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.
Philadelphia‑based Spread Bagelry is opening its 17th store, a 2,800‑square‑foot location in Buckhead, Atlanta, in March. The shop will function both as a retail outlet and a production hub, supplying fresh bagels to future sites across Georgia and the Carolinas. The brand’s signature honey‑boiled, wood‑fired bagels and an early‑morning 6 a.m. schedule reflect a new operational focus under CEO Tom Selementi. Additional locations in Midtown, Dunwoody and Marietta are already in development.
American Airlines announced that, starting February 18, the fee for a second checked bag will rise to $50 when paid at the airport, up $5 from the previous $45 charge. Passengers who prepay the second bag online will continue to...
Indian travel‑tech firms have spent nearly $1 billion on acquisitions across the U.S., Europe and the Middle East since late 2024, marking a rapid global expansion. Leading players such as Prism (formerly Oyo), RateGain, TBO Tek and Ixigo are buying B2B infrastructure, OTA...
Corinthia Hotels announced a 58‑key luxury resort on Lake Como’s Menaggio shoreline, developed with investment partners RoundShield and Kervis SGR. The project blends restored heritage architecture with three new villas that host the lobby, lounge, golf club and branded residences. Amenities will...
To mark its 80th year of continuous operation, Ethiopian Airlines is offering a 20% discount on international economy and business class tickets. The promotion applies to travel between March 24 and May 31, 2026, provided bookings are made by February 28, 2026, and excludes fare...
Potbelly is integrating Flybuy’s AI‑powered location platform into its digital ordering system to streamline off‑premise service across more than 450 sandwich shops. The technology provides real‑time order‑time estimates, status updates, and location‑based in‑app messaging, reducing customer wait times by over...
ALM Services, a specialist in airport logistics, has secured two new contracts: a Loading Dock Management agreement for Terminal 5 at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and a Central Receiving and Distribution Center (CRDC) services contract at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall...
Cruise operators are tightening health protocols after recent Legionnaires’ disease cases on Norwegian’s Encore and Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas. The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program notes that gastrointestinal illness rates have remained steady despite passenger volumes returning to pre‑pandemic...
Porter Airlines announced three network additions: year‑round service between Toronto Pearson and Austin, a shift of its Toronto‑Chicago flights from Midway to O’Hare, and a seasonal Ottawa‑Deer Lake route. The Austin‑Toronto flights begin May 21, the Chicago airport change takes effect...
Victory Cruise Lines is debuting a series of 2026 sailings that circle all five Great Lakes to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary. The program introduces the Navy Pier Culinary and History Collection in Chicago, a guided walking and tasting tour that...
United Airlines’ Newark‑based Boeing 737 was grounded on Feb. 17 after a single bullet was found in an overhead bin, prompting investigators to declare the aircraft a crime scene. The flight, UA‑1511 to Miami, was delayed nearly three hours while security...
Loman AI announced a new partnership with SpotOn, extending its voice‑AI phone answering service to another leading restaurant point‑of‑sale platform. The integration lets the AI pull real‑time menu, reservation and inventory data directly from the POS, enabling more natural, accurate...
Chase has rolled out a new Chase Offer for Sapphire, Freedom, Ink and J.P. Morgan Reserve cardholders that grants a $100 statement credit when a single transaction of $600 or more is booked through Chase Travel. The promotion must be activated...
Luxury hotels abandoned outbound email acquisition after the spam‑filled era of the late 1990s, leaving a vacuum that online travel agencies (OTAs) swiftly filled. OTAs invested billions in search visibility and data-driven targeting, becoming the default discovery engine and extracting...
In this episode, Peter Greenberg breaks down the economics of cruise ship drink packages, comparing the cost of unlimited alcohol, soft‑drink, juice, and even bottled‑water options against buying drinks individually. He highlights that roughly half of passengers purchase these packages...
The Hotel Management 2026 Top Third-Party Management Companies list ranks firms by the number of U.S. guestrooms they managed in 2025. Sponsored by Entegra, the ranking relies on self‑submitted data from each company. The list highlights the scale of third‑party...
Chef Mawa McQueen launched Crepe Therapy Café in Boulder with a novel "Connector" position, aimed at turning the eatery into a true third space. The role, filled by former finance professional Steve Laser, focuses on fostering genuine connections among guests,...
