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.
JRI Hospitality announced the acquisition of HCI Hospitality’s restaurant operations, adding 43 Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers locations to its portfolio. The purchase brings JRI’s total Freddy’s count to over 130 units across 18 states and expands its overall restaurant footprint to more than 145 sites. The deal also includes HCI’s JC’s BBQ and Grill and Powercat Sports Grill, while Booth Creek Wagyu remains with founder Dave Dreiling. HCI CEO Cam Blakely will become JRI’s president of operations for the Freddy’s brand.
The US‑Israeli air strikes on Iran on 28 Feb 2026 and Iran’s retaliatory attacks have reignited geopolitical risk for European carriers operating to and over the Middle East. While Europe’s overall exposure to the region remains modest, airlines are confronting immediate airspace...
Turkey’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport is set to break ground on a new Terminal 3 this year as its annual passenger traffic approaches the 50 million mark. After a 17 % increase in 2025, the airport handled 36 % more passengers than in 2019,...
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport opened the PHX Free Little Library in Terminal 3’s Culture Corner on March 2, celebrating Read Across America Day. The amenity is a joint effort by the airport, Phoenix Public Library and the Friends of the Phoenix...
TrafFix Devices introduced its Water Wall system, a durable positive‑separation barrier designed for airport environments. Certified as a MASH‑eligible TL‑2 longitudinal channelizing device, it helps manage passenger flow and protect work zones during runway or taxiway maintenance. Constructed from low‑density...
Citi’s Strata Elite card offers up to $200 in Splurge credits across select merchants, but cardholders who product‑changed to the card are not receiving the credits automatically. Citi has instructed affected users to wait one to two billing cycles, yet...
Iberia has abruptly revised its award chart for Chicago‑Madrid routes, raising economy awards from 16,000 to 20,000 Avios and business awards from 40,500 to 50,500 Avios on off‑peak dates. Peak‑season business awards can now cost up to 74,000 Avios, a...
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard Program, a global initiative that helps travelers with non‑visible conditions signal they may need assistance. The program is already active in 340 airports across 70 countries, covering disabilities...
Residence Inn Albuquerque North, a 90‑suite extended‑stay hotel, finished a seven‑month renovation that refreshed its studio, one‑ and two‑bedroom suites and upgraded guest amenities. The redesigned suites average 636 square feet, feature full‑size kitchens, separate living spaces, and modern grey‑blue‑brown...
Southwest Airlines has refreshed its Status Match promotion, granting eligible travelers A‑List or A‑List Preferred membership for 120 days at no cost. Participants can extend the promotional tier to a full 12 months by completing specific flight or point thresholds during...
Spirit Airlines has launched a 2026 Free Spirit status upgrade program, letting base members purchase Silver tier for $79 and allowing Silver members to upgrade to Gold for $399, with Gold members able to buy back status for $199. The...
Aloft New York LaGuardia Airport deployed IRIS Mobile Dining to replace phone‑based ordering and compete with third‑party delivery apps. The solution integrates with the hotel’s Micros POS and Stripe, letting guests browse, customize, pay, and schedule pick‑up from Good Eats...
Andaaz Manufacturing has entered a multi‑year partnership with Stacy Garcia Design Studio to introduce the Stacy Garcia | New York brand into luxury hospitality furniture. The collaboration blends Andaaz’s hospitality‑grade manufacturing expertise with Garcia’s fashion‑forward, urban aesthetic. The inaugural collection...
RATIONAL marked its 50th anniversary of the CD 101 combi oven while celebrating the production of its 1.5 millionth unit. The milestone unit, featuring a gold‑colored dial, was donated to the St. Nikolaus Children’s Hospice in Bad Grönenbach. Over five decades the company has...
Hertz is halving the requirements for its Five Star elite tier, now needing only three rentals or $1,000 in spend instead of ten rentals or $2,000. The top‑tier President’s Circle criteria remain at 15 rentals or $3,000. Several credit cards, including Capital...
Rising temperatures are driving a predictable surge in ant, termite and other pest activity that can quickly disrupt hotel operations. Hospitality operators are turning to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to shift from reactive treatments to proactive monitoring, sanitation, exclusion and...
