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.
U.S. hotel performance for the week of March 22‑28 showed solid year‑over‑year gains, with occupancy climbing to 66.8%, average daily rate (ADR) rising to $170.30, and RevPAR increasing 8.3% to $113.81. San Francisco led the top‑25 markets, posting a 26.5‑point occupancy jump to 83.6% and a 121% RevPAR surge to $283.76, driven by the RSA Conference. Denver posted the second‑largest improvements, boosted by the American Academy of Dermatology meeting. Overall, 18 of the 25 leading markets recorded higher RevPAR.
Dubai's ruler Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced a Dh1 billion ($272 million) stimulus that postpones government fees and tourism charges, targeting hospitality, tourism and other private‑sector firms. The move is designed to preserve growth momentum and protect jobs...
Margaritaville at Sea, launched in 2022, has grown from a single‑ship operation to a three‑ship fleet serving the Caribbean and Bahamas. The line added the Islander in summer 2024 and plans to debut the Beachcomber in Miami by early 2027,...
B&B Hotels has cemented its position as Europe’s largest budget hotel operator, now running 900 properties in 19 countries. The chain plans 57 new openings in 2025, concentrating growth in France, Germany, Italy and Spain while testing markets in the...
Haitang Bay in Sanya is expanding beyond its Russian visitor base by leveraging Hainan’s visa‑free policy, new air routes and cruise links, and a growing wellness‑tourism ecosystem. The district is integrating medical facilities such as CSPC Medical Park with luxury...
Motorhome tourism, once synonymous with the United States, is becoming a truly global phenomenon. While the U.S. still boasts iconic routes like Yellowstone and the Pacific Coast Highway, stricter visa policies and shifting perceptions are dampening foreign RV arrivals. Australia,...
ALL Accor is offering meeting planners double ALL points for events booked at Sofitel, Sofitel Legend, MGallery and EMBLEMS properties between April 1 and December 31, 2026. Members must register and can apply the bonus to up to three qualifying meetings, earning two...
Cape Town is expanding with the Granger Bay mixed‑use development reshaping the V&A Waterfront. New luxury options include Atzaró’s six‑suite boutique retreat and the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, which houses over 500 works. Visitors can experience authentic cuisine...
Swedish airport operator Swedavia reported that March 2026 saw close to 2.6 million passengers across its ten airports, marking a 5 % increase over the same month a year earlier. Both international and domestic travel contributed to the rise, with international traffic...
Best Western Plus Hotel Subic announced a P600‑million (≈$10.8 million USD) expansion to add a new building. The project will add 120 rooms, commercial spaces, a three‑floor parking garage, restaurants and parks, extending the existing five‑storey, 94‑room property. Construction is slated...
Literary‑themed travel is booming, with Pinterest searches for book‑retreat ideas soaring 265% and 32% of travelers choosing destinations cited in novels. Skyscanner reports 78% of travelers have booked or would consider a literature‑inspired trip, while its hotel “library” filter usage...
Premier Inn Middle East has launched dog‑friendly stays at its Dubai Al Jaddaf and Silicon Oasis hotels, allowing guests to bring dogs up to 15 kg for an additional AED 50 (~$13.5) per night. Each dedicated floor features pet‑specific amenities, a Doggy Welcome Pack, and...
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has launched six new immersive "Special Happens…" experiences across its global portfolio, organized into four themes: After Dark, In the Wild, Around the Table, and In the Spotlight. The offerings include a Great Wall helicopter tour...
Pixie Honeymoons has been reaffirmed as one of the United States’ top Sandals travel agencies, earning the Sandals Resorts Chairman’s Royal Club Platinum Elite status and the Executive Preferred Agency designation. These are the highest accolades Sandals offers to its...
Vietnam’s Sono Hotels & Resorts Asia has inked a management agreement with Binh Minh Urban Construction Investment to develop Sono Belle Hanoi Old Quarter, its first city‑hotel in the capital. The 56‑room, nature‑led urban lifestyle property is slated to open...
