Trump Hotels’ Indonesian Partner Invests in Budget Hotel Startup RedDoorz

Next to Oyo RedDoorz looks pretty docile. But its latest funding raise of $45 million shows it is standing up to the 800-pound gorilla of the budget accommodation market that is pounding its chest through its Southeast Asian turf with deeper pockets.

Ryanair CEO Slams Boeing for Not Having Its (Expletive) Together on Max Issues

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has told Boeing to hurry up and sort out the problems with its Max aircraft so that it can start flying them sooner rather than later.

AG Boutique Journey, a new reference for event organization ina growing Italy

ROME – AG Boutique Journey, the DMC & Tour Operator of AG Group, the first Tourist Group in Italy in a position to satisfy in-house all forms of demand.

Driftwood Hospitality Management hits 70 hotels

NORTH PALM BEACH, FLA. – Driftwood Hospitality Management (DHM), a North Palm Beach-based hotel management company that operates 70 hotels throughout the United States and Costa Rica, recently surveyed its general managers, seeking to understand this year’s growing hospitality trends and the evolving needs of travelers.

Courtyard hotel opened in Lafayette, Louisiana

LAFAYETTE, LA – Courtyard by Marriott Lafayette South opened its doors in Lafayette, Louisiana. Featuring an innovative lobby space as well as Courtyard’s latest contemporary room design, the new hotel provides flexibility and choices that allow guests to optimize and elevate their travel experience.

Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives and Cinnamon Bey Beruwala secure Green Globe recertifications

In recognition of their adherence to top eco-friendly strategies and global sustainability practices, Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives and Cinnamon Bey Beruwala have once again received certifications from the prestigious Green Globe Initiative.

Ryanair Q1 profits fall 21% to 243m. euros due to lower fares, higher fuel & staff costs

Ryanair Holdings plc reported a 21% fall in Q1 profits to 243m. euros. A 6% decline in ave. fare was offset by strong ancillary revenues and 11% traffic growth to 42m guests. Costs rose 19% as our fuel bill increased 24% and Lauda costs were fully consolidated (but not in the prior year quarter).

Star Alliance and NEC Corporation sign partnership agreement

FRANKFURT, GERMANY - Star Alliance and NEC Corporation signed a partnership agreement to develop a biometric data-based identification platform that will significantly improve the travel experience for frequent flyer programme customers of Star Alliance member airlines.

Alitalia ‘Romes’ back to Milan Bergamo

Milan Bergamo Airport marks the double celebration of the welcome return of both Alitalia to its carrier roll call and Rome Fiumicino to the airport’s route network.

Best Western Premier #1 in guest satisfaction among upscale hotel chains

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – Best Western Hotels & Resorts (BWHR) celebrates its continued dedication to guest satisfaction, announcing that Best Western Premier has been named #1 in the upscale segment in the J.D. Power 2019 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study.

Fairfield by Marriott hotel now open in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

MILWAUKEE – The 110-room Fairfield by Marriott in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is now open with a new décor that provides guests with a feeling of warmth and calm while traveling. Located at 4229 West National Avenue, the Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Milwaukee Westwill operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by West Milwaukee Hotel LLCan affiliate of Jackson Street Holdings LLC and ICAP Development LLC, and managed by Aimbridge Hospitality of Plano, Texas.

HMSHost inks exclusive deal with Panera Bread to bring bakery-cafes to U.S. travelers

BETHESDA, MD. – Committed to providing travelers with more convenient, freshlyprepared, high-quality food choices, global restaurateur HMSHost announces an exclusive, multi-year, multi-unit development agreement with Panera Bread (Panera)

East Coast ski areas sweep 2019 best in Snow Awards, Powered by Liftopia

SAN FRANCISCO – The third annual Best in Snow Awards, Powered By Liftopia, have been unveiled, recognizing the top ski areas across North America. Liftopia – the largest online and mobile marketplace for lift tickets and mountain activities

SITA technology will transform the passenger experience at new Buenos Aires Ezeiza terminal

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA – When the new departures terminal opens at Buenos Aires’ main airport in October, passengers will be able to check in and drop off their baggage in record time, without having to queue for an agent.

Top ten airlines generated $35.2 billion from ancillary revenue in 2018

DUBLIN, IRELAND & SHOREWOOD, WISCONSIN, USA - Every year IdeaWorksCompany searches for disclosures of financial results which qualify as ancillary revenue for airlines all over the globe.

BCD Travel announces new SVPs for global distribution strategy and its corporate travel management consultancy Advito

UTRECHT – Leading global business travel management company BCD Travel announced the promotion of Thane Jackson to Senior Vice President of Global Distribution Strategy, and Lesley O'Bryan to Senior Vice President of Advito. Both assume their new roles effective immediately.

Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts reduces sargassum by 95 Percent at Riviera Maya beaches

MIAMI, FL – Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts, the leading all-inclusive resort brand with properties in the Caribbean and Spain, has announced the brand’s Comprehensive Coastal Management Plan, implemented to re-establish the natural balance of local ecosystems in the areas which the brand operates,

Cvent unveils list of Top25 meeting destinations in Europe for 2019

LONDON – Cvent, a market-leading meetings, events, and hospitality technology provider, has released its annual list of the Top Meeting Destinations for meetings and events in Europe.

Banyan Investment Group completes acquisition of three-hotel portfolio in Madison, Wis.

MADISON, WIS. - Banyan Investment Group, an Inc. 5000 recognized hotel investment and management company that acquires and manages select-service hotels in the United States, today announced that it completed the acquisition of a three-hotel portfolio of Marriott- and Hilton-branded hotels located in Madison, Wis.,

Frankfurt Airport opens seven new security control lanes in Extension Hall A

The German Federal Police (Bundespolizei) and airport operator Fraport AG have opened a new aviation security checkpoint at Frankfurt Airport (FRA). Featuring seven control lanes, the additional checkpoint has been installed in a purpose-built extension to Concourse A at Terminal 1 – after only six months of construction.

Aeroflot Group passenger traffic up 13.4% in 6m. 2019

MOSCOW – Aeroflot announces operating results for Aeroflot Group and Aeroflot – Russian Airlines for June and 6m. 2019.

Traxo and easyJet aim to make it easier to track business travel bookings

DALLAS/LONDON – Dallas-based Traxo, the leader in travel data aggregation and itinerary intelligence, announced a new partnership with easyJet.

Sunny Spain tops the pollas as Number 1 Summer destination says Ryanair

Ryanair announced the results of its Summer Trends travel survey which revealed:

• The most popular summer destinations for Ryanair customers are Mallorca, Alicante, and Malaga;
• Families, however, are bucking the trend for summer breaks, with Cyprus, Tel Aviv, and Lanzarote as their top three;

Frontier to quadruple its Miami flight schedule this fall

MIAMI – Low-cost carrier Frontier announced that in November it will expand its schedule at Miami International Airport by a total of 28 weekly flights and six additional routes, bringing its total weekly departures to 57.

AC Hotel Los Angeles South Bay welcomes first guests

EL SEGUNDO, CA - The 180-room AC Hotel Los Angeles South Bay has officially opened its doors, bringing its timeless design with European soul and Spanish roots to El Segundo, California.

Geneology Travel: An overlooked niche?

More than 26 million people have taken an at-home ancestry DNA test, according to the MIT Technology Review, with the number of people joining databases such as Ancestry.com and 23andme.com increasing exponentially.

Central European Online Travel Agency group ‘Szallas.hu’ acquires Czech competitor

BUDAPEST – Hungary-based OTA Szallas.hu reported on 1st July that it has successfully acquired the Czech OTA Hotel.cz. The acquisition will raise the revenue of Szallas.hu by two-thirds and it will also increase the number of employees to 275.

Hawaiian Airlines welcomes Justin Doane as Vice President of Labor Relations

HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines announced the appointment of Justin Doane as vice president of labor relations. Doane will lead labor relations and oversee union agreements for Hawaiian’s employees represented by the Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA), the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) and the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU).

Sharjah Airport receives Air Peace’s inaugural flight

Sharjah Airport recently received Air Peace’s inaugural flight from Lagos. The Nigerian airline’s first international airport outside Africa, Sharjah Airport offers the advantages of Sharjah’s geographic location and the level of service that the Airport provides to airlines and travellers.

Cvent unveils list of top meeting destinations in the Middle East and Africa for 2019

TYSONS CORNER, VA – Cvent, a market -leading meetings, events, and hospitality technology provider, released its list of the Top 10 Meeting Destinations for meetings and events in the Middle East & Africa. Dubai retained its number one ranking, further solidifying its position as one of the world's leading MICE destinations. The Dubai World Trade Centre hosted nearly 400 major MICE and business events last year welcoming nearly 3.4 million delegates - a new record in its history.

Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancun presents exclusive suites upgrades and perks

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – La Colección Resorts, a collection of 15 unique properties located in Mexico’s most desirable destinations, announced unprecedented upgrades available for guests looking to enjoy their dream Mexico vacation at Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancun from now until December 19th, 2019.

New opening for the ibis Styles family in Greece with the ibis Styles Athens Routes

ATHENS - Ibis Styles, Accor’s economy brand, announces the opening of a new hotel in the cradle of European culture: the 4* ibis Styles Athens Routes, with a design inspired by the ravishing archaic history revisited in a contemporary key.

EyeWide to manage the online presence of Kahlua Hotel & Suites

HERAKLION, Crete - Kahlua Hotel & Suites and EyeWide entered a partnership aimed at enhancing the digital presence of the chic boutique hotel at the harbor of Hersonissos.

Ryanair launches major pilot training programme in central Europe

Ryanair recently announced a major new training partnership with Polish-based international flight school, Bartolini Air, to deliver a Ryanair/Bartolini Air Mentored Pilot Training Programme. This partnership will ensure Ryanair continues to attract highly trained professional pilots to support its continued growth across Europe.

