Hyatt Chairman Resigns After Epstein Emails Surface Showing Hotel Favors And “May The Force Be With You” Reply
Hyatt Hotels' long‑time executive chairman Thomas J. “Tom” Pritzker announced his immediate retirement and will not seek re‑election to the board. The decision follows the U.S. Justice Department’s release of Epstein‑related emails that show Pritzker arranging hotel bookings and using casual language with Jeffrey Epstein and his associate. In the correspondence, Pritzker replied “May the Force be with you” and offered to accompany a guest, prompting public scrutiny. CEO Mark Hoplamazian has assumed the combined role of chairman and CEO, signaling a leadership transition.
AWH Partners Acquires Hotel Trio Healdsburg for $38M
AWH Partners has purchased the 122‑key Hotel Trio Healdsburg for $38 million, equating to $311,475 per key—significantly below the estimated $500,000 replacement cost in Sonoma County. The all‑suite, Marriott‑branded property is the only Residence Inn in northern Sonoma and the second‑largest hotel...
MoU Takes Aeroberm Vertipad to Japan
AirMobility and Skyportz have signed a memorandum of understanding to introduce Skyportz’s patented Aeroberm modular vertipad to Japan. The partnership will fuse Aeroberm’s downwash‑reducing hardware with AirMobility’s AirVport vertiport automation software, creating a fully integrated vertiport solution. By deploying this...
Applebee’s Creates Still Together Sips with Dre and Snoop
Applebee’s has launched a limited‑time "Still Together Sips" cocktail menu created with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog, featuring two drinks made with the award‑winning Still G.I.N. gin. The $7 Young, Wild & Free Fruit Punch and $10 Rollin’ On The Beach are served with original temporary tattoos and are...
Beyond the Balance Sheet: Why the Future of Franchising Is Proactive, Not Passive
The Restaurant Innovation and Franchising Summit in San Diego will feature a session called “The Money Map: Navigating Your Franchise to Peak Profit,” urging operators to treat unit economics as a dynamic narrative rather than static spreadsheets. Panelists stress proactive...
Intrepid Travel Signs up to to the Safer Tourism Pledge
Intrepid Travel, the B Corp‑certified adventure operator, has signed the Safer Tourism Pledge, the travel industry’s leading framework for traveller risk, health and safety. The company runs more than 900 small‑group trips in over 120 countries, and the pledge adds...
Holiday Inn Owner IHG Hopes World Cup Can Kickstart US Recovery
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is counting on the 2026 FIFA World Cup to revive U.S. travel after three consecutive quarters of declining room revenues. U.S. RevPAR fell 2% in Q4, lagging rivals Hilton and Marriott, while growth in Europe, the...
Terminal Upgrade Underway at Shannon Airport
The Shannon Airport Group has launched a €15 million upgrade of its main terminal, the first phase of a €40 million investment programme slated for completion by May 2027. The renovation replaces the 1970s façade with a modern, curved design that will accommodate...
Coast Hotels Celebrates Its Top Achievers
Coast Hotels Limited, a subsidiary of APA Hotel Canada, announced the winners of its 2025 Coast Hotels Awards at the annual brand conference in Nanaimo, B.C. The ceremony highlighted a range of performance‑based recognitions, including a first‑ever Lifetime Achievement Award...
Tragedy: American Express May Have Closed United Airlines Travel Bank “Loophole”
American Express appears to have ended a long‑standing loophole that let Platinum cardholders claim the $200 annual airline credit by purchasing United Airlines Travel Bank credits. The change, effective around February 6, 2026, reclassifies these purchases as ticket‑related, making them ineligible for...
Hong Kong’s New T2 Departures Facility to Open in May
The Airport Authority Hong Kong announced that the departure facilities at Terminal 2 will begin operations on May 27, 2026. The rollout follows a phased commissioning that started with the Coach Hall in September 2025 and aligns with expected summer travel demand. The new...
Hilton and Winnow Voted ‘World’s Leading Sustainable Partnership’
Hospitality giant Hilton and food‑waste tech firm Winnow have been named World’s Leading Sustainable Partnership 2025 at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards in Dubai. Their Green Ramadan 2025 program, using AI‑powered smart meters across Hilton kitchens, achieved a...
