Hotels News and Headlines
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Restaurant operator Amanda Hyde has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer of Krystal, moving up from her role as Senior Vice President of Operations at parent company SPB Hospitality. Hyde brings more than two decades of multi‑unit restaurant leadership, previously driving growth at Logan’s Roadhouse, Mimi’s Café, and Bob Evans. In her new role, she will work closely with franchisees, operators, and support functions to elevate performance and sustain Krystal’s expansion into travel‑center locations. The appointment aligns with SPB’s recent strategy to concentrate resources on its core brands.
Memphis International Airport announced four new nonstop passenger flights—Frontier to Las Vegas and Phoenix, Breeze to San Antonio, and Southwest to Austin—expanding its route network for 2024. The airport added 11 new destinations in 2025, its highest post‑Delta hub growth, and served...
IHG Hotels & Resorts appointed Michael Hoe‑Knudsen as managing director for Mexico, Latin America & the Caribbean, succeeding retiring leader Jorge Apaez. Hoe‑Knudsen brings three decades of global hospitality experience, most recently overseeing 120 managed hotels and 45 openings in...
Chili Shack, the Denver‑based fast‑casual chain, has promoted Elizabeth Orona from general manager to chief operating officer. Orona will steer the brand’s national franchise rollout, targeting up to 100 new locations over the next several years. The company currently runs...
New Skift research, commissioned by Hyatt Inclusive Collection, shows all‑inclusive vacations are gaining broad appeal. 87% of U.S. and Canadian consumers have stayed at or considered an all‑inclusive resort, with 84% of prior guests likely to return. Younger travelers drive...
London’s hospitality sector is bracing for a series of RMT‑led tube strikes that will hit 12 days between March and May, threatening severe disruption during a critical trading period. Access Hospitality warns that previous strikes slashed bookings by up to...
AI automation is reshaping travel marketing by turning static destination pages into dynamic, data‑driven experiences that adapt to live flight prices, weather, and user intent. Brands can now generate hundreds of pages weekly, but competitive advantage stems from structured data,...
Sweetgreen’s CEO Jonathan Neman announced a strategic pivot back to lifestyle branding, moving away from purely conversion‑driven marketing after a 13% sales decline in 2025. The chain is resetting its media mix, hiring a new agency and leveraging influencers, events,...
Travel demand in Asia‑Pacific is surging toward pre‑pandemic levels, with an estimated 430 million more passengers expected this year. However, the sector faces a hidden crisis: ad fraud, where bots account for up to 80% of invalid traffic for travel advertisers,...
At its annual conference, the Hotel Association of Canada announced a rebrand to Hotels Canada, unveiling a new name and visual identity. The organization now represents more than 8,300 hotels, accounting for over 300,000 jobs and $12 billion in annual government...
Everytable, the Los Angeles‑based food platform with 35 locations, announced a national franchise program aimed at single‑ and multi‑unit operators in California, Arizona and other Western markets. The model relies on a centralized commissary kitchen, allowing storefronts of 500‑1,400 sq ft to...
CLEAR (NYSE:YOU) unveiled a reimagined mobile app designed to streamline the entire travel journey from home to gate. The flagship "Know When to Leave" feature uses personal preferences, airport patterns, and traffic data to advise the optimal departure time. Integrated...
Travel apps are exploding across Asia as Generation Z, now 32% of the global population, prioritize experiential, budget‑conscious trips. Mobile platforms like Traveloka and Klook have captured the majority of young travelers, with 83% of APAC smartphone owners already installing...
Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s flagship carrier aligned with Vision 2030, has submitted an initial network for the 2026 summer season, outlining 15 prospective routes across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The airline already operates daily non‑revenue flights to London...
U.S. airlines largely skip premium‑economy on domestic flights because the class is tied to wide‑body, long‑haul aircraft and retrofitting costs run into millions. Instead they sell upgraded‑economy products like Comfort+, Economy Plus, and Main Cabin Extra that add legroom with minimal...
Village Ways, a community‑based tourism initiative founded in 2005, now links over 30 villages from Uttarakhand to Kerala, offering low‑impact hiking stays in guesthouses rather than homestays. By distributing earnings equally among cleaners, porters and guides, the model has hosted...
