Today's Hotels Pulse
FAA says Spirit’s LaGuardia slots belong with another low‑cost carrier
The FAA Administrator argues that the coveted take‑off slots Spirit Airlines holds at New York’s LaGuardia should be reallocated to a different low‑cost carrier. Meanwhile, Spirit is preparing to auction off those slots to the highest bidder.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Airbnb leads $58M Series C in WeRoad
Bits: BA Drops Jeddah and Cuts Other ME Routes, 100% Bonus Buying Hilton Points
British Airways is permanently ending its Jeddah service, a route launched in November 2024, and will cut daily frequencies to Dubai, Doha, Tel Aviv, Riyadh and suspend Bahrain and Amman until the winter timetable. The airline is redeploying the freed capacity to add daily flights to Bangalore, Nairobi, Mumbai and three extra flights to Delhi, with Avios seats now available. Meanwhile, Hilton Honors is running a 100% bonus on point purchases of 5,000 or more through May 29, allowing members to buy up to 320,000 points for roughly $1,690. The promotion sits above Hilton’s target valuation of $0.0045 per point but still offers value for members seeking status or discounted stays.
Prince Waikiki's 100 Sails Revamps Menus Under Chef Brooke Tadena
Prince Waikiki Hotel’s flagship restaurant 100 Sails has launched a refreshed menu overseen by new executive chef Brooke Tadena. The rollout adds a midweek chef’s selection buffet, an elevated weekend seafood and prime buffet, and a locally‑sourced à la carte...
Dubai’s CASSETTE and NETTE Al Barari Incorporate Free-to-Use Community Workspaces
Dubai’s co‑working pioneers CASSETTE and NETTE have opened two free‑to‑use community workspaces in the Al Barari district. The venues offer high‑speed internet, meeting rooms and a sustainability‑focused environment aimed at freelancers, startups and remote professionals. By removing membership fees, the operators...
China’s International Capacity Growth: Part One – Balance Has Shifted on Routes to Western Europe
China’s international airline capacity is closing in on pre‑pandemic levels, but the recovery is uneven across markets. Inbound tourism to China has rebounded faster than outbound travel, which remains constrained by economic headwinds. Capacity on China‑Western Europe routes now exceeds...
Video of the Week: Latin America Inbound Travel – Growth Drivers and Strategic Trade-Offs
Latin America's inbound travel market is entering a pivotal phase as airlines and airports seek to capture more international traffic. Growing regional flows, stronger links to North America and Europe, and ambitions for Asia‑Pacific and Middle East demand are reshaping...
Amit Saberwal on Growing Hotels in a Shifting Market
RedDoorz, led by founder‑CEO Amit Saberwal, is sustaining 25% year‑over‑year growth while expanding its multi‑brand portfolio, with premium brands growing 40‑50% annually. The company now operates over 100 company‑run hotels and plans to double that number within 12‑18 months, using...
Bagpocolypse: American, Alaska, United, Delta, and Southwest All Raise Checked Bag Fees
Major U.S. airlines—including American, Alaska, United, Delta, Southwest, and JetBlue—have raised checked‑bag fees in early April, citing higher fuel costs. First‑bag fees now range from $45 to $49 when booked online, while second‑bag fees sit at $55‑$60, and third‑bag fees...
Hyatt Eyes an India-First Brand — Exclusive
Hyatt Hotels is exploring a brand built exclusively for India, echoing its Atona concept in Japan. The chain, which entered the market in 1983 and now runs 55 properties, plans to double that count to 100 hotels by 2030. To...
Casa De Campo Unveils First Caribbean Fashion Week, June 4-8
Casa de Campo Resort & Villas announced its inaugural Fashion Week, set for June 4-8, 2026 in La Romana, Dominican Republic. The four‑day event will showcase Latin American and international designers alongside health, wellness and art programming, positioning the resort...
AI Tightens Travel Pricing, Forces Revenue Teams to Rethink Demand Conversion
AI‑powered revenue platforms are exposing razor‑thin margins in travel demand, where a 10% price shift now drives travelers to re‑evaluate bookings. CEOs and boutique owners say precision pricing, not aggressive hikes, is the new revenue lever, forcing CROs to overhaul...