Pizza Vs. Chicken: The Ultimate Industry 'Vibe Check' At RFIS
At the Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit, FastCasual hosted a game‑show style "Feedback Family Feud" pitting pizza leaders against chicken executives. The unscripted showdown forced senior marketers, HR heads and digital innovators to answer rapid‑fire questions about diner expectations. Participants...
Tampa International Airport Showcases Three Agentic AI Breakthroughs Ahead of IAR London Breakfast Briefing
Tampa International Airport will unveil three agentic AI breakthroughs at the International Airport Review breakfast briefing in London, developed with Sotereon.ai’s Underwing Overwatch platform. The first solution uses live LiDAR data to automate aircraft turnaround, continuously tracking underwing tasks and...
Can Digital Platforms Transform Aviation Sales?
E‑commerce’s rapid expansion is reshaping global trade, yet business aviation has lagged behind. Analysts project the digital aviation market to climb from $37.92 billion in 2022 to $65.11 billion by 2029, driven by AI‑enabled marketplaces that offer predictive analytics and real‑time pricing....
Hawaii: Three New Electric Transit Trams to Join HNL Shuttle Service
The Hawaii Department of Transportation is adding three MotoEV electric trams to the Wiki Wiki Shuttle at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, beginning 15 February. The new units will run between gates C and G and Terminals 1 and 2 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.,...
Finavia Launches 2026–2028 Sustainability Programme to Strengthen Value Creation
Finavia unveiled its 2026‑2028 sustainability programme, expanding its climate, nature, people and governance framework to cut emissions across the entire aviation value chain. Seventeen of its twenty airports have already achieved net‑zero operational emissions, and the new plan intensifies work...
IHG Premier Card 175K Points Limited Time Welcome Bonus: Worth Applying
Chase’s IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card now offers a limited‑time welcome bonus of 175,000 points after $5,000 spend in the first three months, a 35,000‑point increase over the prior offer. The $99 annual‑fee card grants instant Platinum elite status,...
‘Swim, Soak, Switch Off’: An Off-Grid Cabin Stay in the Scottish Borders
Off‑grid tiny‑home operator Tiny Home Borders opened a second two‑person cabin on its Hawick farm, offering a solar‑powered, hemp‑insulated retreat with sauna, hot tub and lake access. The eco‑friendly design uses reclaimed oak, hemp insulation and battery storage, and deliberately...
Think You’re Good to Go? How Unsettled Tax Debts Could Delay Your Vietnam Departure
As international travel rebounds, Vietnam is enforcing a tax‑related exit ban that can stop travelers at the airport if they owe unpaid taxes. The law applies to business owners, legal representatives, non‑operational enterprises, Vietnamese citizens planning permanent moves and even...
Uncover Marinduque’s Beauty on Two Wheels: Cycling Routes From Poctoy White Beach to Mountain Decks—What You Need to Know About...
The Philippine Cyclo Tourism Program launches the inaugural Marinduque Cycling Experience, a three‑day, 2‑night bike tour from February 20‑22, 2026. Cyclists will traverse 60‑100 km daily across coastal roads, countryside, and mountain decks, including a stop at the historic Luzon Datum...
The Philippines Revolutionizes Agritourism: New Roads Linking Ifugao, Cebu, Batangas, and More to Global Travelers – Everything You Should Know
The Philippines’ Department of Agriculture and Department of Tourism have signed a memorandum of agreement to integrate farm‑to‑market roads with tourism infrastructure under the Tourism Road Infrastructure Program (TRIP). The initiative earmarks ₱4 billion for road upgrades that connect rural farms...
Air Canada Cancels Seasonal Flights Between Montreal & Seattle 2 Months Before Resumption
Air Canada has scrapped its planned seasonal nonstop service between Montreal‑Trudeau and Seattle‑Tacoma, originally slated to launch on May 1, 2026 and run through October 13, 2026. The route would have featured daily Airbus A220‑300 flights, offering roughly 3,700 seats...
Delta Air Lines To Boost Airbus A350-900 Frequencies Between Los Angeles & Melbourne
Delta Air Lines is accelerating its non‑stop service between Los Angeles International Airport and Melbourne, moving from three weekly flights to a daily schedule by December 22, 2026. The airline introduced the route only three months ago, and rapid uptake has...
