Today's Hotels Pulse
Business Travel to the U.S. Powered by Key International Hubs
A Business Traveller analysis maps the countries and cities that generate the most business travel to the United States, underscoring their impact on hotel demand.
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By the numbers: Airbnb leads $58M Series C in WeRoad
How Hotels Are Maximizing Ancillary Revenue for Total Profit
Hospitality operators are shifting focus from RevPAR to total profit per guest by expanding ancillary revenue streams such as upgrades, spa services, and curated experiences. New metrics like Total Revenue per Guest (TRevPG) and Revenue per Available Guest (RevPAG) help quantify these gains. Digital tools now automate pre‑arrival and in‑stay upsell offers, delivering personalized, timely promotions. Personalization based on booking type and guest preferences is driving higher conversion rates and offsetting rising operating costs.
From Booking to Boarding: How Capital One Is Redefining the Modern Travel Journey
Capital One has launched a dedicated travel app that unifies flight and hotel bookings, rewards, lounge access, and real‑time flight updates into a single platform. The move brings its travel technology, supplier relationships, and talent in‑house, allowing deeper personalization and...
Days Inn by Wyndham London Reveals Newly Renovated Guestrooms
Days Inn by Wyndham London has finished a year‑long guestroom renovation, investing $500,000 to upgrade carpets, furniture, paint and décor. The upgrades aim to boost comfort and appeal for modern travelers. General manager Sumit Judge highlighted the project as part...
U.S. Travel Spending Expected to Reach Record Levels Through 2027
The U.S. Travel Association forecasts record travel spending of $1.37 trillion in 2026, climbing to $1.42 trillion by 2027, driven primarily by domestic leisure demand that accounts for 87% of all expenditures. Domestic leisure travel alone is projected to reach $909 billion in...
Dumbleton Hall Reopens After Two-Year Restoration
Dumbleton Hall, a Grade II‑listed manor in the North Cotswolds, has reopened after a two‑year restoration under new ownership. The 16‑acre estate now offers 34 individually designed bedrooms and suites, plus communal spaces such as a Drawing Room, Library Bar and...
United Now Lets Flyers Pay for Lyft Rides With Miles
United Airlines expanded its MileagePlus program to let members pay for Lyft rides directly with miles, marking the first U.S. airline‑rideshare mileage redemption. The feature works for everyday, airport, and premium Lyft services, with options to cover the full fare...
Hawaii Pushes Visitors to Volunteer with Mālama Hawaiʻi Programme
The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority is intensifying promotion of its five‑year‑old Mālama Hawaiʻi volunteer scheme, listing 1,393 activities from beach clean‑ups to tree planting. The push follows recent tax hikes and a 2023 wildfire that sparked a rethink of tourism’s impact...
IHG Global RevPAR Rises 4.4% in Q1 Amid Demand in China and US
IHG Hotels & Resorts posted a 4.4% rise in global RevPAR for Q1 2026, driven by strong demand in China and the United States. The chain opened 82 hotels—adding 14,900 rooms—and now operates over 7,000 properties worldwide, a 2% year‑over‑year...
Berkshire Hathaway's Omaha Shareholder Meeting Sees 30% Attendance Drop Without Buffett
Berkshire Hathaway held its annual shareholder meeting in Omaha last weekend without Warren Buffett, drawing about 30% fewer participants—roughly 28,000 versus the usual 40,000. The dip, attributed to the leadership transition to Greg Abel and broader travel headwinds, hit local...
Luxury Independent Boutique Hotels Hit Top Performance in 2025
Bardoul Hotel Advisors’ 2026 Boutique Hotel Report shows US luxury independent boutique hotels hit record demand and revenue in 2025, outpacing traditional hotel peers. Revenues rose 6% while the segment posted a 34% ADR premium, with average daily rates reaching...
Virgin Records Sails Into Cruise Market with Virgin Voyages Partnership
Virgin Records has teamed up with Virgin Voyages to embed its music heritage into the cruise line’s flagship ship, Brilliant Lady. The collaboration rolls out 25-plus curated music zones, live shows and a memory‑first brand experience, marking the label’s first...
California’s $3.8 Billion Hotels‑to‑Housing Program Shows Mixed Early Results
California’s $3.8 billion Homekey program has produced both rapid successes and costly failures as nonprofits convert motels into permanent housing. Early data reveal a thriving pilot in Los Angeles alongside a $9 million Travelodge that remains empty after five years, raising questions...
