Monthly Archives: July 2026

Like those of so many travelers, my mental images of Germany — cute villages, dirndls and lederhosen, and fairy-tale castles — come from southern Bavaria, in the foothills of the Alps. You could easily spend a week here, soaking up culture as you bike along fragrant fields, tour the sights, and hop between quaint towns. […]

Yanolja Research on July 16 announced the 2026 results of the Yanolja Attractiveness Index, officially titled the Global Tourism City Attractiveness Index, a demand-driven ranking that measures how strongly major tourism cities capture global traveler attention and emotional appeal. Developed jointly by Yanolja Research, Purdue University’s CHRIBA Institute in the United States and Kyung Hee […]

Royal Caribbean Group has appointed Tara Bunch, former senior vice president and global head of operations at Airbnb, to its board of directors, the company announced Monday. Bunch brings more than three decades of experience scaling global technology organizations, leading complex operations, and advancing digital transformation across major consumer brands. At Airbnb, she oversaw customer […]

GBTA has welcomed the U.S. House of Representative’s passage of a bipartisan package of aviation security and travel facilitation bills, including the SAFEGUARDS Act of 2026 and the One Stop Pilot Program Extension Act, legislation that strengthens Transportation Security Administration (TSA) operations and improves the passenger experience across the aviation system.  These measures address challenges that GBTA members continue to […]

The JdV by Hyatt brand, alongside Highline Hospitality Partners, has announced the opening of The Lowline Hotel, now welcoming its first guests to Charleston. The Lowline Hotel is a reimagination of the former Hyatt Place Charleston Historic District, which was acquired by Highline Hospitality Partners with the adjacent Hyatt House hotel in November 2024. Located […]

Delta is introducing its first-ever nonstop flights between Los Angeles (LAX) and Manila (MNL), adding the Philippines to Delta’s global network. Beginning March 28, 2027, Delta will become the only U.S. carrier to offer nonstop service between Los Angeles and Manila. “Customers traveling through Los Angeles continue to benefit from Delta’s investments in LAX, including […]

Americans are paying significantly more for their summer vacations this year, even as overall international travel spending trends downward, according to The Summer Trend Report from InsureMyTrip. The data, based on policies purchased on InsureMyTrip for trips taken between June 1 and Sept. 30, shows summer trip costs rising across every generation when compared to […]

Airlines Reporting Corp. announced that U.S.-based travel agency air ticket sales totaled $58.8 billion from January through June 2026—a 12 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025. Total passenger trips increased 4 percent over the same period, with U.S. domestic and international trips rising 4 percent and 3 percent, respectively. Total results from […]

point.me, an award flight search and loyalty platform, has unveiled a suite of new personalized discovery and booking tools to make award travel even more accessible to everyday travelers, not just points experts. With this launch, point.me is going beyond award flight search and transforming into a travel wealth hub that helps travelers better understand […]

Americans may be feeling the impact of rising costs, but they are not willing to give up their summer vacations. According to a new survey released on July 16, 2026 by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), travelers are finding creative ways to stretch their budgets by choosing destinations closer to home, re-considering their […]