Airport retail theft is escalating as travel retail rebounds, with organized crime groups targeting high‑value items and generating annual shrink of $330,000‑$660,000 at major hubs. The offenses follow a coordinated “fly‑in, operate, fly‑out” model that exploits open‑plan terminals and rapid...
Virgin Atlantic has eliminated the carrier surcharge that previously lowered taxes and fees for its Saver reward tickets on UK‑origin flights. As a result, a round‑trip Upper Class Saver now costs an extra £400 (about $520) in taxes and charges...
In a guest column, Ethiopian Airlines’ Group VP of Customer Experience argues that the airline’s competitive edge now lies in delivering a seamless, end‑to‑end passenger journey rather than merely expanding fleet size or routes. He outlines how Ethiopian maps every...
Airlines are urged to adopt embedded payment systems that let passengers order and pay for onboard items directly from their devices, eliminating the need for crew‑mediated transactions. The column argues that friction—having to flag down crew, handle cards, or wait...
Restaurant HVAC is shifting from a basic utility to a strategic profit lever, especially in dense markets like New York City. Operators face volatile food and labor costs, making energy spend one of the few controllable line items. Expert Mike...
MAG Update: 2 new destinations + 1 resumption to Fukuoka all will be operated by Malaysia Airlines using its B737-8 aircraft from July-September. MAG President & CEO Captain Nasaruddin said depending on the demand to Fukuoka and timely delivery of...
Malaysia Aviation Group just announced 3 destinations today: Shenzhen, Changsha and Fukuoka More info to follow.
Radisson Rewards is offering a limited‑time bonus of 10,000 points—roughly US$19 in cash value—for prepaid stays at select UK hotels, with bookings due by April 14 and stays by May 18. Italian carrier ITA Airways officially joined the Star Alliance,...
Airbnb has rolled out private car pickup services in 125 cities across Asia, Europe and Latin America through a partnership with UK‑based Welcome Pickups. The move, part of a broader push into hotel‑style amenities, targets an additional $1 billion in annual...
Premium economy seats add five to seven inches of legroom and two to three inches of extra recline compared with standard economy, while offering wider cushions and upgraded amenities. Major U.S. carriers—Delta, American, and United—bundle these physical upgrades with perks...
Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has named Eric Pateman as Senior Vice President for North America, covering Canada, the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. Pateman arrives from Vancouver International Airport, where he served as Chief Experience Officer and helped the...
AirBaltic posted record revenue for 2025, yet recorded its sixth net loss in seven years, though the deficit narrowed versus 2024. The Latvian carrier operates a fleet of 53 Airbus A220‑300 aircraft, focusing on Baltic connectivity and expanding an ACMI...
The airline sector is confronting a new normal of relentless uncertainty, driven by escalating Middle East tensions that close airspace and extend flight routes, while volatile fuel prices squeeze already thin margins. Executives are shifting from reactive recovery tactics to...
Virgin Voyages has deployed its adult‑only ship Brilliant Lady to Los Angeles, marking the brand’s first West Coast homeport. The vessel arrived on April 6 after a 16‑day Panama Canal transit from Miami and will launch a wellness‑focused itinerary series. New onboard concepts...
US charter broker IsraJets announced the launch of its own air‑operator subsidiary, IsraFly, leveraging the FAA Part 135 certificate previously held by Crow Executive Air. The new carrier will initially operate a single 2006 Hawker 800XPi (N870TX) configured for nine passengers and...
Marriott Bonvoy and Ethiopian Airlines announced a new loyalty partnership that lets members earn and redeem points on flights to more than 60 African destinations. The program launches in June 2026 and includes a limited‑time offer of 10,000 bonus points...
The Wisconsin Center District is evaluating a 650‑room hotel linked to the Baird Center that could cost up to $455 million. Officials say rising interest rates and construction costs make public financing essential, igniting a debate over taxpayer risk versus tourism...
Booking sites (OTAs) give you the worst rooms in a hotel The best rooms go to members of the hotel loyalty programs Before I book directly I always sign up to their site and you're a member Just being a member when you...