Mitsui Garden Hotel Sapporo will reopen on February 1, 2026 after a comprehensive renovation that updates guest rooms, public spaces, and adds new dining venues. The redesign draws on Hokkaido’s natural landscape, using locally sourced thinned wood and traditional Yukara‑ori...
Virgin Australia announced it will keep its Pets in Cabin offering on eligible domestic flights and extend the service to Adelaide and Launceston. The program, launched in October 2025, has already carried its 1,000th pet, underscoring strong traveler demand. By...
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) will begin an eight‑month, $27.1 million runway rehabilitation on Runway 2/20 starting March 2. The project, financed primarily through the FAA Airport Improvement Program, includes full‑depth reconstruction of the runway’s two center panels, new lighting, joint...
San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) logged a record 62,000+ passengers in 2025, a 50% year‑over‑year jump, while aircraft movements rose 18% to 68,830 operations. The surge follows three years of Breeze Airways service linking the Inland Empire to San Francisco and...
Orlando International Airport (MCO) received two 2025 ASQ Customer Experience Awards from Airports Council International (ACI) World, recognizing it as one of North America’s Best Airports at Departures and as a Most Enjoyable airport. The accolades reflect MCO’s handling of...
The U.S. Department of State issued a worldwide travel caution on Feb. 28 after U.S. military strikes on Iran, urging Americans abroad to follow the latest embassy guidance, especially in the Middle East. Embassies in Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Iraq and...
The Brando, a luxury resort on French Polynesia’s private atoll of Tetiaroa, has appointed Christophe Adam as its new General Manager. Adam brings over two decades of international hospitality experience, including senior roles in the Indian Ocean’s boutique and major...
Israel’s state tourism delegation announced on March 2, 2026 that it will not attend the ITB Berlin trade show, scheduled for March 3‑5. The withdrawal is directly linked to escalating Middle‑East tensions, which have made international travel planning volatile. Organisers confirmed the decision a...
HVS Brokerage & Advisory closed the sale of two midscale hotels in Apopka, Florida: the 81‑key Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton and the 77‑key Holiday Inn Express & Suites. Each property was sold separately to private regional investors, with the Holiday Inn purchased by a Connecticut 1031‑exchange...
The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association and the American Hotel & Lodging Association convened a “No Room for Trafficking” seminar at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk, training more than 100 hotel employees on how to spot and report human trafficking....
Twin Dolphin Club, a private golf community in Los Cabos, Mexico, has been awarded Audubon International Signature Sanctuary Gold certification, advancing from its 2022 Bronze status. The Gold level recognizes the course’s comprehensive sustainability program, including water‑efficient irrigation, integrated pest...
Gulfstream Aerospace secured certification from India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation for its G700 jet, clearing the way for deliveries within the country. The approval follows earlier certifications of the G600 and G500 models earlier in 2025, underscoring growing market...
MXR Hospitality announced the appointment of Dawne Brado as its first Vice President of Development and Valerie Bolton as its inaugural Executive Vice President of Human Resources. Brado will oversee construction funding management across MXR’s portfolio, drawing on more than...
Princess Cruises has signed a year‑long strategic alliance with The Travel Institute to elevate travel advisor education. The partnership will launch a new Alaska Destination Specialist curriculum timed with the debut of the Star Princess cruise. Princess will fund scholarships...
Newmark arranged a $172.5 million acquisition loan for The Ben, Autograph Collection, a 208‑key luxury hotel in West Palm Beach, on behalf of Related Ross. The financing was supplied by Nomura and led by Newmark’s senior debt team. The Ben, delivered...
Icelandair carried 1.6 million round‑trip passengers between Europe and the United States in the 12 months to September 2025, a 7 % increase that outpaced overall market growth. Across its 15 US‑focused routes the airline posted an average load factor of 81.2 %, but...
OneJourney has launched its SwiftPay platform in Spain, marking the first European deployment of its Hospitality Payment Card (HPC) infrastructure. The digital‑wallet solution lets hotels and restaurants route supplier payments through SwiftPay, generating incremental net income without altering banking relationships...