At a London showcase, the Macao Government Tourism Office unveiled new multi‑destination travel packages linking Macao, Hong Kong and mainland China, aimed at European tourists. The event brought together UK travel trade, media and cultural partners, highlighting Macao’s blend of...
Air New Zealand will cancel over 1,100 flights by early May 2026, affecting roughly 40,000 passengers, as soaring jet‑fuel prices strain its finances. The price surge stems from geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, which have disrupted global oil supply...
Joby Aviation has begun flight testing its first FAA‑conforming eVTOL, N547JX, marking a critical step toward Type Inspection Authorization and eventual type certification. The aircraft meets FAA‑approved design standards and will undergo final TIA tests at Joby’s Marina, California facility...
Himachal Pradesh’s tourism department launched the SHE Travel Policy to make solo female travel safer and more supportive. The initiative introduces safety audits, women‑friendly accommodation certification, a dedicated travel portal, and SheGuard staff at key transport hubs. Targeting popular spots...
Viking has launched the Viking Eldir, a 190‑guest river cruise ship built at Meyer’s Neptun Werft in Germany. The vessel will operate luxury itineraries on the Rhine, Main and Danube, offering spacious staterooms, panoramic views, and upscale dining. Its addition...
Somerset Valero Makati, the latest Ascott Limited Philippines launch, offers 182 luxury serviced apartments ranging from 37 to 124 square metres. The development blends upscale living with wellness‑focused features, including a first‑of‑its‑kind WellTech suite equipped with massage chairs and scent...
Wynn Resorts announced that construction has resumed on its $5.1 billion integrated resort on Al‑Marjan Island, Ras Al‑Khaimah. The 70‑floor, 283‑metre tower, topped out in December 2025, will feature 1,500 rooms, high‑end retail, MICE facilities and the UAE’s first licensed gaming...
Escalating US‑Iran tensions have disrupted flight connectivity between the Middle East and India, prompting cancellations and rerouting of wellness travelers. Kairali Ayurvedic Group lost three direct Middle‑East guests and faces uncertainty for five others traveling via the region. While short‑term...
The Singapore Tourism Board and low‑cost carrier Scoot have launched the third edition of the Singapore Superfans campaign, positioning the Merlion as an active guide encouraging visitors to explore beyond the city’s iconic landmarks. The campaign, anchored by a rock‑inspired...
Malaysia’s Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) and the Association of Malaysian Spas (AMSPA) signed a memorandum of understanding at ITB Berlin to extend the country’s halal tourism strategy into the spa and wellness sector. The agreement will launch a Muslim‑Friendly Spa...
The Travel Gap, a 29‑week paid programme launched in Melbourne, links school leavers with the Australian travel industry through a partnership between My First Job and the Australian Travel Industry Association. Participants rotate through four six‑week placements across diverse travel...
StarCruises will launch three five‑night cruises from Hong Kong in 2026 aboard the Star Voyager, adding itineraries to Okinawa, Vietnam and Sanya. The Okinawa voyages depart on March 22 and May 3, while the Vietnam‑Sanya cruise sets sail on April 26. These new...
Royal Jordanian has resolved a website glitch that prevented some travelers from opening a Royal Club account and requesting a top‑tier hotel status match to British Airways Silver‑equivalent status. The airline now provides a direct enrollment link, and eligible members...
Klook has launched a "Bloom back guarantee" that refunds 30% of the price if cherry blossoms in Japan or South Korea fail to bloom during the official forecast period. The guarantee is offered as a free add‑on with the promo...
Norse Atlantic Airways posted its fourth consecutive annual loss in 2025 despite achieving a record‑high 96% load factor and a 99.4% flight‑completion rate. The airline has begun shifting away from a summer‑centric Atlantic model, adding winter services to Thailand and...
Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport is undertaking its second‑largest single‑project investment in Australian aviation, focusing on a major terminal expansion. A third runway, expected to be operational by 2031, will bring its capacity in line with Sydney’s Kingsford Smith. Additionally, an air‑rail...
The hotel sector is contending with a $600 million‑per‑day loss in the Middle East as the Iran conflict disrupts travel demand. Hotels are turning to loyalty programs to capture direct bookings and reduce reliance on online travel agencies. Luxury supply is...
Formula 1’s 2026 calendar features three U.S. Grands Prix—Miami (May 1‑3), Austin (Oct 16‑18) and Las Vegas (Nov 19‑21). The article highlights how travelers can extend race weekends with curated stays in nearby destinations such as Savannah’s Ann Savannah, Key West’s Eden House, and the...
