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.
The 4th Global Tourism Resilience Day Conference and Expo convened in Nairobi from February 16‑18, 2026, spotlighting a strategic partnership between Jamaica and Kenya. Jamaican Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, co‑chair of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, declared resilience the new currency of tourism. Delegates toured Kenyan conservation sites and worked toward the Nairobi Declaration, a policy roadmap guiding tourism resilience through 2027. The agenda emphasized using AI, big data and community‑level actions to guard against climate shocks, cyber threats and systemic failures.
The Department of Homeland Security’s funding lapse has forced TSA officers to work without pay as the U.S. government shutdown continues. Although classified as essential personnel, the unpaid status raises the risk of absenteeism, echoing the 2019 shutdown that caused...
Air travel between Canada and Mexico has surged to record levels, with the Toronto‑Cancún corridor now the busiest international route into Mexico, up 26.1% year‑over‑year. In the first half of 2025, overall Canada‑Mexico flights rose more than 20%, moving 3.7 million...
The Bilt Palladium Card, Bilt’s newest premium offering, carries a high annual fee but bundles 2X points on purchases, housing‑payment rewards, $400 hotel credit, and $200 Bilt Cash. Cardholders can choose between a flexible cash‑back model or tiered housing points,...
In this Valentine’s Day episode of *Eye on Travel*, host Peter Greenberg reports from the historic Langham Hotel in Pasadena, covering major travel news such as the sudden closure of El Paso airspace, Southwest’s rollout of assigned seating, and a surge...
Qantas has begun a multi‑million‑dollar refresh of its regional lounge network, upgrading seven lounges across Australia. The redesign introduces modern interiors, new seating, expanded charging stations and entertainment displays, and a colour palette inspired by local landscapes. The rollout aligns...
Sydney Airport has selected Grimshaw and Mott MacDonald as lead architectural and engineering consultants for the T2‑T3 terminal link, a flagship element of its $6 billion capital works programme. The partnership adopts a new long‑term framework aimed at boosting delivery efficiency, design...
Sri Lanka has introduced a Digital Nomad Visa aimed at remote workers, with a low income threshold of $2,000 per month (plus $500 per dependent). The visa is valid for one year and can be renewed indefinitely, provided applicants maintain...
In this rapid‑fire segment, the hosts discuss three trending retail topics: the surprising resilience and price‑inflation of luxury hotels, the projected £2.38 billion UK Valentine’s Day spend, and McDonald’s limited‑edition “McNugget caviar” offering. Joe Laszlo shares personal anecdotes—a memorable stay at...
Vietnam Airlines announced a new nonstop service between Hanoi and Amsterdam, launching on June 16, 2026. The route will run three times weekly—Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday—using an Airbus A350‑900. It links two SkyTeam hubs directly, eliminating the current need to...
United Airlines has announced that its London flight‑attendant base, the only overseas crew hub it still operates, will accept transfer applications for the first time in more than a decade. The opportunity is limited to senior attendants who have waited...
British Airways has begun sending proactive emails to passengers on long‑haul flights that lack in‑flight Wi‑Fi, giving a six‑hour heads‑up to download work or adjust schedules. The notice is purely informational and will not waive change‑fee penalties for switching to...
Airline Aer Lingus announced a new direct service between Dublin and Barbados, slated to begin on 31 March and run through 31 May. The route will be operated with the fuel‑efficient Airbus A321XLR and will offer three weekly flights at fares starting €229. Barbados...
The inaugural Art Fair Tampa will debut October 15‑18, 2026 at the Tampa Convention Center, showcasing 300 artists from around the world. The four‑day indoor event blends contemporary art exhibitions with immersive installations, creating a climate‑controlled environment for collectors and...
National Wine Day in the Republic of Moldova celebrates its 25th anniversary on October 3‑4, 2026, positioning the event among Europe’s top open‑air festivals. The holiday showcases the country’s "Wine of Moldova. Unexpectedly Great" brand, highlighting a blend of centuries‑old...
Marriott Bonvoy and Bank Mandiri have launched Indonesia’s first Marriott co‑branded credit card. The Marriott Bonvoy Mandiri Credit Card provides Indonesian members with welcome bonus points, elite status, and up to 5× points on eligible spend. The card is linked to...