Luxaviation UK Adds Challenger 604 as Fleet Expansion Continues
Luxaviation UK has added a Bombardier Challenger 604 to its charter fleet, marking the fourth aircraft introduced in 2026 and basing it at London Stansted Airport. The jet seats up to 11 passengers, offers a 4,000‑nm (7,408 km) range, a stand‑up cabin,...
UKH Calls on Govt for Targeted Energy Support
UKHospitality (UKH) has written to the chancellor outlining six targeted measures to ease soaring energy costs for hospitality firms. The proposals call for mandatory new contracts from suppliers, caps on deposits, reduced non‑commodity charges, and a halt to additional levies...
Grovy Developers Signs with Wyndham to Bring Ramada Residences to Dubai Islands
Grovy Developers has signed a partnership with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts to launch Ramada Residences by Wyndham on Dubai Islands, with USquare as development partner. The branded‑residence project will comprise one‑ to four‑bedroom apartments and penthouses, slated for handover in...
Singapore Updates Approach to Guide Tourism Businesses Towards Tech Transformation
Singapore’s Tourism Board (STB) has upgraded its Tcube innovation platform into a Tcube Centre of Excellence (CoE), a one‑stop hub that helps tourism firms scale proven digital solutions. The CoE shifts from a Learn‑Test‑Build model to a Learn‑Test‑Scale approach, focusing...
Italy Air Traffic Controller Strike May 11, 2026 – 38% Flight Canceled
On May 11, 2026 Italy faced an eight‑hour strike by air‑traffic controllers and EasyJet pilots and cabin crew, disrupting the national air‑transport network. ITA Airways cancelled roughly 38% of its scheduled flights, primarily short‑haul routes, while guaranteeing service during early‑morning,...
Club Quarters to Operate Sherry Frontenac Hotel in Miami Beach
Club Quarters announced it will operate Miami Beach’s historic Sherry Frontenac Hotel as its first third‑party management property in the market. The 269‑room Art Deco hotel, opened in 1947, offers ocean and city views, direct beach access, a pool, spa,...
Hampus Thunholm Swaps Röda Huset for Bangkok
Hampus Thunholm, founder of Stockholm’s acclaimed cocktail bar Röda Huset, has been appointed director of food and beverage at The Norm in Bangkok. He left Röda Huset in January 2026 after shaping its Scandinavian‑flavored cocktail program. The Norm is a newly...
How to Seed Sustainability Throughout Your Hotel Business
Hospitality accounts for roughly 15% of the UK’s greenhouse‑gas emissions, prompting hotels and B&Bs to adopt greener practices ahead of the government’s 2050 Net‑Zero target. Travelers are increasingly eco‑conscious—87% say they want sustainable options—so operators are looking for low‑cost tweaks...
WTTC Welcomes U.S. Tourism Envoy Nick Adams for First Global Address
The World Travel & Tourism Council hosted U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Tourism Nick Adams for his inaugural global address. Adams outlined a vision to draw 100 million visitors to the United States by 2030 and emphasized public‑private collaboration, policy reform,...
Airbnb Q1 2026 Earnings: $2.7bn Revenue and Brian Chesky’s Plan
Airbnb posted Q1 2026 revenue of $2.7 billion, an 18% year‑on‑year increase, alongside $1.7 billion in free cash flow and $160 million net income. The cash surplus is funding a push beyond home rentals into services, experiences, boutique hotels, major‑event listings and AI‑driven...
Orlando Welcomed Record 76.7 Million Visitors in 2025, Remaining No. 1 Most Visited US Destination
Visit Orlando reported a record 76.7 million visitors in 2025, a 1.8% increase over the previous year, keeping the city the nation’s most‑visited destination. Domestic travel drove the growth, reaching 70.3 million trips with 70% of those travelers staying overnight. International arrivals...
Vietnamese Ministries Back Vietnam’s First International Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Summit
Vietnam staged its first international Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) summit in Da Nang, drawing roughly 70 participants from airlines, fuel producers, financiers and government bodies. The Asia SAF Association (ASAFA) signed two memoranda of understanding with the Agency for Innovation, Green...
