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.

CAPA’s premium analysis report highlights its extensive aviation intelligence services, offering members a 1,033‑word deep‑dive analysis alongside more than 1,000 weekly news briefs. Membership provides full access to a suite of tools, including a mobile app with customizable alerts and comprehensive data on thousands of global aviation companies. The platform aims to equip industry professionals with actionable insights to spot business opportunities, especially as manufacturers chase growing demand in the Asia‑Pacific region. CAPA positions itself as a critical knowledge hub for strategic decision‑making in aviation.
Host Hotels & Resorts reported FY 2025 adjusted EBITDA of $1.757 billion, a 4.6% increase, and adjusted FFO of $2.07 per share, both surpassing guidance. Comparable hotel RevPAR rose 4.2% for the year and 5.4% in Q4, outpacing the upper‑tier industry...
Travel + Leisure Co (TNL) posted Q4 2025 revenue of $1.03 billion, a 4% year‑over‑year increase, and adjusted EBITDA of $272 million, up 8% with expanding margins. Full‑year EPS rose 10% to $6.34 and free cash flow grew 16% to $516 million, supporting...
Booking Holdings reported a 9% year‑over‑year increase in room nights to 285 million in Q4 2025, pushing gross bookings and revenue up 16% (11% on a constant‑currency basis). Adjusted EBITDA rose 19% to $2.2 billion and adjusted EPS grew 17% to $48.8,...
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts reported 4% net room growth in 2025, adding a record 72,000 rooms and expanding its development pipeline to nearly 260,000 rooms across 2,200 hotels. Adjusted EBITDA rose 4% to $718 million and adjusted diluted EPS increased 6%...
The Coffee Break episode compares American Express’s Fine Hotels + Resorts® with Chase Travel’s The Edit, using Greg’s back‑to‑back stays at Pendry Chicago as a case study. While both programs promise similar luxury perks, the host highlights nuanced differences in...

EHL Hospitality Business School convened a two‑day workshop in November 2025, bringing together researchers and industry leaders to chart tourism’s decade‑ahead transition. Participants identified six interconnected priority areas—climate & mobility, food & circularity, social & work, governance & policy, measurement &...

The article argues that hotel direct‑booking conversion is a critical yet misunderstood performance lever, and that a single conversion rate masks underlying demand dynamics. By applying machine‑learning clustering to segment stay dates, researchers identified distinct demand contexts where different factors...

American Airlines will operate 67 Boeing 777s in 2026, making it the fourth‑largest global operator and the second‑largest holder of the older 777‑200ER variant. The carrier’s longest nonstop 777 flights include LAX‑Sydney (6,507 nm) and DFW‑Seoul (5,945 nm), while seasonal and summer...

Luxury hospitality is pivoting from overt extravagance to "quiet luxury," emphasizing discreet locations, understated design, and authentic local experiences. Research by EHL students shows affluent travelers now prefer secluded settings, private entrances, and personalized service over traditional opulent displays. Brands...
Spirit Airlines is marking two decades of service at Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport with a 20% discount on base fares for flights departing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Travelers must use promo code “20PCT” and book by February 18 to travel between...

Hospitality executives at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit argued that current economic headwinds are cyclical, not structural, and that demand for hotel assets remains robust over the past decade. They highlighted attractive yields and a functioning capital market, urging investors...

Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) announced the 2026 recipients of the Robert A. Gilbert Award for Career Achievement in Commercial Strategy. The honorees—Mary Casey, Jeff Doane, and André Fournier—are recognized for shaping sales, marketing, distribution and revenue optimization across...
Guam’s tourism sector is experiencing a robust rebound in 2026, posting double‑digit year‑over‑year growth and record arrivals in December 2025. The surge is driven by expanded airlift, targeted marketing to Asian‑Pacific source markets, and a shift toward high‑value segments such...

beOnd has signed a Letter of Intent with Bahrain’s Civil Aviation Affairs to explore a Bahrain‑based Air Operator Certificate, aiming to launch a premium airline. The carrier plans to base up to ten premium‑configured aircraft in the kingdom by 2030,...

