A Moment to Purr: Giant Interactive Cat Appears at Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport has kicked off its Easter celebrations with "Moment to Purr," a giant interactive cat displayed in Arrivals Hall A. Travelers can engage the digital pet via a touchscreen kiosk that feeds and responds in real time. The installation will remain on site until 2 May 2026 and is part of a suite of seasonal events, including live music and a bunny‑themed dance performance. The cat’s playful presence aims to enhance passenger experience during the busy holiday period.
Germany's Eurowings Takes Off From Gatwick Airport
Germany's Eurowings, a Lufthansa Group carrier, launched two new Gatwick routes this summer, offering 13 weekly flights to Cologne and six weekly flights to Stuttgart. The services, operating from Gatwick’s North Terminal, mark Eurowings’ first UK connection to Cologne and...
Buffet Breakfasts Could Be Less Wasteful
A new computer model reveals that hotel buffet breakfasts generate up to twice the food waste of à la carte service. The study quantifies the excess waste and identifies counterintuitive strategies—such as smaller plate sizes and dynamic replenishment—to cut losses....
Curator Hotel & Resort Collection Partners with EHVA.ai
Curator Hotel & Resort Collection has entered a Preferred Vendor partnership with conversational‑AI firm EHVA.ai, giving its independent‑hotel members access to 24/7 front‑desk automation at exclusive pricing. The AI platform will field guest calls, manage spa and future restaurant reservations,...
Report: Hospitality Tech Startups Raised More than $1B in the Last Year
Hospitality tech startups raised over $1 billion across 40 companies between April 2025 and March 2026, with property‑management systems (PMS) and AI‑driven platforms attracting the most capital. A three‑month surge from December 2025 to February 2026 produced three mega‑raises—Mews’s $300 million round, Kindred’s $125 million dual rounds,...
Emerald Cruises Launches Emerald Kaia From Cyprus
Emerald Cruises inaugurated its 128‑guest superyacht Emerald Kaia from Limassol, Cyprus, on an 11‑day Mediterranean debut that visited Rhodes, Kos, Spetses and Athens. A prior shakedown gave travel agents a full tour of the ship’s amenities, including the Night Market...
Hotels Go All-In on Pet-Friendly Perks
Hotels are expanding pet-friendly offerings beyond basic accommodations, turning stays into experiential programs for dogs and cats. In Manhattan, Kimpton Hotel Eventi now hosts full‑service dog weddings, while The Muse New York offers a Pampered Pet Package with in‑room pet...
Hotel Solaya Debuts in Old Town Scottsdale
Hotel Solaya opened in Old Town Scottsdale as part of Hyatt’s new JdV by Hyatt brand, with Dreamscape Hospitality handling management. The boutique property features 194 newly redesigned rooms and suites, a modern Mexican aesthetic, art‑filled public areas, a spa,...
GoTo Foods Appoints Chief Digital and Development Officers
GoTo Foods appointed Biplav Misra as its first chief digital officer and Tatiana Lambert as chief development officer, expanding a leadership overhaul that began with CEO Omer Gajial earlier this year. The hires are designed to accelerate disciplined growth, improve...
Will the 2026 World Cup Bring Tourists Back to the U.S.?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, featuring a record 48 teams, will be co‑hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Organizers hope the tournament will draw millions of international fans, but rising ticket prices, proposed social‑media border checks and lingering...
Atrium Hospitality Hosts 2026 SPIRIT Leadership Conference
Atrium Hospitality convened nearly 400 senior leaders at the Embassy Suites in Rogers, Arkansas for its 2026 SPIRIT Leadership Conference. The multi‑day event celebrated 2025 achievements, reinforced the company’s Service‑Perseverance‑Inclusion‑Respect‑Innovation‑Teamwork values, and featured a keynote on "The Human Edge" by...
Hot Off The Press – April 2026
Hotel Business’s April 2026 issue spotlights MXR Hospitality on the cover, examines the rapid expansion of ECHO Suites Extended Stay by Wyndham, and features a Q&A with White Lodging’s Conner White. Additional articles explore the role of data in hotel...
