Know What's Happening in Hotels
Know What's Happening in Hotels
Easter 2026 drives hotel occupancy to pre‑pandemic highs across key markets
Travel bookings for Easter 2026 surged, pushing hotel occupancy in Europe, North America and Asia to near‑full levels and matching or exceeding pre‑COVID figures. The rebound was fueled by demand for spring destinations such as Italy’s Amalfi Coast, Spain’s Andalusia and Japan’s cherry‑blossom sites, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.
The Hotels Canada conference unveiled a rebranding that unites over 8,300 properties under a modern identity, highlighting the sector’s $74 billion in assets, 300,000 jobs and $12 billion in annual government revenue. New strategic pillars focus on stronger advocacy, partnerships, future‑focused leadership and financial resilience, aiming to influence Ottawa on issues like short‑term rentals and labour mobility. The event also showcased AI‑driven data tools such as Aurora AI and the Canadian Tourism Data Collective to improve market intelligence. Development pipelines remain robust, with 332 projects and 40 new hotels slated for 2026.
Eddie Flores Jr., the accidental franchisor of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, recounted the brand’s evolution from a single Honolulu drive‑in in 1976 to more than 235 locations across the U.S. and overseas. The chain’s Hawaiian identity, low‑cost franchise fee and word‑of‑mouth marketing...
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver has appointed Cole Millen as its new general manager. Millen, a Vancouver‑born hospitality professional, brings an MBA and extensive Fairmont experience, most recently leading the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald to its first Michelin One Key and Condé Nast Readers’ Choice...
Malta is expanding its tourism outreach by targeting two distinct segments: U.S. LGBTQ travelers attracted by the island’s progressive rights record, and high‑spending Chinese tourists drawn to its Mediterranean heritage and English‑speaking environment. The dual campaign blends Pride‑focused messaging with...
Germany’s transport sectors—aviation, rail and public transit—are experiencing a wave of strikes that have halted flights, trains and buses nationwide. The actions stem from unions demanding higher wages, better pensions and improved working conditions amid inflation and chronic staffing shortages....
The U.S. Department of Transportation has upgraded its Origin & Destination Survey from the legacy DB1B to DB1C. The overhaul expands the sample size to 40% of tickets, shifts reporting from quarterly to monthly, and adds advance‑purchase buckets, tax inclusion,...
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is moving from niche to mainstream in business aviation, offering a drop‑in replacement that cuts lifecycle carbon emissions by 75‑80%. At NBAA‑BACE 2025, Avfuel and Bombardier highlighted that a 30:70 SAF‑jet fuel blend delivers significant emissions...
In this episode, CMO Andrew Katz discusses the rapid growth of Athletic Brewing, the leading non‑alcoholic beer brand, and the broader shift toward wellness‑driven drinking habits. He explains how declining alcohol consumption, increased health awareness, and data‑driven lifestyle tracking are...
British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) announced a new Future Flight working group during its 50th‑anniversary conference. The group will focus on urban and regional air mobility, providing member consultation, regulator outreach, and technology integration. Led by BBGA vice‑chair...
Capstone Jet Charter has launched an on‑demand charter brokerage that emphasizes advisory evaluation over a simple aircraft marketplace. Led by veteran Victoria Reina‑Duffy and backed by Guardian Jet, the firm vets operators, maintenance records, and mission suitability before recommending flights....
Tourplan, a provider of software solutions for tour operators and destination management companies, announced the appointment of Eduard Liebenberger as its new chief technology officer. Liebenberger arrives with more than 25 years of technology leadership experience across New Zealand, Australia, Germany,...
Signature Aviation inaugurated a 433 sq m private aviation terminal at Glasgow Airport on March 16, featuring an expanded lounge, VIP area, meeting space, showers and a dedicated screening room. The opening ceremony included senior executives from both companies and highlighted charitable donations...
Talon Air, a New York‑based charter and management operator, has adopted MySky’s AI‑powered financial automation platform to streamline its accounting and sales functions as it expands its fleet. The company added 12 aircraft in 2025, bringing its managed fleet to...
Malaysia Airlines and Firefly rolled out fuel surcharges in phases from March 11 and March 25, while Batik Air Malaysia and AirAsia X have followed. Across Asia, carriers such as Cathay Pacific and IndiGo are taking similar steps, although Air...