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have rolled out spring‑time inflight menus that showcase regional flavors and chef‑driven concepts. Alaska highlights Seattle‑sourced Beecher’s Mac & Cheese in Main Cabin and adds a plant‑forward Mediterranean bowl, while its First Class offers banana...
RMT Global Partners unveiled the Collapsible ATLAS Drawer, a lightweight galley drawer that folds flat when not in use. The snap‑open, quick‑collapse mechanism lets caterers expand the drawer instantly for loading and collapse it to reduce storage footprint across kitchens,...

SH Airport Lounge, operated by Noi Bai Aviation Services, has rebranded from its Sông Hồng origins into a scalable hospitality brand across Vietnam’s airports. The network now runs more than 26 locations, offering two concepts: a high‑volume Premium lounge and...
White Castle piloted Interface Systems' AI‑powered Virtual Perimeter Guard at a high‑risk St. Louis restaurant, cutting loitering, late‑night incidents, and escalation calls. Within 30 days, 91% of perimeter events were resolved automatically through AI detection and live voice deterrence, eliminating...

The Guest House opened its third location in Scottsdale, Arizona, taking over the former Etta space in the Scottsdale Quarter. The 8,500‑square‑foot venue showcases New American steak and seafood, highlighted by a 36‑ounce tomahawk, dry‑aged rib eye, and tableside theatrical...
ANA’s Flight NH-223 from Tokyo to Frankfurt was forced to turn back after six hours when a Boeing 787-9 reported low oil pressure in one engine while cruising over the Arctic. The aircraft returned to Tokyo, resulting in a 14-hour...
Bali’s police have stepped up night patrols across Kuta, Benoa and Nusa Dua as tourist‑targeted thefts rise, especially motorcycle snatch‑and‑run incidents. Official data shows thousands of crimes involving foreign visitors in the first half of 2025, prompting checkpoints, hotel‑security coordination...

Las Palapas, the San Antonio Tex‑Mex chain celebrating its 45th year, has partnered with Paytronix to replace its legacy systems with a unified digital platform. The rollout introduces the LP Club mobile app, migrating over 100,000 loyalty members and adding...
Marriott Bonvoy® Week has returned to Starbucks, running February 16‑22. Members who link their Marriott Bonvoy and Starbucks accounts can earn up to 100 Marriott points for three qualifying purchases. The earnings cap is a steep drop from earlier promos...
The episode examines the ongoing lawsuit by American Airlines employees who claim the airline’s 2016 uniform change caused skin rashes, a case now before the Seventh Circuit. It outlines the timeline of complaints, the inconclusive testing by Intertek and NIOSH,...
The inaugural African Travel Commission (ATC) Summit in Lagos called for urgent reforms to visa policies, border regulations, and regional aviation to unlock Africa’s tourism potential. Delegates noted tourism generated roughly $225 billion in GDP and supported 30 million jobs in 2025,...

Salt Lake City International Airport has introduced Bringit, a smart luggage delivery platform that lets travelers postpone baggage claim and drop‑off. The service aims to eliminate the gap between hotel check‑in and check‑out, allowing passengers to head directly to meetings...

Toronto Pearson (YYZ) has broadened its long‑standing partnership with HMSHost, adding six new Canadian‑focused food concepts—including Mary Brown’s Chicken, OEB Kitchen + Bar, Li, Libretto Slice Shop, Kinton Ramen, and Community by Roger Mooking—and upgrading existing venues such as Starbucks,...
American Express is preparing to re‑launch enhanced welcome offers on its Hilton Honors credit cards. The basic Hilton Honors card will grant a free night reward plus 70,000 bonus points after $2,000 spend, while the Hilton Honors Surpass card will...

Little Ruby’s, the Australian‑inspired all‑day restaurant founded in New York in 2002, opened its first out‑of‑state location in Dallas on February 2, marking a 24‑year expansion hiatus. The Uptown venue occupies 1,790 sq ft indoors with a 950‑sq ft patio, seating roughly 156 guests....
Rixos Murjana marks Saudi Arabia’s entry into the all‑inclusive resort market, targeting families and premium travellers with nearly 500 rooms and rates between $250 and $600 per night. The project reflects a shift from ultra‑luxury, Vision 2030‑driven tourism to a broader,...

Wendy’s reported an 11% drop in Q4 same‑store sales and an 8% decline for 2025, signaling a sharp contraction in its core market. In contrast, McDonald’s posted roughly 7% same‑store sales growth in the same quarter, buoyed by a record‑breaking...