The Hunter Conference has named Glade M. Knight, founder and executive chairman of Apple Hospitality REIT, as its 2026 Award for Excellence and Inspiration recipient. The honor recognizes Knight’s 25‑plus years of shaping the modern hotel REIT model and building...
Germany is arranging special repatriation flights through Saudi Arabia and other open Gulf hubs to bring home citizens stranded after regional airspace closures. The World Tourism Network has urged Berlin to extend those evacuation resources to international delegates of the...
Lufthansa has added an Airbus A380 to its centennial fleet, unveiling a bold blue livery featuring a 47‑meter crane motif and the dates 1926 | 2026. The aircraft was repainted over 34 days by 35 specialists at Shannon Airport, covering more than...
Swedish operator Snälltåget will launch a daily Malmö‑to‑Oslo train on June 15, running via Gothenburg and stopping at ten intermediate stations. The 6.5‑hour service eliminates the need for transfers or the 7‑hour bus ride that previously linked Sweden’s west coast to...
In a pre‑ITB interview, IDeaS chief evangelist Klaus Kohlmayr warned that 2026 is a volatile year for hoteliers, with cost pressures, labor shortages and geopolitical shocks disrupting booking patterns. He emphasized that artificial intelligence has moved from a buzzword to...
The Future of Travel — AI Chatbots, VR and Agents Travel tech is evolving fast: AI chatbots, virtual reality and intelligent agents are all shaping how we plan, book and experience travel. Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/eaRP8NXG #AI #TravelTech #Innovation #BernardMarr
Papa Johns will embed an AI‑powered ordering agent in its mobile app in Q2 2026, enabling voice and group ordering while streamlining re‑orders for Papa Rewards members. The loyalty program now touches roughly 41 million fans and drives 2.5 times more orders than...
The United States and Israel struck Iran, prompting Iranian drone attacks on the United Arab Emirates that damaged Dubai Airport and the Burj Al Arab hotel. In response, Gulf carriers Emirates, Etihad and Qatar suspended flights for at least three...
Silverstone has unveiled its 2026 British Grand Prix hospitality portfolio, featuring four premium experiences—Fusion Lounge, Racing Green, Octane Terrace and Ignition Club—priced between £410 and £710 per person. The rollout follows a record‑breaking weekend that saw over 500,000 fans and...
Accor has launched a spring bonus promotion that awards double ALL points to regular members and triple points to ALL Accor+ members for stays across Europe, North Africa and select regions from April 6 to June 8 2026. Participants must register by April 13 2026...
The weekly roundup highlights five must‑read CX pieces, revealing a widening gap between perceived and actual customer loyalty, the power of data‑driven insights to turn first‑time buyers into repeat shoppers, and the critical role of employee trust in shaping the...
Iranian forces used armed drones to strike Dubai International Airport and Kuwait International Airport in February 2026, causing structural damage and injuring airport personnel. The attacks marked the first confirmed direct hits on major civilian hubs in the Gulf, shifting...
San Francisco International Airport will close Runway 1 from March 30 to October 2 2026 for a six‑month repaving and taxiway upgrade. All arrivals and departures will be shifted to Runways 28 Left and 28 Right, while Runway 1 will serve as an auxiliary taxiway. The airport projects less...
A joint study by Revenue Management Solutions and Merchant Centric identified an operational "sweet spot" where strategic labor investment, guest sentiment, and unit profitability converge. The research shows that well‑trained, low‑turnover restaurant teams consistently earn higher review scores, Net Promoter...
Middle East airspace closures have left 15 Gulf carrier jets grounded at London Heathrow, the continent’s busiest hub for the region. Emirates and Etihad each have three aircraft on the tarmac, while Qatar Airways accounts for six, including multiple A380s....
Minor Hotels has signed the NH Collection Pemba Island Resort, a 145‑key luxury property slated to open in February 2030. The development, created with Infinity Developments—the owners of the Anantara Zanzibar project—extends the NH Collection brand into Tanzania’s Zanzibar archipelago. Located...
FlyOnE will commence electric vertical take‑off and landing (eVTOL) operations on the busy Perth‑to‑Rottnest Island corridor, adding to its existing schedule of up to 25 daily legacy flights. The company has already completed a proof‑of‑concept with electric test flights and...
