Know What's Happening in Hotels
Know What's Happening in Hotels
Proper Hospitality and Realberry lock $298M financing for Cal Neva redevelopment
Proper Hospitality and Realberry have secured a $298M financing package to redevelop the historic Cal Neva Hotel into the Lake Tahoe Proper Resort and Casino, slated to open in 2027. The capital stack includes a $223M C‑PACE loan from Nuveen Green Capital, the largest ever in Nevada, and a $75M senior secured construction loan from Banc of California.
AIDA Cruises announced that four of its vessels will undergo Evolution upgrades over the next year, targeting both guest experience and environmental performance. The program introduces energy‑efficient propulsion, advanced waste‑management systems, and carbon‑reduction technologies alongside revamped cabins, expanded dining venues, and upgraded entertainment hubs. By integrating greener operations with luxury amenities, AIDA aims to set a new benchmark for sustainable cruising. The upgrades position the brand to meet rising demand from eco‑conscious travelers while reinforcing its market leadership.
Uber announced the launch of Uber Elite, a premium chauffeur‑service offering pre‑screened drivers and higher‑end vehicles. The service targets business travelers and high‑spending consumers in major metropolitan markets. Uber Elite will be priced above standard UberX rides and will initially...
Mobile upselling has become a core revenue driver in hospitality, shifting the guest journey from the front desk to the smartphone. By delivering hyper‑personalised offers before arrival and during the stay, hotels capture high‑intent moments and boost ancillary spend. Best‑practice...
Kelowna International Airport (YLW) announced a call for Expressions of Interest from lounge operators to design, develop, and manage a new common‑use premium lounge. The airport will provide a full EOI package through its website, allowing interested parties to submit...
Thomas Cook India will demerge its resort business into subsidiary Sterling Holiday Resorts Ltd, transferring six Nature Trails properties that generated ₹70 crore in revenue during the first nine months of FY2026. The split is intended to streamline the capital structure,...
Sacramento International Airport (SMF) inaugurated three new dining concepts in Terminal A, marking the first local‑brand offerings in the facility. The venues—Magpie Café, New Helvetia Brewing Co., and Centro Cocina—will be operated by HMSHost under a partnership that blends national...
Automated Retail Technologies (ART) has introduced four 24/7 Just Baked snack kiosks at Charleston International Airport, operated by Evolvending. The kiosks feature distinct brand concepts, including White Castle, Wow Bao, a sweets theme, and a café theme. ART and Evolvending have...
Hyde Park Hospitality has promoted Cortez Carter to president, tasking him with leading the firm’s airport practice. Carter, who joined the company in April 2022 as executive vice president, will focus on domestic growth of its food‑and‑beverage, retail and lounge...
Hotels that attempt to hide or block negative guest reviews risk long‑term brand damage and legal exposure. The article from GuestRevu explains why suppressing criticism is ineffective in the age of ubiquitous online platforms. It outlines seven reasons to accept...
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Chick‑fil‑A will break ground on a $50 million distribution and warehouse facility in Lubbock, Texas, slated for May. The site, positioned near Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, will store and ship food and related products to the chain’s restaurants across the region....
MGM Resorts International allocated a $500,000 grant to support Southern Nevada Water Authority’s cash‑for‑grass program for its 55,000 employees. The initiative subsidizes turf removal, smart irrigation controllers, leak detectors and low‑flow fixtures, resulting in more than 100 residential projects and...
Hyatt has circulated a survey to select World of Hyatt elite members that signals sweeping program revisions slated for 2027‑2028. The potential changes include a new tier above Globalist, the removal of free parking and resort‑fee waivers, revamped award structures...
Luxury hotel gift cards have emerged as a sophisticated alternative to material presents, offering recipients curated experiences at top‑tier resorts worldwide. The article highlights five premier brands—Aman, Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons, Rosewood, and Six Senses—detailing each card’s flexibility, denominations, and...
Royal Caribbean is adding its first Southern Hemisphere private destination, Royal Beach Club Lelepa, to its 2027‑2028 Australia season. The all‑inclusive beach club, located in Vanuatu, will be featured on all South Pacific itineraries departing from Sydney and Brisbane starting...
Tambourine launched Reserv Encore Multi-Property, a new booking engine that lets guests compare and reserve rooms across multiple hotels on a single page. The tool targets hotel clusters, mega‑resorts and collections, offering a unified link, advanced filters and conversion‑focused messaging....
