Know What's Happening in Hotels
Know What's Happening in Hotels
High‑end hotels revamp minibars with local, wellness‑focused offerings
Luxury properties are replacing traditional snack trays with curated selections such as locally sourced foods, handcrafted cocktails, wellness products and even pet‑friendly treats. Examples include Aman New York’s complimentary apothecary‑style cocktails and Equinox Hotels’ superfood bites, while The Largo in Porto adds a sommelier‑noted wine fridge.
Accor Live Limitless and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer are reviving a two‑way 50 % transfer bonus from March 10 to March 31, 2026. The promotion adds a third point to every nine KrisFlyer miles transferred to ALL and gives 1.5 miles for every two ALL points transferred back. While the bonus sounds generous, the underlying conversion rates translate to roughly one cent per KrisFlyer mile and require an unrealistically high mile valuation to justify the reverse direction. Canadian travelers have limited domestic sources for either currency, making the offer largely niche.
Chef Gabriel Kreuther launched Saverne, a 5,000‑square‑foot brasserie in Hudson Yards, on March 2. The restaurant features an open kitchen centered on wood‑fired grills using oak, cherry and apple wood. While retaining the precise technique and sourcing of his two‑Michelin‑starred eponymous...
At ITB Berlin, Infor innovation strategist David Poprawka warned that hospitality must first rebuild its fragmented data foundation before AI can deliver value. He argued that the industry’s AI disappointments stem from legacy systems, not the technology itself. Infor showcased...
Davidson Hospitality Group announced two senior appointments, naming Andrew Houghton as Senior Vice President of Luxury Operations and Scott Harrell as Vice President of Acquisitions and Business Development. Houghton will manage relationships with owners and brands while directly overseeing Ragdale...
The Shepherd Mayfair, part of the Elegant Hotel Collection, will open in summer 2026 with 82 bespoke guestrooms and suites across six floors. Designed by Timothy Shepherd, the interiors reinterpret 18th‑century Mayfair mansions using warm timber, blue accents, and red...
The Caribbean Tourism Organization, together with the Belize Tourism Board, will host the 17th Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development (STC 2026) in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize, from April 27‑30. Under the “Tourism in Full Color” theme, the event will integrate Blue,...
Korean Air announced it will acquire the remaining 80% stake in Korean Air C&D Service from Hahn & Company for an estimated KRW 750 billion, bringing the in‑flight catering and duty‑free business back under full ownership. The board approved the purchase...
Hotels traditionally rely on Google Ads for paid search, but the article argues that adding Microsoft Advertising (Bing Ads) can broaden reach and drive incremental direct bookings. Bing’s network, which includes Bing, Yahoo, and partner sites, captures a sizable share...
At ITB 2026 industry leaders highlighted that legacy batch‑based data pipelines are throttling revenue‑management and AI initiatives. Competitive intelligence feeds still refresh once daily, creating a lag that undermines dynamic pricing. Airlines cited the rise of NDC and low‑cost carriers...
Corinthia Hotels has launched its first Italian property, Corinthian Rome, in the central Campo Marzio district. Housed in a neoclassical palazzo that once served as the Italian central bank, the hotel preserves original mosaics, frescoes and marble details while adding...
Cross‑border youth travel between Canada and the United States has plunged, with 2025 vehicle trips down over 30%—the steepest decline since the post‑9/11 era. Airlines are responding by slashing hundreds of thousands of seats on Canada‑U.S. routes, driving prices higher...
HotelData’s 2025 Labor Costs & Trends report shows U.S. hotel wages rising sharply, with wage cost per occupied room (CPOR) climbing 12.8% year‑over‑year to $48.32. The acceleration intensified in Q4, where wage CPOR jumped 21.1% YoY, while hours per occupied...
Jackie Sturniolo has been appointed Senior Manager of Off‑Premise at Xperience Restaurant Group, overseeing catering, delivery, and takeout for its portfolio, including the El Torito brand. She focuses on building scalable off‑premise programs by leveraging technology partnerships, digital ordering platforms, and...
Ocra, an AI‑powered revenue management system for hotel parking, has partnered with TrackMyShuttle, a real‑time fleet visibility platform, to deliver an integrated solution for airport parking and shuttle operations. The joint offering combines Ocra’s dynamic pricing and distribution of underutilized...
