Episode Notes

Wyndham Hotels says it’s still seeing strong demand for leisure and business travel despite economic uncertainty, writes Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill.

CEO Geoff Ballotti said on Thursday that the company believes it won’t see a decline in leisure travel demand during the fourth quarter and throughout 2025. Ballotti added a continued drop in interest rates would help boost leisure travel. 

Next, Southwest Airlines reported it’s seeing strong bookings for the holiday travel season and healthy demand, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi. 

Southwest also announced a truce with Elliott Investment Management, which had been pushing for changes at the airline. As part of the deal, it seems as though CEO Bob Jordan will remain in place. Maharishi reports that executives are upbeat on its new plan, which includes premium and assigned seating, red-eye flights, airline partnerships, and cutting capacity in underperforming areas. 

Finally, tourists will no longer be allowed to book short-term rentals in large parts of Malaga, Spain, starting in early November, writes Global Travel Reporter Dawit Habtemariam.

Malaga’s city council introduced new rules on Thursday prohibiting short-term rental registrations in 43 neighborhoods. The ban, which will last for up to five years, targets areas where more than 8% of homes are short-term rentals. Malaga joins Barcelona on the list of destinations worldwide to enact restrictions on short-term rentals in recent months. 

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Episode Notes

Anthropic, a generative AI startup, has unveiled new tech that indicates how an AI-powered travel agent would look, writes Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes.

Anthropic recently released three demonstrations of the tech, one of which was for making travel plans. A more advanced version of the tech could eliminate the friction of manually navigating options, comparing prices and making reservations. In addition, Dawes notes users might bypass online travel agencies like Booking.com to rely on AI to find the best deals on their behalf. 

Hilton reported a record for room growth during the third quarter. But the company trimmed its annual room revenue forecast amid signs of softening domestic travel demand, writes Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill. 

Hilton said on Wednesday it added 6,000 rooms to its portfolio in the third quarter — the highest quarterly room addition in its history. The company also opened 531 hotels during the same timeframe. However, Hilton also said it now expects its revenue per available room to grow between 2% and 2.5% this year, a slight decrease from its projections in both April and August. 

Finally, Boeing has had a rough year thus far, and its struggles include a reported $6 billion third-quarter loss, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi.

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg acknowledged the planemaker is at a crossroads, adding that trust in the company has eroded. Ortberg said he believes the company’s issues, including lapses in its performance, have disappointed many of its customers. He told staff earlier this month that Boeing would delay the first deliveries of the 777X to 2026.  

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Episode Notes

NYC Tourism + Conventions, the city’s destination marketing organization, announced on Tuesday it named Julie Coker as its next president and CEO, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. 

Coker, who has held the same roles at the San Diego Tourism Authority since 2020, will assume her new position on December 9. She succeeds Fred Dixon, who served as NYC Tourism’s CEO for close to a decade before stepping down earlier this year to lead Brand USA

Coker will take the helm as New York City’s tourism chief as the region prepares to welcome several major events, including the FIFA World Cup final in 2026. 

Next, InterContinental Hotels Group had a strong third quarter in terms of hotel openings. But the company also saw a slowdown in revenue growth, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill. 

IHG added 17,500 rooms across 98 hotels, more than doubling its growth pace from the same period in 2023. O’Neill notes that a lot of that growth came from a deal with the German hotel group Novum Hospitality, which added roughly 6,000 rooms to IHG’s portfolio.

However, IHG only saw a 1.5% growth in revenue per available room worldwide during the third quarter. O’Neill notes a weak economy in China and turmoil in the Middle East contributed to the slowdown in revenue growth. 

Finally, Cathay Pacific recently unveiled the Aria Suite, the carrier’s new business class cabin. And the company has plans for a new first class cabin that its chairman called “mindblowing” in an exclusive interview with Airlines Editor Gordon Smith. 

Cathay Chair Patrick Healy told Skift that having a world-class cabin is part of the carrier’s aspirations to be one of the best premium airlines in the world. CEO Ronald Lam said Cathay plans to reveal the new cabin in 2025 or 2026, with Smith noting the carrier is awaiting Boeing’s new 777X aircraft before launching a new first-class cabin.