Chicago’s city council voted 30‑to‑18 to freeze the city’s tip credit at 24% of the minimum wage, keeping the tipped minimum at $12.62 per hour. Mayor Brandon Johnson announced he will veto the ordinance, arguing that the stepwise elimination of...
Concord Hospitality announced a 2026 expansion of its full‑service management portfolio, opening the Hilton Jacksonville at Mayo Clinic and assuming control of South Shore Harbour Resort & Conference Center, Texas’ largest waterside resort. The company also grew its Opus Collection,...
Canary Technologies’ 2026 global study shows hotels moving from AI experimentation to full‑scale implementation. Seventy‑one percent of hospitality IT leaders say AI is already transformative, while 85% plan to devote at least 5% of their IT budgets to AI tools...
Los Angeles raised the minimum wage for hotel workers to $22.50 an hour in July 2025, a step toward a $30 target in 2028. Early data show more than 650 workers have been laid off and many hotels are raising...
The Rainmaker Company announced the appointment of Debra Centurion as Director of New Business Development. Centurion brings over 30 years of hospitality sales experience, including leadership of her own consulting firm that represented FF&E manufacturers. Her expertise spans hotel brands,...
The U.S. hotel sector posted solid year‑over‑year gains for the week of March 8‑14, according to CoStar data. Occupancy rose to 65.7%, ADR climbed to $167.97, and RevPAR jumped 5.6% to $110.29. San Francisco posted the strongest performance, with occupancy up 22.1%...
Hospitality operators are increasingly adding electric‑vehicle (EV) charging stations as a differentiating amenity, mirroring the evolution of Wi‑Fi and complimentary breakfast. Recent surveys show that EV‑ready hotels attract more bookings, especially from the growing segment of eco‑conscious travelers. Property owners...
Nigeria's Binani Air obtained an air operator’s certificate for scheduled domestic flights from the NCAA on 17 March. The certification marks the first fully woman‑owned airline in Nigeria, led by Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani. Binani Air already holds an...
Munich Airport has earned Level 4 certification under the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme, confirming its alignment with the Paris Agreement and its commitment to net‑zero emissions by 2035. The certification requires absolute reduction targets for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions and...
Annua Signature Hotels announced the June 1, 2026 opening of Gran Hotel Margalida, its fifth boutique property. The 29‑room oceanfront resort sits above the cliffside village of Banyalbufar on Mallorca, offering Mediterranean‑inspired design and panoramic sea views. Architects Álvaro Onieva...
Criterion Capital announced that its Zedwell capsule‑hotel brand will convert the historic 48 Coney Street in York into a new property. The grade‑II‑listed mock‑Tudor building will join recent Zedwell openings in Oxford and London, where the company launched the world’s...
United Airlines mistakenly emailed its entire flight‑attendant workforce of about 30,000, announcing a transfer to its London Heathrow base. The error was corrected within 30 minutes, relieving most crew members who were not slated for the rare overseas move. United...
Chicago’s City Council approved a hike in the combined city, county and state hotel tax from 17.5% to 19% for properties with 100 or more rooms. The extra revenue will seed a Tourism Improvement District that finances Choose Chicago’s marketing...
Marriott’s Bevy® American Express card carries a $250 annual fee and grants Gold elite status, 15 elite nights and a free‑night award after $15,000 spend. The newer Brilliant® American Express card costs $650 but delivers Platinum status, 25 elite nights,...
Bonchon, the Dallas‑based Korean fried chicken chain, has hired industry veteran Blas Escarcega as chief development officer to drive its U.S. expansion. Escarcega brings over 20 years of franchise development and real‑estate expertise and will oversee market planning, site selection,...
Ker & Downey Africa is redefining ultra‑luxury travel in Africa by turning the continent into a repeat‑visit destination for high‑net‑worth guests. The Cape Town firm blends classic safaris with wine tastings, balloon flights and gorilla treks, all delivered through discreet airport...
India’s Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru has been named the ‘Best Regional Airport in India & South Asia’ for the third year running at the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2026. The airport also rose to 41st place globally, up from...
Singapore Airlines (SIA) will operate its Airbus A380 on Singapore–Melbourne flights from March 29 to October 24, 2026, replacing the Boeing 777-300ER on this service. SIA’s A380 aircraft are configured with 471 seats, comprising six Suites, 78 in Business Class, 44...