TIME Names Mountain Lodges of Nepal – Manang a World’s Greatest Place 2026
TIME has named Mountain Lodges of Nepal’s Manang lodge one of the World’s Greatest Places to Stay in 2026. The 14‑room, stone‑built property sits at 3,500 m and offers heated beds, ensuite bathrooms and gourmet cuisine, creating an upscale base‑camp in...
American Express Platinum Cardholders To Lose Lufthansa Lounge Access
American Express announced that, effective October 1, 2026, Platinum cardholders will lose access to Lufthansa lounges. The change ends a partnership that began in 2017 and was recently expanded earlier this year. Amex members will still enjoy entry to more...
American Airlines Increasing Bag Fees By $10-$50
American Airlines announced a hike in checked‑bag fees effective today, raising the first bag to $50, the second to $55, and the third to $200. The increases represent $10‑$50 jumps from previous rates. Passengers who prepay still receive a $5...
Flying Blue Status Match for US Residents
Air France‑KLM’s Flying Blue program is offering paid status matches to U.S. and Canadian residents. U.S. members can purchase Silver for $99 or Gold for $199, while Canadians pay roughly $109 or $218 respectively. The match applies to elite members...
SkyShare Selected to Operate FBO and Develop Much Needed Hangar Capacity at South Valley Regional Airport
SkyShare has been chosen as the Fixed Base Operator for South Valley Regional Airport (SVR) near Salt Lake City. The company will manage the full‑service FBO and oversee roughly 650,000 sq ft of hangar and office space. To address a four‑year‑long hangar...
Local Youth Development Program Brings “Home” To Life for Travelers at SAN Through Dance
San Diego International Airport’s Terminal 1 will host a live dance series, “Migration: Making a Home in Transit,” from April 16 through May 14. The performances are part of the airport’s Spring Performing Arts Residency and are created by youth development nonprofit A...
Minor Hotels Unveils Plans for Global Data and AI Platform
Minor Hotels announced a new global data and AI platform built with Google Cloud, Salesforce, OneTrust and Deloitte. The platform will unify guest data across its 63‑country footprint, enabling real‑time personalization and AI‑driven service. Designed from scratch, it leverages generative...
Porsche Unveils Type 7 Guide to Tokyo, Expanding Luxury Lifestyle Content
Porsche has launched the Type 7 Guide to Tokyo, a premium travel book sold through Complex that blends the brand’s design ethos with curated city experiences. The guide, developed with local experts Peter Sayn‑Wittgenstein and Yurina Roche, signals Porsche’s broader push...
Michelin Guide Expands to Great Lakes, Adding Milwaukee, Detroit, Pittsburgh
The Michelin Guide unveiled a new American Great Lakes edition that will evaluate restaurants in six Midwestern cities—Milwaukee, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Minneapolis and Cleveland. Inspectors are already on the ground, with the first star selections slated for a 2027 ceremony,...
American Airlines Hikes Checked Baggage Fees: What They Cost and How to Avoid Paying Them Entirely
American Airlines raised its checked‑bag fees on April 9 2026, charging $45 pre‑pay (or $50 at the airport) for the first bag and $55 pre‑pay (or $60 at the airport) for the second on domestic and short‑haul international routes. Pre‑paying saves $5...
Chili's Is Now the Second-Largest U.S. Casual-Dining Chain
Chili's Grill & Bar surged past Olive Garden in 2025 to become the second‑largest U.S. casual‑dining chain, posting a 20.6% jump in system‑wide sales to $5.5 billion. The growth was achieved without opening new locations, as average unit volume rose about...
Limited-Time Atlantis Offer Adds Value for Spring
Atlantis Paradise Island is rolling out a limited‑time Suite Life Tax Day Offer that discounts select suites up to 20% for three‑ to four‑night stays and up to 30% for five‑night or longer visits. The promotion targets Regal Suites and...
How Jamaica Turned Crisis Into a Tourism Triumph
Jamaica recorded more than one million visitors in Q1 2026, generating $956 million in foreign‑exchange earnings, just months after Hurricane Melissa devastated the island. The rapid rebound was driven by swift infrastructure repairs, coordinated private‑public actions, and an aggressive communication push led by...
The ‘Value Paradox’ Is Reshaping Where Travelers Choose to Go
Travelers are increasingly prioritizing affordability, creating a "value paradox" where high‑profile destinations remain desirable but cost‑prohibitive. Future Partners' survey shows 48% cite travel costs as the main barrier, while over half label New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas as too expensive....
