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
Marriott Bonvoy Suddenly Removes Already Credited Bonus Elite Night Credits?
Marriott Bonvoy abruptly stripped previously credited bonus elite night credits from members’ accounts. The adjustment removed roughly 5,000 bonus nights that had been awarded during the 2025 “Buy Points” promotion. Affected members risk dropping from Gold or Platinum tiers, prompting complaints across loyalty forums. Marriott says the move corrects an accounting error and promises more transparent communication going forward.
Which US Airline CEO Was Highest Paid In 2025? ($32.3 Million)
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby topped the 2025 compensation rankings with $32.3 million, edging out Delta, Southwest and American. The CARES Act pay caps that limited CEO earnings from 2020‑2022 expired in April 2023, allowing the current surge in executive pay....
How Amex Cardholders Can Access Lufthansa Lounges — While This Benefit Still Lasts
American Express Platinum, Business Platinum, and Centurion cards grant access to select Lufthansa lounges, a perk that has been repeatedly extended but now has a firm end date of October 1, 2026. Eligible cardmembers can enter Business lounges in economy and Senator lounges...
Airlines Secretly Sold Your Travel And Payment Data To The IRS And FBI — Now They’re Being Sued
Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), which processes about $100 billion in travel bookings annually, sold access to its real‑time travel database to federal agencies including the IRS, FBI and DHS. The database contained more than 1 billion records with passenger names, itineraries, fare...
Inside the Renovated Delano Hotel in Miami Beach
The historic Delano hotel in Miami Beach has reopened after a comprehensive renovation timed for the 2026 World Cup. Designed by Elastic Architects with Ennismore, the property blends minimalist, organic furnishings with restored Art Deco elements such as octagonal columns...
Viator Reports Busiest Summer Yet, Double‑Digit Growth in Experience Bookings
Viator announced its busiest summer on record, with experience bookings up double digits year‑over‑year. The surge was driven by cooler destinations, a boom in Asian cities and a surge in hands‑on and outdoor activities, signaling shifting traveler preferences for 2024.
Statistically, United CEO Kirby Is Right, Airfares Are Low
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby argues that fares need to rise 15‑20% to improve yields and cover higher fuel costs. Inflation‑adjusted domestic fares have fallen sharply, with the New York‑Los Angeles one‑way price now about 28% cheaper than in 2017 and...
Gunfire at Washington Hilton Forces Evacuation of President Trump, Sparks Hotel Security Overhaul
A gunman opened fire at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, forcing President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and dozens of cabinet members to be evacuated. The suspect, 31‑year‑old Cole Tomas Allen,...
Muh Shoou’s Latest Hotel Is a Sanctuary for City Dwellers
Muh Shoou has opened its second boutique hotel, the 65‑key Zhujing property, an hour’s drive from downtown Shanghai in the Jinshan district. Designed by the Group of Architects, each room features a private garden and the layout draws on classical...
Ryanair Cuts Berlin Flights as Costs Rise in Germany
Ryanair announced it will halve its capacity at Berlin Brandenburg Airport and withdraw its aircraft base, citing sharply higher airport charges, Germany’s aviation tax and ancillary fees. The cut reduces point‑to‑point low‑cost seats, likely raising fares on leisure routes and...
Global Fuel Shortage Forces Airlines to Cut International Routes
A global jet‑fuel shortage, driven by geopolitical tensions and supply‑chain disruptions, is forcing airlines to slash international routes. Nigerian carrier Air Peace reduced its Abuja‑London service to three weekly flights, while Norse Atlantic cancelled the London‑Los Angeles route and halted...
JR Central Is Banking on the Shinkansen to Attract Foreign Tourists
JR Central unveiled the “Golden Route with the Shinkansen” campaign in late March 2026, targeting foreign tourists with a revamped Tokyo‑Osaka corridor. The initiative highlights 12 prefectures along the Tokaido Shinkansen, pairing iconic sites with lesser‑known attractions. A dedicated website,...
