Rising Fuel Costs Drive $90 Bag Fees—How to Save
Has your checked bag fee jumped to $90? I spoke with NTD News about rising fuel costs, how it affects travelers, and ways consumers can mitigate price volatility and costs this summer.
Booking's Verification Hurdles Protect Against AI Disintermediation
Former senior supply side executive at $BKNG make the case for Booking's moat against AI disintermediation: Regulatory and verification burden: "If you think about self-management or a self-sign-up process with an OTA, it is all digital, so nothing needs to be managed...
Robots Clean Toilets, Restoring Human Dignity at Work
There are many jobs people fear AI will take. Scrubbing toilets is not one I feel compelled to defend. That is what struck me about the Zerith H1. It is a wheeled humanoid robot designed to clean hotel bathrooms and public spaces, handling...
Immediate Discounts Cut Distribution Costs, Hotels Love Genius
Why Booking Holdings Genius program reduces costs and why hotels are happy to pay for the discounts: "Loyalty is definitely a way to save distribution costs, so loyalty is crucial. I think Booking created a smart system. Instead of making travelers...
St. Regis Offers 10k Points for Early Check‑In
Here’s something I’ve never seen before. A St. Regis paying you 10k Bonvoy points to check out early. Aside from it not feeling on-brand for a five-star hotel, part of me wishes this would catch on. Do you agree?
Only 12,000 FIFA Passes Signal Weak World Cup Tourism
Exclusively at @SBJ: Only 12,000 people have opted in to the FIFA PASS to receive an expedited U.S. visa interview appointment for the World Cup. While not a perfect proxy, it’s the last signal that the anticipated spike in tourism...
Hyatt's Free Night Devaluation Hits 136 Hotels
Hyatt Announced 136 Hotels Changing Free Night Price Categories — Data Shows The Devaluation Is Worse Than It Looks - View from the Wing https://t.co/MOLC7ZqSLV
Travel Conferences Unlock Tourism Board Partnerships
I got my first tourism board partnership at a travel conference. Even better, the conference itself included local tours and FAM trips I could use to build my portfolio as a travel blogger. I highly recommend attending a travel conference...
Space Stays Cost $1 Million per Astronaut Daily
No one has ever lived in space. They’ve been supported by a $1 mm/d per astronaut umbilical cord to earth resources. What was the most expensive hotel you ever stayed in for a night?
Should $500 M Bailout Rescue Spirit’s Repeated Bankruptcy?
$500 million of your money could be headed to an airline that’s gone bankrupt twice 🤔 I really want Spirit to survive — they keep fares honest and the Big Front Seat is legit a steal — but is bailing them...
Explore Colorado's Asian Flavors During Mile High Food Week
Colorado is home to a truly delicious restaurant scene offering tasty meals from around the world. Mile High Asian Food Week is an exciting opportunity for Coloradans to get out in our communities and visit delicious Asian restaurants. https://www.milehighafw.com
Spirit Airlines Near Liquidation: Business Model Collapse Explained
Spirit Airlines Is Days Away From Liquidation — Here’s Why Their Business Failed - View from the Wing https://t.co/e49lheFBn7
Enhanced? Bathroom and Trash Reveal the Gaps
I have yet to figure out what the “enhanced” part is. Let’s start with the bathroom situation and trash management….
AI Agents Consolidate Rental Management Tools Into One
Trellis (@usetrellis) builds AI agents that run operations for short-term rental managers. Instead of juggling 5–10 disconnected tools, operators get an agent that learns how they work and builds the software needed to run their business. Congrats on the launch, @lodobenvenuti00...
Vegas Hotels Still Require Ten‑Minute Check‑In in 2026
2026 and it still takes Las Vegas hotels 10 minutes to check in a guest
Virgin Voyages Welcomes All—Except Passengers Under 18
Virgin Voyages CMO Nathan Rosenberg said yesterday in a live Q&A: “Everyone may not choose us but we want everyone to feel welcome. Except kids under 18.”
Virgin Voyages Proves Diversity Is More than Talk
There were so many Black people on this Virgin Voyages creator trip. They really provided a master class on representation and diversity. Black creators are the ones who start many of the trends you love and bring the style and...
