Amex “Add a Card” Bonus Event: Earn Points for Adding Cards
American Express is relaunching its “Add a Card” bonus event in Canada, running from March 3 to April 30 2026. The promotion introduces a tiered structure where supplementary cardholders earn increasing points or credits based on their first‑three‑month spend. Up to two personal and three business supplementary cards qualify per primary account, with bonuses ranging from 1,000 to 30,000 points or up to $80 in statement credits. The highest‑value offers appear on no‑fee cards such as Cobalt, Marriott Bonvoy, and Green, while premium cards deliver larger point totals but require employee‑card fees.
New York’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel Will Stage a Private Broadway Show in Your Suite
The Ritz‑Carlton New York, Central Park has launched a "Curtain Call" package that brings a private 60‑minute Broadway performance directly into guest suites. Guests can select songs from top shows like Wicked, Hamilton, and The Lion King, enjoy light refreshments, and meet...
New Blue Sky Premier Lounge Opens at Indonesian Gateway
Airport Dimensions opened the Blue Sky Premier Lounge in Terminal 2 of Juanda International Airport, expanding its premium lounge network after successful launches in Jakarta and Makassar. The 462‑square‑metre space accommodates up to 101 guests and blends Western wood tones with...
El Al Resumes Limited Ops as Tel Aviv Reopens
El Al Israel Airlines will restart inbound services on 4 March 2026, operating a single flight per hour as Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport reopens. The limited schedule focuses on repatriating Israelis stranded in 22 European, Asian and U.S. locations, while outbound sales are...
ADB Safegate Sells Terminal Business
Belgian‑based ADB Safegate announced the sale of its Terminal business, sharpening its focus on airside operations. The company will concentrate on next‑generation airfield lighting, intelligent power solutions, and digital platforms, while expanding R&D through its Safegate Labs initiative. Upgrades to...
SiteMinder’s Hotel Booking Trends Reveals the Top 12 Revenue-Drivers for UK Hotels
SiteMinder’s 2025 Hotel Booking Trends report shows a more predictable UK hotel market, with average daily rates (ADR) edging up 1.35% to £191.55 and cancellation rates holding steady at 18%. Lead times remain long at 35 days, while Friday nights...
Olympia To Open First Hospitality Venue This Month
London’s historic Olympia exhibition centre is nearing the completion of its £1.3 billion regeneration, which will house more than 25 food and drink venues, two hotels, office space and a 3,800‑seat music venue. The first hospitality offering, Pillar Hall, opens on...
Rohde & Schwarz Redefines Screening
Rohde & Schwarz is rolling out its QPS Walk2000 millimetre‑wave screening system, which combines AI‑driven detection with continuous walk‑through capability. Early deployments at Dallas Fort Worth and Frankfurt airports demonstrate higher passenger throughput and reduced false alarms. The technology has earned ECAC detection...
Minor Hotels Announces Avani+ Lanexang Vientiane Strengthening Avani’s Footprint in Laos
Minor Hotels announced the upcoming launch of Avani+ Lanexang Vientiane, a design‑focused premium lifestyle hotel slated for opening in the second quarter of 2026. The 197‑room property, located on Fa Ngum Road near Wattay International Airport, will be the chain’s...
Tired of Roaming Charges? Here’s How eSIMS Work
Travelers and business users are increasingly frustrated by high roaming fees, prompting a shift toward embedded SIM (eSIM) technology. eSIMs store multiple carrier profiles digitally, allowing users to activate local data plans without swapping physical cards. Major carriers across Europe,...
ITC Hotels Honoured with Host of Top Titles at World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards
ITC Hotels Limited captured four top honors at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards, including World’s Leading Sustainable Organisation, Employer, Food & Nutrition Initiative, and Marketing Campaign for 2025. The Indian hospitality chain now operates over 140 hotels in...
Vista America Receives FAA Diamond Award of Excellence
Vista America has earned the Federal Aviation Administration’s Diamond Award of Excellence, the highest U.S. distinction for maintenance training. The award required every eligible technician to finish a year‑long curriculum covering advanced aircraft systems, regulations and safety procedures. The company...