Great Wolf Lodge Launches New Season Pass: Pricing, Dates, & What Families Get
Great Wolf Lodge introduced its inaugural Season Pass, granting families unlimited or weekday-only access to indoor water parks across U.S. locations from May 1 to Aug. 31, 2026. The Limited Pass costs $90 per person and restricts entry to weekdays,...
Rising Costs Are Forcing a Structural Reset in How Hotels Operate
Rising labor, energy and tax pressures are forcing hotels worldwide to overhaul staffing, service and pricing models. In the U.S., operators cut housekeeping frequency and adopt mobile check‑in; European hotels face similar labor‑driven efficiency moves. Rate hikes meet traveler resistance...
Mo’ Bettahs Expands to Phoenix, Indianapolis, Minneapolis as Hawaiian Barbecue Brand Grows Nationwide
Mo’ Bettahs announced its entry into three new U.S. markets—Phoenix, Indianapolis and Minneapolis—continuing a disciplined national rollout. The Hawaiian‑style fast‑casual chain now operates close to 80 restaurants across nine states and has logged same‑store sales growth for 18 straight years....
Turkish Executive Airlines Has a New Chairman and a New CEO
Turkish Airlines announced a leadership overhaul, naming long‑time CFO Murat Şeker as chairman and internal commercial veteran Ahmet Olmuştur as chief executive officer. Şeker brings a track record of fiscal discipline and international financing experience, while Olmuştur adds deep expertise...
AHLA Report Details Economic Impact and Challenges Facing Los Angeles Hotels
The American Hotel & Lodging Association released a report on April 9, 2026 detailing the economic impact of Los Angeles hotels and highlighting growing financial pressures from city‑council labor mandates and rising operating costs. Hotels generate $12.5 billion annually, support roughly 64,000 jobs and...
Shiji AI•R: Transitioning to an AI‑First Hospitality Platform
Shiji is converting its hospitality suite into an AI‑first platform called AI•R, embedding responsible, unobtrusive artificial intelligence across property management, guest engagement, payments and analytics. The shift leverages the company’s modular data architecture to automate identity resolution, predictive operations and...
Copa Airlines Confirms Starlink Wifi Rollout Starting This Year
Copa Airlines announced it will equip its Boeing 737 fleet with Starlink satellite Wi‑Fi, becoming the first Latin American carrier to offer LEO‑based high‑speed connectivity. Installation begins this year with most flights expected to have service by October. The move...
Exclusive: Interactive List of Hilton Resort Credit Eligible Properties
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire cardholders can earn up to $200 in statement credits twice a year, capped at $400 annually, when booking eligible stays at participating Hilton resorts. Since the list’s debut on Dec 16, 2024, the roster has grown to 313...
Travel’s Tax Refund Boom Is Falling Short
The U.S. Travel Association expected a $5.1 billion lift in leisure travel from $57 billion in tax refunds, but refunds are only up 13% ($27 billion), far short of the projected 25% growth. Bank of America notes the shortfall will limit the anticipated...
Delta SkyMiles Sale To Malta Is Surprisingly Good, Even In Delta One
Delta Air Lines is running a limited‑time SkyMiles award sale for its new New York‑to‑Malta service, with travel dates between June and August. Round‑trip award prices start at 30,000 miles in Basic Economy and drop as much as 51% in...
Research Shows South African Travelers Book More When They Can Pay Their Flexible Way
New research by Peach Payments and PayJustNow, commissioned by Phocuswright, finds that South African travelers are significantly more likely to complete a booking when flexible payment methods such as buy‑now‑pay‑later (BNPL), digital wallets, or mobile‑money solutions are available. The study...
Cruise Lines Roll Out Renovations and Exclusive Offers
Cruise operators are upgrading ships and rolling out targeted offers to boost onboard experiences. Oceania Cruises will dry‑dock the Oceania Marina in October for a full OceaniaNEXT refurbishment, revamping staterooms, suites and public venues. Carnival Pride completed a 22‑day dry...
The Royal Horseguards Hotel to Reopen Summer Terrace with New Menu and London Eye Views This Month
The Royal Horseguards Hotel in Westminster is set to reopen its summer terrace on April 13, 2026, operating daily from noon to 10 p.m. The outdoor venue offers alfresco dining with unobstructed views of the London Eye and a dog‑friendly policy....
