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
Travel And Tour World Reveals Top 100 Convention Centers in the World for 2026
Travel and Tour World released its 2026 ranking of the world’s top 100 convention centers, highlighting venues that combine massive scale with digital and sustainable innovations. The report notes that nearly 70 % of the listed venues have advanced green certifications and that smart‑venue investments have surged 40 % driven by 5G‑enabled hybrid platforms and AI analytics. Collectively, these centers are projected to support over $500 billion in international trade, with Europe and North America still leading but rapid growth in Asia‑Pacific and the Middle East. The study underscores the strategic role of convention centers as engines of economic development and cross‑border collaboration.
HVS Asia Pacific Hotel Transactions Bulletin Week Ending 3 April 2026
Nomura Real Asset Investment formed a fund to buy the 515‑key Centara Grand Hotel Osaka for roughly $257 million, paying about $498 k per key. Hulic Co. sold its Yokohama Minatomirai mixed‑use asset in a deal valued at over $485 million, representing more...
Air Canada Adds Sun Destinations and New Nonstop Flights to Tenerife
Air Canada unveiled its 2026‑27 winter schedule, adding nonstop service from Toronto and Montreal to Tenerife—the first direct North America‑Canary Islands link. The routes will use Airbus A321XLR aircraft with 14 lie‑flat Signature Class seats and 168 economy seats, launching...
Milwaukee Weighs $500‑plus Million Public Hotel to Boost Baird Center
Milwaukee’s Wisconsin Center District is reviewing a proposal for a 650‑room, publicly financed hotel attached to the Baird Center, aiming to close its hotel‑room gap with rivals. The plan mirrors Columbus, Ohio’s publicly owned Hilton expansion, which lifted nearby room...
REIT Sells Alexandria Hilton To Prior Owner For Half Of 2018 Price
Ashford Hospitality Trust sold the 252‑room Hilton Alexandria Old Town to Lodging Capital Partners for $58 million, roughly half the $111 million it paid in 2018. The transaction included repayment of a $32.5 million loan and generated a non‑recurring loss, with the REIT...
Spirit Airlines Debuts Playful “Banana Plane” Liveries Celebrating Its Iconic Yellow Brand
Spirit Airlines has rolled out six special‑edition “banana plane” liveries, turning its signature bright‑yellow jets into oversized banana stickers. The first aircraft will enter service this week, with five more receiving the playful designs later in the month. Airbus is...
Behind the Scenes: Monica Galetti and Singapore Airlines’ Catering
The piece takes readers inside dnata’s Heathrow catering hub where Singapore Airlines’ Business Class meals are crafted, spotlighting chef Monica Galetti’s limited‑edition spring menu. Galetti walks through dishes such as crab salad, spinach velouté, butter‑poached chicken and rhubarb cake, explaining...
It’s Back. Earn Delta Medallion® Qualifying Dollars With Hotel Stays and Rental Cars
Delta Air Lines has revived its Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) promotion, allowing travelers to earn one MQD for every dollar spent on hotel stays and rental cars booked through the airline’s Expedia portal. The offer applies to bookings made now...
The Valorian Los Angeles Debuts on the Sunset Strip
The former Mondrian Los Angeles has reopened as The Valorian Los Angeles, joining Hilton’s Curio Collection. Operated by Pivot, the lifestyle arm of Davidson Hospitality Group, the hotel keeps its iconic Sunset Strip design while introducing the White Rabbit Sky...
The Cheesecake Factory, Chick-Fil-A Leads AUVs Among Major Restaurant Chains
The 2025 average unit volume (AUV) rankings show The Cheesecake Factory at the top with $12.8 million, followed by Texas Roadhouse at $7.9 million and Chick‑fil‑A at $7.2 million. Raising Cane’s ($6.3 million) and Olive Garden ($5.8 million) complete the top five, highlighting strong performance...
Emirates Overhauls Qantas Award Chart for the Second Time in a Month — Here’s What Has Changed
Emirates has revised its Qantas award chart for the second time this month, altering both mileage requirements and distance bands. Economy awards now range from 8,000 to 54,000 Skywards miles, with some routes seeing up to a 15% discount and...
