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.
Airports face relentless operational pressure, requiring facility maintenance that never halts passenger flow. Fragmented asset data and multi‑stakeholder environments hinder rapid response to failures in power, baggage, or runway systems. Hexagon’s enterprise asset management (EAM) solution consolidates inspections, work orders, and IoT feeds into a single platform, enabling proactive scheduling aligned with flight timetables. Emerging tools such as digital twins and prescriptive asset performance management promise to boost resilience while supporting post‑COVID traffic growth and sustainability goals.
Etijah, an Egyptian youth‑development nonprofit, was named the World’s Leading Sustainable Education & Training Programme 2025 for its hospitality employability initiative at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards in Dubai. The award recognises a curriculum that blends hospitality skills...
Minor Hotels posted a record 32% rise in full‑year core profit to THB 6.84 billion in 2025, driven by lower finance costs and pricing‑led revenue growth. System‑wide occupancy climbed to 68% while ADR and RevPAR increased 3% and 4% respectively. The Europe‑America...
Jumeirah Capri Palace will reopen on 16 April 2026, unveiling a refreshed calendar of culinary, cultural and wellness experiences. The hotel expands its four‑hands dinner series with a roster of Michelin‑starred guest chefs and returns pastry maestro Pierre Hermé. Its Capri Medical...
Sofitel has unveiled Le Vestiaire, a global wardrobe created with French designer Cordelia de Castellane. The 45‑piece collection, tested with 110 staff, will dress roughly 25,000 employees across 120 hotels beginning late 2026. It blends couture sensibility with everyday comfort, allowing mix‑and‑match...
Radisson Hotel Group and Amadeus have created a direct API link between Radisson’s EMMA central reservation system and the Amadeus Travel Platform, replacing traditional GDS connections. The integration streams real‑time rate and availability data, while AI‑driven data mapping aligns fields...
Hyatt Hotels Corporation has incorporated the historic Seaview Hotel & Golf Club in Galloway, New Jersey into its Destination by Hyatt brand. The 670‑acre resort offers 296 rooms, 34,500 sq ft of flexible meeting space and two championship golf courses. Its proximity to...
IHG Hotels & Resorts has partnered with Gulf Province Properties Limited to develop InterContinental Port Moresby, a 179‑room luxury hotel slated to open in late 2028. The property will anchor a mixed‑use precinct in the diplomatic core of Papua New Guinea’s capital,...
EaseMyTrip, one of India’s leading online travel platforms, announced plans to raise up to Rs 500 crore through a rights issue, QIP or other approved methods. The capital will be used to deepen its hotel and holiday‑package business, upgrade technology, and pursue...
@emirates has announced a series of aircraft deployments and cabin upgrades across its network as it expands the rollout of Premium Economy and enhances product consistency for customers. Under its ongoing retrofit programme, the airline is set to complete the upgrade...
Air Astana will resume direct services from Almaty to Baku from 15 March 2026, while increasing overall frequencies to the capital of Azerbaijan. The Almaty–Baku–Almaty route will initially operate twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays. Frequency will rise to three weekly...
The episode explores the booming scent‑marketing industry through conversations with Evin Ellis of ScentAir and Caroline Fabrigas of Scent Marketing, Inc., highlighting how brands translate core values into signature aromas for hotels, retail, and public spaces. It details the custom...
@emirates February 2026 booking data shows Lunar New Year is no longer just about balik kampung. It is increasingly a launchpad for long-haul holidays. According to booking data released by Emirates for February 2026, travel to and from Malaysia during the...
Since 2017 British Airways lets Bronze, Silver and Gold members extend their tier status when they have a baby, whether by birth, adoption or shared parental leave. Eligible members can apply twice within any five‑year window by emailing baby@ba.com with...
Marriott Bonvoy Titanium and Ambassador Elite members can now claim United Airlines MileagePlus Premier Silver status for free through the RewardsPlus partnership. The status provides a free checked bag, complimentary Economy Plus seat selection, and the ability to transfer up...
In early 2026 a handful of carriers stand out for offering the most spacious economy cabins, measured by seat pitch and width. ANA and Japan Airlines lead with up to 34 inches of pitch, while Emirates standardises 32 inches across its A350...
