Zedwell Wins Approval for Trafalgar Square Hotel Conversion
Zedwell, the modular hotel brand owned by Criterion Capital, has received planning permission to convert the historic Trafalgar Buildings on London’s Trafalgar Square into a boutique hotel. The approval adds a flagship property to Zedwell’s pipeline, marking its first major development in a prime UK location. The project will expand the brand’s room inventory by several hundred units and is slated for completion in the late 2020s. It demonstrates the company’s strategy of pairing modular construction with iconic urban sites.
Sleep Expert Shares 5 Beautifully Strange Tips to Help You Fall Asleep Anywhere
Sleep tourism is booming, with hotels adding sleep coaching and pillow menus to attract weary travelers. A British mattress firm reports an 809% surge in Google searches for “how to fall asleep,” now averaging 135,000 monthly queries. Dr. Deborah Lee,...
Edinburgh Airport Is a Key Economic Driver for Scotland
A BiGGAR Economics report shows Edinburgh Airport delivered about $3.4 billion of economic value in 2025, supporting 44,000 jobs in Scotland and 72,000 across the UK. Tourism linked to the hub generated roughly $2.25 billion in visitor spending, while air freight handled...
Dubai Hotels Pull Nearly 2,000 Rooms for Renovations as Iran War Hits Occupancy
Dubai’s hotel sector is withdrawing nearly 2,000 rooms for refurbishment after the Iran‑Israel conflict slashed occupancy to 36.2% in March, down from 71.4% a year earlier. Seven properties, ranging from budget brands to ultra‑luxury icons, have announced closures, with JW...
M&G Real Estate Snaps up Barcelona Hotel for €50m
UK asset manager M&G Real Estate has acquired a hotel in Barcelona for €50 million (approximately $54 million) on behalf of its M&G European Property Fund. The purchase expands the fund’s exposure to the hospitality sector in a market that is seeing...
New Routes and More Flights From Avianca This Summer
Avianca is boosting its U.S. network for Summer 2026 by adding 42 weekly flights, expanding capacity on existing routes and launching new services. The carrier will debut a nonstop San Francisco‑Guatemala City flight in June and resume several seasonal routes such...
Fusion Offers Guests Special Deals to Celebrate Vietnam S April Holidays
Fusion is rolling out a suite of holiday promotions across its Vietnam portfolio to capitalize on the long April national holidays. Fusionlife members enjoy up to 25% off on rooms, spa treatments and dining, while select resorts add themed menus...
Frankfurt Airport Welcomes First Flight Into Terminal 3 Building
Frankfurt Airport inaugurated its new Terminal 3 on 23 April with the arrival of China Southern Airlines flight CZ8021 from Shenyang. The inaugural day saw 12 arrivals and 12 departures, moving roughly 6,000 passengers through the facility. Terminal 3, built over a ten‑year...
No Clicks Given: How to Get AI to Recommend Your Restaurant
The restaurant discovery landscape has shifted to AI‑generated answers, pushing traditional SEO links out of view. Google now delivers a concise paragraph that recommends eateries, creating a zero‑click environment. This change has birthed Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), which focuses on...
KAYAK Launches Ask AI to Simplify Travel Planning Just in Time for the World Cup
KAYAK unveiled Ask AI, a conversational travel‑planning tool that blends natural‑language chat with live flight, hotel and car‑rental results. The feature launches as interest in the summer World Cup spikes, with KAYAK reporting a 23% rise in flight searches to...
Three Distinct “Skillcations” By Four Seasons Resorts of Thailand
Four Seasons Resorts Thailand has unveiled a trio of "skillcations" that merge immersive learning with upscale leisure across its Chiang Mai, Golden Triangle, and Koh Samui properties. The programs let guests participate in rice planting, traditional crafts, Indigenous weaving, tea...
Wykeland Group Submits Revised Plans for Hull City Centre Hotel
Wykeland Group has lodged revised plans for a £25 million (≈$31.5 million) seven‑storey hotel in Hull city centre, featuring 122 rooms and a ground‑floor bar, gym, and business centre. The development targets the Moxy brand of Marriott International, positioning the property opposite...
