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.
Gilat Satellite Networks announced a multi‑million‑dollar order from a leading in‑flight connectivity integrator for its AeroStream Ka‑band wideband amplifiers. The hardware, including 60 W Ka‑band block upconverters, will be delivered over the next 24 months to equip commercial aircraft. Gilat notes that more than 5,000 aircraft already use its IFC products, underscoring growing demand for satellite‑based broadband in aviation. The deal highlights Gilat’s expanding role in the fast‑growing airline connectivity market.
JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group arranged a $37 million non‑recourse refinancing for Ambiente, a 40‑room adults‑only luxury landscape hotel in Sedona, Arizona. The deal, executed through a debt fund, includes a sizable cash‑out component that recapitalizes the property to fund ongoing...
Southwest Airlines is offering a limited‑time 50% discount on Rapid Rewards point purchases, pricing points at 1.5¢ each through April 4, 2026. The discount applies to purchases of 5,000 points or more, with a minimum buy of 2,000 points and a daily...
Chatham Lodging Trust bought six Hilton‑branded hotels for $92 million, adding 589 rooms in Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri. The portfolio averages ten years of age, with 66% of rooms classified as extended‑stay, and posted 2025 RevPAR of $116 and EBITDA margins...
Pizza operators face intense competition, making digital menus a critical differentiator. Common pitfalls include cluttered item lists, weak visuals, unsynced POS data, paper‑style kiosk designs, and treating kiosks merely as labor‑saving tools. Experts at INFI show that optimized, visual‑first kiosks...
Expedition Cruise Network (ECN) has added two new operator members—66° Expeditions and Royal Galapagos—bringing its total to 32. ECN also launched an Associate Membership tier, admitting Kaptio and The Polar Collective as the first associates. The new category targets organizations linked...
Widewaters has appointed Schulte Hospitality Group (SHG) to manage its portfolio of seven hotels, covering day‑to‑day operations, revenue management, sales and marketing, and food‑and‑beverage programming. The partnership also retains Basin Ventures as the asset‑management overseer to drive value across the...
American Express launched Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge at Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport, a compact, restaurant‑style concept that seats just 33 guests. The space replaces the traditional lounge model with upscale small plates, curated cocktails and a rotating selection of Old‑World wines,...
Hotel pillow menus, a legacy of the late‑1990s, are resurging as a low‑cost way to personalize sleep. By letting guests select from three to seven pillow types—soft, medium, firm, hypoallergenic or down—properties can turn a routine stay into a memorable...
Heathrow Airport has appointed Netcompany as its primary digital operations partner, deploying the AIRHART Airport Operations Orchestration Platform. The solution promises real‑time situational awareness, AI‑driven decision support and predictive planning for the hub’s 80 million annual passengers. By consolidating airline, ground...
Pleasant Holidays has expanded its global rail portfolio by adding Rail Europe, granting travel advisors access to regional and high‑speed train services across more than 20 European countries. The partnership brings major carriers such as SNCF, DB, Trenitalia, and Eurostar...
United Airlines confirmed that all of its pilots and flight attendants have been evacuated from Dubai after the U.S. and Israel launched a large‑scale military operation in Iran, which destabilized the region. The crew were moved across the Saudi desert,...
SUNRATE, a global payment and treasury platform, announced a strategic partnership with travel‑focused merchant‑account provider Repayd at ITB Berlin 2026. The alliance merges SUNRATE’s worldwide financial network with Repayd’s specialist travel payment infrastructure. Together they will deliver faster international payouts,...
At ITB Berlin 2026, Omio Group announced a dual‑track growth strategy focused on technology innovation and global expansion. The travel platform now serves over one billion users, with inventory from 3,000 partners in 46 countries, and aims to operate in...
Christie & Co has been hired to market the Peel Hotels portfolio as chairman Robert Peel prepares to retire. The four properties – Crown & Mitre in Carlisle, George Hotel in Wallington, Bull Hotel in Peterborough and Caledonian in Newcastle...
Accor’s ALL loyalty program is running a limited‑time promotion that adds a 20% bonus when Japanese Rakuten members convert their points to ALL Reward points between March 2 and March 27, 2026. The standard conversion rate is 3,200 Rakuten points...
American Airlines issued an internal memo, signed by its COO and chief commercial officer, accusing United Airlines of flooding Chicago O’Hare with flights to manipulate gate allocations under a unique lease provision. The memo’s omission of CEO Robert Isom raises...
