Hotels News and Headlines
Hotels News and Headlines
Hotels Pulse
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Every morning
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Haitang Bay in Sanya is expanding beyond its Russian visitor base by leveraging Hainan’s visa‑free policy, new air routes and cruise links, and a growing wellness‑tourism ecosystem. The district is integrating medical facilities such as CSPC Medical Park with luxury resorts, offering multilingual services and concierge‑style health packages. Target markets now include Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe, with tailored digital campaigns promoting the "winter sun + wellness" formula. Partnerships with travel agencies and Boao Hope City aim to create a seamless transport‑health booking platform for long‑stay wellness communities.
Motorhome tourism, once synonymous with the United States, is becoming a truly global phenomenon. While the U.S. still boasts iconic routes like Yellowstone and the Pacific Coast Highway, stricter visa policies and shifting perceptions are dampening foreign RV arrivals. Australia,...
Cape Town is expanding with the Granger Bay mixed‑use development reshaping the V&A Waterfront. New luxury options include Atzaró’s six‑suite boutique retreat and the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, which houses over 500 works. Visitors can experience authentic cuisine...
Swedish airport operator Swedavia reported that March 2026 saw close to 2.6 million passengers across its ten airports, marking a 5 % increase over the same month a year earlier. Both international and domestic travel contributed to the rise, with international traffic...
Best Western Plus Hotel Subic announced a P600‑million (≈$10.8 million USD) expansion to add a new building. The project will add 120 rooms, commercial spaces, a three‑floor parking garage, restaurants and parks, extending the existing five‑storey, 94‑room property. Construction is slated...
Literary‑themed travel is booming, with Pinterest searches for book‑retreat ideas soaring 265% and 32% of travelers choosing destinations cited in novels. Skyscanner reports 78% of travelers have booked or would consider a literature‑inspired trip, while its hotel “library” filter usage...
Premier Inn Middle East has launched dog‑friendly stays at its Dubai Al Jaddaf and Silicon Oasis hotels, allowing guests to bring dogs up to 15 kg for an additional AED 50 (~$13.5) per night. Each dedicated floor features pet‑specific amenities, a Doggy Welcome Pack, and...
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has launched six new immersive "Special Happens…" experiences across its global portfolio, organized into four themes: After Dark, In the Wild, Around the Table, and In the Spotlight. The offerings include a Great Wall helicopter tour...
Pixie Honeymoons has been reaffirmed as one of the United States’ top Sandals travel agencies, earning the Sandals Resorts Chairman’s Royal Club Platinum Elite status and the Executive Preferred Agency designation. These are the highest accolades Sandals offers to its...
Vietnam’s Sono Hotels & Resorts Asia has inked a management agreement with Binh Minh Urban Construction Investment to develop Sono Belle Hanoi Old Quarter, its first city‑hotel in the capital. The 56‑room, nature‑led urban lifestyle property is slated to open...
Airport retail theft is escalating as travel retail rebounds, with organized crime groups targeting high‑value items and generating annual shrink of $330,000‑$660,000 at major hubs. The offenses follow a coordinated “fly‑in, operate, fly‑out” model that exploits open‑plan terminals and rapid...
Virgin Atlantic has eliminated the carrier surcharge that previously lowered taxes and fees for its Saver reward tickets on UK‑origin flights. As a result, a round‑trip Upper Class Saver now costs an extra £400 (about $520) in taxes and charges...
In a guest column, Ethiopian Airlines’ Group VP of Customer Experience argues that the airline’s competitive edge now lies in delivering a seamless, end‑to‑end passenger journey rather than merely expanding fleet size or routes. He outlines how Ethiopian maps every...
Airlines are urged to adopt embedded payment systems that let passengers order and pay for onboard items directly from their devices, eliminating the need for crew‑mediated transactions. The column argues that friction—having to flag down crew, handle cards, or wait...
Restaurant HVAC is shifting from a basic utility to a strategic profit lever, especially in dense markets like New York City. Operators face volatile food and labor costs, making energy spend one of the few controllable line items. Expert Mike...
Radisson Rewards is offering a limited‑time bonus of 10,000 points—roughly US$19 in cash value—for prepaid stays at select UK hotels, with bookings due by April 14 and stays by May 18. Italian carrier ITA Airways officially joined the Star Alliance,...