Why the Bucket List Is Getting in the Way of Meaningful Adventure
Jacada Travel reports a decisive shift among high‑net‑worth travelers away from traditional bucket‑list checklists toward decade‑spanning, purpose‑driven itineraries. In the past year, 23% of its clients are simultaneously planning multiple trips, compressing planning cycles while extending the travel horizon. The...
Journey Latin America Champions the Rise of Slow Travel in Colombia
Journey Latin America is promoting slow‑travel experiences across Colombia’s six distinct regions, offering seven curated itineraries that emphasize immersion, culture, and nature. The tours range from multi‑day river cruises on the Magdalena to coffee‑farm stays, self‑drive adventures, and off‑the‑beaten‑track journeys...
Patina Maldives, Fari Islands Partners With Oskia for a High-Tech Bioactive Spa Experience
Patina Maldives, Fari Islands has partnered with British nutri‑cosmeceutical brand OSKIA to introduce a high‑tech bioactive spa experience, the first of its kind in the Maldives. The collaboration adds a menu of four OSKIA facial treatments, several specialized body massages,...
Motorcycle Touring Gains Ground in Southern Thailand Showcase
The Tourism Authority of Thailand teamed with Harley‑Davidson Asia for a three‑day media familiarisation tour in early May, spotlighting Hat Yai, Songkhla and Phatthalung as a new motorcycle‑touring corridor. The trip brought together journalists, content creators and motorcycle‑lifestyle influencers from Malaysia,...
Malaysia Airlines, Tourism New Zealand to Support Travel Demand
Malaysia Airlines and Tourism New Zealand have signed a two‑year partnership to jointly market New Zealand to Asian travelers, especially Malaysians. The collaboration will promote nature‑based, adventure and cultural experiences to young professionals, groups and experience‑seeking tourists. Malaysia Airlines currently operates ten...
Oceania Cruises Expands Commissionable Earnings for Travel Advisors
Oceania Cruises announced that, starting with its 2028 programme, it will eliminate non‑commissionable cruise fares on all newly launched sailings. The change means commission rates will be calculated on the full cruise price for travel advisors, simplifying the payout structure....
Emirates Restores Global Network Following Disruption
Emirates has restored 96% of its global network, now serving 137 destinations across 72 countries with over 1,300 weekly flights, roughly 75% of its pre‑disruption capacity. Between March 1 and April 30 the airline carried 4.7 million passengers despite a reduced...
Ahãma Living, a Natural Retreat Nestled Under the Trees on Turkey’s Fethiye Riviera, Is Now Open
Ahãma Living, a forest‑set luxury retreat on Turkey’s Fethiye Riviera, opened its first full season offering 29 guest houses, 30 cabanas and a private two‑bedroom villa. The resort is built around rare sigla trees, with tree‑house‑style architecture, floor‑to‑ceiling windows and...
Bits: Hilton Launches Its Summer Sale, New Benefits for GHA and Blacklane Customers
Hilton has launched a summer sale targeting weekend stays in Europe and Africa, offering up to 20% off its Best Flexible Rate for members and up to 15% for non‑members. Bookings must be made by 3 September 2026, with stays completed...
Thailand Raises International Departure Tax By 50% To 1120 Baht From June 20, 2026
Thailand’s Airports of Thailand (AOT) will raise the international departure tax from 730 baht to 1,120 baht (about $31) per passenger, effective June 20 2026, across six major airports including Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket and Hat Yai. The increase, a 50% jump, is automatically...
Disney Parks Thrive as Experience Spending Beats Gas Costs
Disney theme parks showing some strength, perhaps counterintuitively, even as gas prices put a dent in disposable income. People are willing to pay for experiences, and that’s exactly what Disney excels at.
Bits: No More Priority Pass Lounges at Doha, Loganair Drops Dundee, Cheap Seoul Flights
Priority Pass lounges at Doha’s Hamad International Airport will cease operations on May 15, leaving American Express holders without lounge access while sleep‑pod experiences stay available. Loganair announced it will terminate its twice‑daily Heathrow‑Dundee service on September 18, citing insufficient subsidy,...
Mexican Airlines Exude Cautious Optimism While Working to Determine Conditions in 1H2026
Mexican flag carrier Aeroméxico and low‑cost airline Volaris are reporting steady passenger demand despite recent fare hikes prompted by soaring fuel costs tied to the Iran conflict. Both carriers say demand remains resilient in the first half of 2026, but...