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IHOP Embraces Acronym Culture with BLT Trademark
IHOP has filed a trademark for the acronym BLTAF, standing for “Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato … And Fries,” to promote a new addition to its $6 Everyday Value Menu. The move reflects President Lawrence Kim’s “move at the speed of culture”...
Gregorys Coffee Partners with Craveworthy to Perk Interest in Franchises
Gregorys Coffee has teamed with Craveworthy Brands to launch a franchise drive for its specialty coffee concept. The partnership will host a series of open‑house events from April 7 to April 9 in Washington, D.C., Old Bridge and Paramus, New Jersey,...
How International Restaurant Brands Are Reshaping the US Market
International restaurant brands from East Asia are accelerating their U.S. rollout, targeting fast‑growing beverage and dessert categories. Chains such as Mixue, Luckin Coffee and Gong cha are opening multiple locations at once, using franchise‑friendly models and digital‑first operations. Their focus on...
Landingplace Hotels Launches Strategic Ownership Platform
Landingplace Hotels has created Landingplace Holdings, a strategic ownership platform that will acquire and convert existing hotels into its Landingplace Suites and Landingplace Select brands. The initiative is backed by a corporate bond program, assigned an ISIN and listed on...
Wyndham Crosses 100-Hotel Mark in Mexico
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts announced it has reached 100 open hotels in Mexico, doubling its footprint in the country over the past five years. The portfolio now covers more than 50 cities and 15 brands, supported by a multibrand pipeline...
A Big Carl's Jr. Franchisee Has Filed for Bankruptcy
A Carl’s Jr. franchisee that runs 65 California locations filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy, encompassing several entities owned by Harshad Dharod. The filings list assets and liabilities under $50,000 each, indicating a tightly scoped restructuring. The franchisor emphasized that the bankruptcy is...
Food Delivery Turns the K-Shaped Economy on Its Head
Recent data reveals that lower‑income consumers are driving the bulk of food‑delivery orders, even as they cut back on restaurant visits overall. This counter‑intuitive trend flips the typical K‑shaped recovery narrative, where higher‑income groups usually lead growth. Delivery platforms are...
Chick-Fil-A's Unit Volumes Hit a Ceiling
Chick-fil‑A’s U.S. system sales climbed 5.2% to $23.9 billion in 2025, but the chain’s average unit volume (AUV) for stand‑alone restaurants slipped 1.7% to just under $9.2 million. Mall‑based units posted a modest 1.4% AUV increase to $4.6 million. The company added 178...
Can Burger King Ever Catch McDonald's?
Burger King remains far behind McDonald’s in global scale and sales. McDonald’s operates roughly 40,000 U.S. restaurants and generates higher same‑store sales, while BK trails with about 18,000 locations. Analysts argue that closing the gap would require aggressive digital transformation,...
Here Come the Menu Improvements
Restaurant chains are accelerating menu upgrades to revive growth as external pressures mount. Higher gasoline costs are squeezing full‑service operators, while Chick‑fil‑A reports a two‑year slowdown in unit‑volume expansion. A major Carl's Jr. franchisee’s recent bankruptcy underscores the financial strain on...
Hyatt Ties C-Suite Pay to Direct Bookings and Lifestyle Hotels Goals
Hyatt disclosed that it has tied portions of its C‑suite compensation to two strategic priorities: increasing the share of direct bookings and expanding its lifestyle hotel segment. Chief commercial officer Mark Vondrasek received a special share grant that would vest...
Is Sakura Marketing in Danger in Japan?
Japan's iconic cherry‑blossom (Sakura) season drives roughly $9 billion in annual revenue, fueling a wave of limited‑edition products from Starbucks to Uniqlo. However, the aging Somei Yoshino trees—many 60‑80 years old—are becoming brittle, causing safety hazards and diminishing bloom displays. Overtourism forced the...
United Tries to Offset Temporary High Fuel Costs With Permanent Fare and Fee Increases
United Airlines announced a new Basic fare tier for its Premium Plus and Polaris long‑haul cabins and raised the lowest prepaid checked‑bag fee from $35 to $45, making the first domestic bag cost up to $50. The Basic fare still...