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Episode Notes

The growth of U.S. vacation rental and short-term rental supply has been slowing down, a trend that will likely continue next year, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill. 

Vacation rental and short-term rental supply in the U.S. has grown 10% in 2024 from last year, according to analytics firm Key Data. However, that’s down from 20% two years ago. Key Data said one factor for the supply deceleration is a shortage of housing. 

Analysts at Truist Securities said that supply growth may continue to slow as some units become long-term rentals and migrant-focused corporate housing. 

Next, Saudi Arabia is targeting Chinese travelers as part of its strategy to attract 150 million tourists by 2030, writes Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit.

Tourism Minister Ahmed Al Khateeb said in an interview with Skift that the kingdom believes it can attract 20-25% of the Chinese tourists who take mid-to-long-haul flights, often to Europe and the Middle East. It’s a “huge market,” he said, with an interest in traveling for culture and heritage.

Al Khateeb added Saudi Arabia has been actively promoting itself in China, including organizing a Saudi Travel Festival in Beijing recently. 

Finally, travelers are largely aware of the importance of sustainability. But there’s a gap between awareness and action, according to a new survey, writes Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia.  

Trip.com’s Sustainable Travel Consumer Report found that 92% of travelers acknowledge the importance of sustainable travel. However, a little less than 57% of respondents said they practice sustainable travel. A major reason for the relative lack of action is general uncertainty about the concept, according to the survey. The divide is more apparent when it comes to paying extra for sustainable travel options, especially when it comes at a time of economic challenge and soaring living costs

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Episode Notes

Uber has explored buying the Expedia Group, according to a report this week in the Financial Times. It’s all speculation at this point, but the deal, if it were to happen, would bring about the biggest shakeup the travel industry has seen in years. Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes answers 10 questions about it. 

Dawes notes there are currently no active discussions between the two companies. But an acquisition would bring Uber closer to becoming a superapp, a single app with multiple services, including transport, social media and food delivery.    

However, Dawes adds there would be many roadblocks standing in the way of any deal between Uber and Expedia. 

Even if it was just a trial balloon, the news raises other possibilities: Expedia, a big brand with a depressed stock price, could attract other potential acquirers or activist investors. 

Next, foreign visitor spending in Japan in the first nine months of 2024 topped the full-year record set last year, writes Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia. 

International tourists spent roughly $39 billion between January and September, according to the Japan Tourism Agency. That amount is $4 billion more than the previous full-year record. Japan welcomed close to 27 million foreign visitors during the first three quarters of the year. 

Finally, Cathay Pacific recently unveiled the Aria Suite, its new business class cabin. Airlines Editor Gordon Smith provides information about arguably the industry’s most anticipated new business class product. 

Smith writes the Aria Suite isn’t exactly a game changer but it’s a solid product that hits all the right notes. It features a sliding privacy door, wireless charging and a 24-inch monitor. Vivian Lo, Cathay Pacific’s head of customer experience and design, said the new-age tech in the suite is almost invisible on purpose. Lo added the airline was looking to create “a cocoon oasis of personal space.” 

The first Aria-equipped jet will enter passenger service on Friday between Hong Kong and Beijing. 

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Episode Notes

Hotel executives gathered at The Lodging Conference recently to discuss emerging trends in the industry. Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill listed five key takeaways from the event as executives look forward to 2025.   

O’Neill notes hotel leaders are cautiously optimistic about the economic outlook for next year. Executives generally believe that the Fed’s recent interest rate cut will boost enthusiasm for U.S. hotel development in 2025. Luxury hotels will likely see a boom in guests as global wealth is projected to increase by about a third by 2027. 

However, O’Neill writes attracting and retaining talented workers still remains a challenge in the hotel industry.  

Next, Airbnb has officially launched an expanded co-host network designed to make it easier for hosts to manage their properties, reports Executive Editor Dennis Schaal. 

Co-hosts would be able to manage lists, respond to reservation inquiries and message guests under the program. Airbnb has piloted an online service for several years where hosts can find and hire co-hosts. But Schaal notes it’s the first time the service is available in the Airbnb app and on its website. 

