Travel Turmoil at Barcelona International Airport as Emirates, Qatar Airways, El Al, Blue Bird, and Etihad Cancel 21 Flights and...
Travel turmoil at Barcelona‑El Prat saw 21 flights cancelled and more than 300 delayed, involving Emirates, Qatar Airways, El Al, Blue Bird and Etihad. The disruptions affected major international routes to Dubai, Doha, Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, stranding thousands of passengers. Airlines reported high cancellation rates, with El Al cancelling all five scheduled flights and Emirates and Qatar each losing six departures. The airport’s operations were further strained as ground services scrambled to manage the backlog.
Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach Welcomes Mark Bingle with Nearly Three Decades of Hospitality Experience as the New General Manager
Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach has appointed Mark Bingle as its new General Manager, bringing nearly three decades of experience within the Four Seasons brand. The Forbes Five‑Star, AAA Five Diamond resort, distinguished by two Michelin keys, aims to deepen...
White Flag by OACM.SOS Gains Global Relevance as Brazil’s Blue Flag Beaches Highlight the Next Step in Coastal Safety
Brazil’s Blue Flag program hit a record 50 certified beaches and 10 marinas for the 2025/2026 season, cementing the country as South America’s leader in environmental beach standards. The White Flag by OACM.SOS expands certification to include human safety, emergency...
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With Prices up, Restaurant Consumers Turn to Snacking
Restaurant traffic remains depressed as consumers grapple with rising costs, yet a growing share are turning to snack‑size items instead of full meals. The National Restaurant Association reports 60% view dining as essential, while Technomic notes a 7% rise in...
Catch Hospitality Group Has Opened Or’esh, a Live-Fire Mediterranean Restaurant in New York City
Catch Hospitality Group (CHG) launched Or’esh, a live‑fire Mediterranean restaurant in SoHo, New York City, on February 10. The concept, led by chef Nadav Greenberg, emphasizes Levantine flavors cooked over a custom charcoal grill. The 80‑seat Rockwell Group‑designed space features...
Antalya Selected to Host Routes Europe 2027
Antalya was announced at ITB Berlin on March 4 2026 as the host city for Routes Europe 2027, the 20th edition of the continent‑wide aviation summit. The event will be staged at Fraport TAV Antalya Airport, which completed a €865 million expansion in April 2025, boosting...
Caviar and Cuisine Meet at Hammock Cove Antigua
Elite Island Resorts’ Hammock Cove Antigua will host the Golden Goat Caviar Pop‑Up Weekend from May 7‑10, 2026, marking the premium caviar brand’s first appearance on the island. The four‑day event, timed with Antigua Culinary Month, features caviar‑centric dishes across...
The Simple Flying Podcast Episode 282: Iran Aviation Crisis, United Airlines Boeing 787 Emergency At LAX
Episode 282 of the Simple Flying Podcast, hosted by Tom Boon and Channing Reid, reviews the week’s top aviation stories. The discussion covers the escalating Iran aviation crisis, United Airlines’ emergency Boeing 787‑9 ground stop at LAX, and Airbus’s A380 test‑bed...
Is Cyprus Getting Drawn Into the Israel – Iran War as the First EU Country Risking Its Tourism Industry?
The U.S. State Department issued a Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” advisory for Cyprus amid escalating Israel‑Iran tensions, warning American tourists of regional security risks. Cyprus, an EU island whose tourism sector contributes more than 10% of GDP and supports tens of...
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Subway Seeks to Serve 1M Meatballs on National Meatball Day with Free Footlong Upgrades
Subway is offering a free foot‑long upgrade on March 9 for customers who purchase a six‑inch Meatball Sub as part of its Sub of the Day or Meal of the Day. The promotion, timed with National Meatball Day, aims to sell...
YTZ Opens Pilot Coffee Roasters
Pilot Coffee Roasters has opened a new café in the post‑security transborder lounge at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ). The outlet is operated by SSP Canada in partnership with Nieuport Aviation, bringing the Toronto‑based roaster’s premium, locally roasted beans...
