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.
US Foods Holding Corp. introduced Menu IQ on Feb. 20, an AI‑driven menu management solution embedded in its MOXē app. The tool offers real‑time profitability analytics, allowing operators to upload recipes, calculate food costs, and monitor margin‑driving dishes without additional fees. Menu IQ’s Smart Upload automatically extracts ingredients, matches them to US Foods’ product catalog, and updates gross profit and cost percentages as users tweak portions or prices. The launch targets restaurant operators seeking faster, data‑rich decisions to improve menu margins.
IHG has unveiled Regent Spa & Wellness, a new global spa concept debuting at Regent Bali Canggu. The brand will roll out locations in Jeddah later this year, Kuala Lumpur in 2027, and Kyoto in 2028, each interpreting the concept...
Green Lodging News has added ReadyCare to its Green Product & Service Directory, placing the Denver‑based amenity supplier alongside other eco‑focused vendors. ReadyCare, with over three decades serving hotels, spas, and golf clubs, offers luxury in‑room collections, custom private‑label programs,...
American Airlines discovered a bullet‑induced puncture on its two‑year‑old Boeing 737 MAX (registration N342SX) after the aircraft landed at Medellín International Airport. The plane was immediately taken out of commercial service and ferried to Dallas‑Fort Worth for detailed inspection and repair. No...
Railbookers has introduced the Stay and Explore Collection, a suite of ten European itineraries that anchor travelers in a single hub city for at least two nights before venturing out on day trips by train. The model eliminates nightly hotel...
American Airlines Cruises is the airline’s dedicated portal where AAdvantage members can both earn and redeem miles on cruise bookings. The platform, powered by World Travel Holdings, aggregates cruises from over 20 providers and applies the same loyalty mechanics as...
Sage Hospitality Group announced Daniel del Olmo as its new president and chief executive officer, succeeding co‑founders Zack Neumeyer and Walter Isenberg. Del Olmo, who joined Sage in 2020 and most recently served as co‑CEO, will lead the company’s long‑term enterprise strategy....
British Airways inadvertently published the seat map for its upcoming A380 refurbishment, revealing a full‑business‑class upper deck with 110 Club World suites and a reconfigured main deck of 12 First suites, 84 premium economy and 215 economy seats, though regulators...
Atmos™ Rewards Visa Business Card reinstates its 85,000‑point welcome bonus, available to new business accounts that spend $5,500 within the first 90 days. The offer also includes a $99 companion fare (plus taxes) and a $95 annual fee. Cardholders earn...
Ensemble Travel Network has added luxury small-ship operator Aqua Expeditions to its supplier lineup, creating a direct channel for U.S. and Canadian travel advisors. The partnership will deliver coordinated trade engagement, marketing support, and product education to boost Aqua’s presence...
Breeze Airways is adding nonstop service from Myrtle Beach to Pittsburgh and a one‑stop BreezeThru flight to Portland, Maine, with fares starting at $39 one‑way. Existing routes to Akron‑Canton, Fort Lauderdale and Long Island will see frequency boosts beginning July...
Caribbean tourism leaders gathered in Bermuda for the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Spring Business Meetings, bringing together roughly 175 delegates, board directors, ministers and industry experts. The agenda centered on the Air Connectivity Summit, sustainable development and coordinated marketing to boost...
Indianapolis International Airport (IND) has been named the Best Airport in North America for the 14th consecutive year and its 15th overall, according to the Airports Council International (ACI) World Service Quality Customer Experience Awards. The 2025 survey highlighted IND’s...
Ontario International Airport (ONT) received the 2025 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Customer Experience Award for Best Airport at Departures in North America (5‑15 million passengers), a distinction granted by Airports Council International. The honor is derived entirely from passenger survey...
Orlando International Airport (MCO) welcomed ZIPAIR’s inaugural nonstop charter flight from Tokyo’s Narita, marking the first direct passenger service between Florida and the Asia‑Pacific region. The flight landed with 280 passengers, a water salute, and Disney‑themed festivities, underscoring the airport’s...
There’s a really interesting story behind this wild @delta Airbus A321neo with 44 first-class seats(!)