Tony Fernandes Sets June 26 KL‑Bahrain Launch, War‑Dependent
AirAsia X’s founder Tan Sri Tony Fernandes confirms June 26 take-off for KL-Bahrain flights while AirAsia X’s group CEO Bo Lingam said the plan is still on if the Middle Eastern war ends before launch date. Checks by Business Times...
AirAsia X Holds Course Amid War, Fuel Surge
Key takeaways from AirAsia X PC: • Bahrain is still on, will fly on June 26 if war ends by then • No jet fuel shortage ATM. Able to uplift fuel from KUL to destination. • Not letting go of...
China's Hotel Upgrade Adds 316,000 Rooms, Boosts Service Standards
China's hospitality sector added 316,100 chain hotel rooms in 2024, a 4.68% year‑on‑year rise that lifted the total to 17.64 million rooms. The upgrade, visible in budget‑price hotels offering upscale amenities, is reshaping demand toward business travelers and attracting foreign investors.
Asia Drives Next Growth
BWH Hotels is reversing the industry norm by prioritising secondary and tertiary Asian markets, using local partners to pinpoint emerging travel demand such as religious tourism in India. The company leverages its position as the world’s second‑largest soft‑brand operator, offering...
What Does an Ultra-Luxury First Class Ticket Get You? Flying in a Frictionless Bubble.
Air France’s La Première ultra‑luxury first‑class service turns a trans‑Atlantic flight into a frictionless bubble, beginning with a Mercedes limousine pick‑up and ending with a personal customs escort at JFK. The cabin features a 6‑ft‑6‑in bed, floor‑to‑ceiling curtains, and a...
How a Renowned Restaurant Uses Square to Balance Creativity and Consistency
Miss Lily’s, a celebrated Jamaican restaurant in NYC’s East Village, switched to Square’s POS platform in 2025 to embed operational structure as it scales. The new tools provide real‑time sales data, guest counts, and recipe tracking, allowing Chef Brittany “Stikxz”...
7 Airlines With The World’s Most Spacious Economy Cabins
A new 2026 ranking highlights seven airlines that prioritize spacious economy cabins, measuring seat pitch, width, layout and service quality. Japan Airlines tops the list with a 34‑inch pitch and the widest 787 seats, followed by ANA’s consistent 34‑inch pitch...
Indonesia Shifts Focus to Shorthaul Markets Amid Longhaul Travel Risks
Indonesia’s tourism ministry warned that ongoing geopolitical tensions at Middle Eastern transit hubs could cut up to 5,500 long‑haul arrivals daily from Europe and the United States. To offset the shortfall, officials are pivoting toward short‑haul markets in Southeast Asia,...
'Positives' For Tourism Despite Iran War Uncertainty
Jersey’s tourism sector opened the year with stronger earnings than the same period in 2025, but the outbreak of the Iran‑Israel conflict has triggered fuel surcharges and higher food‑and‑drink delivery costs. Disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz...
Malaysia Tourism Sector Calls for Support as Diesel Costs Rise
Rising diesel prices are tightening margins for Malaysia’s tourism transport operators and travel agencies, prompting industry bodies to demand government relief. A MATTA survey shows 68.5% of tour‑van operators use over 1,500 litres and 54.8% of bus operators exceed 3,500...
Virtuoso Delivers Successful First Standalone Forum for North and South-East Asia
Virtuoso held its inaugural North and Southeast Asia Forum at The Apurva Kempinski Bali, bringing together 26 of the region’s 27 member agencies and 35 representatives. The three‑day event combined professional development sessions with B2B meetings, featuring a mix of...
How Hyatt Is Making 'Racecations' A Thing
Hyatt has become the exclusive Asia‑Pacific hotel partner for HYROX, leveraging the three‑day Singapore race that drew more than 14,000 athletes. The partnership frames hotel stays as integral to the competition, offering recovery‑focused amenities and curated destination guides. Hyatt plans...
Irreconcilable Differences: Canadian Cultural Tourism to the US Experiences a Steep Decline
Canadian tourism to the United States has slumped by more than 30% in 2025, driven by President Trump’s annexation rhetoric, renewed tariffs and a perception of unwelcomeness. New York City saw Canadian arrivals fall from 983,000 in 2024 to 800,000...