Airbnb Chief Business Officer Dave Stephenson said he believes the co-hosting feature will help increase Airbnb’s listings from both new hosts and existing ones. 

Finally, Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi provides four takeaways from United Airlines’ better-than-expected third quarter earnings report.

United received a substantial boost from business travel’s rebound as the company’s corporate revenues for the company were up 13% compared to last year. However, despite bringing back its Los Angeles-Shanghai route, United isn’t expecting to substantially increase bookings for flights to China. Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella acknowledged demand for China has changed coming out of the pandemic.

CEO Scott Kirby said he was optimistic planemaker Boeing could overcome its many issues, which include laying off 10% of its staff. In addition, United said it expects travel to slow during the weeks surrounding Election Day. 

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Episode Notes

Visit Florida launched a new campaign this week to inform tourists much of the state is ready to welcome visitors after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam.

Visit Florida will share images and videos of destinations largely unaffected by the hurricanes via social media over the next two weeks. The tourism board has also recently launched social media campaigns with the messaging “Stronger Than the Storm” for in-state audiences and “Florida is Resilient” for domestic markets.

Habtemariam reports that Visit Florida plans to survey destination marketing organizations across the state and determine when they will be ready to welcome visitors again. 

Next, Sphere Entertainment has announced Abu Dhabi will be the location of its second development, writes Middle East Reporter Josh Corder. 

Corder reports the new sphere, which is said to “echo the scale” of the original in Las Vegas, is a joint venture between Sphere Entertainment and officials in Abu Dhabi. The sphere in Abu Dhabi is expected to have a similar capacity to the Las Vegas Sphere of around 20,000 seats. However, details such as the location, opening date or budget haven’t been revealed yet.   

Finally, Uber is launching a new black-car service aimed at business travelers, writes Travel Technology Reporter Justin Dawes.

Dawes reports the service, called Uber Business Black, includes newer luxury vehicles and more flexible booking options. Riders with Uber Business Black will have access to a 24/7 line to human customer service agents for up to 72 hours after a ride. In addition, the service enables executive assistants to book and change rides on someone else’s behalf. 

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Episode Notes

Thousands of Barcelona residents took to the streets this past Sunday to demand the city stop hosting the America’s Cup sailing competition and other huge tourism events. It’s the latest of large-scale protests in Spain against mass tourism, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam.

Habtemariam notes protestors burned a replica of the America’s Cup trophy at the end of the demonstration. The group, “No to the America’s Cup,” which organized the protest, alleges the city council and event organizers have misled the public about the number of visitors and economic benefits of the America’s Cup. 

The group also argues the event would contribute to an increase in pollution and a surge in rents. 

Next, roughly 5,000 hotel workers are on strike across the U.S., with recent walkouts occurring at hotels in Boston and Seattle, writes Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill. 

More than 600 workers in Boston, including staff at the city’s largest hotel, joined strikes over the weekend. In addition, 300 workers in Seattle walked off their hotel jobs on Monday. Hotel workers union United Here said roughly 40,000 hotel workers in 22 North American markets have authorized potential walkouts before the end of the year. 

Finally, a growing number of destinations are looking to attract Indian tourists by increasing the number of locations serving Indian food, reports Senior Research Analyst Varsha Arora.

More than half of Indian travelers consider having access to Indian food crucial, according to Booking.com’s Travel Confidence Index 2023. A report published last year revealed a 25% growth in Indian restaurants globally over the past five years. Arora cites Dubai and Abu Dhabi as two destinations where Indian restaurants have become a staple. 

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Episode Notes

United Airlines is adding eight new, off-the-beaten-path destinations to its summer 2025 schedule, betting that travelers will fly to less popular locations, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi. 

United’s new destinations for summer 2025 include the capitals of Mongolia, Senegal and Greenland. Maharishi notes many of its new destinations are in contrast to American and Delta, two carriers with summer schedules that typically revolve around more popular routes.

However, United isn’t completely ignoring big-name destinations as it’s adding flights to Nice and Venice from Dulles International Airport. 

Next, Disneyland guests are paying more for the theme park’s attractions after the Walt Disney Company increased ticket prices on Wednesday, writes Global Tourism Reporter Dawit Habtemariam. 