Premium economy seats add five to seven inches of legroom and two to three inches of extra recline compared with standard economy, while offering wider cushions and upgraded amenities. Major U.S. carriers—Delta, American, and United—bundle these physical upgrades with perks...
Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has named Eric Pateman as Senior Vice President for North America, covering Canada, the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. Pateman arrives from Vancouver International Airport, where he served as Chief Experience Officer and helped the...
AirBaltic posted record revenue for 2025, yet recorded its sixth net loss in seven years, though the deficit narrowed versus 2024. The Latvian carrier operates a fleet of 53 Airbus A220‑300 aircraft, focusing on Baltic connectivity and expanding an ACMI...
The airline sector is confronting a new normal of relentless uncertainty, driven by escalating Middle East tensions that close airspace and extend flight routes, while volatile fuel prices squeeze already thin margins. Executives are shifting from reactive recovery tactics to...
Virgin Voyages has deployed its adult‑only ship Brilliant Lady to Los Angeles, marking the brand’s first West Coast homeport. The vessel arrived on April 6 after a 16‑day Panama Canal transit from Miami and will launch a wellness‑focused itinerary series. New onboard concepts...
US charter broker IsraJets announced the launch of its own air‑operator subsidiary, IsraFly, leveraging the FAA Part 135 certificate previously held by Crow Executive Air. The new carrier will initially operate a single 2006 Hawker 800XPi (N870TX) configured for nine passengers and...
Marriott Bonvoy and Ethiopian Airlines announced a new loyalty partnership that lets members earn and redeem points on flights to more than 60 African destinations. The program launches in June 2026 and includes a limited‑time offer of 10,000 bonus points...
The Port Authority and JFKIAT have selected JFK T4 Retail Partners LLC, a joint venture of global travel retailer ARI, Queens‑based International Shoppes, and five New York small businesses, to redesign and operate the duty‑free and specialty retail concessions in...
Luxury hotel chains are broadening their portfolios beyond traditional rooms, moving into aviation, rail and cruise experiences to capture affluent travelers. U.S. hotel performance rebounded in February and late March, led by San Francisco’s event‑driven occupancy and ADR gains, while New Orleans...
The Hampton Inn & Suites Selma‑San Antonio‑Randolph AFB has been placed on the market. The 150‑room limited‑service hotel, located off I‑35 near Randolph Air Force Base and The Forum at Olympia Parkway, completed a full 2024‑2025 renovation, leaving it with minimal near‑term capital needs. Ongoing...
Restaurants face a tightening labor market and immigration constraints, prompting many to consider applicants with criminal histories. Over 150 U.S. cities and counties now enforce Fair Chance or Ban‑the‑Box ordinances that limit blanket exclusions. The Department of Labor has allocated...
Radisson Hotel Group announced it now operates or has under development more than 100 hotels across Africa, marking a key milestone in its 2030 growth plan. In the past 12 months the brand signed over 15 new hotels, adding roughly...
Synect announced EventReady™, a modular airport‑wide passenger engagement platform designed to handle surges from upcoming mega‑events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. The solution overlays custom branding, multilingual wayfinding, AI‑driven assistance, and dynamic data feeds...
Sofitel London St James has finished a multi‑phase overhaul of its six signature suites, unveiling the new Suite 70 and the Opera Suite. The redesign was executed by Paris‑based interior‑architecture studio Pierre‑Yves Rochon, featuring bespoke furniture, custom textiles, and curated 1970s‑inspired art....
Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has appointed Eric Pateman as senior vice president for North America. Pateman previously served as chief experience officer at Vancouver International Airport and has advised governments, cities, and Fortune 500 companies while running several businesses. His blend...
Carnival Cruise Line’s private island Celebration Key in Grand Bahama has earned KultureCity’s sensory inclusion certification, becoming the first cruise destination worldwide to meet the nonprofit’s standards. The achievement caps a six‑year partnership that has equipped more than 400 team...
Travel company Trafalgar has launched a 60% discount Travel Advisor Rate for select 2026 European river cruise sailings. Advisors who complete Trafalgar’s Masterclass eLearning can book up to two cabins on the Best of the Rhine & Amsterdam and Best...