Rate parity once mandated identical public rates on hotel websites and OTAs, reinforced by contract clauses. Over the past decade, European antitrust rulings have eroded those clauses, allowing OTAs to offer layered discounts and price‑matching guarantees. As a result, uniform...
G6 Hospitality, the parent of Motel 6 and Studio 6, announced a strategic partnership with security‑intelligence firm Protect24.ai. The AI‑driven platform will be rolled out across more than 1,500 U.S. and Canadian locations to flag suspicious foot‑traffic, illegal escort operations, repeat high‑risk...
Chili’s Grill & Bar is back on the race track at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas, debuting a refreshed “Ride the ‘Dente” livery on Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Chevrolet ZL1 driven by Carson Hocevar. The campaign highlights the brand’s flagship ‘Dente...
Rakuten is offering a one‑day promotion that grants up to 10× points—or a 10 % cash‑back—on bookings through major travel sites such as IHG, Expedia, Hotels.com, Sixt, and Hertz. The deal expires on February 24, 2026, and runs alongside TopCashback’s Travel Week Super...
Oak & Stone, an elevated American restaurant known for its self‑pour Tap Wall, announced a new location in Addison, Texas, slated to open summer 2026. The 7,000‑square‑foot venue at 5225 Belt Line Road will seat about 340 guests and operate...
Up Norway announced three new small‑group itineraries for 2026‑2027, expanding its sustainable luxury portfolio in response to a 14 % year‑over‑year rise in small‑group bookings on TripAdvisor. The trips, limited to 10‑14 participants, include a women‑focused “Women, Blazing Trails” expedition, a...
Kelli Valade, a veteran of Chili’s, Red Lobster and Denny’s, was named chief executive officer of the Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF) in January 2026, shortly after leading Denny’s through a $620 million private‑equity deal. Valade brings deep operational, HR and leadership...
Virgin Red has launched a limited‑time buy‑points promotion offering up to a 70 % bonus, lowering the effective cost to as little as 1.47¢ per Virgin Point. The offer runs until 31 March 2026, raises the annual purchase cap to 300,000 points before...
Rising energy prices, stricter regulations, and sustainability goals are forcing cold‑storage operators to prioritize efficiency. New insulation materials such as XPS and vacuum‑insulated panels dramatically reduce thermal loss, while IoT‑enabled smart controls match cooling output to real‑time demand. Manufacturers are...
Treehouse Hotels, the playful hospitality brand founded by Barry Sternlicht, will launch its first resort‑style property in Miami Beach in early 2029. The development reimagines two iconic 1940s Art Deco buildings—Haddon Hall and Campton Apartments—while adding a new tower with...
Rising food‑away‑from‑home prices and growing protein demand are reshaping how full‑service restaurants evaluate chicken. While private‑label chicken still promises lower case costs, operators are encountering variability that hurts labor efficiency and menu flexibility. Brakebush Brothers positions itself as a consistent,...
The UK Civil Aviation Authority reports a record‑breaking 302 million passenger journeys in 2025, a 2 % rise over 2024 and the highest level since the sector began tracking data. Passenger traffic has tripled since 1989, and a third of travelers plan...
Independent regional carrier Contour will launch Essential Air Service flights from South Arkansas Regional Airport in El Dorado to Dallas/Fort Worth on March 16. The airport, which lost scheduled service in November, will receive up to three daily nonstop flights with a varied...
The MGM Rewards Iconic World Elite Mastercard offers a fast‑track to higher MGM Rewards tier status, featuring a limited‑time welcome bonus of 40,000 points and 15,000 Tier Credits for $5,000 spend. Cardholders earn 6 points and Tier Credits per dollar...
Operto has introduced Operto ONE, a coordinated AI platform that deploys three specialized teams—distribution, front‑of‑house, and back‑of‑house—across independent hotels. The system comprises seven agents that draw from a shared AI Hub, providing real‑time analysis, recommendations, and supervised actions. A built‑in...
Hotels have poured billions into modern tech stacks, yet fragmented legacy systems and piecemeal integrations leave data inconsistent and dashboards stale. As integration points weaken, information leaks and decision‑making slows at the property level. The industry is now shifting from...