Apiary Hotel Belleview Station, a 175‑room Residence Inn by Marriott, opened in South Denver’s Belleview Station neighborhood. The all‑suite property blends extended‑stay comfort with boutique design, featuring bee‑inspired décor, a multi‑sided fireplace lobby, and a complimentary hot breakfast. Adjacent Apiary...
Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo announced the addition of five new luxury glamping tents, each exceeding 500 square feet and equipped with climate‑controlled interiors, king‑size beds, and full ensuite bathrooms. The tents also feature a kitchenette, VIP concierge service,...
QR codes are emerging as low‑cost, trackable tools for restaurant catering growth. Kelly Grogan outlines five intentional placements— in‑store contests, bag stuffer flyers, local leave‑behinds, catering order collateral, and thank‑you cards— each designed to capture leads and drive repeat business....
UNITE HERE’s new "Inhospitable" report links recent White House immigration crackdowns to a sharp downturn in U.S. tourism. The study documents more than 2.5 million fewer international visitors in 2025, a $1 billion drop in travel receipts, and 98,000 lost hospitality jobs....
Davidson Hospitality Group has reshaped its commercial services by promoting Patrick Broderick and Harry Carr to newly created senior vice‑president roles overseeing commercial optimization, while appointing Kathryn Collins as vice‑president of marketing. The reorganization consolidates sales, revenue management and marketing...
Donohoe Hospitality Services has appointed Nicole Brizan as vice president of finance and accounting, tasking her with steering corporate and property‑level financial strategy for its hotel portfolio. Brizan brings more than two decades of hospitality accounting experience, most recently as...
Hospeco Brands Group has launched its Rest Assured toilet seat covers, a Green Seal‑certified line made from 100% recycled paper with at least 30% post‑consumer content. The covers are fully biodegradable and compatible with standard half‑fold dispensers, while the company...
HBF Textiles has launched the second edition of The Designer Edit, unveiling six distinct color‑driven palettes for retail, hospitality, workplace, culinary, sustainability‑focused, and outdoor‑inspired interiors. The collections are curated by industrial designer Kickie Chudikova and feature new colorways for the...
The Association of Flight Attendants representing over 30,000 United Airlines crew members says a contract could be finalized in March, after years of contentious bargaining. United has proposed a compensation package that would make its cabin crew the highest‑paid in...
A successful trial at Exeter Airport demonstrated that hydrogen‑powered ground handling equipment—including a hydrogen internal‑combustion tug, a fuel‑cell baggage tractor and a hybrid hydrogen‑diesel GPU—can be safely integrated into live airport operations. The Zero Carbon Turn project, backed by the...
Park Hyatt Toronto has launched a Global Chef Series, debuting with Brazilian chef Felipe Schaedler at its Joni Restaurant on March 6‑7. The program pairs visiting culinary stars with executive chef Jonathan Williams to create multi‑course tasting menus that showcase...
Gordon Dewar will step down as CEO of Edinburgh Airport towards the end of 2026 after a 14‑year tenure. Under his leadership the airport’s passenger traffic surged 85 % from 9 million in 2012 to nearly 17 million in 2025, and it successfully...
Jeff Perera, co‑founder of Jeff’s Bagel Run, recounts how a garage‑started bagel shop expanded to nearly 30 locations with new openings each week. The Founderology podcast episode reveals the pivotal choices that moved the brand out of the "stuck zone,"...
Sri Lankan hotel group Uga Resorts has launched the first phase of its Uga Jungle Beach refurbishment, revamping all 49 guest cabins and the 75‑cover restaurant. The redesign fuses clean, modern lines with botanical prints and native flora, creating a...
Hospitality technology is evolving from a patchwork of point solutions toward a Property Operating System (PropOS), an AI‑driven decision layer that coordinates actions across PMS, RMS, BMS and other platforms. Agentic AI enables these systems to act autonomously within defined...
Herons Lodge, a 35‑key boutique hotel by Common Thread Hotels, will open in Carmel‑by‑the‑Sea in April 2026. The property is the second California venue designed by Nina Freudenberger of Freudenberger Design Studio, following White Water in Cambria. Guests will enjoy...