Corinthia Hotels Expands Italian Portfolio with New Tuscan Resort
Corinthia Hotels announced the development of Corinthia Borgo di Perolla, a new luxury resort in the Tuscan countryside, in partnership with entrepreneur Gaetano Buglisi and his BGenera Group. The resort, set within the 13th‑century Perolla Estate, will feature 80 guest...
Toast Launches Integrated Drive-Thru Platform for Quick-Service Restaurant Chains
Toast introduced Toast Drive‑Thru, an integrated platform that unifies point‑of‑sale, digital menu boards, kitchen display and AI voice‑ordering for quick‑service restaurants. Targeting over 140,000 U.S. drive‑thru lanes, the solution streamlines order capture and reduces hardware fragmentation. Early adopters report faster...
Stripes Beauty Partners With Canyon Ranch to Launch Menopause-Focused Spa Treatments
Stripes Beauty, the menopause‑focused wellness brand founded by Naomi Watts, has partnered with luxury spa operator Canyon Ranch to launch a suite of spa treatments aimed at mid‑life women. The initial rollout will appear at Canyon Ranch’s Tucson, Arizona and...
SpotOn’s Rapid Fund Debuts and Other Digital Transactions News Briefs From 4/14/26
SpotOn Transact rolled out Rapid Fund, a service that makes card deposits available within 30 minutes and teamed with Parafin to launch SpotOn Capital, giving restaurants faster cash‑flow tools. BlueSnap completed a deep integration with SAP Cloud ERP and S/4HANA,...
Just You Puts Five New Tours on Sale
Just You launched five new escorted tours on April 14, adding to its specialist solo‑travel brochure. The lineup includes three Max 20 tours—Andalucia, Secret Sicily and a 21‑day Silk Road adventure—priced from roughly $3,580 per person, plus a Scandinavia classic at...
People 'Holding Back' On Booking Holidays Amid Rising Costs
Blackpool’s holiday market is feeling the pinch of the UK cost‑of‑living squeeze, prompting many travellers to delay bookings or hunt for last‑minute deals. Hotel operators such as the Fossil Tree and seasoned hoteliers report mixed demand, with some offering payday‑weekend...
Korean Air’s Record Quarter Signals Broader Shift in Global Aviation Amid Crisis and Changing Travel Patterns
Korean Air posted a record first‑quarter revenue of about $3.5 billion and operating profit of $398 million, a 14% year‑on‑year increase driven by strong passenger and cargo demand. Growth was especially pronounced on Europe‑Asia and transfer routes, benefitting from a broader resurgence...
Slice Factory Launches Wood-Fired Mexican Street Concept Leñasada
Slice Factory, the Chicago pizza franchise, launched Leñasada, a wood‑fired Mexican street‑food concept, inside its 8800 Grand Ave location. The 2,200‑sq‑ft co‑branded space offers tacos, burritos, quesadillas and bowls featuring wood‑fired proteins such as asada, chicken, al pastor and shrimp....
Rosanna Caira Honoured with HSMAI Ontario’s Industry Icon Award
The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Ontario will host its second‑annual Hospitality Tribute Gala on April 29 at Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York. The event’s top honor, the Industry Icon Award, will be presented to Rosanna Caira, editor‑publisher of...
Operto Launches GEO Consultant
Operto has introduced the GEO Consultant, a free AI visibility tool that lets hotels see how they appear in generative‑AI travel recommendations. By entering a website and chosen prompts, hotels receive a visibility scan, GEO score and specific recommendations within...
CA Update: Minimum Wage Increases for Hotel Employees
California’s major hospitality markets are set to raise minimum wages for hotel staff starting July 1, 2026. Long Beach will climb to $29.50 per hour by 2028, while Los Angeles adds an $8.15 hourly health benefit, pushing total compensation to...
Jet2holidays Expands Eurocamp Offering with Mainland Spain Parks
Jet2holidays is extending its Eurocamp portfolio for the summer 2026 season to include mainland Spain, adding the popular Costa Brava region. The move brings the UK’s largest tour operator’s Eurocamp offering to 54 parks across Spain, France, Italy and Croatia....
Which Airports Offer U.S. Preclearance at Departure?
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s preclearance program now operates at 16 airports worldwide, covering Canada, Ireland, the Caribbean and the United Arab Emirates. The latest addition is Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which opened its facility on March 10 2026. Passengers completing...
