Today's Hotels Pulse
FAA says Spirit’s LaGuardia slots belong with another low‑cost carrier
The FAA Administrator argues that the coveted take‑off slots Spirit Airlines holds at New York’s LaGuardia should be reallocated to a different low‑cost carrier. Meanwhile, Spirit is preparing to auction off those slots to the highest bidder.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Airbnb leads $58M Series C in WeRoad
Princess Cruises Earns Prestigious 2026 International Five Star Diamond Award
Princess Cruises announced that its specialty venues Makoto Ocean and The Butcher’s Block by Dario have each earned the 2026 International Five Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences. The accolade recognizes superior culinary innovation, quality and service across luxury hospitality. Makoto Ocean, a modern Edomae‑style sushi concept by Chef Makoto Okuwa, operates on four Princess ships, while The Butcher’s Block brings Dario Cecchini’s nose‑to‑tail steakhouse to the line’s newest vessels. The awards underscore the cruise line’s commitment to premium, ship‑board dining experiences.
VISTAJET UNVEILS SUMMER PRIVATE WORLD COLLECTION 2026
VistaJet announced its Summer 2026 Private World collection, a series of curated journeys across Africa, the Arctic, North America and Europe. The program leverages VistaJet’s global fleet, offering guaranteed access to over 2,400 airports and a residential‑style experience in the...
Startup 360: How to Travel Better and Cheaper with AI
Altitude AI, founded by former tech executive Aimee Armstrong, is launching an AI‑powered travel agent that lets employees book business trips directly from workplace tools like Slack while automatically applying corporate travel policies. The startup aims to capture a slice...
Air France-KLM Flying Blue Promo Rewards: Save 25% On Award Tickets
Air France‑KLM’s Flying Blue program launched its May 2026 Promo Rewards, slashing award ticket costs by 25% for select economy and premium cabin routes to the Americas. Standard saver awards drop from 25,000 to 18,750 miles for economy flights to eight...
Get £100 Cashback with Leading Hotels of the World and American Express
American Express has rolled out a global £100 (≈$127) cashback promotion for cardholders who spend £600 (≈$762) at Leading Hotels of the World properties. The deal, which runs until 27 July, applies across North America, South America, Africa, Asia, Australia and...
Mama Shelter Dubai To Launch New Saturday Brunch
Mama Shelter Dubai is set to debut a new Saturday brunch in June 2026, featuring a Mediterranean‑inspired menu with Emirati twists, live DJ entertainment, and a rooftop setting with city views. The offering is priced at AED 250 (approximately $68) per...
Mixed Mood for Travel in South-East Asia as Flight Disruptions Mount
Travel sentiment across Southeast Asia is diverging as jet‑fuel price shocks trigger widespread flight disruptions. Singapore and Malaysia continue to record strong outbound bookings, with Trip.com noting up to 70% year‑on‑year growth for popular Asia‑Pacific destinations and travel fairs showing...
Banks and Platforms Reshape Travel Distribution Landscape
Travel distribution is being reshaped as banks, lifestyle platforms, and social media move into the travel space. Agoda’s chief commercial officer Damien Pfirsch said a proprietary travel product is no longer required—an audience and conversion path suffice. Premium credit‑card rewards...
Food & Hospitality Asia 2026 Draws 70,000 in Largest Edition in a Decade
Food & Hospitality Asia (FHA) 2026 wrapped up after four days at Singapore Expo, merging the FHA‑Food & Beverage and FHA‑HoReCa shows into a single event. More than 2,750 exhibitors occupied 10 halls while roughly 70,000 industry professionals from 110...
Get 3,000 Bonus Radisson Rewards Hotel Points on Sale Bookings
Radisson has launched a summer sale across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa, offering up to 35% off the Best Flexible Rate with breakfast for prepaid bookings. Members of Radisson Rewards who book by May 28 for stays between July 1...
Aman Launches Amansanu, First Texas Hill Country Ranch Resort
Aman has unveiled Amansanu, its inaugural Texas Hill Country ranch resort north‑west of Austin. The low‑density property will feature standalone pavilions, a main lodge, Aman‑branded residences and a full spa, marking the brand’s first foray into Texas and expanding its...
