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.
Saudi Arabia’s Future Aviation Forum (FAF) returned to Riyadh, showcasing rapid aviation growth and Vision 2030 ambition. The 2024 edition logged more than 100 agreements worth $20 billion, positioning FAF alongside ICAO Assemblies and the Dubai Airshow. Passenger traffic rose 9.6% in 2025 to 140.9 million, with 176 international destinations, underscoring the Kingdom’s expanding market. Backed by the Public Investment Fund, the forum blends policy dialogue, investment roadshows, and branding to cement Saudi Arabia as a new global aviation hub.
Blanc de Blanc Uncorked, an adults‑only champagne‑themed cabaret on Carnival Encounter, was marketed as a premium ticketed alternative to traditional cruise entertainment. The reviewer gave it a one‑star verdict, citing a lack of artistic merit, reliance on shock value, forced...
ALG Vacations unveiled its 2026 event calendar, a purpose‑driven lineup designed to match travel advisors’ business goals, market focus, and development stages. The schedule mixes elite revenue‑tier retreats, large‑scale educational fam trips, the WAVEMAKER networking gathering, and new Kindness and...
AI‑driven hotel booking systems are reshaping the travel value chain, shifting decision‑making from travelers to algorithms. China’s super‑app ecosystem—exemplified by Xiaohongshu and Douyin—offers a live preview of this transformation, integrating discovery, trust signals, and instant booking within a single platform....
The article outlines how hotels can convert low‑season challenges into profit opportunities by leveraging data‑driven direct‑booking strategies, diversified product offerings, and flexible policies. It stresses the importance of analyzing occupancy, ADR and RevPAR to fine‑tune pricing and channel mix. The...
Norfolk International Airport (ORF) released its January passenger traffic figures, reporting roughly 1.2 million enplanements—a 3% increase year‑over‑year and about 5% above the five‑year average. The growth was led by a resurgence in leisure travel to Florida and a modest rebound...
Hotel revenue managers often panic when current pacing falls behind last year’s figures, but the article urges a measured response. It stresses that year‑over‑year pace should be a reference, not a rigid target, because market dynamics, events, and traveler behavior...
The article argues that AI‑driven revenue management systems (RMS) are automating routine pricing tasks, but they won’t replace revenue managers. While junior operational roles shrink as a single manager can now oversee 20 properties, the profession is shifting toward strategic,...
Capital One announced that its flagship Capital One Landing lounge will open at LaGuardia Airport on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The 12,500‑square‑foot venue, built with the José Andrés Group, is more than twice the size of the original DCA location and...
Lufthansa City Airlines opened a new operating base at Frankfurt Airport on February 9, launching initial flights to Berlin, Düsseldorf, Málaga, Manchester and Valencia. The carrier will add a second aircraft in March and plans to expand the Frankfurt network...
Travel writer Gary Leff reports that several Marriott properties are posting room rates on Airbnb up to $450 lower than on Marriott.com. The practice, which Marriott officially discourages, persists across multiple brands such as Moxy, Aloft, and Courtyard. Hotels use...
In this episode, Peter Greenberg highlights spring training as the season’s best travel bargain, comparing ticket prices at Arizona and Florida facilities to regular‑season costs. He details affordable package deals at Camelback Ranch, the Peoria Sportsplex, and the Astros‑Nationals flex...
Portillo’s announced Brett Patterson as its new president and chief executive officer, effective Feb. 23, 2026, replacing interim CEO Michael Miles Jr. Patterson arrives from Miller’s Ale House Restaurants after more than a decade in restaurant management, including stints at Olive Garden, Ruby...
Southwest Airlines announced it will integrate SpaceX’s Starlink Ku‑band LEO satellite inflight connectivity across its Boeing 737 fleet. The first retrofitted aircraft are slated for revenue service this summer, with a target of 300 aircraft completed by the end of...
IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a deal to develop the 480‑acre Six Senses Camp Korongo resort and residential community near Kanab, Utah, with an expected opening in 2029. The project will feature 41 luxury tented pavilions and 12 branded residences,...
First Hospitality has created a dedicated global sales office led by newly appointed Managing Director‑Global Sales Lance Hornecker. The move adds seasoned sales talent, including Amanda Stredney and Kate Westover, to support group, corporate, meetings, events, leisure and travel‑industry demand...