Prices went up for most single-day tickets under Disney’s tier system, with some increasing by as much as 6.5%. Most of Disneyland’s multi-day ticket prices increased by roughly the same percentage. Habtemariam notes the price hike comes as Americans are increasingly cutting back on travel spending in response to rising cost of living. 

Finally, Sharjah, one of the UAE’s seven emirates, is aiming to attract what one official calls “invisible” tourism — unlike neighboring Dubai, writes Middle East Reporter Josh Corder. 

Corder notes Sharjah is focused on becoming the national center of cultural tourism with plans to create camps and eco-resorts. Sharjah leaders are also working to preserve large portions of the emirate in its “Heart of Sharjah” project, which aims to restore historic structures. 

Sharjah is the most conservative of the seven emirates and the only one that still outlaws alcohol. This is in stark contrast to the rest of the country, which is becoming more and more Western, notably giving the green light for casinos earlier this month.

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Episode Notes

Marriott has reached an agreement with 49 states and Washington, D.C., to pay $52 million to settle charges related to data security, writes Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill. 

O’Neill notes the settlement with the states relates to a database security incident in 2018 in the guest reservations system of Starwood, a hotel group Marriott had just acquired. 

And the Federal Trade Commission is requiring Marriott to put in place a new data security program following three breaches from 2014 to 2020 that affected over 300 million people worldwide.

Next, 2025 might not be full of blockbuster activity for online travel agencies. The sector is projected to see more stock buybacks but not a lot of mergers and acquisitions, writes Executive Editor Dennis Schaal.

A BTIG research report revealed that Airbnb, Booking Holdings and Expedia Group will likely generate between $15 billion and $16 billion in free cash flow next year. Those companies are expected to allot $13 billion of that amount to stock buybacks. 

However, the report said the online travel agency industry probably won’t see large-scale consolidation in the near future, with Schaal noting the regulatory environment in the U.S. and Europe isn’t particularly friendly to big-time mergers. 

Finally, Hyatt and American Airlines will make significant changes to the collaboration between their loyalty programs, writes Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill. 

Both companies will offer more redemption options to their most loyal customers. Starting next year, members who link their programs can earn rewards from the partner program at various loyalty tiers. However, the ability for members to earn miles and points at the same time on stays and flights will end on December 31.  

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Episode Notes

Marriott International announced on Tuesday that it’s expanding its City Express by Marriott brand into the U.S. and Canada, reports Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill.  

O’Neill reports the expansion represents Marriott’s foray into the “affordable midscale” category in the two countries. Marriott bought the City Express brand in Mexico in May 2023, and has run properties under the City Express by Marriott brand in the Caribbean and Latin America. The company hasn’t yet revealed how many deals it’s signed for the brand in the U.S. and Canada. 

However, one Marriott executive said the company is optimistic about hotel openings in both countries in the near future. 

Next, the Routes World 2024 conference featured several heavy hitters of the Middle East’s aviation industry sharing their plans for 2025. Airlines Editor Gordon Smith provides highlights. 

Tony Douglas, the CEO of new Saudi carrier Riyadh Air, said the airline is “well advanced” in obtaining its Air Operator Certificate, a key regulatory milestone required to start commercial operations. He added Riyadh Air would be up and running next year.  

Air Arabia CEO Adel Abdullah Ali said the carrier is looking to grow outside its traditional markets in the Middle East, citing Egypt as an example. And Steven Greenway, CEO of Saudi low-cost carrier flyadeal, revealed plans to more than double its fleet size over the next four years. 

Finally, Wynn Reports has upped its budget, financial projections and ambitions for its casino project in the United Arab Emirates. Middle East Reporter Josh Corder lists several takeaways from a presentation Wynn gave to investors and analysts on Tuesday. 

Corder notes the project is targeting very wealthy consumers. Wynn expects 37% of its gross gaming revenues to come from what it considers ultra-high-net-worth international customers. India and Europe will be among Wynn’s core markets, with CEO Craig Billings noting India is home to a lot of wealth.

Wynn also said it expects the gaming market in the UAE to be worth between $3 billion and $5 billion. 

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