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.
Frontier Airlines has reinstated two nonstop routes from its Florida hubs, launching Miami → Chicago O’Hare with three weekly flights and Orlando → Pensacola with two weekly flights. The services, previously suspended in 2022, resume ahead of the spring‑break travel rush. Frontier’s vice president of network and operations design highlighted the routes as affordable options for vacationers. The airline aims to capture seasonal demand while strengthening its presence in the southeastern market.
Hotel chains worldwide are rethinking the traditional complimentary breakfast, shifting it from a universal amenity to a strategic pricing tool. Brands such as Hyatt, Marriott, and Hilton are piloting models that limit free breakfast to premium rooms, elite loyalty members,...
Jamaica’s long‑standing tourism minister Edmund Bartlett has released *Destination Reputational Resilience*, a manifesto that places crisis‑ready reputation at the heart of tourism strategy. Co‑authored with Lloyd Waller and backed by a UN foreword, the book signals that resilience is moving...
Tom Pritzker, who has guided Hyatt Hotels Corp. for more than two decades, announced his retirement as executive chairman and his decision not to stand for re‑election to the board. Since taking the helm in 2004, Pritzker has overseen the...
Indian firms WAISL and GRAMAX have created AeroWise, an AI‑driven airport predictive operation centre that blends digital‑twin technology with embedded cyber‑security. The solution includes miniature physical models of terminals, runways and ancillary systems that can be “war‑gamed” to visualize attack...
Choice Privileges is running a limited‑time promotion that discounts purchased points by up to 30%, bringing the cost down to 0.72¢ per point for purchases of 10,000 points or more. The offer expires at 11:59 p.m. EST on March 15, 2026, and points are...
KLM has stopped providing a timeline for fully restoring its Dubai and Tel Aviv services, continuing to operate only a reduced schedule that favors morning flights while cancelling most afternoon and evening rotations. The airline resumed full operations to Saudi...
Capriotti's Sandwich Shop is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a aggressive expansion plan, unveiling a "50-50-50" franchise incentive that can save qualified partners up to $50,000 in royalties and fees. The brand announced the opening of 20 new locations and...
Hospitality sustainability has shifted from optional initiatives to core KPIs, but Europe and the United States still measure progress differently. European hotels are guided by stricter compliance, carbon‑footprinting and circular‑economy reporting, while U.S. properties rely more on brand standards, investor...
Sol Arona Tenerife has reopened after a €25 million overhaul, becoming the first property relaunched under Meliá Hotels International’s new SOL by Meliá brand. The renovation, executed with investment partner Petra, introduced family‑focused amenities, self‑service features, and a sustainability‑driven design. The hotel now...
Saxon Air has grown its UK helicopter fleet to twelve aircraft, adding three more by April 2026. The expansion includes models such as the Leonardo AW109S, AW109 Trekker, AW109SP, AW119Kx and Airbus H125, with the latest being an AW109SP. Head...
Trina White, General Manager of Parkside Hotel & Spa, received the IMPACT Award at the 2026 IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism Summit for her leadership in green hospitality. Since 2009 she has driven the hotel’s sustainability program, achieving a 92%...
Marriott International is rolling out a series of culturally immersive experiences across its Latin American portfolio, featuring properties in Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Peru. The program includes a rum‑and‑chocolate tasting in Guanacaste, the region’s first carbon‑positive all‑inclusive resort, tree‑planting...
IHG has launched a three‑day flash sale for Iberostar beach resorts across the Americas, with bookings open from February 16‑18, 2026 and stays eligible from March 1 to October 31, 2026. Discounts can reach up to 55 percent, varying by property and dates. The promotion covers...
In this episode of "Hotels with a Past," correspondent Kerry Sanders explores two iconic desert resorts—the historic Inn and the Ranch at Death Valley—highlighting their evolution from early 20th‑century rail‑linked retreats to modern luxury oases. Sanders details the architectural preservation...
The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Hawaii’s first resort, has completed a $180 million multi‑phased renovation, the most extensive in its 60‑year history. The overhaul adds 252 redesigned rooms, a new wellness retreat, upgraded dining venues, and a 28,000‑square‑foot Ulu Garden. Photovoltaic...