Video of the Week: From Airlines to Commerce Platforms – Aviation’s Next Profit Engine
Airlines are shifting from pure transport operators to consumer commerce and data platforms to boost thin margins. Ancillary services, loyalty monetisation, digital retailing and AI‑driven personalization now account for a growing share of revenue. The transition pushes carriers toward subscription...
Airbnb Is Seeing some of Its Fastest Growth From This Surprising Segment
Airbnb announced that its experimental boutique‑hotel listings are growing faster than its core home‑sharing business. The trial, though still small, is delivering double‑digit booking increases and is outpacing overall platform growth. The move comes as the Iran‑Ukraine conflict has dampened...
Accor Launches Mercure Tauranga, Its First NZ Brand, Expanding to 49 Hotels
Accor has opened Mercure Tauranga, its first internationally branded hotel in the city, converting the former Hotel Armitage into an 80‑room Mercure. The opening lifts Accor’s New Zealand footprint to 49 hotels and signals confidence in the Bay of Plenty’s tourism...
Save $20 On TSA Pre✓ — But…
Travelers under 30 can save $20 on a five‑year TSA Pre✓ membership by enrolling before May 31, 2026. The discounted fee drops to $36.75‑$45.00 depending on the provider—CLEAR, IDEMIA, or Telos—down from the standard $56.75‑$65.00. Eligibility requires first‑time enrollment, age under 30,...
United Airlines To Contest JetBlue & Delta’s Fort Lauderdale Share With New Los Angeles Route
United Airlines announced a new Fort Lauderdale‑Los Angeles service launching on October 25, initially offering five weekly flights and scaling to twice‑daily by December 17. The route targets the winter leisure surge and fills the void left by Spirit Airlines’ collapse. United’s move...
Gategroup and Lufthansa Create a New Global Benchmark for Long-Haul Onboard Experience
Lufthansa has globally launched its Future Onboard Experience (FOX), a two‑year transformation of long‑haul service that rolls out across First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy classes. The program, developed with gategroup, centers on personalization, comfort and "Signature Moments" and features...
Ambergris Cay Expands Quiet Luxury With New Waterside Bungalows
Ambergris Cay, the 1,100‑acre private‑island resort in Turks and Caicos, launched 12 new Waterside Bungalows in June 2026, extending its low‑density, “water‑forward” luxury concept. The one‑ and two‑bedroom units span 1,600‑2,200 sq ft, feature floor‑to‑ceiling glass walls, heated plunge pools and direct...
Hyatt's Room Mishaps End with Surprisingly Comfy Sheets
Hyatt Guest Got A Broken Room, Then An Occupied Room — And Finally Slept On These Sheets - View from the Wing https://t.co/e5lML4yyeQ
Hyatt Guest Got A Broken Room, Then An Occupied Room — And Finally Slept On These Sheets
A family staying at Hyatt Place Columbia/Harbison in South Carolina was shuffled through three rooms, ending in a third that appeared clean but housed a heavily stained comforter. The first room suffered a broken AC, a running toilet, and general...
Virgin Atlantic Becomes First Airline With a ChatGPT App
Virgin Atlantic has become the first airline to launch a dedicated app inside ChatGPT, letting travelers search for flights using plain‑language queries. The AI‑driven interface returns a concise list of options and then routes users to Virgin’s website or mobile...
Miami Beach Rolls Out New Hotels, Dining and Events for 2026 Travel Season
Miami Beach announced a portfolio of new hotels, high‑profile dining concepts and immersive cultural events for the 2026 travel season. The rollout, led by the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority, is designed to attract luxury travelers and extend demand...
DIAMO Wins RMS Platform of the Year at 2026 TravelTech Breakthrough Awards
DIAMO, an AI‑driven revenue management and digital marketing platform for independent hotels, was named RMS Platform of the Year in the 4th annual TravelTech Breakthrough Awards. The accolade underscores the growing importance of automated pricing and marketing tools for smaller...
The Best Airline Credit Cards With Annual Fees Under $100
The article lists the top airline co‑branded credit cards that charge $100 or less annually, highlighting each card’s welcome bonus, earning rates, and travel perks. Cards include Delta SkyMiles Blue (no fee, 10,000 bonus miles), United Gateway (no fee, up to...