The Secret in the (Design) Sauce: How Sensory Cues Shape All-Day Restaurant Experiences
Travelers are gravitating toward “whycation” trips that prioritize purpose over place, pushing hotels to make every touchpoint—especially restaurants and bars—feel intentional. Designers are moving beyond modular furniture, using lighting, acoustics and material finishes to shift a space’s mood from breakfast...
COS Opens Colorado Craft
Colorado Springs Airport (COS) has launched a new post‑security dining outpost called Colorado Craft, developed in partnership with SSP America. The eatery showcases chef‑driven dishes and a curated selection of regional beer, wine, and spirits, emphasizing Colorado’s local flavors. Airport...
Minor Hotels Builds AI Stack From Scratch To Improve Personalization
Minor Hotels is constructing a brand‑new global AI and data platform to connect guest information across its portfolio of more than 640 hotels and 12 brands. By building the stack from the ground up, the company sidesteps the legacy‑system bottlenecks...
Costa Cruises Launches ‘Costa Cruisetelling’ Training Program for Advisors
Costa Cruises has introduced “Costa Cruisetelling,” an online training platform for North American travel advisors. The program features six interactive modules, each under ten minutes, covering the brand’s heritage, onboard product, and global positioning. Advisors who complete the course and...
Delta Air Lines Signals Permanently Higher Fares, Fewer Flights, And A New Wave Of Airline Mergers
Delta Air Lines used its Q1 2026 earnings call to signal that higher ticket prices will likely persist, even if jet fuel costs ease. The carrier plans to trim off‑peak capacity, focusing on more profitable routes and premium cabins to...
Daniella Senior Champions Cuban Hospitality with Growing Colada Shop Concept
Daniella Senior launched Colada Shop a decade ago as a Cuban‑inspired all‑day café that shifts from coffee to rum‑based cocktails across dayparts. The concept now spans seven locations, including a spot at Reagan National Airport, and is bolstered by a...
Delta And JetBlue Quietly Started Charging To Check Bags Curbside At Some Airports — $3.50 For What Used To Be...
Delta Air Lines and JetBlue have begun charging a $3.50 fee for curbside baggage check at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental, joining American and Southwest in a model that outsources the service to Bags, Inc. The arrangement replaces airline staff with lower‑paid...
Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach & Its Give Kids The World Rooms
Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach, in partnership with Davidson Hospitality Group, has introduced a new line of guest rooms that support the nonprofit Give Kids The World Village. A portion of each booking’s revenue will be donated to the charity, which...
OTA Dependence Is a Margin Structure—Not a Channel Choice
Hotel operators often treat OTA reliance as a distribution problem, but the article argues it is fundamentally a margin structure. Because OTA commissions erode profitability, tactical fixes like rate incentives or paid media only provide short‑term relief. Discounting to win...
ILTM Africa 2026 Showcases Sensory-Led Luxury
ILTM Africa 2026 returns to Cape Town’s Norval Foundation from April 10‑12, marking the largest post‑COVID edition of the luxury‑travel showcase. Delegates from 32 countries will converge for three days of immersive, sensory‑led experiences, from a bespoke event fragrance to...
Long-Haul Travelers Increasingly Prioritize Greener, Off-Beat & Locally Immersive Trips to Europe
A new European Travel Commission study of 3,000 long‑haul travelers shows modest but consistent gains in responsible travel behaviors. The green‑travel index rose to 108, while off‑beat, local‑engagement, and off‑season indices climbed to 106, 105, and 102 respectively. Travelers are...
Why Energy Volatility May Redefine Hospitality Pricing, Guest Trust, & Operational Strategy
Energy price volatility is forcing the hospitality sector to rethink its traditional all‑in pricing model. Hotels and restaurants, especially in tropical markets where cooling can consume up to 60% of electricity, are seeing utility costs become a strategic risk rather...
Explaining Agrobiodiversity and Its Value for Trendsetting Hotels
Regenerative tourism has become a buzzword, prompting luxury hotels to seek deeper sustainability differentiators. Agrobiodiversity—cultivating a wider range of heirloom and regional crops—offers a concrete path to climate‑resilient food sourcing and unique guest experiences. Hotels that integrate heritage farms, on‑site...