Only 23% of travelers are dedicated to certain airlines

The latest report from Signs.com shows that only 23% of travelers are dedicated to certain airlines.

Boeing to recognize charge and increased costs in 2nd Quarter due to 737 MAX grounding

CHICAGO - Boeing announced it will recognize an impact to earnings when it releases second-quarter 2019 results on July 24. 

The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara empowers women and supports sustainable farming

BANGKOK - The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara is proudly proving that authentic luxury can be enriched by adopting a mindful and holistic approach to day-to-day operations.

Discover the World opens bookings for new floating ‘Arctic Bath’ Spa Hotel in Swedish Lapland

As construction for the long-awaited floating Arctic Bath in Swedish Lapland continues, Nordic travel specialist Discover the World has opened reservations for travel from February 2020.

Roiback develops the first accessible booking engine in Europe

Roiback, company based in Palma de Mallorca and specialist and leader in the management of hotel direct sales, has developed the first accessible booking engine in Europe.

Golden Galapagos enhances their fleet with brand-new luxury catamaran The Elite

Reflecting the rise in demand for luxury cruise experiences in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuadorian boutique cruise and tour operator Golden Galapagos Cruises introduces their brand-new luxury mega catamaran, the Elite. This is the newest vessel built specifically to cruise the Galapagos islands.

UNESCO adds Palacio de Mafra and Bom Jesus do Monte to its World Heritage Site List in Portugal

The iconic Portuguese landmarks Palacio de Mafra and Bom Jesus do Monte, have both been classified as World Cultural Heritage Sites by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) at the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee in Baku, Azerbaijan on Sunday.

The Taj Mahal – The Most Popular ‘Wonder of the World’ on Social Media

The international taxi platform, Taxi2Airport, analysed the social engagement with the New7Wonders of the World by looking at the number of Facebook likes on posts about these wonders, Twitter followers of pages of these wonders, Instagram hashtags, tagging these monuments and pins on Pinterest related to these wonders.

Lufthansa chief and Indigo Partners co-founder receive top honours at Airline Strategy Awards

LONDON - Carsten Spohr, the chief executive of Lufthansa Group, and William A “Bill” Franke, the co-founder and managing partner at Indigo Partners, took the top honours at the 2019 Airline Strategy Awards, which recognises individuals, airlines and companies supporting air transport that have demonstrated dynamic leadership and clear vision.

Munich Airport International expands activities in the USA

In a major step forward in the development of a new world-class airport, the Port Authority has reached agreement with EWR Terminal One LLC, a 100% subsidiary of Munich Airport International GmbH (MAI), to operate and maintain the $2.7 billion Terminal One now under construction at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

New cultural sites added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List

During its meeting in Baku, the World Heritage Committee, inscribed new cultural sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.  New sites, by order of inscription:

Royal Building of Mafra - Palace, Basilica, Convent, Cerco Garden and Hunting Park (Tapada) (Portugal) - Located 30 km northwest of Lisbon, the site was conceived by King João V in 1711 as a tangible representation of his conception of the monarchy and the State.

Corinthia London partners with Brompton Bike

LONDON, ENGLAND - Corinthia London has joined forces with iconic British bike-maker Brompton, to offer guests an alternative way to explore the city – on a brand-new fleet of electric and classic bicycles. Guests will saddle up to see the city’s offering from a new perspective in bespoke amber-colored Corinthia designed bikes. 

Teneo Hospitality Group doubles Washington, DC Sales Staff expanding presence in the key associations/MidAtlantic market

EDEN PRAIRIE, (MINNEAPOLIS) MN - Teneo Hospitality Group took another bold step forward in its ongoing expansion, doubling the size of its Washington, DC Sales Office staff with the hiring of two highly respected hotel sales professionals, Kyla Knudson and Helena Dechant.

Cheval Collection moves to the Cloud with RMS

Luxury apartment operator Cheval Collection is upgrading its property management system, entering into a technology partnership with RMS Cloud, which has developed an industry-leading solution used by 6000+ properties.

Israel’s rise in tourism leads to an increase in new hotel openings, construction and renovations

NEW YORK –  These hotel updates will cater to all types of travelers, whether they are coming for business or leisure, looking for luxury or budget options, or just looking for an adventure.

BCD Travel signs agreement to participate in Qantas Channel

UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS – BCD Travel has signed an agreement with Qantas Airways to participate in the Qantas Channel. The agreement applies to all individual global distribution system bookings, and BCD now is finalizing required agreements with individual GDSs.

Al Murshed Travel and Tourism signs an exclusive agreement with Sabre

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – Al Murshed Travel and Tourism, one of the leading travel agencies in the Kingdom of Bahrain, has signed a long-term agreement with Sabre Corporation, leading technology provider to the global travel industry, to continue use its technology and platform to provide travel services to its customers.