Andhra Pradesh, India Targets Tourism Boom with 50,000 Rooms Plan
Andhra Pradesh announced an aggressive tourism expansion, targeting 50,000 hotel rooms and 10,000 homestays by 2029. The state, already a domestic travel hotspot with over 309 million visits annually, aims to diversify into eco‑tourism, beach, and pilgrimage circuits. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s...
IHG & Chase Bonus Points For Cobranded Card Spend April 22 – June 25, 2026
IHG and Chase have introduced a limited‑time bonus for holders of their IHG One Rewards cobranded credit cards. From April 22 to June 25 2026, cardmembers can earn between 2,000 and 6,000 extra points by spending $500 to $4,000, provided they register for...
Air Canada Aeroplan Flight Rewards Changes Effective June 1, 2026 – Miles Required Up By Max 67%!
Air Canada inadvertently published its new Aeroplan award chart, which will take effect on June 1, 2026. Most flight awards will require 10%‑20% more miles, with a few segments jumping as high as 67%. The changes affect economy, business and...
Hilton Honors Terms & Conditions Update April 24, 2026: China Carveout!
Hilton has amended its Honors loyalty program terms, adding a China‑specific clause that retroactively applies from April 24 2026. The new provisions require advance notice of material changes for members residing in mainland China and designate Chinese law as the governing jurisdiction...
Trip.com Group on Why Going Global Means Becoming the Best Local Player in Every Market
At Skift Asia Forum 2026, Trip.com’s Boon Sian Chai argued that Asian travel operators can win globally by becoming the best local player in every market. He highlighted how event‑driven travel, AI‑powered conversational booking, and creator‑led distribution are reshaping demand,...
Click Here for the Forum and Sunday’s Chat Thread
The forum’s weekly roundup flagged several airline loyalty shifts, most notably British Airways suspending Avios redemptions for India flights up to 45 days before departure and announcing it will downgrade members whose tier status was previously extended. Virgin Atlantic rolled...
Michigan Declares May 2026 Pure Michigan Month to Spur Travel
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed May 2026 as Pure Michigan Month, a statewide effort to promote travel within the state. The initiative seeks to inspire domestic tourists to explore Michigan’s natural and cultural attractions, supporting the local economy. It...
ALHI Appoints Karen Codilla as VP of Optimization & Commercial Strategy
Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) announced the appointment of Karen Codilla as Vice President of Optimization & Commercial Strategy. Codilla brings more than two decades of hospitality experience to steer revenue growth for ALHI’s Luxury Leisure & Business Travel division.
Condé Nast Traveler Unveils 2026 Hot List of New Hotels, Restaurants and Cruises
Condé Nast Traveler announced its 2026 Hot List, with senior features editor Megan Spurrell previewing the roundup of the year's most noteworthy new hotels, restaurants and cruise ships. The list is widely watched by investors and operators as a benchmark for...
8 US Airlines With The Highest Captain Salaries In 2026
In 2026 U.S. airlines dramatically raised captain compensation, with Delta topping the list at a $454,680 mean salary and senior captains earning total packages above $500,000. American follows at $412,070, while UPS, United, FedEx, Spirit, Frontier and Allegiant round out...
American Airlines Will Grade Flight Attendants, Frontier Sues American for Collision, and United’s CEO Is in Talks About Asset Acquisition...
American Airlines announced it will begin grading flight attendants using metrics such as customer experience and delay attribution, sparking concern among crew members about fairness and potential penalties. Frontier Airlines has filed a lawsuit demanding full reimbursement for a 2024...
Goodbye, Airbus A380: These 3 US Airports Have Lost Superjumbo Flights
The Airbus A380, once a hallmark of high‑density hub routes, no longer serves any U.S. airport. Atlanta saw a one‑off Qatar flight in 2016 that struggled with gate access, while Chicago’s regular British Airways A380 service ended in favor of...
VIENNA BREAKS RECORDS WITH THE CONGRESS TOURISM
Vienna’s 2025 tourism report shows record‑breaking congress activity, pushing total overnight stays above 20 million. Conference and business events reached 7,196, up 9% year‑over‑year, delivering 2.54 million overnight stays—a 27% jump. The sector generated €1.707 billion (≈$1.86 billion) in economic output, contributing €348 million in...