Whole Systems Hospitality Podcast
Whole Systems Hospitality, together with Green Lodging News, has launched the Whole Systems Hospitality Podcast to foster sustainability dialogue across the global hospitality sector. The series is distributed through the Green Lodging News platform, a weekly e‑newsletter, and major podcast...
San Francisco’s Argonaut Hotel: 2026 Green Key Global Property of the Year
San Francisco’s Argonaut Hotel was named the 2026 Green Key Global Property of the Year at the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s Responsible Stay Summit. The hotel now holds five consecutive Green Keys, a rating it will retain through 2028,...
Collette Launches Solo Travel Savings
Collette has launched a Solo Travel Savings Campaign offering up to $1,000 off select Explorations tours for solo guests traveling through March 2027. The promotion, running through July 15, targets the fast‑growing solo traveler segment, especially those over 50 seeking...
Kirk Pederson Named PM Hotel Group COO
PM Hotel Group announced Kirk Pederson as its new chief operating officer, tasked with overseeing hotel operations and commercial strategy across the portfolio. Pederson joins after serving as president of Sightline Hospitality, where he guided the company’s expansion and its...
How Personalized Hotel Websites Turn Interest Into Bookings
Personalized hotel websites are becoming essential as 71% of travelers expect tailored interactions and 68% favor personalization over loyalty programs. By delivering real‑time, intent‑based content, hotels can convert more visitors, with direct‑booking conversion rates rising about 25% and repeat bookings...
Qatar Airways, Gulf Air Begin Limited Rescue Ops From Abroad
Qatar Airways and Gulf Air have launched very limited rescue flights from Oman and Saudi Arabia after the February 28 closure of Qatari and Bahraini airspace. Gulf Air reactivated three A321‑200s to fly from Dammam and Riyadh to Cairo, Larnaca,...
AHLA and Travel Organizations Launch Campaign Advocating for Payment of Federal Aviation Workers
Travel industry leaders—including the U.S. Travel Association, Airlines for America, the American Association of Airport Executives, and the American Hotel & Lodging Association—launched the “Pay Federal Aviation Workers” campaign to pressure Congress into guaranteeing pay for TSA, CBP and air‑traffic...
Wheely Extends Flight-Tracking Service to Private Aviation
Wheely has added a flight‑tracking feature for private‑jet passengers in London, Paris and Dubai, allowing users to enter a tail number and receive a chauffeur timed to the aircraft’s arrival. The system monitors real‑time position, adjusts for diversions and alternative...
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort Announces Manta Retreat
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort announced its 2026 Manta Retreat, scheduled for March 24‑27, coinciding with the peak manta‑ray season in the resort’s lagoon. The event, co‑hosted with the Manta Trust, offers guests hands‑on marine‑biology experiences such as guided snorkeling, manta...
CoStar: U.S. Hotel Industry Reports Nearly Flat Year-Over-Year Comparisons
CoStar’s latest week‑long data (Feb 22‑28 2026) shows the U.S. hotel sector essentially flat year‑over‑year, with occupancy holding at 62.8% and both ADR and RevPAR slipping 0.2% to $159.03 and $99.85 respectively. Among the top 25 markets, New Orleans posted the steepest ADR...
US's Fly Live Charter Begins Executive Jet Operations
Fly Live Charter has launched executive jet operations by adding a 1980-built Cessna Citation II (N173AA) to its Part 135‑certified fleet. The seven‑seat jet is based at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport and joins two Piper PA‑31s, expanding the carrier’s offering of longer‑range,...
Choice Promotes Jeff Lobb to SVP, General Counsel & Secretary
Choice Hotels International has promoted Jeff Lobb to senior vice president, general counsel, and secretary, effective March 26. Lobb, a Choice veteran since 2006, succeeds retiring executive Simone Wu, who led the legal function for 14 years. In his new...
A | T Collective Introduces Evoke | Inspire Luxury Brand
Under A | T Collective, the company has launched Evoke | Inspire, a new luxury FIT travel brand that replaces Journese. The brand offers a curated portfolio of 4.5‑ and 5‑star hotels, private villas, yachts, jets and rail, supported by a dedicated...