Minor Hotels Launches Colbert Collection in Asia and UK, Adds Two Thai Resorts
Minor Hotels announced the rollout of its premium soft‑brand Colbert Collection in Asia and the United Kingdom, signing two new Thai resorts and confirming a London flagship. The moves give the group a foothold in Southern Thailand and a five‑star...
What Are Alaska / Hawaiian Atmos Rewards Points Worth?
Frequent Miler’s analysis of over 4.9 million Atmos Rewards searches confirms the program’s Reasonable Redemption Value at 1.5 cents per point, unchanged from the previous year. Median redemption sits at 1.28 cents, while the average climbs to 1.75 cents, reflecting frequent high‑value “sweet‑spot” awards....
United Postpones Nine Routes and Cancels One From Chicago O’Hare International Airport
United Airlines announced that nine of its newly announced Chicago O’Hare routes will be delayed until October 25, while the Chicago‑Marquette (MQT) service is cancelled. The postponed flights include high‑frequency connections to Champaign, Kalamazoo, Lansing, La Crosse, Bloomington, the Tri‑Cities, Erie...
Earn up to 185,000 Points With These IHG Credit Card Welcome Offers
IHG is rolling out three co‑branded credit cards—Premier, Traveler and Premier Business—each with limited‑time welcome bonuses ranging from 125,000 to 185,000 points. The Premier card requires $3,000 spend for 150,000 points plus an extra 35,000 after $6,000, while the Traveler...
Unum Underscores Commitment to Premium Sustainable Seating
Unum Aircraft Seating showcased its flagship Unum One Business Class seat at AIX 2026, highlighting new variants for A330, 787 and a single‑aisle model. The seat features the patented Scimitar mechanism, offering infinite adjustability and zero‑gravity comfort, and is now...
AmaWaterways Announces Cruise Giveaway and Advisor Incentives
AmaWaterways is marking Travel Advisor Appreciation Month with a suite of incentives, including a $200 e‑gift card for every new reservation made on select sailings between May 1‑31, 2026. The cruise line also revives its Sell 3, Sail Free program, granting a complimentary river cruise...
One Chef Revitalizes W Nashville’s Food, Music, Vibe
When I saw they had one chef and restaurant group doing all new four concepts/restaurants at W Nashville, I was like bold move…could backfire. But it was the right move. The W is vibey now and finally with great food...
Riviera Travel Announces Travel Advisor Appreciation Month Incentives
Riviera Travel has launched its 2026 Travel Advisor Appreciation Month, running May 1‑31, offering incentives to U.S. and Canadian advisors. Each new paid deposit on a 2026‑27 river cruise, yacht cruise, or grand tour earns an entry for a VIP...
Register to Earn 3X Points on Airport Parking This Summer at The Parking Spot
The Parking Spot, a national airport‑parking operator with more than 70 locations, is running a limited‑time promotion that awards Spot Club members three times the usual points for weekday parking reservations made between May 1 and June 30, 2026. Membership in the free...
Air France Elevates Premium Economy Experience With Upgraded Dining
Air France is revamping its Premium Economy cabin on long‑haul routes with a redesigned second‑meal service, upscale French‑style dining and eco‑friendly tableware. The airline has enlisted Michelin‑starred chef Frédéric Simonin to create rotating à la carte dishes, while seat upgrades...
Perillo Tours Offers Limited-Time Incentive for Advisors
Perillo Tours is celebrating Travel Advisor Appreciation Month by offering a $100 Visa e‑gift card to registered travel advisors for each new 2026 booking on its freshly launched European itineraries. The promotion runs from May 1‑31, 2026, with deposits due by...
Win Florida Stays During Travel Appreciation Month
Recommend is marking Travel Advisor Appreciation Month with a giveaway tied to its new Undiscovered Florida Travel Program. The initiative launches three regional training courses—South, Central and North—granting participants an expert certification and entry into prize draws. Prizes include a...
Is War Giving Travelers Pause?
Travel Planners International’s Q1 2026 Trendcast shows travel demand remains robust despite the Middle East war and higher fuel costs. Advisors report strong bookings for cruises and land tours, especially in the Caribbean, Japan, and Europe, while some travelers are...