Human Connection Fuels Optimism in Hospitality Industry
This is a good read and one reason to be optimistic about the hospitality industry - which is all about human interaction and experiences. (Well, mostly.)
Hong Kong Expects 980k Mainland Tourists, up 7%
The Hong Kong Immigration Department is projecting ~980k mainland tourists will enter the city through various control points during the Labour Day Golden Week, up 7% on 2025.
Citi Points Transfer to LHOTW Gets 25% Bonus—Worth It?
Transfer Citi Points To Leading Hotels Of The World With 25% Bonus: Worth It? https://t.co/z0Rhc51Wna
Hotel Butler Service: Luxury Perk or Unnecessary Gimmick?
Hotel Butler Service: How Do You Use It? Is It Valuable Or A Gimmick? https://t.co/ATURyUesNu
Europeans Face Extended Home Stays Amid Restrictions
There’s going to be a lot of Europeans staying at home…one way or the other
Peruvian Elixirs Offer Alcohol‑Free Beach Vibes
What if there was an alternative to alcohol at the beach this summer? Jharixa Ureña drew heavily on her Peruvian roots when launching Huanchaco Lounge in the OBX. She has a menu of Pachamama Elixirs infused with fruits like purple corn,...
American Airlines Denies United Merger, Praises Trump Leadership
American Airlines says they’re not discussing or interested in merging with United, and they appreciate Trump’s leadership.
Southwest Plans Minimum Five New Airport Lounges
Southwest Airlines Now Has At Least 5 Airport Lounges In The Pipeline - View from the Wing https://t.co/DXKFPhcKy7
Jade Mountain Redefines Luxury with Nighttime Wellness Experiences
Jade Mountain Unveils After-Dark Experiences, Redefining Luxury Through Rest, Wellness, and the Night Sky https://t.co/7HE6AISub5
Big Front Seat May Disappear This Week
The most underrated first-class seat might disappear this week. Would anyone else miss the Big Front Seat?👇
People Still Crave In‑person Hotel Check‑ins
No I don’t want to check into the hotel on my phone, I want to go to the desk and have them give me a key. Please stop moving everything to my phone. I want to be on it and...
First All‑Gluten‑Free US Hotel Brings Relief
My aunt shared a link to the first US hotel that's all Gluten Free. The relief of knowing that I could go to hotels and not get sick (or go hungry). More of this please.
Host-City Hotel Rates Fall a Third, Demand Softens
"Match-day room rates in host cities including Atlanta, Dallas, Miami, Philadelphia and San Francisco have dropped about a third from their peak earlier this year, according to data tracker Lighthouse Intelligence, in a sign of lower than anticipated demand."
Hong Kong Q1 Arrivals Surge 17% YoY, Long‑Haul Up 19%
Provisional arrival figures into Hong Kong, Q1 2026: • 14,307,643 arrivals in Q1 (+17% Year-On-Year) • 4,354,229 arrivals in March (+14% YOY) • 994,574 long haul visitors in Q1 (+19% YOY)
Travel AI: A Five‑Layer Tech Stack Blueprint
A @BookingHoldings job post for building foundational AI models led me down a rabbit hole of AI tech stack approaches by big online travel players, I've come up with a 5-layer AI tech stack. Using my Claude brain, I try...
Club Med Faces Backlash over Shark‑deterrent Tactics
Club Med SAS has landed in the middle of a furor over the best way to keep sharks from attacking tourists at its more than $120 million South African resort https://t.co/WZxLSRM7Sy
STARLUX A350-1000 Sets New Standard for Luxury Travel
STARLUX’s A350-1000 truly defines luxury, from its four-cabin configuration to the attention to detail in each cabin, including ergonomics, amenities and even the cabin colour palette, all designed with passenger comfort in mind. Have you flown STARLUX’s A350-1000?
Start Freelance Travel Writing: Pitch Editors or Answer Calls
There are two ways to get started as a freelance travel writer: 1️⃣ Pitch editors that are generally open to submissions (cold pitching) 2️⃣ Respond to calls for pitches from editors where they’re looking for a writer with specific experience or...