Russia Seeks Private Sector Aid for Airport Reconstruction After Booting Out Foreign Companies
Russia is courting domestic private investors to rebuild a third of its regional airports after expelling foreign operators such as Germany’s Fraport. The government has earmarked roughly $2.5 billion for the effort, betting on a 50% rise in passenger traffic over...
Oneworld Sapphire Status: How to Unlock Lounge Access, Free Bags, Priority Boarding, and More
Oneworld Sapphire is the alliance’s mid‑tier elite level, granting members business‑class lounge access, priority services and extra baggage on any Oneworld carrier. The benefit package includes complimentary checked bags (or an additional 15 kg), free preferred seat selection, priority boarding and...
Southwest Airlines to Launch Free Starlink Wi-Fi This Summer — Here’s the Rollout Timeline
Southwest Airlines announced it will upgrade its in‑flight connectivity by installing Starlink satellite internet on its fleet, beginning this summer. The airline already provides free, unlimited Wi‑Fi to Rapid Rewards members via T‑Mobile on more than 800 aircraft. Southwest plans...
Institute of Hospitality Expands Into Southern Europe with IoH Mediterranean, Dr Julian Zarb of Malta Takes the Lead
The Institute of Hospitality (IoH) has launched IoH Mediterranean, a regional network spanning twelve Southern European and nearby markets. Dr. Julian Zarb of Malta will chair the new body, bringing academic and community‑tourism expertise to the role. The network aims...
Washington Hotel in Japan Discloses Ransomware Infection Incident
Washington Hotel, a Japanese hospitality chain with 30 properties and 11,000 rooms, disclosed a ransomware breach on February 13, 2026 that compromised business data on its servers. The hotel immediately isolated the affected systems, formed an internal task force and enlisted police,...
Fitch Ratings Assigns ‘a’ Rating to Lee County, Florida Airport Revenue Bonds Series 2026
Fitch Ratings assigned an ‘A’ rating to Lee County, Florida’s airport revenue bonds, Series 2026, and affirmed the rating on existing bonds with a stable outlook. The rating reflects a balanced carrier mix serving a leisure‑focused market and enplanements that...
HDR Selected to Lead Program Management Services for Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport
HDR has been chosen by the Lexington‑Fayette Urban County Airport Board to provide program management services for Blue Grass Airport’s next decade of capital projects. The multiyear effort will advance terminal expansion, landside access, general‑aviation growth, and airfield safety upgrades....
Free Hotel Breakfast Is Changing Worldwide
Hotel chains worldwide are rethinking the traditional complimentary breakfast, shifting it from a universal amenity to a strategic pricing tool. Brands such as Hyatt, Marriott, and Hilton are piloting models that limit free breakfast to premium rooms, elite loyalty members,...
Jamaica’s Edmund Bartlett May Be Rewriting the Rules of Global Tourism Power
Jamaica’s long‑standing tourism minister Edmund Bartlett has released *Destination Reputational Resilience*, a manifesto that places crisis‑ready reputation at the heart of tourism strategy. Co‑authored with Lloyd Waller and backed by a UN foreword, the book signals that resilience is moving...
Hyatt’s Pritzker Announces Retirement, Cites Epstein Association
Tom Pritzker, who has guided Hyatt Hotels Corp. for more than two decades, announced his retirement as executive chairman and his decision not to stand for re‑election to the board. Since taking the helm in 2004, Pritzker has overseen the...
Indian Cyber-Tech Is the Model for European Airports
Indian firms WAISL and GRAMAX have created AeroWise, an AI‑driven airport predictive operation centre that blends digital‑twin technology with embedded cyber‑security. The solution includes miniature physical models of terminals, runways and ancillary systems that can be “war‑gamed” to visualize attack...
Buy Choice Privileges Points With up to a 30% Discount to Score Hotel Stays for Cheap
Choice Privileges is running a limited‑time promotion that discounts purchased points by up to 30%, bringing the cost down to 0.72¢ per point for purchases of 10,000 points or more. The offer expires at 11:59 p.m. EST on March 15, 2026, and points are...
Capriotti's Launches '50-50-50' Franchise Incentive Program
Capriotti's Sandwich Shop is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a aggressive expansion plan, unveiling a "50-50-50" franchise incentive that can save qualified partners up to $50,000 in royalties and fees. The brand announced the opening of 20 new locations and...
