Hotel Association of Canada Re-Brands as Hotels Canada
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 revenues. With $74 billion in assets, the sector is positioned as a cornerstone of Canada’s visitor economy. The rollout will include updated digital assets, communications, and advocacy materials over the coming months.
Introducing the Reimagined CLEAR App: Win the Day of Travel From Home to Gate
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...
How Travel Apps Are Stirring up Wanderlust Among Youngsters in Asia
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 Reveals 15 New Global Routes: See All Flights Now
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...
Why Don’t Many US Airlines Offer Premium Economy On Every Aircraft?
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...
It Takes a Village – the Pioneering Tourism Project Breathing New Life Into India’s Mountain Communities
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...
Macao Strengthens European Engagement with New Tourism Offerings at London Event
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 to Cancel Over One Thousand Flights, Rebook Passengers Amid Soaring Fuel Costs, Disrupted Energy Supply Routes, and...
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’s Electric Air Taxis Usher In A New Era For US Tourism
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 Introduces SHE Travel Policy Revolutionizing Solo Travel for Women with Enhanced Safety Support and Empowerment
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 Eldir Brings New Luxury To Rhine, Main, And Danube Cruises
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: A Destination for Luxury and Wellbeing
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 Resumes Construction on Ras Al-Khaimah Project
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...
Middle East Flight Disruptions Slow Wellness Travel to India
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...
Singapore Tourism Board, Scoot Unveil Campaign Reimagining the Merlion
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 Expands Halal Tourism Strategy Into Spa and Wellness Sector
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...
Australia Rolls Out Programme Linking School Leavers with Travel Industry Jobs
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 Launches Five-Night Hong Kong Cruises to Okinawa, Vietnam and Sanya
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...
Bits: Royal Jordanian Status Match Update, Andaz Lisbon Hotel Opens
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...
Missed the Cherry Blossoms? Klook Might Refund You
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: Another Loss in 2025, but Profitability May Be Within Reach
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 Tullamarine Airport’s Investments Raise Its Game in Gateway Competition with Sydney
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...
Hotel Industry News Today – March 11, 2026 | Hotel News Resource
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...
Stays Beyond the 2026 U.S. Grand Prix Circuits
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...
The Ultimate Guide to Bilt Elite Status: SkyTeam Status, Helicopter Rides, and More
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...
Seychelles and Tanzania Show Tourism Resilience as Gulf Aviation Disruptions Impact Travel
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 on Global Shocks: Wealthy Travelers Aren’t Canceling Trips
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...
Renovated Historic Colfax Hotel To Reopen: The Denver Deal Sheet
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...
Amex Centurion Lounges: Primary and Sidecar Locations, Access Rules, and Guest Policy
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 Expands Wellness Offering
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...
Do You Dream of Opening a Resort on a Secluded Island? These ‘Accidental Hoteliers’ Did It — Here’s How.
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 Launches With Nine Lodges Across Four Continents
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...
Top 5 ADA Website Accessibility Issues Triggering Hotel Lawsuits
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...
Chowbus Raises $81 Million to Expand Its AI-Powered Platform for Independent Restaurants
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 Rescheduled for 1–3 September at Jio World Convention Centre
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 Tests AI Headsets That Measure Worker Friendliness
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...
Yes, Chef: Destination-Dining Hero Mauro Colagreco at Capella Bangkok
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 Launches ‘Grecotel Acts of Kindness’ for Agents
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...
Global Entry Reopens Amid Government Shutdown
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...
Atlas Hotel Opens at the Enterprise Research Campus
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...
Beyond Green Joins Travalyst Coalition as Accommodation Industry Partner
Beyond Green has joined the Travalyst Coalition as its newest accommodation industry partner, bringing independent hotel perspectives to the sustainability data initiative. Travalyst, a non‑profit focused on open‑access travel data, recently launched a Data Hub that currently concentrates on accommodation...
Kimpton Era Midtown New York Makes Its Debut
Kimpton Era Midtown New York, a 33‑story skyscraper, has opened in Manhattan, marking the brand's latest boutique addition and the first hotel managed by Extell Hospitality Services. Designed by Extell Development with interiors by INC Architecture & Design and architecture...
Global Entry Reopens After Shutdown Controversy as Travel Industry Pushes Back
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection reinstated the Global Entry trusted‑traveler program after a 17‑day suspension caused by a partial DHS shutdown. The pause sparked criticism from airlines, travel groups, and lawmakers who warned of severe airport congestion during the...
Mullen Hospitality Management Names Javier Coll President
Mullen Hospitality Management has appointed Javier Coll as president to spearhead its third‑party management and luxury beach‑resort development strategy. Coll brings more than three decades of international hospitality, investment and brand partnership experience, most recently as global head of growth...
Trump Administration Restarts Global Entry Program
The Department of Homeland Security reactivated the Global Entry trusted traveler program at 5 a.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, ending a brief pause caused by a partial DHS shutdown. The suspension, announced in late February, had also affected TSA PreCheck as...
Layne’s Chicken Fingers Thinks It Has What It Takes to Go National
Layne’s Chicken Fingers, a premium chicken‑tender chain, expanded from 10 units in 2023 to 41 locations across nine states by 2025. The company has signed franchising agreements for 68 new restaurants, including a 44‑store deal in Texas, and aims to...
International Airport Summit Launches 2026 Edition in Rome Supported by Aeroporti Di Roma
The International Airport Summit returns to Rome for its 2026 edition, taking place on November 11‑12 and backed by Aeroporti di Roma. The two‑day event will feature senior airport leaders, including COOs from Milan, Calgary and Tampa, discussing actionable strategies...
Charlestowne Hotels Highlights Development Pipeline
Charlestowne Hotels unveiled a seven‑project development pipeline that spans the Midwest, Southeast, Mountain West and its hometown Charleston. The slate includes adaptive‑reuse boutique hotels in Milwaukee and Santa Fe, a staffless technology‑forward property in Florida, and two Tribute Portfolio soft‑brand...
This New Hey Duggee Sleepover at Alton Towers Is Set to Have Parents Rushing to Book
Alton Towers launches the world’s first Hey Duggee themed hotel rooms at CBeebies Land, opening on 14 March. The accommodation includes a standard five‑person room and a larger seven‑person suite, both styled as Duggee’s Clubhouse with bunk beds, themed furniture and...
Paul Nisbett Appointed as Global CFO at Valor Hospitality
Valor Hospitality Partners has promoted Paul Nisbett to global chief financial officer, expanding his remit from the EMEA region to worldwide oversight. Nisbett, who joined Valor in 2015, has driven financial governance, supported strategic acquisitions, and built scalable infrastructure across...