HSBC’s Premier Elite card carries a $495 annual fee and offers a 60,000‑point sign‑up bonus after $4,000 of spending in the first three months. Cardholders earn 5× points on all travel, 2× on dining and 1× on other purchases, plus...
Project Expedition has launched a cruise‑shore excursion search tool that tailors independent tours to ship itineraries, offering back‑to‑ship guarantees and cruise‑friendly refund policies. Traditional cruise‑line excursions are often expensive, overcrowded, and rigid, prompting travelers to seek private alternatives. The new...
Blue Grass Airport announced United Airlines will upgrade its daily Lexington‑Denver flight to a 126‑seat Airbus A319 on May 21, 2026, adding more than 50 seats per day. The carrier will also increase Lexington‑Chicago service to up to seven daily...
Allegiant Air announced Flight #925 — Destination Dollywood, a themed service linking Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) to Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) on November 6. The partnership with Dollywood Parks & Resorts adds onboard trivia, music, themed food, giveaways and exclusive merchandise....

A premium‑branded, select‑service Marriott franchise is available in the densely populated NYC metropolitan area and New Jersey’s most populous county. The property benefits from a prime location near major demand generators, delivering a solid history of revenue, occupancy, and RevPAR....

Move over Qsuites, the new @japanairlines Airbus A350 business class may just be one of the best in the world. What do you think?
Celestyal introduced a limited‑time promotion for travel advisors booking new group reservations on 7‑ and 14‑night Mediterranean cruises for the 2026‑2027 seasons. Incentives include tiered onboard credit ranging from €130 to €200 per person, free cabin rewards for groups of...

Specialist regional aircraft lessor TrueNoord has delivered two ATR 42-600 turboprops to U.S. public‑charter carrier JSX, with the first arriving in November and the second in January. Both aircraft are now operating in JSX’s premium hop‑on service. The deal expands...

Lufthansa Group and Air India signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen cooperation across routes, IT, loyalty programs and customer experience. The agreement expands their relationship from a simple codeshare to a broader interline framework covering all subsidiaries, including Austrian,...
Crystal has unveiled the Book & Sail contest, targeting U.S. and Canadian travel advisors enrolled in its Trade Engagement Program. Running from Feb. 17 to Mar. 31, 2026, advisors earn points for qualifying bookings, with higher‑value sailings yielding more points. The top...

Tokyo’s 2025 Deaflympics, held Nov. 15‑26, attracted 3,000 athletes from 75 nations and sparked a citywide push for deaf‑friendly infrastructure. The metropolitan government installed light‑based warning devices in over 660 toilets and changing rooms and added speech‑to‑text screens at 40...

Emirates announced that, effective May 1 2026, passengers will no longer earn Skywards miles on flights operated by Condor. Until April 30 2026, accrual rates remain at up to 0.75 miles per mile in economy, 1.0 in premium economy, and 1.25 in business. The...
Pilots from major unions are being urged to refuse LAHSO clearances at Chicago O’Hare, a time‑saving runway technique that has raised safety concerns. ORD already struggles with on‑time performance, hovering around a 65% departure punctuality rate, making any operational slowdown...

Air Canada is expanding its Mexican network this summer, adding a year‑round nonstop Montreal‑Guadalajara service beginning June 2, 2026, and boosting capacity on four existing routes. The airline will operate three weekly flights on the new route and increase weekly...

Louis Hotels announced it is doubling its agent incentive program, now offering two complimentary nights for each qualifying booking. The enhanced reward applies to all properties in the brand and is available immediately to registered travel agents. By providing a...

Extended Stay America (ESA) opened a new Select Suites property in Sterling, Colorado, adding a two‑story, 104‑room hotel to its portfolio. The property offers full kitchens, on‑site laundry, complimentary Wi‑Fi, an indoor pool, and a recreation room with games for...
Six firms have lodged bids to design, supply, install, commission and service 92 passenger boarding bridges for Poland’s new Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) airport. The consortiums include Sezo Invest / ShinMaywa, FMT Sweden, Albert Ziegler, Adelte Airport Technologies / TK Airport Solutions, and Comsa Instalaciones....

COMO Hotels & Resorts is debuting two luxury micro‑cruises to the Svalbard archipelago, launching in May and September 2026. The 10‑ and 11‑night itineraries aboard the converted M/S Polarfront accommodate only 12 guests in seven suites, blending high‑end hospitality with Arctic...