Atlific Hotels announced it will assume management of Nova Scotia’s Oak Island Resort & Conference Centre effective February 17, 2026. The coastal property features 119 nautically inspired guestrooms, ocean‑front chalets, suites, and villas, complemented by extensive amenities including indoor/outdoor pools,...
Detroit’s historic Motown Museum confirmed it will reopen its doors on July 1, 2024, ending a year‑long closure for extensive renovations. The revival includes upgraded audio‑visual installations, expanded exhibit space, and a new interactive experience that traces the label’s global...
Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) has expanded its Discovery loyalty programme by adding Tokyu Hotels & Resorts’ portfolio of 42 properties across eight brands in Japan. The rollout will occur in two stages, with four brands joining in April 2027 and...
LyvInn Hotels is accelerating its European rollout after its 164‑room flagship in Frankfurt delivered a revenue generation index 35% above peers. The budget‑lifestyle brand targets 14 new openings across the UK and Europe by 2029, using a hybrid model of...
The Tourism Authority of Thailand unveiled its “The New Thailand” vision at ITB Berlin 2026, centering on the “Unforgettable Experience: Healing is the New Luxury” concept. The Thailand pavilion showcased 165 operators, including 89 with sustainability certifications, and promoted hidden‑gem destinations...
At Olo’s Beyond4 conference, leading restaurant chains demonstrated that artificial intelligence has moved from speculative hype to everyday operations. Krispy Kreme is testing AI agents for contract management, while Nekter Juice Bar uses bots for SEO, social media, and an...
Dutch Bros opened its first Los Angeles walk‑thru store near USC in late November, marking the chain’s initial foray into an urban, drive‑thru‑free format. The location has become the chain’s top‑performing shop, with mobile‑order traffic three times the system average....
Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism launched the #GoBeyondOrdinary campaign at ITB Berlin 2026, occupying a 441 m² pavilion in Hall 26. The exhibition featured over 91 industry participants from 11 provinces, highlighting marine, gastronomy, wellness, traditional textiles, and Muslim‑friendly tourism. Minister Widiyanti emphasized the...
Cheese‑centric dishes have become a viral sensation after Chili’s popularized the ooey‑gooey pull on social media. Casual‑dining chains quickly followed, rolling out cheese‑laden burgers, fries, and appetizers to capture the buzz. The trend has translated into measurable sales lifts, with...
Famed chef Jean‑Georges Vongerichten’s Tin Building complex in Manhattan’s Seaport has permanently closed. The 50,000‑square‑foot venue, which housed The Fulton, The Frenchman’s Dough, House of the Red Pearl, T. Brasserie and other concepts, shut its doors on Feb 23, ending a $200 million...
Dave’s Hot Chicken CEO Jim Bitticks discussed the brand’s explosive growth on the Restaurant Business podcast, highlighting its recent acquisition by private‑equity firm Roark Capital. He explained how the company’s operator‑executive model drives consistency while enabling rapid expansion across the...
Cracker Barrel’s traffic fell 10.1% YoY in the quarter ending Jan. 30, driving a 7.1% same‑store sales decline, the second consecutive period of steep foot‑traffic loss after its controversial logo change. The chain has shifted focus to food quality, service and its...
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) projects $12.5 trillion of travel‑and‑tourism investment across G20 economies through 2035, outpacing demand growth of 3.3% per year with a 4.6% annual investment rise. The report, released at ITB Berlin with Oxford Economics, warns...
American Express is relaunching its “Add a Card” bonus event in Canada, running from March 3 to April 30 2026. The promotion introduces a tiered structure where supplementary cardholders earn increasing points or credits based on their first‑three‑month spend. Up to two personal...
The Ritz‑Carlton New York, Central Park has launched a "Curtain Call" package that brings a private 60‑minute Broadway performance directly into guest suites. Guests can select songs from top shows like Wicked, Hamilton, and The Lion King, enjoy light refreshments, and meet...
Airport Dimensions opened the Blue Sky Premier Lounge in Terminal 2 of Juanda International Airport, expanding its premium lounge network after successful launches in Jakarta and Makassar. The 462‑square‑metre space accommodates up to 101 guests and blends Western wood tones with...