IHG’s voco brand has opened its largest American property, voco Times Square – Broadway, a 32‑story hotel with 419 rooms in Midtown Manhattan. The hotel draws on Prohibition‑era speakeasy aesthetics while offering modern comforts, including the only rooftop venue in...
#NYC #realestate scratches its head over future of #RooseveltHotel as owner #Pakistan embraces redev under a #JV, an idea that's only been kicking around for 5 years. #DC baffled. #hotel #GrandCentral #CRE #Trump #GSA https://t.co/quNa74iZS1
Ashford Hospitality Trust entered definitive agreements to sell two hotels—La Posada de Santa Fe in New Mexico for $57.5 million and Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront in Florida for $96 million—totaling $153.5 million. The transactions, slated to close in March, are part of a broader...
Disney Cruise Line opened bookings for its summer 2027 schedule, featuring the first European deployment of the Disney Wish and a renewed Alaska presence from Vancouver with the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder. The lineup also adds extensive Caribbean and...
Citi has introduced a 25% transfer bonus for moving ThankYou® points to Wyndham Rewards, running through March 21, 2026. The promotion applies to all Citi cards, but premium cards like Strata Elite, Strata Premier and Prestige achieve a 1.25 Wyndham‑point per...
FAT Brands Inc., the parent of Hurricane Grill & Wings and 17 other concepts, opened its first Hurricane Grill & Wings in the greater Houston area, located in Lake Jackson’s Plantation Village shopping center. This marks the brand’s second Texas...
Gilat Satellite Networks announced $39 million in orders for its Sidewinder electronically steered antenna (ESA) in‑flight connectivity terminals from a leading satellite operator, with deliveries slated over the next 12 months. The orders cover both line‑fit and retrofit installations, underscoring airlines'...
Delta Air Lines announced its largest seasonal Hawaii schedule for winter 2026‑27, adding a new nonstop Minneapolis‑St. Paul to Maui route and reinstating Boston to Honolulu service, the longest domestic flight in the U.S. The new MSP‑Maui flight operates daily...
European investigators warn that Russia’s recruitment of African migrants and students for the Ukraine war amounts to a new form of modern slavery, exploiting tourism visas, student exchanges and fake job offers. At least 171 African fighters, many aged 18‑25,...
The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) released its 2026 report, showing the overall national satisfaction score rising to 78.5, the strongest level in seven years. Retail leads the pack with an 82.1 rating, while telecom slips to 70.3, highlighting divergent...
Houston TX Hot Chicken, a Nashville‑style concept launched in Las Vegas during the COVID‑19 pandemic, now operates 31 units and boasts over 400,000 social‑media followers. The brand’s strong online presence generates organic franchise leads, reducing the need for aggressive sales...
First Watch Restaurant Group announced that Chief Financial Officer Mel Hope will retire later this year after eight years of service. Hope, who joined in 2018, played a pivotal role in the company's IPO and subsequent growth phases. The board...
London Southend Airport announced that passengers can now carry up to two litres of liquid in cabin baggage, thanks to the installation of C3 screening technology. The same system also permits laptops, iPads and tablets to remain inside bags during...
San Francisco International Airport announced Ronda Chu as its new chief financial officer. Chu will manage the airport’s operating budget, fiscal programmes, and revenue‑enhancement initiatives while overseeing finance, accounting, risk‑management, and procurement services. She brings more than 25 years of...
European aviation groups CANSO, ACI Europe and Airlines for Europe have urged EU ministers to maintain co‑funding of the SESAR programme beyond 2027. They argue that continued financing through the Connecting Europe Facility and the European Competitiveness Fund is essential...
The Airports Council International (ACI) World announced its 2025 ASQ Customer Experience Awards, recognizing 100 airports with 195 honors across categories from staff dedication to cleanliness. The awards arrive as global passenger traffic is projected to hit 9.8 billion in 2025...
First Watch posted a solid 2025, achieving 3.6% same‑store sales growth and opening a record 64 restaurants despite a modest traffic dip. The chain projects 2026 same‑store sales growth of 1%‑3% and will temper expansion to 59‑63 new sites while closing...