Zedwell to Transform Trafalgar Buildings Into Hotel as Expansion Continues
Zedwell, the budget‑focused hotel brand owned by Criterion Capital, has received planning approval to convert the historic Trafalgar Buildings near Trafalgar Square into a 387‑room hotel covering over 88,000 sq ft. The redevelopment will retain the Grade‑II listed façades of two 19th‑century...
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This Texas City Surprises With World-Class Art, Modern Hotels, and a Lively Food Scene—All Beyond Its Cowboy Reputation
Fort Worth is shedding its lone‑star stereotype, emerging as a cultural and culinary destination anchored by world‑class museums, a burgeoning vegan scene, and high‑end lodging. The Bowie House, opened in late 2023, marks the city’s first true luxury hotel, while...
Hospitality Veterans David Michels, Howard Panter Appointed to Millennium & Copthorne Board
Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, the hospitality arm of City Developments Ltd, appointed industry veterans David Michels and Howard Panter to its board on March 27. The move follows a series of recent board resignations linked to a prior governance dispute. Both newcomers...
From Chiang Mai to Helsinki: Places to Bookmark for a Reset-and-Recover Break
A Fresha study shows global searches for “wellness retreats” jumped 22% year‑on‑year, signaling a shift from burnout to intentional recovery. The research ranked Chiang Mai, Thailand as the top wellness city, followed by Helsinki, Finland and Harrogate, UK. These destinations excel...
The Brief: How to Status Match Your Way to Premium Perks
Travelers can accelerate their frequent‑flyer benefits by leveraging status‑match programs, which copy a high tier from a competing airline or hotel onto a new carrier. Current offers include Virgin Atlantic’s free match for members of ten airlines and Air France/KLM’s...
Navigating China’s Digital Discovery
Dida, an AI‑first B2B travel distribution platform, has teamed up with Thailand’s Tourism Authority to push the Trusted Thailand initiative across China. The partnership shifts focus from sheer visitor numbers to high‑value, experience‑driven luxury travelers, using dominant Chinese social channels...
Thailand Recovers as Japan’s Safety Perception Falls Among Chinese Travellers
Dragon Trail International’s latest Chinese Traveller Sentiment Report shows Japan’s safety perception among Chinese tourists plunging to a 37% “safe” rating, the lowest since China reopened in 2023. In contrast, Thailand rebounded, climbing seven spots and achieving its highest safety...
Ascott Advances AI Infrastructure with Focus on Agent-Led Travel
Ascott is investing in AI‑focused infrastructure to shift toward agent‑led travel planning and booking, partnering with Accenture, Amadeus and EHL Hospitality Business School. Its AI concierge Cubby has handled over 900,000 guest enquiries since 2023 and will evolve into a...
Club Med, Central Group Capital Plan Resort in Koh Samui
Club Med and Central Group Capital have signed a hotel‑management agreement to develop a new resort on Koh Samui, Thailand. The 303‑room property will join Club Med’s Exclusive Collection, marking the brand’s first such offering in Thailand and its second resort...
Western Australia Promotes Caravan Road Trips for Family Travel
Western Australia is marketing caravan travel as a family‑friendly option during the mid‑year school holidays, highlighting a diverse network of parks that span coastal, forest and remote areas. The itinerary flexibility lets families combine short drives near Perth with longer...
The RuMa Launches Kuala Lumpur Stay Package
The RuMa Hotel and Residences launched "The Kuala Lumpur Escape," a short‑stay package aimed at Southeast Asian travelers. It bundles a double breakfast at Atas, RM100 (≈US$21) spa credit and RM200 (≈US$42) dining credit at Santai, plus a possible room...
The Best Golf Resorts in the World
Hostal de la Gavina on Spain’s Costa Brava is debuting a Golf Concierge that arranges private tuition, driving‑range access and spa treatments, with rooms starting at €380 (≈ $418) per night. Nearby Camiral, a Quinta do Lago resort, will host the 2031...
Holland America Line Prepares for 2026 Alaska Season
Holland America Line announced its 2026 Alaska cruise season, kicking off on April 25 with Eurodam arriving in Seattle. The program features more than 100 voyages on six ships, offering itineraries from seven to 28 days, with prices starting at roughly...