Bilt Rewards introduced a four‑tier elite program—Blue, Silver, Gold, and Platinum—rewarding members for rent payments, credit‑card spend, and partner activity. Status can be achieved either by accumulating qualifying points (50,000‑200,000 per year) or by meeting annual spending thresholds of $10,000‑$50,000...
Disruptions at Gulf airline hubs slowed travel to destinations dependent on Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi. Seychelles quickly secured a month‑long direct Air Seychelles service to Paris and broadened alternative connections via Istanbul, Frankfurt and Nairobi. Tanzania activated its Tourism...
Hyatt CFO Joan Bottarini told investors that the company’s wealthiest guests are rerouting rather than canceling trips amid geopolitical shocks in the Middle East and Mexico. Occupancy fell in the Middle East, but the region represents less than 5% of...
The All Inn Hotel, a 54‑room boutique property housed in a renovated 1950s motor inn on Colfax Avenue, will open on March 26, with its Mediterranean restaurant Fino debuting March 18. The $22 M restoration preserves a National Register historic building while adding a...
American Express operates 16 U.S. Centurion Lounges, one Sidecar lounge, and nearly a dozen international locations, with new venues slated for Amsterdam, Newark, Boston, and a Charlotte Sidecar. Access is limited to premium Amex cards and requires a card, same‑day...
Banyan Tree is scaling its wellness portfolio by rolling out Connections Retreats and extending its signature Connections program to eight additional resorts. The new immersive, small‑group retreats debut in Montenegro’s Mamula Island and Bali’s Buahan in 2026, featuring Manduka‑aligned yoga...
Mark and Gwenn Snider, co‑founders of Little Gem Resorts, launched their first property, Winnetu Oceanside, in 2000 and have since built a small collection of boutique hotels. In 2019 they opened Lovango Resort & Beach Club on a half‑island in...
Beckons Hotel Brand has launched with nine luxury lodges spanning Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and Canada. The portfolio, averaging 25 suites per property, includes award‑winning sites such as Southern Ocean Lodge and Huka Lodge, many holding Michelin Keys. Beckons has invested...
ADA website accessibility lawsuits surged 37 % in the first half of 2025, with hotels becoming a primary target. The article outlines the five most common violations—missing accessibility information, absent alt text, poor color contrast, keyboard navigation barriers, and form labeling...
Chicago-based Chowbus raised $81 million to broaden its AI‑powered restaurant platform. The company now reports over $120 million in annual recurring revenue and processes roughly $4 billion in transactions across the U.S. and Canada. Moving beyond point‑of‑sale software, Chowbus will add...
ITB India 2026 has been rescheduled to September 1‑3 and will be hosted at Mumbai’s Jio World Convention Centre. The three‑day B2B trade show will feature more than 100 exhibitors, 3,000 participants and 400+ buyers from India and South Asia. Over...
Burger King is piloting an AI assistant called "Patty" that runs through employee headsets in drive‑thru lanes. The system listens for hospitality cues, logs service patterns and supplies real‑time recipe, inventory and equipment guidance. It also flags low stock or...
Renowned chef Mauro Colagreco, three‑Michelin‑starred restaurateur behind Mirazur, has launched his first Southeast Asian outpost at Capella Bangkok. The new venue, a 45‑seat dining room, offers a seasonal tasting menu that fuses his Argentine‑Italian heritage with Thai terroir. Opening in March 2024,...
Grecotel, Greece’s leading luxury hospitality group, has launched “Grecotel Acts of Kindness,” a program that surprises travel agents with thoughtful gifts throughout the year. Unlike traditional incentive schemes, the gestures are not tied to bookings or sales targets, emphasizing gratitude...
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security reopened Global Entry on Wednesday at 5 a.m. EDT, ending a 17‑day suspension caused by the partial federal government shutdown. The trusted traveler program allows pre‑approved passengers to skip standard passport control lines at major...
Harvard’s Enterprise Research Campus in Allston welcomed the Atlas Hotel in late January 2026. The 246‑room property, designed by Marlon Blackwell Architects and developed by Tishman Speyer, offers a “living room” lobby, a ground‑floor restaurant called Ama, and plans for...