Treefrog Expands Collection of White Oak Veneers
Treefrog has broadened its white oak veneer line to ten distinct styles, adding cooler European tones, warmer American hues, and a range of grain structures. All veneers are prefinished with a color‑matched backer, delivering seamless edges and consistent sheet‑to‑sheet quality....
Remington Hospitality Adds Costa Sur Resort, Classico Collection by Sonesta, to Its Portfolio
Remington Hospitality announced it has taken over management of Costa Sur Resort, part of Sonesta’s Classico Collection, on Puerto Vallarta’s southern coast. The ocean‑front property features 189 rooms, multiple dining venues, a heated pool, spa, and event space. Remington plans to...
Shaw Contract Hospitality Expands ROAM Collection
Shaw Contract Hospitality has unveiled ROAM Tropical Retreat, the latest addition to its ROAM custom series. The collection features tile, broadloom, and rug options designed to evoke natural landscapes and provide immersive hospitality environments. Multiple construction types—including EcoSolution Q nylon...
Deadline Extended: HD/West Elm Student Product Competition
Hospitality Design and West Elm have extended the deadline for their eighth annual student product design competition to March 13. The brief calls for an original, high‑traffic lounge chair that reflects West Elm’s aesthetic while using mixed materials and supporting...
Courtyard by Marriott Columbus Airport Listed for Sale as Columbus Market Expands
CBRE Hotels has listed the 150‑room Courtyard by Marriott Columbus Airport for sale. The three‑story hotel, built in 1997 and fully renovated within the past four years, sits just one mile from John Glenn International Airport and near key attractions such...
Hyatt House Seattle/Downtown Listed for Sale After $3.2 Million Renovation
Hyatt House Seattle/Downtown, a 172‑room upscale extended‑stay hotel, is now listed for sale following a $3.2 million renovation that cost roughly $19,000 per key. The fee‑simple, debt‑free asset is operated by Hotel Equities and sits in South Lake Union, a tech‑dense...
Essex Hotel Management Partners with Larkin Hospitality
Essex Hotel Management has signed a partnership with family‑owned Larkin Hospitality, adding six properties and 581 keys to its portfolio and bringing the total to 17 hotels. The agreement expands Essex’s presence into the New England market and introduces its...
Blaze Pizza Partners with Marvel Television's 'Daredevil: Born Again Season 2'
Blaze Pizza has launched a limited‑edition Sweet Heat pizza in partnership with Marvel Television’s Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, debuting on Disney+ March 24. The pizza, featuring spicy red sauce, double pepperoni, roasted red peppers, mozzarella and Mike’s Hot Honey, hit U.S....
Vantage Aviation Appoints New CFO
Vantage Aviation announced the appointment of Torsten Schneider as its chief financial officer. Schneider joins from APP Jet Center, where he served as CFO of its FBO network, and previously led a finance team of over 25 at a ground‑handling...
French Investor Snaps up Inverness Travelodge for £4.1m
French real estate manager Epsicap REIM, via its SCPI vehicle Epsicap Nano, acquired the 54‑room Travelodge hotel in Inverness for £4.1 million. The property, refurbished in 2017, is under a 20‑year lease with Travelodge, marking the fund’s first hotel investment. The...
Historic Hotels of America Inducts Harbor Court Hotel
Harbor Court Hotel, a 1926 Beaux‑Arts former YMCA on San Francisco’s Embarcadero, has been inducted into Historic Hotels of America. The program, run by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, recognizes properties over 50 years old that hold historic designations....
Marriott Monterey Hotel Receives $75M Refi
Sunshine‑Eichner arranged a $75 million non‑recourse first‑mortgage loan to refinance the Marriott Monterey hotel in downtown Monterey, California. The five‑year, interest‑only loan carries a fixed rate with an all‑in cost below 6% after securing a low‑200s credit spread among 19 competing...
Volotea to Create Tailored Traveller Experiences with Navitaire Stratos
Volotea, the Barcelona‑based low‑cost carrier, has signed on to Navitaire Stratos, an AI‑powered, cloud‑native retailing platform from Amadeus. The solution promises personalized offers, a streamlined shopping‑cart experience and expanded self‑service options for travelers. By integrating with partner airlines, car‑rental and hotel...