Always Innovating
Airport World reports that Plaza Premium Group (PPG) is rapidly expanding its lounge network, debuting a Premium First lounge in Rome and its first U.S. PPF at Dallas‑Fort Worth, while scaling Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen to four lounges by summer. The group also opened...
New Evangelion Attraction Opens at Japan's Huis Ten Bosch Resort
Japan’s Huis Ten Bosch resort launched Evangelion The Ride 8K, an indoor attraction that projects an original Evangelion story onto an 8K dome screen with synchronized motion seats and sound effects. The ride, set against the resort’s European‑style townscape, is complemented by themed food...
Japan Injects New Life Into Fukushima with Nuclear Plant ‘Hope Tourism’
Fifteen years after the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi meltdowns, the coastal towns are welcoming tour buses as the area reopens to visitors. Officials market the trips as “hope tourism,” a form of dark tourism that emphasizes learning from tragedy rather than...
Earn and Spend Avios on Hawaiian Airlines as It Joins the Oneworld Alliance
Hawaiian Airlines officially joined the oneworld alliance after Alaska Airlines completed its 2024 acquisition, rebranding all flights with Alaska’s IATA codes. The carrier adds new Pacific stops—including Hilo, Rarotonga, Pago Pago and Papeete—to the alliance’s route map. Avios members can now...
Ontario International Airport Passenger Volumes Rose for 4th Straight Month in March While Freight Shipments Grew by 15%
Ontario International Airport (ONT) recorded 574,819 passengers in March 2026, a 2.7% year‑over‑year increase and the fourth consecutive month of growth. International travel surged 55.2% in March and 58.4% for the first quarter, lifting total Q1 passengers to 1.55 million, 4.1%...
MKE Airport Launches Asl Interpeting Service for Travelers
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) announced the launch of a free American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting service via the Aira ASL app. The on‑demand platform connects hearing‑impaired travelers with professional interpreters throughout the terminal, starting at the pre‑security area near...
Alaska Airlines Strengthens California Connectivity with Inaugural Oakland–San Diego Flights
Alaska Airlines launched four daily, year‑round nonstop flights between Oakland (OAK) and San Diego (SAN), using Embraer E175 aircraft. The inaugural service was celebrated with a ribbon‑cutting ceremony attended by Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee and airline executives. The new route...
Iran War: Jet Fuel Shortages Equal Expensive Summer Travel
The escalation of the Iran‑Israel conflict has choked the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for roughly 25% of global jet fuel, prompting airlines to slash routes and brace for higher prices this summer. Lufthansa Group announced the cancellation of 20,000...
Vail Reports Continued Decline in Visitors, Revenue This Ski Season
Vail Resorts reported a sharp drop in skier visits this season, down 14.9% year‑over‑year, with lift revenue falling 5.6% and ski‑school, dining, and retail revenues each slipping double digits. The Rockies experienced the steepest decline, a 25% plunge in visitation,...
Accor Launches ‘Profit Protection Plan’ to Counter Uncertainty
Accor announced a precautionary “profit protection plan” in March to shield its 2026 profit targets from oil‑price shocks and geopolitical uncertainty, especially in the Middle East. CFO Martine Gerow said roughly half of the cost‑containment measures focus on the UAE...
California's First DarkSky-Approved Resort Is A Breathtaking Yosemite Paradise
Under Canvas Yosemite, a new 85‑acre glamping resort on the eastern edge of Yosemite National Park, has earned California’s first Dark Sky‑approved lodging certification. The site features 71 fully furnished safari‑style tents, including “Stargazer” units with ceiling windows for unobstructed...
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Ranked: Delta Air Lines' Top 15 Long-Haul Routes [Summer 2026 Flights]
Delta Air Lines is set to operate a record 11,895 long‑haul departures in Q3 2026, a 2% increase over the previous high. The airline will average 129 daily long‑haul flights, with frequencies ranging from 124 to 132. Growth is strongest...
Bruno Reis Appointed President of Embratur as Brazil Strengthens Global Tourism Momentum
Brazil's tourism agency Embratur appointed Bruno Reis as its new president, succeeding Marcelo Freixo after a record‑breaking year for the sector. In 2025 Brazil attracted 9.3 million international visitors and generated about USD 7.9 billion in tourism revenue. Reis, a 20‑year Embratur veteran who started...
