Radisson Hotel Group Leads in European Upper-Upscale and Resorts Segments, While Building Momentum Into 2026
Radisson Hotel Group closed 2025 with more than 272 new hotel signings and openings, anchored by a surge in China (170 properties) and a milestone of 200 hotels in India. The group retained Radisson Blu as Europe’s largest upper‑upscale brand and led the continent’s resort segment, adding high‑profile partnerships such as the Manchester City Etihad Stadium hotel. It also launched the industry’s first two Verified Net‑Zero hotels in Manchester and Oslo, underscoring its sustainability push. Executives say the momentum positions the group for resilient growth through 2026 and beyond.
Canada Hotels Report Performance Gains in February
Canada’s hotel sector posted a second straight month of year‑over‑year gains in February 2026, with overall occupancy edging up to 57.9% (+0.2%) and average daily rate climbing 4% to CAD 197.05 (≈ $146). Revenue per available room rose 4.2% to CAD 114.18 (≈ $85)....
Lighthouse Named to Fast Company's Annual List of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2026
Lighthouse, the AI‑driven commercial platform for hospitality, has been named to Fast Company’s 2026 World’s Most Innovative Companies list, joining 720 honorees across 59 sectors. The company recently unveiled The Hotels Network app, the first direct‑booking solution for hotels inside...
Expanding Route Network at Frankfurt-Hahn Airport
Frankfurt‑Hahn Airport is expanding its summer schedule with three new destinations—Rabat, Timișoara and Tuzla—bringing the total to 38 routes and up to 130 weekly movements. Ryanair will launch twice‑weekly service to Morocco’s capital on April 1, while Wizz Air adds twice‑weekly flights...
Airfield Upgrade Enhances Safety and Capabilities of Wellington Airport
Wellington Airport in New Zealand has installed an engineered materials arresting system (EMAS) at both runway ends, adding a safety net for aircraft overruns. The new EMAS beds, each 55 × 90 m and made of over 3,000 U.S.-manufactured blocks, effectively extend the usable...
Protect Group Targets $10 Billion USD in Protected Bookings
Protect Group announced a $10 billion USD booking‑protection target for 2026, a 25 percent rise from the $8 billion it safeguarded previously. The ambition reflects surging demand for flexible travel solutions amid disruptions such as the Middle East conflict. Growth is driven by...
OKUPA BRINGS A NEW GENERATION OF URBAN HOSPITALITY TO THE GREEK CAPITAL
Okupa, a 32‑room boutique hotel in Athens’ Psiri district, celebrates its first anniversary by positioning itself as a next‑generation urban hospitality hub. Housed in a renovated industrial warehouse with visible archaeological remains, the property blends design, gastronomy, music and community...
Luxury Group by Marriott International Unveils “Art of Arrival,”
Marriott International’s Luxury Group has launched “Art of Arrival,” an artist‑residency program featuring emerging Chinese creator Chen Zuo. The inaugural residency at The Ritz‑Carlton Suzhou produced a new commission that will debut during Hong Kong Art Month, then travel to Art Basel...
Sojern Names New President and GM of Global Destinations
Sojern, the AI‑driven travel marketing platform, has named Sylvia Weiler as president and general manager of its global destinations division. Weiler returns after a stint as chief revenue officer at Zartico and senior roles at Tripadvisor and Airbnb, where she helped...
CHTA AND TRIPTEASE TO HOST SECOND ANNUAL DIRECT BOOKING SUMMIT CARIBBEAN IN ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and Triptease will host the second Direct Booking Summit Caribbean on May 15, 2026 at Sandals Grande Antigua, following the Caribbean Travel Marketplace. The event aims to equip hoteliers with revenue‑focused strategies to increase...
MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy Unveils ‘Best of Both Worlds’ Moments Series
Marriott Bonvoy and MGM Collection have unveiled a new "Best of Both Worlds" Moments series that pairs iconic Las Vegas properties with luxury Marriott hotels worldwide. The five curated packages, ranging from 100,000 to 150,000 points, blend entertainment, fine dining,...
Dusit Hotels and Resorts Joins GSTC in Support of Sustainable Hospitality Worldwide
Dusit Hotels and Resorts, the management arm of Dusit International, has become a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), reinforcing its commitment to responsible tourism. The move aligns with the company’s Tree of Life sustainability programme, which targets...