JAPAN’S TOURISM RESILIENCE AND THE COST OF THE SINO-JAPANESE RELATIONS
Japan’s tourism sector rebounded in Q1 2025 despite a sharp decline in Chinese visitors, which fell 55.9% to 296,000. Overall foreign arrivals rose 3.5% to 3.62 million, led by strong growth from South Korea (+22%) and Taiwan (+25.7%). The government allocated...
MUSIC TOURISM REWIRING MEXICO’S ECONOMY AND GLOBAL IMAGE
Mexico has emerged as the world’s third‑largest live‑event market, trailing only the United States and the United Kingdom. Concert‑related revenue has risen 3.2% annually, hitting roughly $2.0 billion (41.1 billion pesos) last year, far outpacing the nation’s overall economic growth. The sector’s...
5 US Airports With The Potential To Become Legacy Airline Hubs
Legacy carriers are scouting new domestic hubs as passenger demand shifts, especially toward Sun‑belt markets. Delta Air Lines is poised to deepen its presence at Tampa International and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, while also eyeing Austin’s rapid growth. United Airlines may turn...
Louis Vuitton Launches Two‑Month Luxury Hotel Pop‑Up in Mayfair to Celebrate 130‑Year Milestone
Louis Vuitton opened a two‑month luxury hotel pop‑up at 28 Berkeley Square in London’s Mayfair on April 24, 2026, to commemorate its 130‑year anniversary. The temporary venue features immersive rooms dedicated to the brand’s signature bags, a boutique café, a champagne bar...
Hyatt Regency Ahmedabad Appoints Sumit Ahire as Cluster Revenue Director
Hyatt Regency Ahmedabad announced Sumit Ahire as its new Cluster Revenue Director, tasking him with overseeing pricing, forecasting, distribution and performance analysis across the property group. Ahire brings nearly 20 years of revenue‑management experience from Four Seasons, Taj Hotels and...
Anthropic's Claude AI Gains Booking.com Integration, Boosting Hotel Booking Automation
Anthropic announced that its Claude AI assistant now includes a direct connector to Booking.com, allowing users to find and reserve hotels through conversational prompts. The update expands Claude’s “everyday life” ecosystem and positions the chatbot as a practical travel assistant...
American Retired 40% Of Its Long Haul Planes During Covid — Many Are Now Headed To A New Airline
During COVID‑19 American Airlines retired 24 Airbus A330s, 17 Boeing 767‑300ERs, 34 Boeing 757s and 20 Embraer E190s—about 40% of its long‑haul fleet. The retirements generated roughly $1.4 billion in non‑cash write‑downs and $102 million in cash charges. Many of the A330‑200s...
Delta Says No To “Business Class Plus” And That’s A Smart Move
Delta Air Lines has confirmed it will not introduce a premium “Business Class Plus” tier within its Delta One cabins, unlike rivals American and United. Instead, the carrier will keep Delta One as a single, uniform product, promising every business‑class...
Labor Shortages in Foodservice: How Automation Is Helping Restaurants Stay Competitive
U.S. foodservice operators are confronting unprecedented labor shortages that are inflating overtime costs, slowing service, and eroding margins. To counteract these pressures, many are turning to automation—from self‑service kiosks to smart inventory systems—especially automated cooking equipment that reduces hands‑on labor....
Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong to Open Blanc De Noirs Champagne Bar on May 1
Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong will debut the Blanc de Noirs Champagne Bar on May 1, offering a curated selection of vintage champagnes in a bespoke setting. The launch reflects a broader trend of high‑end hotels adding specialty beverage venues to...
U.S. Cities Impose Heavy Short‑Term Rental Fines Ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup
Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, major U.S. host cities are cracking down on illegal short‑term rentals, imposing fines up to $500 per violation and new licensing fees. The moves aim to protect hotel revenue as demand for temporary...
Delta Drops Complimentary CLEAR+ for Diamond Medallion Members Starting June 2026
Delta Air Lines will stop offering complimentary CLEAR+ to SkyMiles Diamond Medallion members starting June 1, 2026. Affected members will instead receive the discounted rate of $129 per year. Existing CLEAR+ memberships that renew before June 1 retain free access for the term....