Minor Hotels has signed a management agreement with Slovenia’s MK Group to operate two Adriatic resorts, marking the brand’s first forays into Croatia and Slovenia. The 183‑key Hotel Palace Portorož will join the Minor Reserve Collection, while the 186‑key Adriatic...
easyJet Plus is a paid membership program priced at £249 that bundles free seat selection, priority boarding, fast‑track security, a larger cabin bag allowance and a price‑promise refund. The benefits apply only to the member, not to accompanying passengers, and...
Delta Air Lines announced a new seasonal nonstop service between Minneapolis‑St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and Kahului Airport (OGG) on Maui, launching Dec. 19 and running through April 2027. The route uses Airbus A330‑300 aircraft and adds a second Hawaiian destination from...
Miami International Airport marked Black History Month on Feb. 12 with two 30‑minute drumming performances by Grammy‑nominated musician Willie Stewart and his percussion team in the bustling Concourse D. The shows, staged before and after security, highlighted Stewart’s legacy with the reggae...
Delta Air Lines announced a suite of new nonstop flights connecting the U.S. mainland to Hawaii, including daily services from Atlanta, Detroit and Minneapolis to Honolulu and Maui. The carrier will deploy its latest Airbus A321neo aircraft, offering expanded premium...
Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference & Operations Summit (CHICOS) will convene November 10‑12, 2026 at Atlantis Paradise Island, marking its 15th edition and a return to the venue where it launched. Backed by HVS and partnered with the Bahamas Investment Authority...
American Express’ Hilton Honors Business Credit Card is currently crediting only 140,000 points instead of the advertised 175,000 when the spend threshold is met through a referral link. The discrepancy appears on Hilton’s portal, even though Amex records the full...
Toast, a restaurant POS leader, has teamed with Instacart to launch a joint solution for emergency inventory replenishment. The integration lets operators order pantry staples, produce, and cleaning supplies through Toast’s interface and receive same‑day deliveries, often within an hour....
American Airlines announced a temporary surge in service to Louisville, Kentucky, to meet demand for the May 2 Kentucky Derby. The carrier will boost flights from its seven existing hub airports and launch special routes from 13 cities that normally lack...
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy directed the FAA to issue an Operations Specification that bars U.S. airlines from using diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) criteria when hiring pilots. The order, framed as a merit‑based safety measure, applies to all Part 121...
Mozambique has launched a cloud‑based e‑visa platform, powered by VFS Global, that lets travelers from 183 countries apply online for multiple visa categories, including tourism, business, and oil‑gas. The system automates processing while retaining final approval authority with Mozambican officials. By...
Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) unveiled six new retail concepts operated by WHSmith North America in partnership with local entrepreneurs. The lineup includes Los Poblanos farm goods, Museum of New Mexico Foundation shops, Mountain Standard Time boutique, Duke City Station vendor...
Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has opened Duff’s Deli + Market in Concourse C, bringing a New York‑style deli experience to the terminal. The concept, created by Food Network star Chef Duff Goldman, offers reimagined classics such as pastrami sandwiches, matzo ball soup, and...
Bobby’s Burgers, the Bobby Flay‑backed fast‑casual chain, will debut at Orlando International Airport (MCO), marking its first Florida location. The outlet will be developed and operated with OTG Management, offering signature items such as the Crunchburger, a veggie burger, fries,...
Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority has named Ghassan Abukar as its new director of information technology and telecommunications. Abukar previously served as chief information officer for the Joint Aviation Security Partnership and held senior IT roles at the Cleveland...
Chase opened an exclusive World Cup ticket sale for Sapphire Reserve and Preferred cardmembers on Feb 10, but the platform crashed, leaving many users stuck in queues. The glitch prompted a flood of complaints, and Chase began offering a consolation of...
Spirit Airlines is selling its Free Spirit elite status for a limited time. Travelers can purchase Silver status for $79, requiring only a travel‑rewards credit card. Existing Silver members—or former Gold members—can upgrade to Gold for $199 (or $399 for...
Delta is temporarily configuring seven new Airbus A321neo aircraft with a 44‑seat First Class cabin, more than double the usual layout for this narrow‑body type. The expanded cabin will debut on high‑traffic Atlanta‑to‑West‑Coast routes beginning in June, with bookings opening...