El Al Israel Airlines will restart inbound services on 4 March 2026, operating a single flight per hour as Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport reopens. The limited schedule focuses on repatriating Israelis stranded in 22 European, Asian and U.S. locations, while outbound sales are...
Belgian‑based ADB Safegate announced the sale of its Terminal business, sharpening its focus on airside operations. The company will concentrate on next‑generation airfield lighting, intelligent power solutions, and digital platforms, while expanding R&D through its Safegate Labs initiative. Upgrades to...
Economic pressure has driven U.S. diners to cut back, with average weekly restaurant spend dropping to $90—a $25 decline since mid‑2025. In response, 97% of operators are sharpening guest‑experience strategies, investing in themed events, affordable menu options, and AI‑driven tools....
Wyndham Rewards is running its Member Month promotion through June 30, 2026, granting 7,500 points for every two nights booked. Cardholders of Wyndham’s credit or debit cards receive an additional 7,500 points, while businesses enrolled in Wyndham Rewards Business can earn 15,000...
SiteMinder’s 2025 Hotel Booking Trends report shows a more predictable UK hotel market, with average daily rates (ADR) edging up 1.35% to £191.55 and cancellation rates holding steady at 18%. Lead times remain long at 35 days, while Friday nights...
London’s historic Olympia exhibition centre is nearing the completion of its £1.3 billion regeneration, which will house more than 25 food and drink venues, two hotels, office space and a 3,800‑seat music venue. The first hospitality offering, Pillar Hall, opens on...
Rohde & Schwarz is rolling out its QPS Walk2000 millimetre‑wave screening system, which combines AI‑driven detection with continuous walk‑through capability. Early deployments at Dallas Fort Worth and Frankfurt airports demonstrate higher passenger throughput and reduced false alarms. The technology has earned ECAC detection...
Minor Hotels announced the upcoming launch of Avani+ Lanexang Vientiane, a design‑focused premium lifestyle hotel slated for opening in the second quarter of 2026. The 197‑room property, located on Fa Ngum Road near Wattay International Airport, will be the chain’s...
Travelers and business users are increasingly frustrated by high roaming fees, prompting a shift toward embedded SIM (eSIM) technology. eSIMs store multiple carrier profiles digitally, allowing users to activate local data plans without swapping physical cards. Major carriers across Europe,...
ITC Hotels Limited captured four top honors at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards, including World’s Leading Sustainable Organisation, Employer, Food & Nutrition Initiative, and Marketing Campaign for 2025. The Indian hospitality chain now operates over 140 hotels in...
Vista America has earned the Federal Aviation Administration’s Diamond Award of Excellence, the highest U.S. distinction for maintenance training. The award required every eligible technician to finish a year‑long curriculum covering advanced aircraft systems, regulations and safety procedures. The company...
Hilton has re‑launched its one‑time Diamond Status Extension for members whose Diamond tier expires on March 31, 2026. To qualify, members must have held Diamond for at least three years and logged either 250 paid or reward nights, or earned...
Saxon Air has expanded its managed fleet with a 2025‑built Agusta AW139, registration G‑MCFC, now available for charter services. The medium‑twin helicopter seats seven in an executive layout and offers increased payload, range, and flexibility for UK and European missions, including...
SEA Prime inaugurated a new wing at the Milano Linate Prime Terminal, adding 2,000 sqm of lounge space and expanded parking. The wing features nine glass‑walled lounges that operators can customize, and incorporates sustainable technologies such as photovoltaic panels and CO₂‑monitoring...
Myanmar Airways International (MAI) has rolled out Maxamation’s cloud‑based Aviator revenue‑management system to sharpen pricing, demand forecasting and seat‑inventory control across its 42‑destination network. The platform delivers real‑time analytics that automatically adjust fares and allocate capacity as market conditions shift....
Cognitec introduced FaceVACS-Entry, a lightweight 5‑megapixel biometric camera that captures facial images, detects presentation attacks, and verifies travelers in seconds across eGates, kiosks and border booths. The device’s new firmware adds QR‑code reading and broader capture ranges, streamlining EU Entry/Exit...
Travel sellers at ITB Berlin 2026 warned that the ongoing US‑Israel‑Iran war is pushing tourists toward regions perceived as safe. They highlighted Asia‑Pacific’s stability, low crime rates and effective crisis management as key selling points. Singapore, Taiwan, Japan and Bhutan...