#WhosNext? Hotel Room Service workers? #Robots are already being used in China to deliver food and other needed items from the kitchen to meeting rooms and customer rooms. #Robotics https://t.co/sEh7IqFCmi
Brazil’s aviation sector is entering a new era in 2026 as its three largest carriers—Azul, GOL and LATAM—have emerged from Chapter 11 restructurings, creating a more rational market landscape. The industry still wrestles with high fuel costs, extensive litigation and lingering...
College students can start earning travel rewards by using credit cards for tuition, rent, and everyday expenses. Strategic card selection—such as Citi Double Cash, Capital One Venture, or Bilt Rewards—lets them meet sign‑up bonuses while building credit. Leveraging shopping portals...
Austin‑Bergstrom International Airport is courting its first nonstop Asian service, with Korean Air and Delta executives meeting local officials to discuss a potential Austin‑Seoul route. The airline partnership could leverage Delta’s expanding presence at AUS and Korean Air’s existing Dallas‑Seoul...
American Airlines is rolling out a new digital feature across its mobile app and website that explains the reasons behind flight delays and cancellations. The update provides clear, reason‑based messages—weather, air‑traffic control, or operational issues—along with rebooking options, voucher eligibility,...
HotelTechReport unveiled its 2026 HotelTechIndex Market Leaders Report, the most comprehensive hospitality‑technology ranking built on 80,921 verified reviews from hoteliers in 152 countries. The study introduces the inaugural Shift Index™ that isolates ten macro trends reshaping hotel‑tech adoption, alongside the...
United Airlines and Marriott are urging advertisers to shift spend toward in‑flight and in‑room screens, arguing that travelers are most receptive while en route or staying at a destination. Both companies have built proprietary platforms—United’s Kinective Media and Marriott Media—that...
Wyndham Rewards will adjust award‑price categories for its hotels on April 15, 2026. Only 4% of properties will move to a higher tier, while 8% will drop to a lower tier, leaving roughly 88% unchanged. The company has not disclosed...
Marriott Bonvoy is offering up to 15,000 bonus points per night for stays at four London hotels through May 20 2026. Guests must enter promo code S2449 when booking and be Marriott Bonvoy members, which can be joined for free. The promotion...
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport announced the rollout of Enhanced Passenger Processing for U.S. citizens arriving on international flights. The system, developed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, uses photo‑matching technology to accelerate the CBP inspection process. Airport officials highlighted...
Audley Travel has launched the Audley Academy, an online training academy for travel advisors that awards participants the Audley Ambassador accreditation. Graduates receive a comprehensive sales‑and‑marketing toolkit, a $100 bonus gift card, and ongoing newsletters with product updates. Advisors who...
Hyatt Hotels Corp. announced a Southeast expansion of its Essentials portfolio, adding more than 30 new select‑service properties—including Hyatt Studios, Select, Place, and House—representing roughly 4,000 rooms. The pipeline targets fast‑growing secondary markets in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina...
Amid a turbulent month for U.S. aviation, two airports turned to used equipment to solve operational challenges. Waukesha County Airport sourced snowplows, blowers and sweepers from Minneapolis‑St. Paul, while Salt Lake City International acquired surplus shuttle buses from Denver International....
The Northeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives is hosting its 58th International Aviation Snow Symposium in Buffalo, NY, from April 24‑29. The conference blends practical, real‑world sessions with a volunteer‑driven, peer‑led format that emphasizes collaboration between airports,...
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Sailormen Inc., one of Popeyes' largest franchisees, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January, citing roughly $130 million in debt and mounting cost pressures. Since the filing, the company has shuttered 20 Popeyes restaurants across Florida and Georgia, reducing its portfolio to 116...
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CAVA launched its first Ohio restaurant, a 3,200‑sq‑ft venue in Cincinnati’s Oakley Station, offering dine‑in, digital pickup and delivery. The opening extends the chain’s Midwest push that began with Chicago and continued into Indiana and Michigan. In 2025 CAVA added...
Regional banks are re‑entering hotel financing, offering mid‑6% coupons and up to 70% loan‑to‑value on stabilized middle‑market assets. Deposit growth of roughly $900 billion since 2023 has restored banks' funding capacity, prompting a selective but aggressive lending approach. Compared with CMBS...
In January 2025 an Air Busan Airbus A321 caught fire on the tarmac in Busan after a passenger’s lithium‑ion power bank overheated, injuring seven people. The incident has intensified scrutiny of portable battery safety on aircraft. IATA recently issued new minimum...