ARCO National Construction announced the appointment of Scott Rightnowar as head of its commercial aviation division. Rightnowar will oversee national airport, airline, hangar, and MRO development programs, leveraging more than a decade of executive aviation and industrial real‑estate experience. His...
Hotels across Asia are reimagining Champagne as an experiential luxury, turning the drink into daily rituals, theatrical performances, and wellness amenities. At The St. Regis Bangkok, a 6 p.m. sabrage ceremony anchors the evening transition, while Centara Grand’s sky‑terrace serves chilled...
From February 9‑11, 2026 the Future Travel Experience Baggage Innovation Working Group convened at Orlando International Airport for three days of presentations, tours and startup pitches. Highlights included a deep‑dive into MCO’s next‑generation baggage system, a Disney‑hosted off‑airport bag‑drop showcase, and...
Malaysia’s Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign is targeting 2.1 million Indian visitors, a 34.6% rise from the previous year. Indian arrivals already climbed to 1.56 million in 2025, up 14.6% from 2024, underscoring growing demand. The push is backed by 238 weekly...
Flyadeal, Saudi Arabia’s fast‑growing low‑cost carrier, received its first Airbus A320neo of 2026, bringing its total fleet to 45 aircraft. The new plane, named Al‑Saqr, features 186 all‑economy seats and lower fuel consumption, enhancing both capacity and sustainability. Flyadeal operates...
Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathi met Kuwait’s Minister of State for Communications Omar Saud Al‑Omar during the 52nd UN Tourism Regional Commission in Kuwait, cementing a bilateral pact to deepen cultural tourism ties. The dialogue highlighted Egypt’s...
European hubs in Stockholm, Paris, and Venice experienced severe operational chaos on January 18, 2026, as airlines cancelled six flights and delayed more than 180 across the continent. Scandinavian Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, and Air France were the primary carriers affected,...
Cambodia’s government has extended tax incentives for tourism businesses in Siem Reap until the end of 2026, offering income‑tax exemptions and monthly tax relief (excluding VAT and accommodation tax). The measure targets hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and travel agencies, aiming to...
The episode marks International Sous Vide Day, highlighting how the precision cooking method has evolved from a niche French experiment to a global operational platform across restaurants, hospitality, healthcare, and retail. Guest Miguel Franco, CCO of Cuisine Solutions, explains that sous vide’s...
The Norwegian Group posted a record operating profit of NOK 3.732 billion for 2025, the highest in its history, and a NOK 21 million EBIT in Q4 after a loss the previous year. Passenger traffic rose to 27.3 million for the full year, with Norwegian’s...
Central Holidays announced a new suite of Morocco travel programs, expanding its portfolio beyond recent Türkiye offerings. The itineraries span comprehensive multi‑city tours, relaxed city stays, and multi‑country adventures, all fully customizable for individuals, groups, or specialty segments. To drive...
SynergySuite released an eBook titled “The 10‑25 Unit Playbook: Scale Without Chaos,” targeting restaurant groups expanding from ten to twenty‑five locations. The guide outlines practical frameworks, real‑world data, and a unified technology stack to eliminate inventory bleed, improve labor forecasting,...
Lore Group has launched a £100 American Express cashback promotion for stays of £400 across six of its luxury hotels, including Sea Containers London and Pulitzer Amsterdam, with prepaid bookings eligible if made through the official website or Global Hotel...
Air Niugini has cancelled its order for two Boeing 787‑8 jets, leaving a gap as its aging B767‑300ERs are set to leave service in 2026. The 787s were intended to replace those wide‑bodies and support new routes to Asia, Australia...
The European Travel Commission forecasts a 6.2% rise in international arrivals to Europe this year, driven largely by a surge in Chinese and Indian tourists. Chinese visitor numbers are expected to jump 28% and Indian arrivals 9% compared with 2025,...
Brazilian carrier GOL Linhas Aéreas has selected Anuvu as its new inflight entertainment (IFE) partner, with the collaboration kicking off in January 2026. The deal brings Anuvu’s extensive content library—including HBO Max and Formula 1—into GOL’s cabins, promising higher‑quality streams and a broader...
An interactive list released in February 2026 shows that nine multinational lodging companies now operate 259 distinct hotel and resort brands, up from 213 in 2023. The list details each brand’s loyalty program affiliation and a brief description, highlighting the rapid...