Bilt Rewards launched a 5x points welcome promotion for new cardholders, originally slated for February 7‑12, 2026, with a maximum of 50,000 points on $10,000 spend. Many users reported the bonus not crediting, prompting Bilt to email affected members to file...
PONANT Explorations will launch a 62‑day luxury cruise that circles Antarctica aboard the hybrid‑electric icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot in January 2028. The itinerary splits into a 30‑day western leg from Ushuaia to Hobart and a 31‑day eastern return, covering roughly...
Wendy’s is giving franchisees greater flexibility to trim or shift breakfast hours as demand wanes, a move announced by interim CEO Ken Cook during the February earnings call. The adjustment is part of the chain’s Project Fresh initiative aimed at...
Air Transat announced it will cease all United States flights by June 2026, removing its remaining Quebec‑Florida routes. The carrier cites a weak demand environment, noting that US leisure traffic accounts for only about 1% of its capacity. The airline...
Seychelles’ tourism authority announced that seasonal chikungunya and dengue cases are falling, with no hospitalisations and no travel restrictions. Health officials attribute the decline to intensified mosquito‑control programs and public‑awareness campaigns. Tourism Seychelles has proactively communicated these facts to international...
Parisian fashion entrepreneur Djamel Cheboub launched Harmony, a two‑cabin retreat on Iceland’s southern coast offering glass‑walled lodges, private saunas and hot tubs at $800 per night, emphasizing slow, nature‑focused travel. The piece also commemorates photographer Martin Parr, whose posthumous memoir...
Holland America Line commemorated a century of Caribbean cruising, recalling its inaugural Veendam II voyage on 18 February 1926 that linked New York with Havana, Kingston, Panama, Cartagena, San Juan and Bermuda. To mark the milestone the line extended its ‘Start Your Journey Sale’ through...
Travel agents reported a sharp rise in Antarctica bookings for Scenic after the six‑part series "Jane McDonald: From Pole to Pole" aired on Channel 5. Billy Rusbridge secured two bookings worth over £65,000 for the 13‑day Antarctica In‑Depth itinerary, while three...
Singapore Airlines has launched its February 2026 KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes promotion, offering a 30% discount on Saver‑level award tickets booked with KrisFlyer miles. Travelers must book by 28 February 2026 for travel between 1 March and 31 March 2026, with discounts covering economy, premium economy and...
Harry Styles announced a 30‑night residency at Madison Square Garden beginning Aug 26, 2026, prompting fans nationwide to plan trips to New York. Within days, Priceline reported flight searches to the city surged 1,273 percent and hotel searches jumped 414 percent. Social media platforms...
London City Airport welcomed Valentine’s weekend travelers with a poet‑in‑residence who hand‑wrote personalized verses in the terminal. The activation, led by poet Laurie Bolger, aimed to add a heartfelt, memorable touch to journeys across the airport’s European network. CEO Alison...
The Gate with Brian Cohen released its weekly roundup of miles‑and‑points sales for Friday, February 13 2026, highlighting discounts and bonus offers across 15 major loyalty programs. Hilton Honors and Wyndham Rewards each promise a 100 percent bonus, while Avianca LifeMiles tops out...
The U.S. hotel sector posted modest year‑over‑year gains for the week ending Feb. 7, with occupancy at 56.4% (+1.1%), ADR at $158.69 (+1.7%) and RevPAR at $89.55 (+2.8%). San Francisco led the top‑25 markets, driven by Super Bowl LX, posting occupancy of 78.7%...
First Martin Corporation and First Hospitality have opened the AC Marriott Hotel Ann Arbor Downtown, a six‑story, 81,745‑sq‑ft property featuring 139 guest rooms. The hotel showcases a "Modern Industrialist" design with local art, custom copper metalwork, and a sixth‑floor lounge...
Delta Air Lines paid $1.3 billion in profit sharing, roughly 8.9 % of an employee’s salary, and announced a wage increase for its workforce. This marks the ninth year the carrier has exceeded $1 billion in profit‑sharing payouts, outpacing the combined totals of...
Alaska Airlines has reinstated its policy allowing domesticated rabbits to travel in the passenger cabin on continental United States and Alaska routes, after a brief ban earlier this year. Rabbits must be placed in a soft‑sided carrier that fits under...