Hotel Terra Jackson Hole, Wyoming’s first LEED‑certified hotel, has finished a $6.98 million renovation that refreshes 132 guest rooms and suites, corridors, meeting spaces, and wellness amenities. The redesign blends rustic warmth with modern sophistication, using earthy tones, natural textures, and...
Cendyn has released a downloadable guide titled “Is Your Hotel Website Ready for AI‑driven Travelers?” that outlines how hotels must redesign their sites for both human guests and AI search engines in 2026. The guide details UX, content structuring, trust‑building...
Holland America Line and Back in Time for Bed will host a family ship visit aboard the Rotterdam on April 3 in Southampton, aimed at parents working in the travel industry. Up to 75 attendees can preview the Kids’ Club’s...
bb.q Chicken, a fast‑growing Korean fried‑chicken franchise, has rolled out Deliverect’s digital ordering and menu‑management platform across more than 250 U.S. locations. The integration links its Toast POS with Uber Eats, DoorDash, GrubHub, and other marketplaces, consolidating menu updates, order...
Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications unveiled a National Aviation Strategy for 2026‑2027, aligning civil‑aviation development with the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030. The plan seeks to expand the kingdom’s air‑connectivity from 66 to 100 destinations by 2030 and to deepen the...
Marriott Bonvoy is offering triple points—15 points per dollar—for stays of three consecutive nights or more at participating Homes & Villas properties in Greece, valid through September 30, 2026. To qualify, reservations must be booked with a Marriott Bonvoy membership...
Hospitality International’s hihotels brand announced the conversion of three independent hotels into its franchise network. The additions include a 45‑room Scottish Inns & Suites in Vinton, Louisiana, a 41‑room Scottish Inns & Suites in Kingwood, Texas, and a 48‑room Red...
JetBlue is running a limited‑time BOGO promotion that makes the second base‑fare ticket free when customers book a flight‑plus‑cruise package through JetBlue Vacations by April 30, 2026, with travel required by December 31, 2026. A separate offer adds 10,000 bonus TrueBlue points for reservations...
Stayntouch has signed a partnership with Regency Hotel Management to roll out its cloud‑based property management system across 27 independent Regency hotels. After a seven‑month evaluation, Regency chose Stayntouch for its mobile‑first, tablet‑driven platform, enabling properties to go live in...
Hyatt Hotels announced the Andaz Heber Valley, its first mountain‑focused Andaz property, slated for a January 2029 opening in Utah’s Heber Valley. The 85‑room hotel will sit within The Slope, a mixed‑use lifestyle community that also includes 62 condominiums and...
Jacaruso Enterprises unveiled Lead Shark, an AI‑driven SaaS platform tailored for hotel sales teams. The tool consolidates prospecting, verified contact intelligence, market data and competitor analysis to accelerate outreach. Built on two decades of hotel sales experience, it serves both...
The Community Homestay Network (CHN) in Nepal is launching two familiarisation trips for travel agents and tour operators, scheduled for May 10‑19 and August 25‑September 1, 2026. The initiative aims to expand CHN’s reach, boost agent sales, and integrate community‑centric...
Kristina Zanic Consultants revealed the interior design for InterContinental The Red Sea Resort on Shura Island, created in partnership with Foster + Partners. The luxury retreat offers 210 sea‑facing rooms and suites, seamless indoor‑outdoor spaces, and a curated mix of...
Singapore’s dining landscape is evolving from pure gastronomy to cultural storytelling. Travelers now seek immersive experiences that reveal the history, rituals and personalities behind iconic dishes. Tour operators, heritage venues and hotels are packaging food with narratives, turning hawker stalls,...
United Travel Bank (UTB) has long been a workaround for credit‑card airline incidental credits, allowing travelers to deposit funds and receive fee reimbursements. Recent Reddit and Flyertalk posts suggest UTB stopped triggering these credits after February 5‑6 2026. Historically, similar reports have...
Booking.com has removed two Hilton properties in the Frankfurt region from its platform, cancelling several hundred existing reservations. The hotels – Hilton Frankfurt City Centre and Hilton Frankfurt Gravenbruch – are owned by the Mashali family, linked to Iranian banker...