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has extended the suspension of its Singapore-Dubai flights to April 30, 2026 and will add more flights to London Gatwick from 3x weekly (March 31-July 02) to daily flights (July 3-Aug 29). The flights will revert back...
Hospitality operators across Asia are overhauling HR structures to address a deepening talent shortage, shifting focus from external hiring to retaining existing staff. Marriott International has launched an integrated cross‑training program that enables employees to work across multiple departments and...
Tunis is experiencing a cultural surge as tourism rebounds toward pre‑pandemic levels, with 6.4 million visitors recorded in 2022. Visa‑free entry for the US, Canada and most EU nations, coupled with a favorable exchange rate, makes the city an affordable destination....
Hospitality brands are turning to localized influencer campaigns to amplify reach and drive bookings. In 2025, a targeted strategy using travel‑focused creators lifted a hotel’s social following by 24%, while 71% of travelers reported greater booking intent after seeing authentic...
Access Hospitality, the hospitality‑technology arm of The Access Group, has appointed Aravinda Gollapudi as Chief Technology Officer. Gollapudi, a veteran of Sage, Intuit, Ellie Mae and VeriSign, will steer the company’s global technology strategy, emphasizing agentic AI to create a...
andBeyond is adding two ultra‑luxury Under Canvas camps—Sandibe and Nxabega—in Botswana, slated to open in March 2026 with three‑tent configurations and all‑inclusive rates starting at $580 per person. The company also announced the July 2026 re‑opening of Phinda Vlei Lodge...
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises unveiled two new Super Ships—S.S. Audrey and S.S. Marlene—set to launch in 2027. The Audrey, inspired by Audrey Hepburn, will sail from 16 April on a Rhine‑Holland itinerary, while the Marlene, echoing Marlene Dietrich, departs 27 March on a Tulips & Windmills...
Sydney Airport has launched a revamped food precinct in Terminal 3, adding 11 new dining concepts ranging from coastal Italian to Cantonese dumplings, ramen, Mexican street fare and artisan coffee. The flagship venue, Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, brings its iconic...
Omeon Mykonos, a 38‑room adults‑only boutique, opens on April 30, 2026, positioning itself as a design‑led, wellness‑focused retreat on the island. Operated by SWOT Hospitality, the property blends Cycladic minimalism with private pools, spa‑centric amenities and curated Mediterranean dining. It...
Frankfurt Airport has deployed AI‑driven computer‑vision to monitor more than 30 turnaround events, delivering real‑time timestamps and predictive insights. The system provides unprecedented visibility, allowing precise crew and equipment deployment and improving aircraft ready‑time forecasts. Implementation emphasized human‑centred design, data...
Emirates has paused Skywards tier downgrades and extended the expiry of miles, Platinum upgrades, and Skywards+ packages until 30 June 2026 due to the Iran‑related travel disruption. The tier renewal window for members whose review dates fall between 31 March and 31 May has...
Etihad has rolled out business‑class fares to major Asian and Australian cities, with prices ranging from £1,562 to £2,549 and a booking deadline of 24 March. Hyatt opened Masana Algarve, a 33‑suite, 4‑star resort in Olhos de Água, expanding its Destination by...
East Japan Railway Company has launched an expanded JR East Pass covering the Tohoku, Nagano and Niigata regions. The new product consolidates the former Tohoku and Nagano‑Niigata passes, offering unlimited travel on Shinkansen, limited‑express, local trains and selected partner lines...
Club Med announced that reservations for its first East Malaysia resort, Club Med Borneo, will open on March 24, with the property slated to welcome guests beginning November 16, 2026. The beachfront resort in Kuala Penyu, Sabah, spans 17 hectares and will feature 400...
Linstol announced the addition of Sound by Bose headphones to its inflight entertainment portfolio, bringing a globally recognized audio brand onto aircraft cabins. The partnership leverages Bose’s premium acoustic technology alongside Linstol’s airline‑specific integration expertise. The new offering will be...
Ryanair remained Europe’s largest airline group in 2025, transporting 206.4 million passengers, its seventh consecutive year at the top. The airline’s lead over Lufthansa Group, the second‑largest carrier with 135.0 million passengers, widened to 71.4 million, surpassing the combined traffic of all but...
Riyadh Air is set to launch a bespoke onboard bedding collection created with luxury textile maker John Horsfall. The range includes a bolster cushion, wool‑blend throw, dual‑sided pillows with cooling and warming options, and duvets filled with Re‑Thread® recycled material....