The National Restaurant Association projects 2026 sales to hit a record $1.55 trillion, marking the most data‑rich year in the sector’s history. Operators face rising food and labor costs, prompting a shift toward AI‑driven kitchen automation, robotics for back‑of‑house tasks, and...
Dreamscape Hospitality has taken over management of two Holiday Inn properties in Stevens Point, Wisconsin – the full‑service Convention Center hotel and the Express & Suites. Together the hotels offer 215 guestrooms, more than 38,000 square feet of flexible meeting...
In the latest Punk CX podcast, Paul Hughes of Mitel argues that hybrid CX solutions are now the enterprise default, especially for regulated firms that need both cloud and on‑premise capabilities. He warns that a CCaaS monoculture—relying on a single...
Hyatt Hotels reported a 4% comparable system‑wide RevPAR increase in Q4 2025, the strongest growth among luxury and upper‑upscale chains. All‑inclusive resort RevPAR surged 8.3% in the quarter and 8.6% for the full year, while net rooms expanded 7.3% YoY,...
Jacobs and PA Consulting have secured a four‑year extension from the UK Department for Transport to lead the National Security Science and Research (NSSR) programme. The consortium, which also includes QinetiQ, TNO, Iconal Technology, Cambridge University Technical Services and Prometheus...
JetBlue was held liable after a passenger’s vintage Louis Vuitton bag was ripped during a domestic flight, invoking U.S. Code of Federal Regulations that mandates a minimum $4,700 liability per passenger for baggage damage. The airline initially stalled the claim,...
Four Seasons Hotel Toronto has retained its Forbes Travel Guide Five‑Star Hotel and Five‑Star Spa ratings, marking the sixth consecutive year of the property’s 10‑Star distinction. The hotel is now one of only four Five‑Star hotels in Toronto and one...
Chicago released a two‑minute animation unveiling the $1.3 billion Concourse D, part of the ORDNext terminal redevelopment. The new concourse, designed by SOM, Ross Barney, Juan Gabriel Moreno Architects and Arup, will feature 19 flexible gates, skylit multi‑level spaces, lounges, retail and landscaped views of...
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has launched its first Vietnamese property, Fairmont Hanoi, a luxury hotel in the city’s Old Quarter. The 241‑room hotel features 38 Fairmont Gold rooms, 12 suites, and a flagship Presidential Suite blending Art Deco and Vietnamese...
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) launched an Early Bag Check service on February 11, allowing travelers to drop off luggage before reaching the terminal. The free service, operated by Bags, is available for domestic flights on Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier,...
Restaurant operators are increasingly adopting indoor‑outdoor dining concepts as 69% of U.S. adults express a preference for optional outdoor seating, according to the National Restaurant Association’s 2023 report. The hybrid layout blends indoor comfort with natural ambience, enhancing branding, customer...
Elegancia MEP, a subsidiary of Estithmar Holding, secured the contract to deliver mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP) and extra low voltage (ELV) systems for Damascus International Airport’s Terminal 2. The scope includes HVAC, power distribution, fire‑fighting, surveillance, control and plumbing installations designed...
Restaurant operators face razor‑thin margins and complex payroll compliance, and generic all‑in‑one SaaS platforms often fail to handle industry‑specific nuances such as tip pooling and multi‑state tax rules. Payroll errors not only frustrate staff but also trigger fines, higher turnover,...
Buffalo Wild Wings teamed with Grammy‑winning artist T‑Pain to launch a brand‑specific anthem, “Let’s Go Buffalo Wild (A Pick 6 Love Song),” promoting its new Pick 6 Meal for Two. The meal bundle, priced at $19.99 nationally, includes two entrées, two sides,...
SONO Hotels & Resorts Asia has signed its first Japanese property, the 130‑room SONO Moon Nagoya, a midscale boutique hotel located near Nagoya Station. The hotel, formerly the Compass Hotel Nagoya, is owned by ESCON Japan REIT with Polaris Holdings...
Heathrow has appointed ABM to run its assistance service for passengers with access needs across Terminals 2‑5, deploying a team of more than 1,600 staff. The contract leverages ABM’s proprietary, Disability Rights UK‑accredited training programmes and a technology‑enhanced service model. ABM will...
Guernsey is reshaping its tourism model by courting high‑value, experience‑driven visitors rather than chasing mass arrivals. The island leans on its WWII heritage, coastal walks, and boutique gastronomy to attract mature UK couples and a growing French ferry market. Yet...