Miiro Hotels Is Taking an 18-Month Break From Openings After 6 Hotels in 18 Months
Miiro Hotels, the European arm of India‑based InterGlobe Enterprises, opened six properties in Paris, Barcelona, London, Gstaad and two in Vienna within 18 months, then announced a pause on new openings until at least late 2027. The brand aims to...
Coming This Summer: KLM’s First Airbus A350 Enters Final Assembly In Toulouse
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will receive its first Airbus A350‑900, MSN809, in summer 2026 as the jet moves into final assembly in Toulouse. The aircraft is part of a €7 billion (≈$7.7 billion) fleet‑renewal program that will replace legacy A330s and Boeing...
AirAsia Confirms Bahrain Launch, First Flight June 2026
AirAsia is still committed to fly to Bahrain with first flight on June 26, 2026: Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.
Revive Travel TV with Finance, Books, Games, Docs
What used to be the Travel Channel has turned into aliens and ghost shows. Here’s what I would schedule instead: - A show about different travel finances, like Budget versus Baller on Amazon - A show about travel books, like a Wishbone...
Emirates & Flydubai Operations Stable: 213 Flights Monday & 223 Tuesday Ex-DXB (April 6 – 7)
More than a month after the Israel‑U.S. conflict with Iran disrupted Gulf aviation, Emirates and Flydubai have restored most of their schedules, operating 146 and 67 flights respectively on Monday and 150 and 73 on Tuesday from Dubai. Emirates is...
Vegas Strip Rolls Out Summer All‑Inclusive Deals for Budget Travelers
Las Vegas Strip Casinos offering summer all-inclusive packages: - Excalibur - Luxor - Harrah's - Flamingo - The LINQ Move by MGM and Caesars comes as the Strip's two largest operators look to bolster appeal to more budget-conscious customers
First U.S. Passive House Hotel Paves Net‑Zero Path
"... first Passive House-certified hotel in the U.S., which is tracking to become the nation’s first net-zero hotel. Going beyond adaptive reuse, Hotel Marcel offers a new blueprint for the way hotels are designed, powered, & run" #passivhaus #passivehouse https://t.co/4EO6tbBgZW https://t.co/lklg5OuU0X
Garuda Indonesia Positions Denpasar as East Indonesian Hub
Garuda Indonesia is positioning Bali’s Denpasar airport as a secondary international hub to serve eastern Indonesia, especially the Papua region. The carrier launched a four‑times‑weekly Jakarta‑Denpasar‑Tembagapura‑Jayapura service on March 29, using a Boeing 737‑800. Denpasar now connects to ten international...
Smart Hotels Deploy Collaborative General-Purpose and Specialized Robots
Hospitality Reimagined: Smart Hotels Powered by Collaborative General-Purpose and Specialized #Robots via @ZappyZappy7 #EmergingTech #Technology #Innovation #Tech https://t.co/mjrzMtNmiB
Why Faster Aircraft Don’t Always Save Time
Faster aircraft rarely translate into dramatically shorter door‑to‑door trips because ground operations, air‑traffic control routing and climb‑descent phases dominate total travel time. Even when supersonic or high‑subsonic speeds shave 30‑60 minutes from the airborne segment, the gain is a small...
DoorDash Adds $20 Pickup Minimum
DoorDash has increased the minimum order amount for pickup orders from $10 to $20 for certain stores and locations. The change affects customers who rely on Chase credit‑card promotions that offer a $10 monthly DashPass credit, previously enough to meet...
Almaty Aims for First Michelin-Recognized Restaurant in 2026
Deputy Akim Olzhas Smagulov announced that Almaty expects to open its first Michelin-recognized restaurant in 2026, part of a broader push to attract global brands and elevate the city's fine‑dining scene.
Tourism Plus Shanghai 2026 Expo Draws 450,000 Visitors, Boosts Hotel Sector
Tourism Plus Shanghai 2026 wrapped up on April 3, attracting nearly 450,000 visitors from 189 countries and hosting over 6,000 exhibitors across 700,000 sq m. The event’s hotel‑focused exhibitions, HOTELEX and Hotel & Shop Plus, generated a wave of partnerships and investment interest that could...