4th Edition of the Istanbul Tourism Fair Will Take Place on September 24-25 2026
The 4th Istanbul Tourism Fair is scheduled for September 24‑25, 2026 at the Yenikapı Eurasia Show and Art Center. The event will occupy 10,000 m², host more than 345 companies and attract over 17,000 tourism professionals. An international buyer program and...
Il Salviatino Appoints New General Manager, Joao Mendes De Almeida
Il Salviatino has appointed João Mendes de Almeida as General Manager and Stephanie Loison as Director of Operations, bringing luxury hotel expertise from Four Seasons and other high‑end properties. The duo will lead the historic Florentine villa as it expands...
Service with Soul: Is This Dubai’s Most Community-Led Property?
Dubai’s newest residential development, dubbed the "Service with Soul" project, positions itself as the emirate’s most community‑led property. The mixed‑use complex blends co‑living apartments, shared workspaces, and curated social programs, targeting young professionals and expatriates. Early pre‑sales indicate 85% occupancy...
With Incentive Travel, ‘More With Less’ Is Unsustainable
Rising ticket prices for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and upcoming FIFA World Cup illustrate a broader inflationary squeeze on consumer and corporate travel. A 2026 Incentive Research Foundation report finds incentive travel budgets are being trimmed, with firms opting for...
BWH Hotels Sets Sights on Asia-Pacific as Engine for Global Growth
BWH Hotels announced a major push into the Asia‑Pacific region, positioning it as the primary engine for reaching its 5,000‑property goal. The company highlighted strong pipelines in India (36 open, 25 pending) and growing footprints in Vietnam, the Philippines, Australia,...
MITE 2026 to Showcase New and Expanded Tourism Zones
The 14th Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo (MITE 2026) runs April 10‑12, introducing a Culture and Creativity Hub aimed at Gen Z travelers and expanding medical tourism with the debut of the Macao Medical Center of Peking Union Medical College...
IHG Brings InterContinental Brand Back to Manila After 15 Years
IHG Hotels & Resorts announced a partnership to open a 212‑room InterContinental hotel in Manila’s Bonifacio Global City, slated for 2032. The development marks the brand’s return to the Philippine capital after a 15‑year absence. The property will feature multiple...
Choice Hotels’ Ascend Collection Reaches 500 Properties with Further Openings Planned
Choice Hotels International announced that its Ascend Collection has reached 500 properties, marking a milestone for the upscale soft‑brand portfolio. Recent U.S. openings include The Harrison Hotel in Florida and The Gould Hotel in New York, while a pipeline of...
UK Joins Australia, USA, Germany, France, Japan, Brazil, and South Korea Tourists Driving Airline Bookings on Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific...
Thailand has secured a five‑year deal to host Tomorrowland and Electric Daisy Carnival, turning the country into a premier EDM destination. Tourists from the UK, USA, Australia, Germany, France, Japan, Brazil and South Korea are already driving a surge in...
IndiGo, Akasa Air, Air India Express to Revolutionise Travel From USA, UK & UAE as Jewar International Airport Opens –...
Jewar International Airport, opening on March 28, 2026 near Greater Noida, will relieve chronic congestion at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. IndiGo, Akasa Air and Air India Express will launch extensive domestic and nascent international services, linking the USA, UK...
Prism’s Motel 6 Bet: Ritesh Agarwal’s IPO Setup and the Budget Hotel Comeback
Prism, the rebranded OYO, has acquired Motel 6 to spearhead a technology‑driven overhaul of budget hotels. The company is concentrating on economy and extended‑stay segments in both India and the United States, launching the Studio 6 brand for U.S. properties. CEO Ritesh Agarwal is...
Sharjah’s Coral Beach Resort Achieves UAE First
Coral Beach Resort Sharjah has become the first hotel in the United Arab Emirates to sign the Glasgow Declaration Initiative on Climate Action in Tourism. The pledge obliges the property to cut carbon emissions by 50 % by 2030 and achieve...
Erth Abu Dhabi Completes 95,000-Meal Ramadan Initiative
Erth Abu Dhabi wrapped up its 2026 Ramadan programme, delivering more than 95,000 Iftar meals each day across the United Arab Emirates. The effort, backed by the Zayed for Good Foundation, served worshippers at major mosques in Abu Dhabi, Fujairah...