Saxon Air Adds Agusta AW139 to Managed Fleet
Saxon Air has expanded its managed fleet with a 2025‑built Agusta AW139, registration G‑MCFC, now available for charter services. The medium‑twin helicopter seats seven in an executive layout and offers increased payload, range, and flexibility for UK and European missions, including...
Milano Linate Prime Opens New Terminal Wing
SEA Prime inaugurated a new wing at the Milano Linate Prime Terminal, adding 2,000 sqm of lounge space and expanded parking. The wing features nine glass‑walled lounges that operators can customize, and incorporates sustainable technologies such as photovoltaic panels and CO₂‑monitoring...
Myanmar Airways International Deploys Maxamation’s Aviator System to Strengthen Revenue Strategy
Myanmar Airways International (MAI) has rolled out Maxamation’s cloud‑based Aviator revenue‑management system to sharpen pricing, demand forecasting and seat‑inventory control across its 42‑destination network. The platform delivers real‑time analytics that automatically adjust fares and allocate capacity as market conditions shift....
Business Exchange
Cognitec introduced FaceVACS-Entry, a lightweight 5‑megapixel biometric camera that captures facial images, detects presentation attacks, and verifies travelers in seconds across eGates, kiosks and border booths. The device’s new firmware adds QR‑code reading and broader capture ranges, streamlining EU Entry/Exit...
Geopolitical Uncertainty Highlights Tourism’s Safety Appeal
Travel sellers at ITB Berlin 2026 warned that the ongoing US‑Israel‑Iran war is pushing tourists toward regions perceived as safe. They highlighted Asia‑Pacific’s stability, low crime rates and effective crisis management as key selling points. Singapore, Taiwan, Japan and Bhutan...
Francophonie Summit to Boost Cambodia Tourism
Cambodia will host the Francophonie Summit in November, prompting tourism leaders to view the event as a catalyst for repositioning the country as a hub for trade, talent, and long‑stay visitors. Industry voices urge the government and private sector to...
RedDoorz to Add up to 150 Company-Operated Hotels in Indonesia by 2027
RedDoorz plans to add 100‑150 company‑operated hotels in Indonesia by 2027, expanding its owned portfolio from roughly 100 to a target of 4,700 properties by the end of 2026. The rollout will feature the Sans and Urbanview brands, aimed at...
Disney Adventure Arrives in Singapore Ahead of March 2026 Maiden Voyage
Disney Cruise Line’s newest vessel, Disney Adventure, docked at Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore and will launch its maiden voyage on March 10, 2026. The ship will operate three‑ and four‑night family‑focused itineraries from Singapore under a five‑year homeport agreement....
With 70 Percent of Operators Under Cost Pressure, Cuts Become Critical
More than 70% of restaurant operators list food costs as their biggest operational hurdle, forcing brands to tighten margins while preserving quality. Margaritaville partnered with Entegra’s Performance Kitchen to conduct blind, real‑world menu tests across its 30‑plus concepts. The testing...
Minecraft Experience Arrives in Singapore This April
Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue will debut in Singapore at Green Canvas, Mandai Wildlife Reserve from April 24 to September 13, 2026. The one‑hour, family‑friendly adventure features eight themed rooms, large‑scale projections, motion‑tracking gameplay and a handheld Orb of Interaction. Tickets...
Gulf Airlines Resume Limited Flights After Regional Airspace Disruption
Gulf carriers Emirates, Etihad and flydubai have resumed a limited slate of flights from Dubai International and Abu Dhabi airports as of March 2‑3, primarily to repatriate passengers stranded by the escalating US‑Israel‑Iran conflict. All regular commercial services remain suspended...
Reclaiming the Senses: The Role of Sustainable Key Cards in Digital Detox Hospitality
Hospitales are launching digital‑detox programs that deliberately limit screen interactions, replacing in‑room tablets and app‑based directories with tactile, low‑tech touchpoints. Sustainable key cards made from wood, PLA and plant‑based leather become the first physical interaction, reinforcing a sensory‑rich experience. These...
Geopolitics Continues to Influence Demand From Canada to the US as Capacity Shifts Elsewhere
Canadian airlines are trimming U.S. leisure capacity and redirecting aircraft to Latin America and the Caribbean as geopolitical tensions and trade‑policy shifts dampen cross‑border demand. Air Canada signals that the decline may be bottoming out, while Porter Airlines adds new...