A&o Secures £761m Refinancing to Pave Way for Ambitious Growth Plans
European hostel operator a&o Hostels has secured a €874 million (≈ $952 million) refinancing facility from Apollo‑managed funds, replacing its prior loan. The new senior multi‑year loan is collateralised by its portfolio of 44 hostels in 32 cities and funds the second €500 million...
Miami Mogul David Grutman on Turning Hospitality Into a Cultural Empire
David Grutman, founder of Groot Hospitality, has turned Miami’s nightlife into a cultural empire, overseeing iconic venues such as LIV, Komodo and Papi Steak. He credits a personal brand built on social‑media storytelling and authentic relationships for scaling his businesses....
TRAVEL & TOURISM SEES BEST YEAR EVER AND EMERGES AS THE WORLD’S FASTEST GROWING SECTOR
Travel & Tourism posted its strongest year on record in 2025, delivering a $11.6 trillion contribution to global GDP, or 9.8% of the world economy. The sector’s 4.1% growth outpaced overall economic expansion by nearly 50%, and it supported 366 million jobs,...
Beyond Aero Selects Luxaviation as Launch Operator for Hydrogen-Electric Aircraft
Beyond Aero, a French hydrogen‑electric aircraft developer, has named Luxaviation Group as the launch operator for its six‑passenger business jet. The partnership will shape mission profiles, assess airport hydrogen infrastructure, and develop safety procedures as the aircraft moves toward certification....
Who Owns Travel in 2046? Artificial Intelligence, Trust and Power Redraw the Map
At Phocuswright’s inaugural Leadership Exchange in Berlin, senior travel executives explored how artificial intelligence will reshape the industry by 2046. Participants agreed AI will cut friction but also redistribute power, making trust the most valuable asset and shifting value from...
Morris Tiedemann Named General Manager of AYANA Midplaza Jakarta
AYANA Hospitality announced Morris Tiedemann as the new General Manager of AYANA Midplaza Jakarta. Tiedemann arrives with nearly three decades of leadership experience across Europe, the Middle East and China, including senior roles at IHG, Wyndham and Rosewood. He will...
Jet Aviation Completes First Installation of In-House IFE and Cabin Management System
Jet Aviation has installed its first in‑house developed in‑flight entertainment and cabin management system, branded IFX, on a customer narrow‑body aircraft during a refurbishment at its Basel, Switzerland centre. The platform, built on certified hardware, offers a fully customizable interface...
“Bed Bug-Safe” Becomes a Bookable Hotel Attribute as Valpas Certification Goes Live on Select Green
Valpas and Select Green Hotels have integrated the globally recognised Valpas bed‑bug‑safe certification into the Select Green booking platform, making “bed‑bug‑safe” a searchable attribute. Travelers can now see which hotels meet the pesticide‑free, non‑toxic room standard before reserving. The move expands the...
LetsFly Unveils New Brand Strategy to Build a One-Stop Distribution Infrastructure for the Global Travel Ecosystem
Letsfly announced a new brand strategy on its 12th anniversary, positioning itself as a one‑stop distribution infrastructure for the global travel ecosystem. The company consolidated its two flagship solutions, AeroHub for air and HiBeds for hotels, under a unified brand...
Munich Airport Officially Opens New Terminal 1 Expansion
Munich Airport inaugurated a new 95,000‑square‑metre pier in Terminal 1, attended by Bavarian and federal officials. The privately funded expansion adds capacity for up to six million extra passengers annually and can accommodate twelve short‑ and medium‑haul aircraft or six wide‑body jets...
ATM Reassures Exhibitors After 2026 Rescheduling
Arabian Travel Market (ATM) has moved its 2026 edition from early May to mid‑August, keeping the Dubai World Trade Centre as its venue. Organiser RX, led by exhibition director Danielle Curtis, is actively reassuring exhibitors, emphasizing continuous communication and support....
AndBeyond Launches Two New Under Canvas Camps in Botswana
South African luxury travel operator andBeyond has opened two new Under Canvas camps—Sandibe and Nxabega—in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. The camps, each with three upscale tents for up to six guests, complete a seven‑night circuit that also includes the refurbished Chobe...
Record 2025 for Global Airports — But Is 2026 Already at Risk?