Choose Smart Wellness Travel: Biohacking vs Longevity
Biohacking Or Longevity—Which Wellness Travel Trend Is Right For You? A primer on deciphering the beneficial from the bogus. https://t.co/dCJk7gpWYB https://t.co/2e7Tmp74fB
Hyatt Pretends Free Toiletries, Then Charges Guests
Hyatt Hotel Puts Bathroom Soap And Lotion On The Counter Like They’re Free — Then Charges Guests For Using Them - View from the Wing https://t.co/1pEpTaNr12
Paid Travel Writing Gigs and Grants Available Now
New opportunities on my Substack this week: ✈️ $100k National Geographic Grant for climate storytellers ✈️ GetYourGuide is looking for freelance travel writers ✈️ Paid opportunity for outdoor content creators to attend a retail show this summer ✈️ JRNY is...
Cost‑Cutting Masquerades as Sustainability at Westin Detroit
Westin Detroit Airport Took Away Free Bottled Water, Left An Empty Carafe — Cost Cutting Is Now Called 'Sustainability' - View from the Wing https://t.co/tzelaObk76
Philippines Tops Hong Kong’s 2025 International Arrivals
Top 5 international arrival figures into Hong Kong for 2025: 1. The Philippines: 1,347,717 2. US: 1,026,030 3. South Korea: 963,616 4. Japan: 741,860 5. Thailand: 560,681
Harare to Host Africa’s Largest Liberation Museum
The LARGEST & MOST BEAUTIFUL Museum in Africa is currently under construction in Harare, Zimbabwe… The Liberation City will have many other facilities: an amusement park, a Zipline, Cable Car, Wildlife, Shopping Mall, & a 5 Star Hotel… ED2030 for...
Alaska Lounge Reopens to Priority Pass at SFO, $15 Co‑Pay
Alaska Lounge Returns To Priority Pass At SFO With A $15 Co-Pay — After Pulling Back Flights There - View from the Wing https://t.co/iyQ5wPOBBI
Overprotective Staff Ruin United Club Food Experience
MyPOV: gotta love when the staff would rather put 4 people to guard the food then just open it up. Bad #CX @UnitedClubs @ORDAirport B gates. @united. https://t.co/EwsEVTfKCg
Airport Lounges Add Hidden $5.30 Cleaning Fee
Airport Lounge Charged A $5.30 Cleaning Fee At The Door — Drip Pricing Comes To Priority Pass - View from the Wing https://t.co/faJj7bMx0n
Earn up to 175K Hilton Points and a Free Night
Hilton Honors Amex Card Limited Time Offers: Up To 175K Points & Free Night https://t.co/TYCHf4W5yi
Watch World Cup Live On Singapore Airlines Flights
Passengers flying with Singapore Airlines during the FIFA World Cup 2026 can watch matches live in-flight via Sport 24 on KrisWorld Live TV from June 11 to July 19. The service is available on all of SIA’s Boeing 787-10 and...
Wall‑E and Eve Return to Disneyland for April 2026
Wall-E and Eve are appearing at Disneyland’s Pixar Place Hotel for a limited time in April 2026, as Disney brings back a rare character robot duo and hints at Imagineering’s next wave of interactive experiences. https://t.co/fX1a5LWAn3
United's $300 Offer Fails as Overbooked Passengers Refuse
It’s so weird to me that airlines can accidentally over book flights. United is begging for 2 people to volunteer to be rebooked and receive a 300 dollar credit. No one is budging and the guy is getting more irritated...
Marriott Elite Members Receive Shrinking Rebates, Loyalty Fails
Marriott Rewards Loyalty By Paying You Less — Capital One Shopping Shows Elites Get Smaller Rebates - View from the Wing https://t.co/RI8wd6Drh6
Marriott Adds $20 Cash Fee for Westin LAX Point Redemptions
Marriott Lets Westin LAX Charge A $20 Cash Fee To Redeem Your Points [Roundup] - View from the Wing https://t.co/5tguhZfCYM