Aircraft Interiors Industry Development Summary: Jan/Feb-2026 - A321XLR Lavatory Headaches
CAPA’s latest bi‑monthly analysis flags growing passenger backlash over the lavatory design on the Airbus A321XLR. The aircraft’s extended range and flexible cabin layouts have prompted airlines to experiment with new interior configurations, but cramped restroom spaces are sparking complaints....
MGM Rewards Relaunches Status Match – Get Gold or Platinum Into 2028
MGM Rewards has relaunched a status‑match program that grants a 90‑day Gold or Platinum trial to guests who present a competing loyalty card and ID in person. Applicants must enroll by June 30 2026, and can extend the status to 2028 by...
Kalahari Surpasses $12.2 Million to Fund Clean Water Access in Africa; Changing Lives for Over 295,000 People
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions announced that, through its partnership with charity: water, it has raised $12.29 million to fund clean‑water projects across Africa. The contributions have enabled 1,476 projects—including school wells, health‑clinic systems and piped networks—benefiting roughly 295,000 people as of...
Southwest Faces Pushback on Assigned Seating One Month In
Southwest Airlines abandoned its 53‑year open‑seating model on Jan. 27, becoming the last U.S. carrier to switch to assigned seating. Within a month, passengers voiced strong dissatisfaction, citing standby assignments and family separations despite available seats. In response, Executive Vice President...
Centara Leads Fight Against Climate Change in the Maldives
Centara Hotels & Resorts is leveraging extensive sustainability measures at its Maldives flagship, The Atollia, which comprises the Centara Mirage Lagoon and Centara Grand Lagoon resorts. Solar photovoltaic installations have produced 2.32 MWh of clean electricity this year, averting 645,318 liters...
Nine Percent of Full-Service Restaurants at Risk of Closing in 2026, Black Box Warns
Black Box Intelligence warns that nine percent of full‑service restaurants in the United States are “at risk” of closing by 2026 after falling more than 30 % of their peak sales since 2019. The at‑risk units are concentrated in the West,...
Not Done Weekly - Vibe Coding 101 for Hotels
Choice Hotels CEO Pat Pacious outlined a multi‑pronged growth plan, highlighting a rebound in the economy‑to‑midscale segment, rapid expansion of extended‑stay rooms, and a shift toward “suits and boots” travelers who need on‑the‑road lodging. He described AI as an equalizer,...
Tourvest Retail Catering Appoints Michael Raasch as Chief Growth Officer
Tourvest Retail & Catering appointed Michael Raasch as Chief Growth Officer effective March 1. Raasch brings over two decades of leadership in aviation, digital commerce and technology‑enabled solutions, most recently as CEO and co‑founder of Omnevo. In his new role he...
Finnair Integrates Music by Finnish Composer Lauri Porra Into Passenger Experience
Finnair has introduced a new soundscape featuring Lauri Porra’s album Matkantekijä, which will play on aircraft, in lounges and across marketing touchpoints. The rollout begins on February 27 and the tracks will also be streamed on Spotify. This music initiative is a core...
The End of Booking Engine Fees: Tambourine Redefines Hotel Profitability
Tambourine launched Tambourine One, a hotel booking platform that eliminates transaction fees and consolidates multiple vendor services into a single solution. The offering provides zero‑fee room bookings, built‑in website personalization, travel insurance, accessibility protection, unlimited site updates, and an AI‑enabled...
Former Fiesta Mall Site Adding Two Hotels
Sunny Day Sports announced a mixed‑use development on the former Fiesta Mall site in Mesa, dubbed the Palo District. The plan includes two hotels totaling about 600 rooms—a 400‑room flagship that would become the largest hotel in Mesa and a...
Venza Enters a New Chapter in Hospitality Cybersecurity
Venza unveiled the Venza System™ platform, a fully automated cybersecurity management solution tailored for the hospitality sector, alongside a refreshed brand identity and tagline, “Know your risks. Defend your data.” The new platform centralizes risk visibility, streamlines compliance reporting, and...