Global aviation posted a record 2025, with 9.8 billion passengers—3.6 % higher than 2024 and 7.3 % above pre‑pandemic levels. Atlanta, Dubai and Tokyo Haneda led traffic, together handling over 300 million travelers, while the top ten airports accounted for 9 % of worldwide passenger...
Mondrian Lounge to Open at Gold Coast Aviation Terminal
Platinum Business Aviation Centre has teamed up with luxury hotel brand Mondrian Gold Coast to open the Mondrian Lounge at its private aviation terminal in Gold Coast Airport. The lounge will serve private‑jet passengers, crew and charter guests with hotel‑grade...
IHG Inks Agreement for Holiday Inn Hotel in Goa
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a management agreement with Indian developer NCPL to build a 100‑room Holiday Inn in Panaji, Goa, slated for opening in the first quarter of 2030. The hotel will sit in the Kadamba district, near key...
New Tank-to-Tap Brewery to Open at Resorts World Sentosa
Burnt Ends Hospitality Group will open People People Brewing Co. at Resorts World Sentosa on April 15, 2026. The 836 m² venue combines a working brewery, kitchen and social space, serving beer fresh from tank to tap. Five 1,500‑litre tanks will...
Legoland Malaysia Brings Back Underwater Dining Experience
Legoland Malaysia Resort has revived its Sea Life Underwater Dining Experience, offering a four‑course menu inside the aquarium. Guests can choose from premium meat entrees and a tropical coconut panna cotta dessert while surrounded by marine exhibits. The venue features...
Omio Launches in ChatGPT, Bringing Its Real-Time Multimodal Travel Search to 900 Million Users
Omio, the leading multimodal travel platform, has launched a ChatGPT app that lets users search and book journeys in real time through conversational AI. The integration taps into ChatGPT’s 900 million weekly users, exposing Omio’s network of over 3,000 transport partners...
Say “I Do” On the Water: Destination Weddings with Bhaya Cruises in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam.
Bhaya Cruises has launched a suite of destination‑wedding offerings on Vietnam’s UNESCO‑listed Ha Long Bay, including the ultra‑luxury Bhaya Soul, the larger‑capacity Au Co, and the private‑charter Bhaya Legend. Each vessel provides bespoke, all‑inclusive packages that cover venues, catering, décor, photography and dedicated...
Conrad Bengaluru Names New Hotel Manager
Conrad Bengaluru has named Aagman Baury as its new hotel manager. Baury previously served as general manager of The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel in Delhi, where he drove operational performance and refined market positioning. In his new role he will oversee all...
Cosmos Unveils New Brand Campaign ‘TRAVEL DEALS YOU CAN TRUST’ via Town Square
Cosmos, a 65‑year‑old value tour operator, has launched a new brand campaign titled “Travel Deals You Can Trust” across Australia and New Zealand. Developed with Melbourne‑based agency Town Square, the campaign spotlights low‑cost, no‑frills tours that deliver reliable, experience‑rich travel. It...
Europe’s Big Three Legacy Airline Groups: Capex Cycle Remains on a Plateau
European legacy carriers Lufthansa Group, IAG and Air France‑KLM are entering 2026 with modest capex adjustments. IAG and Lufthansa plan slightly higher net spending than 2025, while Air France‑KLM trims its budget. In aggregate the three groups will reach a...
Significant Flight Additions at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport for Derby 152
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is adding 24 new routes and six nonstop markets to handle the surge of visitors for the 152nd Kentucky Derby. American Airlines leads the expansion with 13 new markets, while Delta, Southwest, Spirit and United...
The Getaway That Asks You to Stay Still: The Global Rise of Yoga Travel
Yoga travel has evolved from niche ashram pilgrimages into a global industry that offers everything from modest Indian retreats to five‑star resorts in Greece. Travelers are drawn to the promise of a structured, low‑stimulus escape that replaces itineraries with breath...
LVMH’s Bumpy Quarter: What War Impact Signals About Luxury Travel
LVMH reported a 6% drop in first‑quarter sales, falling to €19.1 billion (about $20.8 billion). The decline was driven largely by the Middle East conflict, which slashed tourist spending in the region by 30‑70% and erased roughly one percentage point of organic...