Making a Menu that Works Hard to Boost Profitability
At the Restaurant Leadership Conference, CMOs from WOWorks, Paris Baguette and Sonny’s BBQ shared menu strategies to boost profitability. They emphasized simplifying items, cross‑utilizing ingredients, and creating value through experience and speed. Limited‑time protein plates proved demand‑driven pricing works, while...
Hawaiian Airlines Entry Strengthens Oneworld’s U.S. Presence
oneworld has officially added Hawaiian Airlines as its newest member, making Honolulu a global hub and bringing the alliance’s U.S. carrier count to three alongside American and Alaska. The partnership opens new routes to Hilo, Rarotonga, Pago Pago and Papeete,...
World Cup Travelers Got a Warning About Trump’s Policies. That’s Bad for Business.
More than 120 civil‑rights and soccer supporter groups have issued a travel advisory warning World Cup visitors about heightened risks under the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. The advisory lists threats such as arbitrary denial of entry, invasive device searches, and...
Asian Airlines Capture Demand as Iran Conflict Reroutes Travel
The Iran‑Israel conflict forced Gulf hubs to shut, prompting Asian and Australian airlines to capture displaced long‑haul traffic. Singapore Airlines boosted its London service to six daily flights, while Korean Air and Qantas shifted capacity toward Europe, reporting strong yields...
American and Alaska Airlines Flirt With a Bigger Tie-Up
American Airlines and Alaska Air are in advanced talks about a strategic partnership that could evolve into a full merger, potentially creating the nation’s third‑largest carrier. The combined entity would integrate Alaska’s strong West Coast presence with American’s extensive domestic...
Scandic Hotels Group Moves Closer to Dalata Deal as Leadership Overhaul Begins
Scandic Hotels Group, which has been managing Dalata’s portfolio since November, announced that Dalata’s CEO Dermot Crowley and his deputy will step down later this year as part of a post‑acquisition restructuring. Dalata was bought for €1.4 billion (approximately $1.5 billion) by...
How Women-Led Travel Experiences Are Changing The Way People See A Destination
Women are increasingly shaping tourism by leading tours, workshops, and hospitality ventures that connect travelers directly with local culture. The UN reports women make up 56% of the hospitality workforce and view tourism as a key avenue for economic empowerment....
The Hidden Hazard in Commercial Kitchens: Why Floor Safety Can’t Be Ignored
Commercial kitchens face a hidden safety threat: the flooring. Slip‑resistant surfaces like Altro Stronghold 30 protect staff from grease‑laden slips, reduce injury liability, and improve comfort during long shifts. Operators often overlook floor design, drainage, and transitions, focusing instead on equipment...
Times Square’s Distrikt Hotel up for Sale After Foreclosure Auction
Rialto Capital Advisors is marketing the 155‑key Distrikt Hotel at 342 West 40th Street for sale, targeting a buyer by the end of Q3. The property was acquired by U.S. Bank for a nominal $100 after a 2021 foreclosure triggered...
Rethinking Fast-Casual Growth in the Age of Instant Gratification
Fast‑casual chains are abandoning the old playbook of prime foot‑traffic locations and sprawling menus in favor of speed, digital convenience, and consumer‑first real‑estate. Edible Brands illustrates the shift by integrating order‑ahead tech, simplifying operations, and expanding into nontraditional sites such...
Buy Marriott Bonvoy Points for as Little as 0.89¢ Each With This New Up-To-40% Bonus Promotion
Marriott Bonvoy launched a points‑purchase promotion offering up to a 40 % bonus on buys of 2,000 points or more, reducing the effective cost to about 0.89 ¢ per point. The offer runs until 11:59 p.m. EST on June 23 2026 and sits atop a 150,000‑point...
Inside New Orleans’ Event-Driven Economy – Placer.ai Blog
New Orleans leverages a year‑round calendar of large‑scale events, making the downtown core a magnet for domestic tourists, with 64.6% of weekend visitors traveling more than 250 miles. Mardi Gras remains the flagship, attracting a growing share of in‑state guests—54.2% during the final...