A new national survey of 633 U.S. hospitality leaders reveals an "inclusion paradox": most managers believe hiring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) improves reliability and culture, yet actual hiring remains low. The Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s pilot training...
1 Hotel Tokyo, the first 1 Hotels property in Japan, opened in the Akasaka Trust Tower offering 211 rooms and panoramic city views. The luxury resort showcases biophilic design, reclaimed materials, and extensive greenery, reflecting both the brand’s nature‑led ethos...
Destinations International unveiled its 2026 cohorts for the 30 Under 30 and Rising Industry Professionals programs, recognizing 30 emerging tourism leaders and four rising staff members from member and partner organizations. The year‑long initiatives, backed by the DI Foundation and...
Airport concession CEOs convened at the 2026 Airport Experience Conference to flag mounting labor costs, aggressive union demands, and the limits of passing wage hikes to passengers. They highlighted the rise of AI and technology as partial mitigants, but noted...
Holland America Line has launched a month‑long Anniversary Sale to celebrate its 153rd year, running from April 2 to April 30, 2026. The promotion offers up to $400 in onboard credit per stateroom for sailings departing now through spring 2027, covering itineraries from four...
Dublin City Council has approved a planning application by Tom Cleary’s Chambers Properties Ltd for a new 43‑room hotel on Dame Street, part of the historic Temple Bar district. The revised scheme trims the original 47‑room proposal and redesigns the fifth‑floor addition...
Starwood Hotels has promoted Shadi Omeish to senior vice president of operations for the Americas, overseeing its 17‑property portfolio that includes 1 Hotels, Baccarat, and Treehouse brands. Omeish, who joined Starwood in 2016, brings nearly 30 years of experience from Four...
Not Just Travel reported a 16% year‑on‑year rise in cruise bookings for March 2026, despite a volatile market shaped by Middle‑East conflict. More than 750 independent consultants drove the growth, with half of the top 20 consultants posting over 20%...
McDonald’s will roll out an Under $3 Menu on April 21, adding at least ten low‑priced items across breakfast, lunch and dinner, alongside a $4 Breakfast Meal Deal. The new McValue offerings follow a 2024 $5 Meal Deal and aim to reverse...
Scott Miller, former global director at AvroKO and North America director for 1508, has founded Ensemble, a hospitality design and strategy studio that blends guest‑experience insight with operational expertise. The firm offers end‑to‑end services for luxury hotels, restaurants and wellness...
Gold Medal has unveiled its 2026/27 Caribbean and Mexico portfolio, supported by a month‑long marketing push and a dedicated online hub. The campaign features a 116‑page brochure, ready‑to‑use assets and 21 specially selected holidays from regional UK airports. Agents who...
Hyatt Hotels Corporation has launched the Hyatt Regency Niagara Falls Fallsview, marking the brand's first property in the Niagara Falls region. The 42‑floor tower houses 611 rooms and suites, each delivering unobstructed views of the Horseshoe and American Falls. Guests...
Jet2.com has begun applying AkzoNobel’s lightweight aircraft paint to more than 80 of its planes, delivering a weight reduction of over 20 kg per aircraft. The paint saves roughly a quarter‑million litres of fuel each year, cutting carbon emissions by more...
Actabl has introduced AI Asset Setup, an add‑on to its Transcendent hotel asset management platform that automates the collection and structuring of asset data using photo‑based input. The tool extracts details such as equipment type and serial numbers, eliminating the...
hihotels by Hospitality International has launched The Legacy Circle, a prestige program honoring franchise partners with up to 40 years of affiliation. The brand touts a 97% overall franchisee retention rate, far exceeding typical industry levels. The program offers custom...
Sandals Resorts has launched the Louis Grant Conference Centre at its Dunn’s River property in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The state‑of‑the‑art facility spans 8,000 square feet and can host up to 500 delegates, with a flexible main hall of 5,396 square...
Michael Bellisario of Baird says the lodging REIT outlook for 2026 is positive but muted after a difficult 2025. He expects the FIFA World Cup to lift REVPAR by at least 75 basis points, providing a modest revenue tailwind. Wealthy...
