VISITOR NUMBERS
El Salvador recorded a record 473,000 foreign arrivals in April 2026, a 36% year‑over‑year increase, pushing total Jan‑April visitors to 1.7 million. Guatemala topped the origin list with 748,000 arrivals, followed by the United States (440,000) and Honduras (319,000). Tourism revenue surged to...
JetBlue Leaves Stranded Passengers without Hotel After Birdstrike
JetBlue Passengers Denied Hotel Rooms After Birdstrike Strands Them In St. Lucia - View from the Wing https://t.co/wEfFbTGhxL
JetBlue Passengers Denied Hotel Rooms After Birdstrike Strands Them In St. Lucia
JetBlue Flight 882 from St. Lucia to New York JFK was cancelled after a birdstrike damaged the left engine, leaving passengers stranded overnight. The airline classified the incident as an uncontrollable event and refused to provide hotel accommodations. JetBlue directed travelers to...
Cayman Islands Hit Record 64,213 Stayover Visitors in March as New Flights and Hotels Drive Boom
The Cayman Islands logged a historic 64,213 stayover visitors in March 2026, the highest monthly total ever, as expanded air service from Canada and fresh luxury hotels lift tourism. The surge marks a 12.6% year‑over‑year increase and underscores the islands’...
San Francisco Inspires Dreams of Hotels' Future
Fun San Francisco morning. Talking with @POPMillar about the future of hotels. Why I love San Francisco: people dreaming about making the future better. https://t.co/XfPgXZ06GH
Starwood Property Trust Posts $0.39 per Share Q1 Earnings, Deploys $2.5B Across Lending Platforms
Starwood Property Trust (STWD) posted Q1 2026 distributable earnings of $147 million, or $0.39 per share. The REIT deployed $2.5 billion across commercial, infrastructure and net‑lease lending, but a $0.03 per‑share headwind from the net‑lease platform kept earnings below dividend expectations. Management...
Don’t Get Scammed over Spirit, EU Discourages Flight Cancelations, Citi’s Big Boost, and More Around the Web
The roundup highlights Citi’s Investor Day, where the Strata credit‑card line drove a 35% portfolio increase and signaled a push to lower costly points redemptions. The EU clarified that rising fuel prices will not exempt airlines from EU261 compensation rules,...
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Flight Attendants Union Demands Airlines Screen Passengers For Hantavirus — And Bring Back Masks [Roundup]
The Association of Flight Attendants‑CWA is pushing airlines to screen passengers for hantavirus exposure and to provide surgical or N‑95 masks to crew and symptomatic travelers. The union’s proposal includes a 45‑day exposure questionnaire at check‑in and the right to...
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card Review: A Solid Travel Card With Excellent Bonus Categories
Wells Fargo’s Autograph Journey℠ Card targets frequent travelers with a 60,000‑point welcome bonus and a $95 annual fee. Cardholders earn 5X points on hotels, 4X on airlines, and 3X on restaurants and other travel purchases, plus a $50 yearly airline statement...
Dialing in Uptime: A Practical Guide to Preventive Maintenance for Commercial Combi Ovens
Labor shortages, rising wages and volatile food costs are squeezing restaurant margins, prompting operators to adopt Rational's combination ovens that merge steam, convection and humidity control into a single, intelligent platform. The ovens boost productivity and consistency while reducing reliance...
A New Reason I’m Loving the Air France/KLM Flying Blue Program
Air France‑KLM’s Flying Blue program has rolled out a new tiered perk called Choice Benefits, available once members earn 450, 600 or 750 Experience Points (XP) in a qualification year. At each threshold, elites can select from status‑card gifts, mileage...
How to Transfer Your Marriott Points to Another Person (for Free)
Marriott Bonvoy lets members transfer up to 100,000 points per calendar year to another member at no cost, while a single recipient can receive as many as 500,000 points if multiple people contribute. The transfer is performed through the "share...
Eaton DC Teams with Ari Lennox for Limited‑Time “Weekend Vacancy” Hotel Experience
Eaton DC announced a partnership with Grammy‑nominated artist Ari Lennox to roll out “Weekend Vacancy,” a four‑day, limited‑time hotel stay that runs May 29–June 1, 2026. The package bundles an overnight boutique stay, a limited‑edition vinyl, exclusive cocktails and access...