TSA has rolled out its PreCheck® Touchless ID program to 58 airports, with a target of 65 by late spring. The service, available only to enrolled PreCheck members, uses facial recognition to verify identity without presenting an ID or boarding...
Intrepid Travel will restart its small‑group tours to Egypt on April 1 after pausing operations due to regional airspace disruptions caused by the conflict. While tours to Egypt resume, trips to Jordan and Oman stay suspended until at least April 15. The...
Recent research shows five London luxury hotels captured 57% of AI-driven travel recommendations, highlighting a winner‑take‑all distribution model. Google’s AI Mode appears to prioritize OTA partners, limiting direct‑booking visibility for many properties. Meanwhile, RoomPriceGenie’s revenue‑intelligence now embeds directly into 15...
Portillo’s announced the appointment of Jennifer Pecoraro‑Striepling as its new chief development officer, bringing more than 25 years of multi‑unit restaurant development experience from brands like Papa Johns and Miller’s Ale House. The hire follows a recent slowdown in Portillo’s...
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts announced its Trademark Collection soft‑brand has surpassed 100 operating hotels in the United States. The portfolio has doubled in size over the past five years, bringing the global total to nearly 350 properties with another 100...
Travelers often encounter hotels first on an online travel agency (OTA), turning the property into a line‑item among many rather than a distinct brand. The article argues that low direct bookings stem from this upstream introduction problem, not merely a...
Palace Hotel Tokyo has become the first Japanese‑owned and managed hotel to earn the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) certification, confirming compliance with 167 sustainability benchmarks. The hotel’s Eco‑Palace program integrates rigorous staff training, waste‑to‑compost initiatives, and a Sustainability Liaison...
Hospitality operators are turning to certified laundry detergents to dramatically lower allergen and chemical residue levels in linens, towels, and upholstery. The Asthma & Allergy Friendly Certification requires >95% allergen removal, non‑sensitizing ingredients, and VOC emissions below strict limits. When...
World of Hyatt's Guest of Honor perk is one of my favorite elite benefits in the hotel industry. Here's how it works, and why I value it so much. https://t.co/H8jzsLGU1A
Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux announced a new franchise partnership with Marriott franchisee Jamie Daniel of Daniel Hospitality and country music star Cole Swindell to open a Walk-On’s location on Broadway in Nashville, slated for 2027. The collaboration adds a high‑profile celebrity...
A LuxDirect CS7 study of 2,700 AI queries across 25 London luxury hotels found five properties captured 57% of AI recommendations. The concentration appears faster than early SEO trends and is independent of hotel size or brand, with a 26‑room...
Garner, IHG's midscale conversion brand, has opened 100 hotels worldwide since its August 2023 debut, making it the fastest‑scaling brand in the company’s history. A pipeline of roughly 80 additional properties will almost double its footprint, extending the brand to...
Sonic is adding three lightly caffeinated fruit refreshers—Strawberry Passionfruit, Mango Peach and Berry Citrus—to its permanent menu on March 23, available in still and sparkling formats for $2.99. Each 20‑ounce drink contains about 45 mg of caffeine, a green‑tea base, and...
Coco Wolf was chosen to outfit the exterior spaces of Oceanus, a luxury villa on Mustique, with a fully bespoke collection that mirrors the interior aesthetic while withstanding the island’s harsh climate. Each piece is handcrafted in Britain from responsibly...
Starling Aerospace will debut its new SA‑designated seat family at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, featuring the economy‑focused SA4000, the premium modular SA5000, and the ultra‑luxury rotating SA6000 for private jets. The lineup emphasizes weight efficiency, advanced connectivity, and...
Red Roof announced that 2025 was a transformative year, positioning the brand for profitable growth through operational excellence, technology upgrades, and heightened franchise demand. The company lifted market share, with The Red Collection gaining 2% and Red Roof Inn 1.1%,...
Choice Hotels’ Ascend Collection has crossed the 500‑property threshold, highlighted by recent openings such as The Harrison Hotel in Florida and The Gould Hotel in New York. The brand now boasts a pipeline of 70 additional properties in key U.S....
Empiria Group will launch Eréma, a Design Hotels member, on June 15, 2026, marking its first property on Milos and expanding its presence in the Cyclades. The 41‑suite resort, designed by Athens‑based Laboratorium, integrates volcanic stone, marble and earth tones...