Curated Micro-Events Are Quietly Reshaping How Hospitality Hires
A co‑working space and executive search firm hosted a curated hiring micro‑event in New Jersey targeting restaurant and hospitality roles. The intimate format attracted a mix of entry‑level and senior talent, resulting in at least one critical hire for a...
Choice Hotels Had a Rough First Quarter
Choice Hotels posted a disappointing first‑quarter, with RevPAR down 2.3% year‑over‑year while the U.S. hotel market saw a near‑4% increase. The decline contributed to a roughly 15% stock slide despite broader market gains. Hurricanes that struck four key states skewed...
Ryan Slemons Named Chief Development Officer for Sweetgreen
Sweetgreen announced that Ryan Slemons will become its chief development officer on May 4, overseeing real estate, design, construction, facilities and portfolio management. Slemons arrives with two decades of development experience, most recently as chief development officer at Unleashed Brands and...
Cruise Lines Roll Out 2028 Itineraries
Cruise operators are unveiling 2028 sailings, with MSC Cruises expanding its Caribbean footprint and PONANT EXPLORATIONS launching a science‑focused expedition series. MSC will field six ships across the Bahamas and Caribbean, debuting the Sandy Cay private‑island experience and marking MSC...
Minor Hotels Targets 2027 Launch for Anantara Private‑Jet Luxury Service
Minor Hotels announced that its Anantara brand will roll out a private‑jet experience in 2027, aiming to offer ultra‑luxury travelers a seamless, end‑to‑end journey. The move reflects a broader industry trend of hotels extending into transportation to capture higher‑spending guests.
IHG Premier Card: Increased 185K Welcome Offer
Chase has boosted the IHG Premier credit card welcome bonus to a total of 185,000 IHG One Rewards points, split into 150,000 points after $3,000 spend in the first three months and an extra 35,000 points after $6,000 spend in...
Kirby Is Crazy… Like A Fox
United Airlines chief Scott Kirby has publicly floated a merger with American Airlines, describing it as a growth‑driven partnership that could create a world‑leading U.S. carrier. American’s CEO Robert Isom rejected the proposal, labeling it a non‑starter and emphasizing focus...
Business Traveller Awards 2026 – Vote Now
Business Traveller announced that voting for its 2026 Awards opens on May 1, inviting travelers, airline executives, and hospitality professionals to select top performers across categories such as airlines, hotels, lounges and travel tech. The campaign highlights two recent editorial pieces—“Rise...
Business Traveller Awards 2026 – Vote Now
The Business Traveller Awards 2026 are now open for voting, inviting frequent travelers to decide the year’s top airlines, hotels, and loyalty programmes. The awards, a 40‑year‑old benchmark of travel excellence, are judged by an expert panel and the readership’s...
Biman Bangladesh Orders 8 B787-10s, 4 B737-8s, 2 B787-9s
Biman Bangladesh Airlines placed its biggest ever order, signing for eight Boeing 787‑10s, two 787‑9s and four 737‑8s. The new wide‑bodies will serve high‑demand Middle‑East routes and long‑haul flights to Europe and North America, while the 737‑8s will cover regional...
The Ins and Outs of Low-Interest TIFIA Loans
Sacramento International Airport tapped the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) to fund an elevated pedestrian walkway linking the landside terminal to Concourse B. By qualifying for the program’s rural interest‑rate designation, the airport secured a loan at roughly half...
Wyndham Pitches AI as Antidote to Hotel Margin Squeeze
Wyndham Hotels raised its full‑year RevPAR outlook while unveiling an AI‑driven toolkit aimed at easing margin pressure for its franchisees. The company is deploying voice‑assistant agents and upgraded booking platforms to boost ancillary sales and streamline operations. Although the technology...
Qatar Airways Business Class Sale: As Low as $2,999
Qatar Airways is launching a limited‑time business‑class promotion priced at $2,999 for flights departing from eleven U.S. cities to more than thirty international destinations. The sale runs from April 29 to October 31, 2026, but travelers must book by May 2, 2026, and adhere to...
Starbucks’ Loyalty Update Is Driving Frequency as Membership Grows
Starbucks revamped its Rewards program in March, shifting from heavy discounting to engagement‑focused benefits. U.S. active membership rose 4% YoY to a record 35.6 million, and the new 60‑point $2 discount now drives about one‑third of all point redemptions. The changes...
