Thematic festivals and events at theme parks offer a unique and immersive experience for guests who are looking for something beyond the usual attractions. These events often include special food and drinks, exclusive merchandise, and limited-run entertainment tailored to the theme of the festival. For visitors, this means a chance to experience something new and
Hotels
Upon entering Le Meridien Melbourne, it’s hard to miss the striking Air France Airbus A350 model aircraft nestled in the lobby, signaling a nod to the brand’s European heritage. With roots initially planted by Air France to cater to travelers, the Melbourne property maintains this legacy while being the sole Le Meridien in Australia. The
Affluent travelers, who have long been accustomed to lavish spending on high-end hotel accommodations, are now starting to feel the pinch of rising costs. Silvio Rebmann, CEO of Cube Travel, highlighted the issue of escalating hotel rates during a panel discussion at Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ Global Conference 2024. Rebmann noted a significant shift in
Grace Bay Resorts has recently revealed that its latest resort in Turks & Caicos, South Bank, is set to open its doors on Nov. 1. Situated along the picturesque Long Bay Beach on Providenciales, this 31-acre resort will offer a variety of accommodation options ranging from one to six bedrooms. With 92 units spread across
The Mirage Hotel & Casino, a longstanding staple of the Las Vegas Strip, will be closing its doors on July 17 to make way for a major transformation. This iconic property is set to become the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Guitar Hotel Las Vegas under the ownership of Hard Rock. The deal was
Hotels.com, a leading platform for booking accommodations, recently unveiled its list of the top 1% of hotels on its platform, which they have dubbed the Perfect Somewheres 2024. This elite group of 700-plus hotels, with around 200 of them located in the United States, was carefully selected using Hotels.com’s exclusive guest-experience data. This data takes
European hotels are increasingly turning away group business in favor of more lucrative FIT bookings, which may have long-term repercussions on their relationships with tour operators. Experts warn that this strategy could backfire when post-pandemic travel demand eventually cools down. Robert Cole, a senior research analyst at Phocuswright, emphasizes that this shift is driven by
Travel planning can be a tedious and overwhelming task, involving a myriad of emails, messages, and coordination with friends and family. Last year, Expedia Group’s chief technology officer, Rathi Murthy, found herself in a similar situation while planning a reunion trip and described it as a “nightmare.” However, on Tuesday at the Explore partner conference
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has recently announced a strategic partnership with Decameron Hotels & Resorts, based in Colombia, to enhance its all-inclusive offerings. Through this collaboration, Wyndham has integrated nine midscale resorts into its all-inclusive portfolio, showcasing a significant expansion in this segment. Notably, four of these properties have been incorporated under Wyndham’s Ramada brand,
Airbnb has recently introduced its Icons category, featuring unique experiences such as a living room performance by Grammy-winning artist Doja Cat and an overnight stay hosted by Bollywood royalty Janhvi Kapoor in India. This new category builds upon the success of limited-edition themed stays in the past, such as Barbie’s Malibu DreamHouse and Shrek’s Swamp
The travel industry is constantly evolving, with new technologies and platforms revolutionizing the way people book their trips. One such innovation comes from Preferred Hotels & Resorts, who recently announced the upcoming launch of a portal specifically for travel advisors. This portal aims to streamline the booking process and provide a user-friendly platform for advisors
On June 1st, Oahu welcomed its first adults-only hotel, the Romer House Waikiki. Boasting 179 rooms, this new property is a sister hotel to the well-known Romer Waikiki at the Ambassador. Located off Kuhio Avenue, Romer House Waikiki’s design pays homage to Waikiki’s mid-century apartment architecture, giving guests a taste of the local culture and
Hyatt Hotels Corp. has experienced a significant increase in business travel demand in 2024, according to the company’s president and CEO Mark Hoplamazian. The first-quarter revenue from the business travel sector was up 6% year over year, with some segments showing even higher growth. This positive trend is a clear indication that business travel is
As the international travel industry begins to show signs of recovery after four challenging years, U.S. destinations are experiencing a mixed bag of success. While some areas are seeing a surge in international visitation, others are still struggling to regain momentum. According to the U.S. Travel Association’s annual IPW conference, overall international travel to the
The landscape of luxury travel is evolving, as highlighted by a panel of travel advisors at the Preferred Hotels & Resorts Global Conference 2024. Silvio Rebmann, CEO of Cube Travel, noted a trend away from high-priced destinations like Italy towards places where clients can receive more value for their money. With hotel rates soaring, guests
After the failed hostile takeover of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Choice Hotels International is reevaluating its M&A strategy. During the recent earnings call, CEO Patrick Pacious hinted at the possibility of revisiting the merger in the future. However, he emphasized that the decision would ultimately rest with Wyndham shareholders. Pacious expressed confidence in the strategic
The recent Disney earnings call highlighted the significant potential for growth within the Disney Cruise Line segment. CFO Hugh Johnston emphasized the “enormous” opportunities that lie ahead for the cruise business, pointing to the high guest satisfaction scores it consistently receives. He elaborated on the upcoming Disney Treasure and Disney Adventure ships, as well as
The tourism industry in Italy is witnessing a major shift in booking practices, particularly when it comes to accommodations for tour operators. Perillo Tours, a well-known tour operator, has been facing challenges as some hotels in Italy have decided to prioritize direct bookings over group bookings. This change has forced Perillo Tours to seek alternative