Sunshine Coast Airport has inaugurated a new outbound baggage facility, a cornerstone of its AU$170 million terminal transformation. The upgrade introduces Rapiscan CT screening and higher‑efficiency processing to accommodate rising passenger numbers and tighten security compliance. Construction now moves to the...
The Belfry Hotel & Resort announced three 2026 charity partners—St Giles Hospice, the Motor Neurone Disease Association, and Hospitality Action—aiming to top its 2025 £120,000 fundraising total. The resort will mobilise staff across departments to host events such as car...
Swan Hellenic is debuting a six‑night golf expedition on its boutique ship SH Diana, sailing from Lisbon to Fuerteventura in September 2026. The itinerary features five championship‑designed courses across Portugal, Morocco and Lanzarote, offered as a full package (£1,095 per...
Velocity FBO Network, backed by private‑equity firm Tallvine Partners, announced the acquisition of BTR Jet Center at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport. The deal adds a well‑established South‑central FBO with Jet A and 100LL fueling, lounges, crew cars and concierge services to...
Corby of Windsor is embedding sustainability into every stage of guestroom design, from material selection to end‑of‑life repair. The company has eliminated over 82,000 chrome‑plated items by switching to polished stainless steel and introduced energy‑saving products such as battery‑free scales...
Qatar Airways announced a 14% cut to its spring 2026 London schedule, reducing total outbound flights from 951 to 818 between April and June. Weekly departures for the week of May 1 drop to 59, with Heathrow losing 11 slots and...
The Melt, a San Francisco‑based fast‑casual chain, is set to double its Southern California presence in 2026, adding eight new restaurants and raising its regional total from six to 14. The rollout targets high‑traffic retail hubs such as Brea Mall,...
Urban Plates is adding three chef‑crafted, 100 % grass‑fed burgers—Bacon Cheeseburger, Avocado Cheeseburger, and Crispy Onion Cheeseburger—bringing its grass‑fed options to four. The new items, priced between $13.25 and $14.75, debut on the latest seasonal menu at all 22 California locations...
Hotel Hans, the latest Brøchner Hotels addition, opened in a restored 1900s red‑brick building in Copenhagen. Norrøn Architects crafted two contrasting interiors that echo the neighboring districts of Nørrebro and Frederiksberg, linked by a custom aluminium lighting system. The design...
Oklahoma’s Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics and West Woodward Airport completed a $12 million upgrade, adding a new terminal, corporate‑box hangar, expanded apron, taxi lane, and utility infrastructure. The project was funded through the ODAA’s five‑year Airport Construction Program and the...
The 46th BIT Milan trade show rebranded around “Travel Makers,” positioning people and ideas above product displays. More than 1,000 exhibitors from 54 nations gathered for the new Travel Makers Fest, delivering over 100 hours of talks on AI, storytelling,...
A TikTok user complained that a British Airways flight attendant answered her request to open a water bottle with a condescending tone. The passenger, who admits difficulty opening bottles, had previously received help without issue, but on a recent flight...
Air Charter Service (ACS) has named Robert Nicholes as chief executive of its Atlanta office, marking his return after a brief stint elsewhere in the industry. Nicholes brings more than a decade of internal experience, having started in New York, moved...
Flight Pro International (FPI) has opened a new office inside Farnborough Airport’s terminal, marking its latest expansion in the United Kingdom. The move follows the addition of Jo Sutherden and Kelly Long to the UK team in January 2026, building...
flydubai will launch double daily flights to Bangkok from 15 Sept 2026, increasing its Thailand operations to 28 weekly services. The new route will operate from Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport to Don Mueang International Airport. Bangkok becomes flydubai’s second...
Lufthansa has begun scrapping one of its retired A380s, registration D‑AIMI, after mothballing six quad‑jets during the pandemic. The aircraft, which logged over 25,000 flight hours, was sent to Tarbes and later sold to a U.S. firm before its fuselage...
NATS has taken over air traffic control and engineering services at Birmingham Airport under a new 10‑year contract awarded after a competitive tender. The handover follows a 12‑month readiness programme and the transfer of more than 50 controllers and engineers...
Brisbane Airport is marking the Year of the Horse with a record‑high Lunar New Year flight schedule, boosting inbound capacity to key Asian hubs by 17.4%. Major carriers are expanding seats dramatically—China Southern by 66.9%, Cathay Pacific and EVA Air...