I'm a Sommelier and Travel Advisor. There's Just One Wine Region I'm Telling Everyone to Visit This Summer.
Sommelier and travel advisor Nichole Pareti recommends Mexico’s Valle de Guadalupe as the premier wine destination for summer. The Baja California valley boasts over 100 wineries, including organic and architecturally unique tasting rooms, and five Michelin‑starred restaurants within a short...
Japan's Top Tourist Destinations Concentrated in Kyoto, 6 Other Prefectures
Japan’s inbound‑tourism hotspots are concentrated in just seven prefectures, with Kyoto (17 sites) and Hokkaido (16 sites) together accounting for 33 of the top 100 destinations in 2025. A joint Unerry‑Kyodo survey using smartphone location data found that 25 prefectures...
Amsterdam Bans Airline Ads As Flying Becomes The New Smoking
Amsterdam has prohibited public advertising for airlines, cruise ships, fossil‑fuel products and meat, with the ban taking effect on May 1 across all city spaces. The measure is part of a wider municipal climate strategy that seeks to align visual messaging...
This Unknown City Wants To Become Thailand’s Next Vacation Hotspot
Hat Yai, Southern Thailand’s largest city, is positioning itself as the next vacation hotspot after rebounding from devastating 2025 floods. The city promotes its bustling markets, affordable street food, and easy access to Malaysia as alternatives to overtouristed Bangkok and Phuket....
Capella Hotels to Double Portfolio by 2030, Opens First European Site in Florence and Riyadh Resort
Capella Hotels announced a plan to double its portfolio to 24 properties by 2030, beginning with a 12th‑century hotel near Florence’s Duomo and a luxury resort in Riyadh, both slated for late 2027. The ultra‑luxury brand says the expansion will...
Eye on Travel — Seoul, South Korea — May 9, 2026
In this brief Eye on Travel episode recorded in Seoul, Peter Greenberg warns travelers about the fallout from Spirit Airlines' collapse, rising fuel costs, and airline capacity cuts that are driving up fares and prompting a shift toward train travel...
Hyatt Award Charts: Current Rates, New Pricing, and What’s Changing
Hyatt will overhaul its World of Hyatt award charts on May 20 2026, adding two new pricing tiers and raising points requirements across standard rooms, club rooms, suites and all‑inclusive resorts. The new structure expands the range from three to five tiers...
ALL Accor Sofitel, MGallery & Emblems Up To 35% Off May 11 – September 30, 2026 (Book By June 30)
Accor’s ALL program is offering a limited‑time promotion that slashes 25% off the flexible rate for Sofitel, Sofitel Legend, MGallery and Emblems properties from May 11 to September 30, 2026. ALL members enjoy an additional 10% discount, bringing total savings up to...
South Florida Hotels Battle Record Sargassum Invasions, $5B Losses
South Florida beachfront hotels are confronting unprecedented sargassum seaweed invasions that have driven tourism revenue losses of roughly $5 billion. Taxpayers are footing nearly $4 million a year for removal, while scientists explore turning the algae into a food‑grade ingredient.
Booking.com Makes It Easier Than Ever to Star in Your Own Movie-Inspired Route 66 Road Trip
Booking.com, the Official Travel Partner of the Route 66 Centennial, is launching a limited‑time, movie‑inspired road‑trip package from June 25‑28, 2026. For a symbolic $1 fee, travelers receive a three‑night stay for two, $10,000 in Booking.com Wallet Credits, and a choice of three...
Exploring Science-Driven Wellness and Longevity in the Philippines
The Philippines is positioning itself as a premier wellness‑travel destination by leveraging its diverse natural landscapes—from surf‑rich Siargao to cool highlands like Baguio—and integrating indigenous healing traditions such as hilot and kawa baths with modern longevity programs. The Department of...
5 of the Best Hotels in Tokyo for Architecture and Design
Tokyo’s boutique hotel scene is gaining global attention, with the Michelin Guide naming five design‑focused properties that span from budget‑friendly to luxury. BnA_WALL turns each room into a living artwork, while K5 swaps televisions for vinyl players to encourage slower...
Singapore Airlines Huge Growth: Record 128 Weekly Flights To Europe For 2026
Singapore Airlines announced a record 128 weekly flights to Europe for the winter of 2026, covering 15 European cities. The schedule adds eight new weekly services, introduces direct flights to Barcelona and a tagging service to Madrid, and boosts the...