Sustainability Measurement: Why Europe and the U.S. Don’t Take the Same Path—Yet
Hospitality sustainability has shifted from optional initiatives to core KPIs, but Europe and the United States still measure progress differently. European hotels are guided by stricter compliance, carbon‑footprinting and circular‑economy reporting, while U.S. properties rely more on brand standards, investor...
Sol Arona Tenerife Reopens Following €25 Million Renovation Under SOL by Meliá Brand
Sol Arona Tenerife has reopened after a €25 million overhaul, becoming the first property relaunched under Meliá Hotels International’s new SOL by Meliá brand. The renovation, executed with investment partner Petra, introduced family‑focused amenities, self‑service features, and a sustainability‑driven design. The hotel now...
Saxon Air Expands UK Helicopter Fleet to 12 Aircraft
Saxon Air has grown its UK helicopter fleet to twelve aircraft, adding three more by April 2026. The expansion includes models such as the Leonardo AW109S, AW109 Trekker, AW109SP, AW119Kx and Airbus H125, with the latest being an AW109SP. Head...
Parkside Hotel & Spa General Manager Trina White Receives IMPACT Award
Trina White, General Manager of Parkside Hotel & Spa, received the IMPACT Award at the 2026 IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism Summit for her leadership in green hospitality. Since 2009 she has driven the hotel’s sustainability program, achieving a 92%...
Marriott Invites Travelers to Discover Latin America Through Authentic Cultural Experiences
Marriott International is rolling out a series of culturally immersive experiences across its Latin American portfolio, featuring properties in Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Peru. The program includes a rum‑and‑chocolate tasting in Guanacaste, the region’s first carbon‑positive all‑inclusive resort, tree‑planting...
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel Transformation Includes Solar Panels, Ulu Garden
The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Hawaii’s first resort, has completed a $180 million multi‑phased renovation, the most extensive in its 60‑year history. The overhaul adds 252 redesigned rooms, a new wellness retreat, upgraded dining venues, and a 28,000‑square‑foot Ulu Garden. Photovoltaic...
Hotel Terra Jackson Hole Unveils Multi-Million Dollar Renovation
Hotel Terra Jackson Hole, Wyoming’s first LEED‑certified hotel, has finished a $6.98 million renovation that refreshes 132 guest rooms and suites, corridors, meeting spaces, and wellness amenities. The redesign blends rustic warmth with modern sophistication, using earthy tones, natural textures, and...
Downloadable Guide: Is Your Hotel Website Ready for AI-Driven Travelers?
Cendyn has released a downloadable guide titled “Is Your Hotel Website Ready for AI‑driven Travelers?” that outlines how hotels must redesign their sites for both human guests and AI search engines in 2026. The guide details UX, content structuring, trust‑building...
HAL and Back in Time for Bed to Host Family Ship Visit in April
Holland America Line and Back in Time for Bed will host a family ship visit aboard the Rotterdam on April 3 in Southampton, aimed at parents working in the travel industry. Up to 75 attendees can preview the Kids’ Club’s...
bb.q Chicken Deploys Deliverect Platform Across All U.S. Restaurants to Streamline Digital Operations
bb.q Chicken, a fast‑growing Korean fried‑chicken franchise, has rolled out Deliverect’s digital ordering and menu‑management platform across more than 250 U.S. locations. The integration links its Toast POS with Uber Eats, DoorDash, GrubHub, and other marketplaces, consolidating menu updates, order...
Bahrain Launches National Aviation Strategy for 2026–2027
Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications unveiled a National Aviation Strategy for 2026‑2027, aligning civil‑aviation development with the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030. The plan seeks to expand the kingdom’s air‑connectivity from 66 to 100 destinations by 2030 and to deepen the...
Hihotels Adds Three Properties
Hospitality International’s hihotels brand announced the conversion of three independent hotels into its franchise network. The additions include a 45‑room Scottish Inns & Suites in Vinton, Louisiana, a 41‑room Scottish Inns & Suites in Kingwood, Texas, and a 48‑room Red...
Stayntouch Partners with Regency Hotel Management
Stayntouch has signed a partnership with Regency Hotel Management to roll out its cloud‑based property management system across 27 independent Regency hotels. After a seven‑month evaluation, Regency chose Stayntouch for its mobile‑first, tablet‑driven platform, enabling properties to go live in...