Air Canada announced a firm order for eight Airbus A350‑1000 wide‑body jets, citing the aircraft’s 9,000‑nautical‑mile range and 25% lower fuel burn as key efficiency drivers. The purchase enables new nonstop routes to Southeast Asia, India and Australia. It arrives...
Capella Hotel Group has launched its 95‑key Capella at Galaxy Macau, joining the resort’s elite line‑up alongside Raffles and The Ritz‑Carlton. The property showcases jungle‑inspired design, with suites ranging from 128 sqm apartments to 700 sqm penthouses that include private indoor plunge...
Hospitality Net’s Brand Insiders featured Markos Chaidemenos, CEO of Canaves Collection, in a one‑hour interview hosted by Adam Mogelonsky of Hotel Mogel. Chaidemenos discussed how the family‑owned luxury brand balances generational leadership with a deep commitment to nature‑based experiences and...
In this episode, Zafeiris Akranis, President of Philly’s Best Steak Co., explains how hand‑trimmed beef and chicken boost operator profitability by delivering consistent yields, reducing labor, and eliminating gristle that slows service. He shares the company’s origin story—from a family...
Mora Group, launched in July 2024, now operates six hotels across Surabaya, Yogyakarta and Banjarbaru while developing six additional projects in Indonesia. The company will open new properties in Ciwidey (April) and Palu (November) and has pipeline projects in Jakarta,...
Agoda has launched the "Hat Yai Lights Up" campaign to revive tourism in Southern Thailand’s Hat Yai after last year’s flooding. Partnering with the Hat Yai Songkhla Hotels Association, the initiative runs through March 2, 2026 and offers hotel discounts, a curated...
Ascott is shifting its sustainability focus from guest‑facing gestures to system‑level operational improvements, targeting cooling efficiency, refrigerant discipline, and maintenance quality. The 2024 CarbonClear Initiative standardises energy audits and sets property‑level targets, using utility data and sub‑metering for verification. These...
Scenic Group launched Scenic & Emerald Rewards, a global loyalty programme that merges its Scenic Club and EmeraldEXPLORER schemes into a single platform covering cruises, yachts, and escorted land journeys. The new system consolidates existing status points, introduces a four‑tier...
Swedavia, Sweden’s state‑owned airport operator, unveiled a green‑bond framework to fund airport infrastructure through public‑private partnerships. The model ties financing to ESG criteria, requiring projects such as terminals, car parks and people movers to meet strict environmental standards, often incorporating...
Hong Kong‑based Cathay Pacific has appointed Spafax as its exclusive media sales representative, consolidating advertising sales across its omni‑channel ecosystem. The agreement gives Spafax control over inflight entertainment, onboard publications, digital platforms and experiential formats on more than 200 routes....
LOT Polish Airlines announced its Tłusty Czwartek promotion, offering round‑trip economy tickets from Warsaw for as low as $95.57 USD. The sale includes flights to major European hubs such as Rome, Paris, Amsterdam, London and several Scandinavian cities, with travel...
Vista Global announced a firm order for 40 Bombardier Challenger 3500 jets with an additional 120 purchase options, slated for delivery beginning in 2026 and spread over the next decade. The deal secures capacity for a rapidly expanding member base...
Bradley International Airport has reopened its sole Escape Lounge after a comprehensive remodel. The renovation, led by CAVU, adds several thousand square feet, an expanded menu featuring local flavors, and longer operating hours to serve more passengers. Airport officials highlighted...
The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation awarded International Shoppes (iShoppes) a 10‑year contract to operate retail and in‑bond duty‑free concessions at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Kahului Airport (OGG). The deal replaces DFS, which is exiting after 63 years,...
Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers announced Todd Paladini as its inaugural chief information officer. Paladini, a veteran with over two decades leading IT for brands like Cafe Rio and Cinemark, will oversee modernization of the chain’s technology infrastructure. The hire...
Aircraft interiors specialist ACS UK has secured two contracts with tier‑one global airlines to design and manufacture bespoke monuments for wide‑body aircraft, with deliveries slated for 2027. The deals were signed only months after the company reopened its order book,...
Currito, the Cincinnati‑based fast‑casual bowl chain, will open 11 new restaurants across the Midwest and Mid‑Atlantic in 2026, following a record year that saw 25 franchise units sold in the past 18 months. The expansion targets markets such as Dayton,...