Thailand Considers Suspending BOLT Ride Sharing Over “Compliance and Safety Concerns”
Thailand’s Digital Economy Ministry is moving to withhold BOLT’s operating licence after the ride‑hailing firm failed to meet mandated driver vetting and safety standards. The Department of Land Transport warned that the current licence expires on May 31 2026, and a 90‑day...
Flying Food Group Launches Service on LOT Polish Airlines SFO Route
Flying Food Group has begun providing in‑flight catering for LOT Polish Airlines’ new nonstop San Francisco‑Warsaw route, which launched on May 6. The service operates four times weekly, marking LOT’s first direct flight between the two cities and expanding Flying Food’s partnership...
Bits: Air France Upgrades Premium, £150 KLM Cashback, TfL Wants to Boost Heathrow
Air France is revamping its premium‑economy second‑meal service on flights longer than seven hours, replacing the basic "Bon Appétit" bag with a full tray offering breakfast, sandwiches or salad depending on time and duration. A new American Express promotion gives...
Save 15% on Reward Nights at New IHG Hotels
IHG One Rewards has broadened its 15% discount on reward‑night redemptions to include newly added hotels, and the promotion now runs for six months instead of the previous three. The discount is displayed alongside the original price, which is crossed...
Leading Hotels of the World Selects Journey to Power Digital Services for 425 Luxury Properties
The Leading Hotels of the World (LHW) has named UK‑based hospitality platform Journey as its preferred digital partner, giving more than 425 member hotels in 80 countries access to web development, marketing and conversion tools. The move, part of LHW’s...
World Cup Hotel Bookings Underperform; Seattle Occupancy 7% Below Last Year
A new American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) survey shows roughly 80% of hotels in 2026 FIFA World Cup host cities are falling short of early booking expectations. Seattle’s State Hotel reports occupancy for June 2026 is 7% lower than...
U.S. Travelers Favor Conservation Trips Over Luxury Vacations in 2026
U.S. travelers are increasingly opting for conservation‑focused trips instead of traditional luxury vacations, with 76% of global respondents seeking adventure and 87% planning spontaneous local discoveries, according to the 2026 American Express Travel Trends Report. Industry groups say operators are...
Wyndham Deploys Native ChatGPT App Across 9,000 Hotels, Boosting AI Booking
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has launched a native ChatGPT application that lets travelers search and book across more than 9,000 hotels directly within OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The rollout is part of a $450 million technology program and makes Wyndham the first major...
Best Hotel Credit Card Offers Available Now — Including Bonuses Worth Up to $2,300
The latest roundup of hotel credit‑card offers spotlights high‑value welcome bonuses, with Marriott, Hyatt and IHG leading the pack. Marriott’s top‑tier Brilliant card delivers 200,000 points after $6,000 spend, while the Hyatt Business card grants 60,000 points for $5,000 spend,...
Scenic Unveils Extensive Discovery Yachts Voyages for 2028-29
Scenic has unveiled its most expansive Discovery Yachts program for 2028‑29, featuring voyages to over 600 ports in more than 100 countries across all seven continents. The fleet will include the newly introduced Scenic Ikon alongside Scenic Eclipse and Scenic...
Meritage Reports First Quarter 2026 Results; Margins Rising, Outlook Better
Meritage Hospitality Group reported a first‑quarter 2026 revenue decline to $132.6 million, a 14% drop year‑over‑year, while earnings from operations widened to a $10.6 million loss after one‑time closure and restructuring charges. The company closed roughly 60 Wendy’s locations and trimmed morning...
On the Nile, the US Quietly Re-Entered the Global Tourism Arena Through WTTC
The United States re‑entered global tourism leadership at the WTTC Leadership Cruise on the Nile, where Special Presidential Envoy for Tourism Nick Adams delivered his first international address. The new envoy role signals Washington’s shift to treating travel as a...
Primm Is Closing Forever FULL TOUR: Whiskey Pete’s, Buffalo Bill’s & The End of Roadside Vegas
The Primm resort complex, including Whiskey Pete’s, Buffalo Bill’s, and the Primm Valley casino‑hotel, is shutting down permanently after decades as Nevada’s iconic roadside gambling stop. The closure marks the end of a once‑busy I‑15 corridor that offered themed casinos, roller coasters,...