Benjamin Restaurant Group Opens The Sea Fire Grill on Yonkers Pier
Benjamin Restaurant Group opened The Sea Fire Grill on Yonkers Pier, converting its steakhouse expertise into an upscale American seafood concept. The waterfront location offers Hudson River and Manhattan skyline views, designed by the group’s Japanese partners. Staffing challenges were...
New Phoenix Airport Museum Installation Showcases the Region’s Legacy of Ingenuity
Phoenix Sky Harbor’s Terminal 4 now features the “Desert Innovation” mural, a large‑scale photo installation that runs along the post‑security bridge between gates A and D. The exhibit, created by the Phoenix Airport Museum in partnership with the Greater Phoenix Economic...
Gilmore, Daifuku and ICM Partner to Install Concourse A Baggage Handling System at Denver International Airport
Gilmore Construction, Daifuku, and Industrial Constructors/Managers (ICM) have secured a contract to install a new Daifuku baggage handling system in Concourse A of Denver International Airport. Gilmore will act as the general contractor, Daifuku as the OEM and integrator, and ICM...
Lee County Port Authority Names New Deputy Executive Director and Chief Commercial Officer
The Lee County Port Authority announced Jesse Flint as its new Deputy Executive Director and Chief Commercial Officer. Flint will oversee revenue‑generating activities at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) and Page Field, including concessions, IT, property, and risk management. He...
SLO County Airport Launches GoodMaps Indoor Navigation to Enhance Accessibility
San Luis Obispo County Airport has introduced GoodMaps, a smartphone‑based indoor navigation platform that provides turn‑by‑turn guidance throughout the terminal without additional hardware. The solution offers audio directions for blind travelers, visual cues for the deaf, step‑free routing for wheelchair...
Tampa International Airport Shines as Finalist in 2026 Spotless Spaces Awards
Tampa International Airport (TPA) has been named one of nine U.S. finalists for the 2026 ISSA Spotless Spaces of the Year Awards. The airport’s long‑standing partnership with Flagship Facility Services underpins a comprehensive cleaning program that covers terminals, airside areas,...
From Bin Rage To Bomb Threats: The Rising Cabin Storage Crisis
Overhead‑bin space has become the newest status symbol in air travel, turning boarding into a high‑stakes competition. A recent JetBlue incident at Fort Lauderdale escalated when a passenger claimed a bomb in his bag after being denied bin space, prompting...
Arlanda Makes ATM History
Stockholm Arlanda has become Europe’s first airport to deploy the Established on RNP (EoR) arrival concept, a GPS‑based procedure that enables curved approach paths. Developed by Swedavia with air navigation provider LFV, EoR allows tighter aircraft separation and higher runway...
Hotel Sector ‘Bounced Back Following Challenging Start to 2025’
The UK hotel sector rebounded strongly in the second half of 2025 after a difficult first half marked by rising costs and softer ADRs. RevPAR across London and regional markets finished roughly level with 2024, while occupancy in regional hotels...
Airport Tech and the Passenger Experience
Airsiders, a Berlin‑based travel tech firm, says digital innovation is reshaping the airport passenger journey across five pillars: automated check‑in and baggage drop, advanced security screening, interactive wayfinding, real‑time information and streamlined boarding. Self‑service kiosks and mobile apps are slashing...
Instacart Perks and Promotions for United MileagePlus Members: Earn up to 10,500 Miles, Complimentary Instacart+, and More
United MileagePlus and Instacart have expanded their partnership, offering members up to 10,500 bonus miles through three linked activities: a first order, four additional orders, and an annual Instacart+ subscription. A complimentary 7‑day Instacart+ trial with $0 delivery fees is...
Can Robots Help Pizza Franchises Stay Competitive?
Pizza franchises are accelerating automation across ordering, kitchen, and delivery, with brands like Little Caesars deploying sidewalk delivery robots in Los Angeles and Donatos rolling out a fully automated airport store. AI-driven platforms from Google Cloud and Domino’s partnership with...
Uniworld Rolls Out New Advisor Training
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has launched a new Uniworld University course that gives travel advisors early access to the brand’s 2026‑2027 expansion roadmap. The program coincides with Uniworld’s 50th anniversary and offers exclusive advisor rates, CLIA credits, and a Preferred...