Omni Hotels & Resorts launched its third Florida flagship, the 29‑story Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel. The waterfront property boasts 801 guest rooms, over 120,000 sq ft of meeting space and six dining venues, including the city’s highest bar, Ibis Sky Lounge. Direct...
Flight attendants at American Airlines, represented by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), have revived their strike‑ready red lanyards and pins to pressure CEO Robert Isom to step down after a recent vote of no confidence. The union’s “WAR”...
Minor Hotels announced the launch of its new Wolseley Hotels brand, debuting with The Wolseley Hotel New York slated for early 2027. The 76‑room flagship will sit beside Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan and host the first U.S. Wolseley restaurant,...
SITA’s new white paper argues that collaboration and data sharing among airports, airlines, rail, maritime and city transport authorities is essential to eliminate breakdowns at intermodal transfer points. It highlights that fragmented handovers cause passenger stress, operational blind spots and...
Restaurant operator Amanda Hyde has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer of Krystal, moving up from her role as Senior Vice President of Operations at parent company SPB Hospitality. Hyde brings more than two decades of multi‑unit restaurant leadership, previously...
Memphis International Airport announced four new nonstop passenger flights—Frontier to Las Vegas and Phoenix, Breeze to San Antonio, and Southwest to Austin—expanding its route network for 2024. The airport added 11 new destinations in 2025, its highest post‑Delta hub growth, and served...
IHG Hotels & Resorts appointed Michael Hoe‑Knudsen as managing director for Mexico, Latin America & the Caribbean, succeeding retiring leader Jorge Apaez. Hoe‑Knudsen brings three decades of global hospitality experience, most recently overseeing 120 managed hotels and 45 openings in...
Chili Shack, the Denver‑based fast‑casual chain, has promoted Elizabeth Orona from general manager to chief operating officer. Orona will steer the brand’s national franchise rollout, targeting up to 100 new locations over the next several years. The company currently runs...
New Skift research, commissioned by Hyatt Inclusive Collection, shows all‑inclusive vacations are gaining broad appeal. 87% of U.S. and Canadian consumers have stayed at or considered an all‑inclusive resort, with 84% of prior guests likely to return. Younger travelers drive...
London’s hospitality sector is bracing for a series of RMT‑led tube strikes that will hit 12 days between March and May, threatening severe disruption during a critical trading period. Access Hospitality warns that previous strikes slashed bookings by up to...
United Airlines has teamed with Netflix’s Chef’s Table series to launch a new Polaris business‑class dining program. Starting August 1, eleven world‑renowned chefs will craft ten regionally inspired meals, each featuring an appetizer, salad and entrée. The menus will debut on...
AI automation is reshaping travel marketing by turning static destination pages into dynamic, data‑driven experiences that adapt to live flight prices, weather, and user intent. Brands can now generate hundreds of pages weekly, but competitive advantage stems from structured data,...
Sweetgreen’s CEO Jonathan Neman announced a strategic pivot back to lifestyle branding, moving away from purely conversion‑driven marketing after a 13% sales decline in 2025. The chain is resetting its media mix, hiring a new agency and leveraging influencers, events,...
Travel demand in Asia‑Pacific is surging toward pre‑pandemic levels, with an estimated 430 million more passengers expected this year. However, the sector faces a hidden crisis: ad fraud, where bots account for up to 80% of invalid traffic for travel advertisers,...
At its annual conference, the Hotel Association of Canada announced a rebrand to Hotels Canada, unveiling a new name and visual identity. The organization now represents more than 8,300 hotels, accounting for over 300,000 jobs and $12 billion in annual government...
Everytable, the Los Angeles‑based food platform with 35 locations, announced a national franchise program aimed at single‑ and multi‑unit operators in California, Arizona and other Western markets. The model relies on a centralized commissary kitchen, allowing storefronts of 500‑1,400 sq ft to...
CLEAR (NYSE:YOU) unveiled a reimagined mobile app designed to streamline the entire travel journey from home to gate. The flagship "Know When to Leave" feature uses personal preferences, airport patterns, and traffic data to advise the optimal departure time. Integrated...
Travel apps are exploding across Asia as Generation Z, now 32% of the global population, prioritize experiential, budget‑conscious trips. Mobile platforms like Traveloka and Klook have captured the majority of young travelers, with 83% of APAC smartphone owners already installing...
Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s flagship carrier aligned with Vision 2030, has submitted an initial network for the 2026 summer season, outlining 15 prospective routes across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The airline already operates daily non‑revenue flights to London...
Restaurants are merging bold, maximalist design with operational efficiency to meet evolving guest expectations. The “death of beige” sees saturated colors, layered textures, and immersive storytelling replace minimalist aesthetics. Operators adopt food halls, selective technology, and 21+ bar concepts to...
Malaysia Airlines has extended the temporary suspension of its Doha flights until 20 March 2026 due to continued security developments in the region. The route was initially suspended from 28 Feb due to airspace closures. The airline said it is...
Marriott Bonvoy now lets members top off free night awards with up to 25K points, an increase of the previous limit of 15K points. This is good news, but... https://t.co/6Bpj4UV005
U.S. airlines largely skip premium‑economy on domestic flights because the class is tied to wide‑body, long‑haul aircraft and retrofitting costs run into millions. Instead they sell upgraded‑economy products like Comfort+, Economy Plus, and Main Cabin Extra that add legroom with minimal...
Marriott Made Free Night Certificates More Flexible — But You Still Need More Points To Book The Same Hotels - View from the Wing https://t.co/julDoiO9Oo
GHA Discovery is offering a paid status match promotion, which could be a great deal. This hotel loyalty program often flies under the radar, but it shouldn't. https://t.co/T5X03Pjogw
Audrey Goh has served as Executive Housekeeper at Halekulani in Honolulu since 1991, overseeing a team of more than 160 room attendants. The pandemic forced the department to lose 50 staff members, prompting a broadened recruitment strategy and intensive training...
Hospitality Reimagined: Smart Hotels Powered by Collaborative General-Purpose and Specialized #Robots via @ZappyZappy7 #EmergingTech #Technology #Innovation #Tech https://t.co/MQi0r9qqiE
Village Ways, a community‑based tourism initiative founded in 2005, now links over 30 villages from Uttarakhand to Kerala, offering low‑impact hiking stays in guesthouses rather than homestays. By distributing earnings equally among cleaners, porters and guides, the model has hosted...
At a London showcase, the Macao Government Tourism Office unveiled new multi‑destination travel packages linking Macao, Hong Kong and mainland China, aimed at European tourists. The event brought together UK travel trade, media and cultural partners, highlighting Macao’s blend of...
Air New Zealand will cancel over 1,100 flights by early May 2026, affecting roughly 40,000 passengers, as soaring jet‑fuel prices strain its finances. The price surge stems from geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, which have disrupted global oil supply...
Joby Aviation has begun flight testing its first FAA‑conforming eVTOL, N547JX, marking a critical step toward Type Inspection Authorization and eventual type certification. The aircraft meets FAA‑approved design standards and will undergo final TIA tests at Joby’s Marina, California facility...
Himachal Pradesh’s tourism department launched the SHE Travel Policy to make solo female travel safer and more supportive. The initiative introduces safety audits, women‑friendly accommodation certification, a dedicated travel portal, and SheGuard staff at key transport hubs. Targeting popular spots...
Viking has launched the Viking Eldir, a 190‑guest river cruise ship built at Meyer’s Neptun Werft in Germany. The vessel will operate luxury itineraries on the Rhine, Main and Danube, offering spacious staterooms, panoramic views, and upscale dining. Its addition...
Somerset Valero Makati, the latest Ascott Limited Philippines launch, offers 182 luxury serviced apartments ranging from 37 to 124 square metres. The development blends upscale living with wellness‑focused features, including a first‑of‑its‑kind WellTech suite equipped with massage chairs and scent...
Wynn Resorts announced that construction has resumed on its $5.1 billion integrated resort on Al‑Marjan Island, Ras Al‑Khaimah. The 70‑floor, 283‑metre tower, topped out in December 2025, will feature 1,500 rooms, high‑end retail, MICE facilities and the UAE’s first licensed gaming...
Escalating US‑Iran tensions have disrupted flight connectivity between the Middle East and India, prompting cancellations and rerouting of wellness travelers. Kairali Ayurvedic Group lost three direct Middle‑East guests and faces uncertainty for five others traveling via the region. While short‑term...