Klook’s Travel Pulse 2026 report reveals that 88% of global travelers intend to keep or increase their travel budgets despite economic headwinds, with Asia‑Pacific travelers 50% more likely to boost spending than their Western counterparts. The survey of 11,000 Klook...
Lufthansa Group celebrates 65 years of Hong Kong‑Frankfurt service, reaffirming its commitment to Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA). The carrier currently runs two daily Lufthansa flights to Frankfurt and a Swiss International Air Lines service to Zurich,...
RX Global has appointed One Rep Global as its official partner for the Indian Buyer Program, covering flagship events such as ILTM Cannes, ILTM Asia Pacific, IBTM Barcelona and the International Golf Travel Market. The partnership aims to recruit senior Indian...
BWH Hotels announced a wave of new openings across Asia in 2025, highlighted by the 91‑key Best Western Premier Imperial Dalat in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. The chain also added three properties in Thailand, a relaunched hotel in the Philippines, and...
Eurowings and SunExpress have expanded their codeshare agreement from five to fourteen routes, adding thirteen new connections and dropping four under‑performing services. The new routes focus on linking German cities with Western European leisure destinations, shifting away from the original...
British Airways’ Avios award bookings often carry fuel surcharges that can top $1,000 per way, eroding the appeal of “free” tickets. The airline’s own flights remain expensive, but many partners—Aer Lingus, Iberia, American, Alaska, Qantas, and JAL—offer the same Avios currency...
Czechia welcomed nearly 23.6 million guests in 2025, generating 59.1 million overnight stays and surpassing pre‑pandemic levels. International arrivals rose 4.1% to 10.9 million, with foreign visitors staying longer and spending more. Domestic tourism also grew, adding 2.5% more Czech residents to accommodations....
Chinese outbound tourism is set to expand in 2026, driven by a stronger yuan, broader visa‑free access and improved economic confidence. Forecasts predict 165‑175 million trips, roughly a 10 % rise that approaches pre‑pandemic levels. Generation Z now dominates the traveler pool, favoring...
The HelloSafe Safety Index released its 2026 rankings, evaluating 50 nations across public safety, political stability, health security, cybersecurity, and environmental risk. Iceland tops the list with a 92.4 score, followed by Switzerland, Norway, Finland and Denmark, underscoring Europe’s dominance....
Long‑haul travelers from the United States, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea and Australia are reshaping European tourism, according to a new Mabrian and Data Appeal report. Direct flights from these six markets grew 5.2% in 2025, spreading visitor flows to...
Caribbean and Central America are experiencing a surge in luxury hotel investment in 2026, with a strong focus on sustainability and technology. The Dominican Republic leads the market, welcoming 11.6 million visitors and achieving over 70% hotel occupancy, which has attracted...
Egypt’s tourism rebounded dramatically in 2025, welcoming 19 million international visitors—a 21% year‑over‑year increase—and generating $18‑$24 billion in revenue. The surge is driven by flagship investments such as the Grand Egyptian Museum, which opened in November 2025, and ambitious Red Sea coastal...
A traveler was reprimanded by TSA for wearing a hoodie with no shirt underneath, prompting a pat‑down because the garment is considered a bulky item. The incident highlights the contrast between airline dress‑code enforcement and TSA’s limited authority over passenger...
Wyndham Rewards saw two major setbacks in 2025: the termination of its Vacasa partnership, which eliminated the ability to book high‑value vacation rentals for up to 30,000 points, and the removal of the automatic Caesars Diamond status match for Business...
Travelers increasingly recognize that medical expenses abroad can quickly derail a trip, prompting a shift toward proactive financial planning. Costs range from modest clinic visits to emergency‑room bills that run into thousands, while most domestic health policies offer limited overseas...
Aquavis, a two‑year‑old water‑filtration startup, has launched an under‑sink system aimed at hotels and resorts. The NSF‑certified unit removes 98.9% of microplastics, 99.7% of lead, chlorine, PFAS and other contaminants, using a .5‑micron filter. Early adopters report installations in more...