Gencom's Karim Alibhai Looks West After $1B East Coast Buying Spree
Gencom, a hospitality‑focused investment firm, has spent more than $1 billion acquiring five luxury hotels in New York and Miami over the past two years. Founder Karim Alibhai says the company is now eyeing distressed assets on the West Coast, especially in...
Wheels Up Completes Fleet Modernisation Ahead of Schedule
Wheels Up announced it has completed its fleet‑modernisation programme 18 months ahead of the late‑2024 schedule, retiring its legacy Citation Jet 3, Citation Excel, Citation X and Hawker 400XP aircraft. The carrier now operates a uniform fleet of 20 Phenom 300, six Phenom 300E and ten...
Golf Tourism Is Booming — Here’s How Traveling Golfers Are Cutting Costs on the Course
Golf tourism is booming, with record visitor numbers to iconic destinations such as Scotland, Portugal, Myrtle Beach and Scottsdale. Travelers are confronting higher travel expenses, prompting them to adopt cost‑saving tactics like using recycled golf balls, renting clubs, and packing...
Six Forces Reshaping Independent Hotels in 2026, Including AI Discovery, Margin Pressure, and the Connectivity Imperative
Cloudbeds released its 2026 Independent Hotels Report, identifying six macro trends that will shape the independent hotel sector. The analysis, based on 90 million bookings in 180 countries, notes a 5.4% decline in RevPAR for independents in 2025 and an OTA...
Holland America Charts Epic Global Circumnavigation
Holland America Line unveiled two 2028 Grand Voyages—a 129‑day Grand World Voyage and a 90‑day Grand Australia & New Zealand Voyage—featuring extended shore time, Antarctic cruising, and rare ports like Null Island and Bora Bora. The itineraries launch from Fort Lauderdale on...
Unlocking the Style Secrets of Luxury Hospitality: How Fashion Designer Mia Liu Helps Teams Dress for Success - By Ivana...
Fashion designer Mia Liu’s Drape & Stitch is partnering with luxury hotels, resorts and high‑end restaurant groups to redesign staff uniforms as a core brand expression. By using custom fabrics, precise tailoring and brand‑aligned details, the company turns clothing into a...
The States Most Exposed to the Inbound Travel Slump
A federal report from the National Travel and Tourism Office shows that five states—New York, California, Florida, Texas and Massachusetts—accounted for almost 60% of international visitor spending in 2024, totalling roughly $100 billion. New York and California experienced declines in overseas arrivals, while...
Australia’s Most Iconic Trains Just Got A Luxury Upgrade
Australia’s flagship rail journeys – The Ghan, Indian Pacific and Great Southern – have received a high‑end upgrade with the launch of Journey Beyond’s Aurora Australis Suites. The new Australis Suite is three times larger than a Platinum cabin and...
Beefing Up the Bottom Line: Smarter Protein Strategies for 2026 Menus
Restaurant operators facing labor shortages and rising food costs are rethinking beef as a profit driver for 2026 menus. Experts from Butchers of America advise purchasing whole subprimals and performing in‑house butchery to capture trim, bones and secondary muscles, turning...
Air Serbia Announces Ten New Destinations
Air Serbia announced ten new routes from Belgrade, launching between April and December 2026. The carrier will resume daily Belgrade‑Munich service, the first direct connection in 18 years, and open new links to Santorini, Baku, Nizhny Novgorod, Toronto and several Spanish...
The Sustainability Shift: Packaging, Chemicals, and Equipment That Reduce Waste Without Raising Costs
Foodservice operators face mounting pressure to meet sustainability expectations while protecting thin margins. The article outlines practical sourcing strategies—right‑sized packaging, concentrated chemicals, and high‑efficiency equipment—that cut waste and lower utility, labor and disposal costs. By focusing on total cost of...
IHG Middle East Up To 35% Off Long Stay Offer For Stays Until September 30, 2026 (Book By May 31)
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has launched a Long Stay Offer for its Middle East portfolio, giving IHG One Rewards members up to 35% off nightly rates. The promotion applies to stays through September 30, 2026 but must be booked by...