Qmatic Launches Qmatic Aiva – AI Voice Agent for Enterprise Customer Journeys
Qmatic announced the launch of Qmatic Aiva, a multilingual AI voice agent that integrates with its appointment‑booking and queue‑management platform. The agent operates 24/7, handling inbound calls, scheduling, rescheduling, real‑time availability checks, and FAQs. Supporting over 30 languages and concurrent...
Beyond Silos: How Ecosystem Thinking Elevates the Airport Experience
Airport leaders highlighted ecosystem thinking as a strategic shift from siloed operations toward integrated collaboration. Examples such as Fraport Bulgaria’s themed open‑air gates and Rotterdam The Hague’s community data platform illustrate how shared data and design improve passenger experience and...
Sara Anghel Elected to ISHA Board of Directors
Sara Anghel, president and CEO of the Greater Toronto Hotel Association, has been elected to the International Society of Hotel Associations (ISHA) Board of Directors, becoming its only non‑U.S. member. Her appointment brings a Canadian viewpoint to ISHA’s leadership team,...
The Parkside Hotel & Spa Elevates Corporate Retreats
The Parkside Hotel & Spa launched the Parkside Retreat & Wellness Guide, a planning tool that frames corporate off‑site meetings around restoration and purpose. The guide highlights naturally lit meeting rooms, a private theatre, rooftop garden terrace and a suite...
Embracing New Frontiers Through Secure and Robust Connectivity
Airlines are expanding passenger check‑in beyond traditional airport counters to mobile kiosks, pop‑up desks and portable stations, demanding a flexible, secure departure control system. Legacy DCS platforms struggle with real‑time data and consistent performance across dispersed locations. SITA’s Connect Go SSE...
Renovated International Arrivals Area Opens at Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport opened the final phase of its international arrivals renovation, unveiling a reconfigured primary customs processing area and a new secondary screening zone. The upgrades replace a 1992 layout and integrate biometric checks, Global Entry and Mobile Passport...
Six Senses Marks London Launch with Whiteley Hotel
Six Senses has debuted in the UK with a flagship hotel occupying a quarter of the former Whiteley’s department store in London. The 109‑room property, complemented by 14 branded residences, blends Art Deco heritage with modern design, green roofs and...
Tristan Auer to Deliver First Rosewood Ski Resort
Rosewood is launching its first ski resort in mainland France, the Rosewood Courchevel Le Jardin Alpin, designed by Tristan Auer. The 51‑room property offers ski‑in, ski‑out access to Les Trois Vallées and blends contemporary design with 1960s Alpine glamour. Hand‑crafted...
Del Taco's Turnaround Plan Brings Back some of Its Old Ways
Del Taco’s new owners launched an 18‑month turnaround called Project Sunrise, promising to restore the chain’s classic menu items and original preparation methods. The plan reintroduces legacy burritos, the Jack’d Up line, and a limited‑time $6 combo for loyalty members...
Black Rock Coffee Bar Sees a Path to 1,000 Shops
Black Rock Coffee Bar, a specialty coffee chain that went public in September 2025, announced a roadmap to expand from roughly 620 locations to 1,000 stores within three years. The IPO raised about $150 million, providing capital for accelerated franchising and...
EIB to Provide Advisory Support for VÆRIDION Aircraft Development
The European Investment Bank will provide advisory services to German start‑up VÆRIDION under the EU Innovation Fund Project Development Assistance programme. The support is aimed at moving VÆRIDION’s Microliner – a nine‑seat, fully electric regional aircraft – from prototype to...
How to Stay Hydrated on Business Trips
VOSS has introduced a 250 ml still water bottle made from 100 % recycled PET, aimed at business travelers who value convenience and premium design. The compact format offers the brand’s signature Norwegian‑sourced water in a portable, luxury‑styled package. The product is...
Jet2's Collection of Certified Sustainable Hotels Grows to 1,500
Jet2holidays has expanded its Certified Sustainable Hotel programme to 1,500 properties, up from 800 at launch in 2023. The certification follows ABTA’s standards, covering energy, water, waste, local sourcing and community support. A dedicated trade portal now lets agents easily...