The article reviews the Citi Strata Elite credit card, highlighting the benefits the author actually uses—6x weekend dining points, a $200 annual splurge credit, a $300 hotel credit, Admirals Club passes, and a partial Blacklane credit. It also lists perks...
Book clubs are evolving from living‑room gatherings into curated reading retreats at resorts and glamping sites. Operators such as Silent Book Club and Away Retreats package literary themes with wellness amenities, pricing trips from $749 to $4,195. The trend is...
Chase Ultimate Rewards points do not expire as long as the credit‑card account stays open. If you close the account, you have a 30‑day window to redeem or transfer the points before they’re forfeited. Points can also be lost for...
Hospitality cyber risk escalates in 2026 as AI-driven phishing, ransomware‑as‑a‑service, and deepfake fraud target increasingly connected hotel environments. Regulatory pressure intensifies with the EU’s NIS2 directive and Cyber Resilience Act, forcing global compliance and tighter insurance terms. Smart‑room IoT devices...
IHG has refined the terms of its One Rewards program, clarifying which travel agents qualify as authorized partners and outlining the rate categories that earn points. Qualifying stays now include bookings made through directly contracted agents, the IHG website, app,...
Chicago’s City Council approved a resolution moving the official starting point of historic U.S. Route 66 to Navy Pier. The dedication ceremony is set for March 25, 2026, and a new Route 66 sign will be installed at the waterfront attraction. The shift...
KLM cancelled more than 150 flights on February 15, 2026 after heavy snowfall reduced landing capacity at Amsterdam Schiphol, with short‑haul services bearing the brunt while most long‑haul flights remained on schedule but with fewer passengers. The airline announced rebooking...
Credit almost always leads to people spending more. From Airbnb's Q4 earnings: "Reserve Now, Pay Later saw significant adoption among eligible guests in Q4. It's also led to longer booking lead times and a mix shift towards larger entire homes, especially those...
The United States has entered another government shutdown, directly affecting the Transportation Security Administration and parts of the Federal Aviation Administration. Thousands of TSA officers are working without pay, creating staffing shortages and longer security lines at major hubs such...
Granada, a coffee counter run from the lower level of a home in Angelino Heights, has become a viral hotspot in Los Angeles. The shop operates under the county’s new Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) permit, which allows limited‑scale food...
Hyatt reported 7.3% net room growth, a 148,000‑room pipeline and 63 million World of Hyatt members, underscoring its aggressive asset‑light strategy. The shift mirrors a broader industry move where mega‑chains prioritize brand platforms over property ownership, expanding through franchising and management...
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Munich Security Conference address reframed the trans‑Atlantic alliance in terms of Western civilization and cultural heritage, sparking unease among European listeners, especially in Germany. The speech’s emphasis on identity and tradition resonated with historical...
Global Hotel Alliance’s GHA DISCOVERY program now serves 34 million members across more than 950 upscale properties in over 100 countries. The tiered system—Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium—can be reached with a small number of stays, especially by mixing brands, and rewards...
Capital One’s rewards program links its Venture cards to a broad slate of airline partners, most of which transfer at a 1:1 ratio, giving cardholders a solid baseline value. A few carriers—Emirates, EVA Air, Japan Airlines and JetBlue—transfer at reduced...
Malaysia Airlines’ Golden Lounge in Kuala Lumpur enforces a three‑hour entry limit before departure, even for connecting passengers, despite the airline’s terms only referencing purchased access. A traveler experienced contradictory treatment: one agent denied entry hours after arrival, while another...
Mexico, alongside the U.S. and Canada, will host 13 matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expecting 836,000 tourists—280,000 of them international. Fan fests across Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara are projected to draw 4.2 million attendees, turning public squares into...
Frankfurt am Main’s tourism sector delivered roughly €4.92 billion in gross revenue in 2024, underscoring its economic significance. The German Economic Institute for Tourism recorded 71.4 million guest days, with day visitors accounting for three‑quarters of activity. Overnight guests, though fewer, spent...
China’s ice and snow tourism sector surpassed 1 trillion yuan in 2025, a fourfold increase over the past decade. The industry is projected to reach 1.2 trillion yuan by 2027 and 1.5 trillion yuan by 2030, fueled by 360 million domestic winter trips generating...