Bits: BeOnd Launches London – Maldives Flights, Get 2000 Virgin Points with a Railcard
beOnd, an all‑business class airline backed by Maldives SIMDI Group and UAE’s Arabesque, announced a new London‑Maldives service launching on 16 December with a Dubai refuel stop. The thrice‑weekly flights will depart Heathrow midday and return early morning, priced at about...
Linstol and Plastic Bank to Offset Impact of WTCE 2026
Linstol announced a partnership with Plastic Bank to offset the equivalent of 100 plastic bottles for each of the 3,650 expected attendees at WTCE 2026. The initiative will prevent roughly 365,000 bottles, or more than 7,300 kg of plastic, from entering oceans...
Brasilia Airport: Re-Concession Will Follow Rio Galeão's, but with Smaller Airports Part of the Deal
Brazil’s long‑running airport concession programme has been reactivated under President Lula, with the Rio de Janeiro Galeão concession approved in 2025 and slated for completion by early 2026. The government now plans to re‑concede Brasília’s “JK Airport” by the end...
Venezuela, Dominican Republic Resume Air Connectivity
Venezuela and the Dominican Republic have announced the restoration of scheduled air services, ending a months‑long suspension that disrupted tourism and business travel. The resumption involves multiple carriers, including Laser Airlines, which will operate MD‑82 aircraft on the Caracas‑Santo Domingo...
AirBaltic Partners with InterLnkd to Launch Dynamic Inflight Shopping Experience
Latvian carrier airBaltic has teamed with InterLnkd to embed the AirMall digital marketplace into its Starlink‑powered Skynet Wi‑Fi portal, creating the first global, dynamic inflight shopping experience. The platform gives passengers access to more than 20,000 brands on their personal...
Azamara Announces Bourbon Partnership at Sea
Azamara Cruises has teamed with Milam & Greene Whiskey to launch Bourbon Quest, placing one bourbon barrel aboard the Azamara Quest for the entire 188‑night, 2027 World Cruise that visits 37 countries. The barrel, originally filled in Kentucky in 2019,...
Avianca LifeMiles American Express® Elite Card Review: Discounts on Award Redemptions and Monthly Bonus Miles
The Avianca LifeMiles American Express Elite Card offers a $249 annual fee with a two‑part welcome bonus of up to 100,000 miles—60,000 after $4,500 spend and another 40,000 after $25,000 spend. Cardholders earn 3× miles on Avianca purchases, 2× on...
Restaurant AI Must Deliver More than Fancy Dashboards
Restaurant operators are increasingly demanding AI that tackles scheduling and labor optimization, not just analytics dashboards. A Harri survey of 600 U.S. and U.K. hospitality professionals found 38% rank scheduling as the top AI use case, while dashboards lag at...
The Ski Area Shaped by Robert Redford Is Getting a Modern Glow-Up
Sundance Resort, the Robert Redford‑founded ski area in Utah, has completed over $40 million in upgrades, highlighted by the opening of its first full‑service hotel, the Inn at Sundance, in January. A new lift called Electric Horseman will add more than...
Hotel Industry News Today – March 23, 2026 | Hotel News Resource
A looming Department of Homeland Security funding impasse threatens TSA pay, risking airport delays and potentially dampening spring U.S. hotel demand. Meanwhile, hotels are seeing a surge in shorter, last‑minute bookings, driven by shifting traveler demographics and AI‑powered search tools....
Fairmont Le Château Montebello Available for Sale
Colliers is marketing the Fairmont Le Château Montebello, a 210‑room luxury resort on roughly 925 acres along Quebec’s Ottawa River, for sale. The historic property, the world’s largest log structure and former G7 summit venue, includes an 18‑hole Stanley Thompson...
Tourism’s Labor Crisis Deepens as Immigration Fears and Job Decline Drive Worker Shortages
Global tourism is booming, but the sector faces a severe labor crunch, with an estimated 8‑9 million hospitality workers missing today and projections of over 40 million vacancies by 2035. The shortage is most acute in roles that cannot be automated, such...
Hot Air Balloon Championship Returns to West Michigan, Boosting Tourism in 2027
The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale will host the 2027 North American Hot Air Balloon Championship at Gull Meadow Farms in Kalamazoo County, West Michigan. The event is projected to attract thousands of international visitors, generating significant tourism revenue and media exposure...