Is Zimbabwe’s Tourism Image at Risk? ZITF 2026 Meets Political Reality
The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair 2026 showcased the country’s tourism assets, drawing delegations from Japan, the EU and neighboring Botswana. President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Botswana’s President Duma Boko opened the event, underscoring regional support. However, the fair’s optimism was clouded by...
White Castle Puts Its Restaurant in a Box with 1,000 Automated Kiosks
White Castle is rolling out 1,000 automated "Crave & Go" kiosks across the U.S., targeting hospitals, campuses, and corporate sites. The kiosks prepare hot food on demand, eliminating the need for full‑service restaurants and reducing labor and real‑estate costs. Leveraging...
Citi AAdvantage Business Card 75K Bonus Miles Limited Time Offer
American Airlines’ primary co‑branded business card, the Citi® AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard®, is offering a limited‑time welcome bonus of 75,000 AAdvantage miles after $5,000 of spend within five months. The promotion improves on the prior 65,000‑mile offer, translating to roughly...
United Flight Attendant Gave A Passenger “The Hand” And Boarding Pay Won’t Fix It
A United passenger shared a viral tweet showing a flight attendant giving "the hand" when asked to dispose of an empty cup, highlighting a rude interaction in the galley. United recently secured a tentative agreement to add boarding pay for...
25 Airlines and 25 Airports Shortlisted for FTE World Airline Ancillary & FTE World Airport Retailing Awards 2026
Future Travel Experience has announced the shortlists for its 2026 World Airline Ancillary and World Airport Retailing Awards. Twenty‑five airlines and twenty‑five airports are in contention, with winners to be revealed on 10 June at a ceremony in Dublin. The awards,...
Square and Uber Eats Expand Global Partnership to Streamline Restaurant Operations and Payments
Block (Square) and Uber Technologies have broadened their partnership, extending Square’s native integration with Uber Eats into Canada, the U.K., Australia, Ireland, France and Spain while adding Cash App Pay as a U.S. checkout option. The deeper integration routes Uber...
Port of Montreal Opens 2026 Cruise Season, Targeting Luxury Hotel Market with 50,000 Passengers
The Port of Montreal kicked off its 2026 cruise season on April 24, debuting Victory I and projecting nearly 50,000 passengers across 39 sailings. The upscale itinerary, featuring luxury vessels and extended berths, is set to drive high‑end hotel bookings...
CVG Airport Enhances Dining Experience with New VV The Italian Experience Restaurant
VV The Italian Experience, a family‑owned restaurant with roots in 1940s Puglia, opened in Concourse B of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). The all‑day venue serves authentic Italian dishes, wine, and cocktails, reflecting both regional Italian heritage and Cincinnati culture....
Florida Hotel Sues Southwest Airlines After Flight Attendant Floods Her Room On Layover
The Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Marina Hotel has filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines, alleging that a flight attendant flooded multiple rooms by tampering with a fire‑sprinkler during a layover. The hotel claims $215,576 in damages, including lost reservations and cleanup...
Eye on Travel — The Ameswell Hotel — April 25, 2026
In this episode of Eye on Travel, Peter Greenberg reports from the Ameswell Hotel in Mountain View, California, and dives into the fallout from the Iran conflict that has sent fuel prices soaring and triggered airline cancellations, fare hikes, and...
Virgin Atlantic Accelerates Starlink Rollout to Create ‘Home Away From Home’ Experience
Virgin Atlantic is accelerating its rollout of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet, beginning with free high‑speed Wi‑Fi on its Airbus A350 fleet in May. The first passenger flight, VS153 from London to New York, will showcase the service, with plans to...
Rising Fuel Costs Drive $90 Bag Fees—How to Save
Has your checked bag fee jumped to $90? I spoke with NTD News about rising fuel costs, how it affects travelers, and ways consumers can mitigate price volatility and costs this summer.
Hotel Sues Southwest Over Flight Attendant’s Room Flood
Florida Hotel Sues Southwest Airlines After Flight Attendant Floods Her Room On Layover - View from the Wing https://t.co/lf9w4teIo4