The Port Authority and JFKIAT have selected JFK T4 Retail Partners LLC, a joint venture of global travel retailer ARI, Queens‑based International Shoppes, and five New York small businesses, to redesign and operate the duty‑free and specialty retail concessions in...
Luxury hotel chains are broadening their portfolios beyond traditional rooms, moving into aviation, rail and cruise experiences to capture affluent travelers. U.S. hotel performance rebounded in February and late March, led by San Francisco’s event‑driven occupancy and ADR gains, while New Orleans...
The Hampton Inn & Suites Selma‑San Antonio‑Randolph AFB has been placed on the market. The 150‑room limited‑service hotel, located off I‑35 near Randolph Air Force Base and The Forum at Olympia Parkway, completed a full 2024‑2025 renovation, leaving it with minimal near‑term capital needs. Ongoing...
Restaurants face a tightening labor market and immigration constraints, prompting many to consider applicants with criminal histories. Over 150 U.S. cities and counties now enforce Fair Chance or Ban‑the‑Box ordinances that limit blanket exclusions. The Department of Labor has allocated...
Radisson Hotel Group announced it now operates or has under development more than 100 hotels across Africa, marking a key milestone in its 2030 growth plan. In the past 12 months the brand signed over 15 new hotels, adding roughly...
Synect announced EventReady™, a modular airport‑wide passenger engagement platform designed to handle surges from upcoming mega‑events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. The solution overlays custom branding, multilingual wayfinding, AI‑driven assistance, and dynamic data feeds...
Sofitel London St James has finished a multi‑phase overhaul of its six signature suites, unveiling the new Suite 70 and the Opera Suite. The redesign was executed by Paris‑based interior‑architecture studio Pierre‑Yves Rochon, featuring bespoke furniture, custom textiles, and curated 1970s‑inspired art....
Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has appointed Eric Pateman as senior vice president for North America. Pateman previously served as chief experience officer at Vancouver International Airport and has advised governments, cities, and Fortune 500 companies while running several businesses. His blend...
Carnival Cruise Line’s private island Celebration Key in Grand Bahama has earned KultureCity’s sensory inclusion certification, becoming the first cruise destination worldwide to meet the nonprofit’s standards. The achievement caps a six‑year partnership that has equipped more than 400 team...
Travel company Trafalgar has launched a 60% discount Travel Advisor Rate for select 2026 European river cruise sailings. Advisors who complete Trafalgar’s Masterclass eLearning can book up to two cabins on the Best of the Rhine & Amsterdam and Best...
A new national survey of 633 U.S. hospitality leaders reveals an "inclusion paradox": most managers believe hiring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) improves reliability and culture, yet actual hiring remains low. The Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s pilot training...
American Express Membership Rewards will cease Etihad Guest transfers on June 30, 2026, giving members a final window until June 29 to move points. The change trims one of Amex’s many airline partners, though Etihad’s award program is already limited...
Delta Air Lines has partnered with The New York Times to provide SkyMiles members aged 18 and older with free, all‑access NYT content through its seat‑back entertainment system, Delta Sync. The offer grants up to 24‑hour access and can be used up to...
The Hotel Monroe in Monroe, Louisiana, has been certified by the Gluten‑Free Food Program and endorsed by the National Celiac Association as the United States’ first 100% gluten‑free, full‑service hotel. The certification covers every dining venue and event space, creating...
Delta Air Lines and Amazon’s Leo platform announced a partnership to embed next‑generation connectivity and digital services across Delta’s fleet, signaling a strategic shift from satellite‑based solutions like Starlink. Hyatt’s Under Canvas brand launched a limited‑time promotion that rewards glamping...
In this episode, Peter Renton interviews Jess Conroy, CEO and co‑founder of Roe, about the massive gap in financial infrastructure within the hospitality industry. Conroy explains how hotels still rely on manual, error‑prone processes to capture, reconcile, and track payments—from...
1 Hotel Tokyo, the first 1 Hotels property in Japan, opened in the Akasaka Trust Tower offering 211 rooms and panoramic city views. The luxury resort showcases biophilic design, reclaimed materials, and extensive greenery, reflecting both the brand’s nature‑led ethos...
