Category Archives: Blog

A new survey from the leading travel site Thrifty Traveler suggests that many once-loyal Southwest flyers are booking with other carriers after the airline ended its free baggage policy this spring. The recent online survey, conducted in May and June—just before and after Southwest began charging most passengers for baggage—found that roughly two-thirds of travelers […]

Manhattan‘s first Hyatt Regency hotel, Hyatt Regency Times Square, has made its debut. The property is owned by Argent Ventures and managed by Highgate, a global real estate investment and hospitality management company. The multi-million-dollar transformation of the 795-room upscale hotel provides travelers a welcoming environment from its bustling location while also paying homage to […]

Expedia has released the 2025 “Island Hot List,” the definitive guide to island travel based on verified data and traveler insights. The inaugural report reveals global interest for islands is up on average 30 percent. Here are the destinations that made Expedia’s global Island Hot List: Aruba (Best for Year-Round Sunshine) Bali, Indonesia (Best for […]

Swan Hellenic has announced the launch of its new “Luxury Unlocked” promotion for select 2026 cruises. The offer treats prompt bookers to a free balcony upgrade, gold Wi-Fi upgrade and $250 onboard credit to spend exactly as they like, while travel advisors get unlimited $100 bonus per stateroom payments in addition to all standard commission. […]

The adults-only, all-inclusive Sandals Resorts is offering its “Black Friday in July” sale. Travelers can get up to $1,850 in booking credit across 17 beachfront resorts, making summer the new peak season for vacation savings. Available to book through July 28 for travel through December 25, 2026, the limited-time sale rewards extended escapes with tiered […]

A group of U.S. lawmakers is urging the Department of Transportation to revisit a controversial 2024 rule that, in some cases, requires travel agencies to issue airline ticket refunds out of their own pockets — a policy drawing strong pushback from the travel advisor community. The letter, led by Rep. Beth Van Duyne of Texas […]

IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) has announced the opening of voco The Club – Dublin Gateway, alongside partners, Nhance. The converted hotel will be fully rebranded by the end of summer 2025 and will add to IHG’s growing portfolio in Ireland which now stands at 10 open and pipeline properties. The hotel joins IHG’s fastest […]

Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has expanded its global hospitality portfolio with the official launch of Dusit Hotels, its ninth hotel brand. Dusit Hotels is designed to deliver refined, upper-upscale experiences that are market-relevant, locally rooted and enriched by Thai-inspired hospitality. Already introduced at three operating hotels—Dusit Hotel Doha, […]

Concerns over how Americans are perceived while traveling internationally are easing, with a 14 percent drop in the number of travelers expecting negative views of U.S. citizens abroad, according to Global Rescue’s summer 2025 “Traveler Safety and Sentiment Survey.” The most recent survey of the world’s most experienced travelers reveals a 14 percent improvement in […]

On the new ship front, Royal Caribbean International took delivery of the 5,610-passenger Star of the Seas from Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. As the line’s second Icon-class ship, the vessel will begin service in a few weeks at Port Canaveral, FL. Separately, upscale Oceania Cruises welcomed its new 1,200-passenger Oceania Allura, a Vista-class vessel which […]