This New TSA Wait Time Tool Is Better Than The MyTSA App
A new browser‑based TSA wait‑time tracker built by Zach Griff offers checkpoint‑level data for about 19 U.S. airports, including PreCheck and CLEAR lanes where available. Unlike the MyTSA app, which provides only airport‑wide estimates, this tool pulls live feeds directly...
This Texas Golf Resort Is Rewriting What A Food Festival Looks Like
Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa in Texas launched SAVOR, a four‑day festival that fuses high‑end dining, live music and golf. The event, timed for April 30‑May 3, 2026, aligns with the "sportscations" trend where travelers build trips around immersive experiences. Celebrity...
The Big Biscuit Partners with TipHaus to Deliver Same-Day Tip Payouts and Modernize Team Member Pay Across 30 Locations
The Big Biscuit, a fast‑growing breakfast and lunch chain with 30 locations in the Midwest, has teamed up with TipHaus to offer same‑day digital tip payouts. The partnership leverages TipHaus’s Earned Tip Access® platform, allowing managers to verify shift data...
SWISSPORT’S MATCHBOX PLATFORM ACHIEVES ISO 27001, 27017 AND 27018 CERTIFICATIONS
Swissport’s Matchbox, a cloud‑based travel document validation platform, has earned ISO 27001, ISO 27017 and ISO 27018 certifications, confirming its information‑security, cloud‑security and privacy controls. The platform already validates more than four million passengers with 100% accuracy on inadmissible traveler...
Hosted PBX in Hospitality: What Hotel Owners Should Re-Evaluate in 2026
Hotel operators are re‑examining their hosted PBX deployments as 2026 brings new operational demands. While hosted systems eliminated on‑site hardware, many still mirror legacy PBX architectures, limiting flexibility for modern integrations. Cost predictability is eroding due to scaling licensing fees...
Mayor Moreno, Regional Leaders Share Details of Master Plan for Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
Mayor Helena Moreno and regional leaders unveiled the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) Master Plan, a ten‑year roadmap to accommodate projected growth to 8.6‑9.7 million departing passengers. The plan calls for a second terminal, 10‑15 new gates, upgraded roadways,...
The Country Hotel 45 Minutes From London That’s Perfect for Spring
Coworth Park, a Dorchester Collection country estate near Ascot, offers a luxury countryside retreat just 45 minutes from London. The 240‑acre property features 70 upscale rooms, the UK’s only hotel with its own polo fields, and a carbon‑negative spa with...
Sea Cloud Cruises Unveils 2027–2028 Sailings with Savings and European Itineraries
Sea Cloud Cruises announced its 2027‑2028 sailing season, featuring luxury small‑ship voyages on the tall vessels Sea Cloud Spirit and Sea Cloud II. The lineup emphasizes European itineraries, including Irish, Scottish, French Atlantic, and Mediterranean routes. Guests who book by...
Capella Debuts in Japan with Kyoto
Capella Hotels has launched its first Japanese property, Capella Kyoto, in the historic Miyagawa-cho geisha district. Designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates and Brewin Design Office, the four‑storey, 89‑room hotel reinterprets traditional machiya architecture and offers views of Higashiyama and...
Accor Details Pipeline Growth Across Emblems, MGallery, Handwritten, and Ennismore Collections
Accor announced that its collection brands now operate more than 180 hotels worldwide and have a pipeline of over 125 additional properties, representing roughly 65% growth in the coming years. The Emblems Collection targets 60 hotels by 2032, while MGallery...
TSA Pay Lapse Threatens to Disrupt U.S. Air Travel As Funding Fight Drags On
A federal funding lapse has left Transportation Security Administration officers working without pay, driving daily absenteeism to about 10%—five times the normal rate—and spiking to 25‑38% at major hubs such as JFK, Atlanta, and Houston. The staffing shortfall threatens checkpoint...
A&K Sanctuary Unveils Kitirua Plains Lodge
A&K Sanctuary has launched Kitirua Plains Lodge, a new 128‑acre luxury property on the edge of Kenya’s Amboseli National Park, designed with Luxury Frontiers. The lodge features 11 suites and two‑bedroom villas that blend into the landscape through Maasai‑inspired architecture...