The hospitality industry is constantly evolving, with hotels looking for new and unique ways to enhance the guest experience. Forget traditional amenities like turndown service or pillow menus, the latest trend in the industry revolves around four-legged, spitting mammals – llamas. These creatures have quickly risen to fame, surpassing the once-popular goat yoga fad that
Hotels
Riu Hotels & Resorts recently reopened the Riu Palace Bavaro all-inclusive in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, after an extensive renovation and expansion. This property, part of Riu’s Punta Cana complex, underwent major changes during its closure, including the demolition of the Riu Naiboa and the addition of new amenities and accommodations. The revamped Riu Palace
The recent Labor Day weekend walkouts staged by 10,000 hotel workers across nine U.S. cities, organized by the labor union Unite Here, have caused quite a stir in the hospitality industry. The strikes, affecting 25 properties operated by major chains including Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott International, have brought to light the underlying issues faced by
Travalyst, founded by Prince Harry of England, is making strides in the realm of accommodation sustainability certifications. Their recent announcement of 49 compliant accommodation certifications marks a significant milestone in their initiative to bring credibility and consistency to travel booking platforms. Partnering with industry giants such as Booking.com, Google, Sabre, and Mastercard, Travalyst aims to
Hotel workers like Fatima Amahmoud at the Moxy Boston Downtown are facing challenging work conditions with up to 17 rooms to clean each shift. The absence of daily room cleaning options has led to overwhelming workloads and limited time per room. This policy, touted as environmentally friendly, is also a way for hotels to trim
Grupo Xcaret, a major player in the Riviera Maya region of Mexico, has been making waves with its latest innovation – the Xcaret Agents Pro Booking platform. This dedicated tool is designed to simplify the hotel reservation process for travel advisors, making it easier for them to access real-time availability and rates for all categories
The Hawaii Tourism Authority has recently released data showing a slight increase in hotel occupancy rates in July. The statewide hotel occupancy was reported at 78.4%, representing a 1.2% increase compared to the previous year. However, this small boost in occupancy does not necessarily translate to increased profitability for hotels in Hawaii. Despite the uptick
The recent acquisition of Standard International by Hyatt is just one of many examples of major players in the hotel industry seeking to expand their portfolio by adding boutique brands. This move by Hyatt reflects a larger trend in the sector where big companies are increasingly looking to increase their global brand footprint by acquiring
The term “overtourism” has been a topic of discussion in recent years, particularly due to the post-pandemic tourism boom. This term has sparked debates and protests in various European cities, including Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Venice. The negative effects of overtourism on both residents and travelers have become increasingly apparent. As the tourism industry continues to
Grand Canyon National Park recently made the difficult decision to suspend all overnight accommodations on the South Rim, starting on August 29th. This drastic measure was taken due to a severe water shortage caused by a series of breaks in the 12.5-mile Transcanyon Waterline, the primary water supply system for the park. All overnight accommodations
Recently, United Airlines flight attendants voted in favor of authorizing a strike with over 90% of union members participating and supporting it nearly unanimously. This action, however, does not automatically mean that a strike is imminent. The Railway Labor Act, which governs the process of strike actions in the airline industry, requires several additional steps
When delving into Nate Silver’s book “On the Edge: The Art of Risking Everything,” it becomes evident that the perception of risk and reward in the travel industry needs to be reevaluated. Silver’s exploration of gambling strategies, venture capitalists, and Silicon Valley gambles sheds light on the significant role that expected value plays in decision-making
Circa Resort & Casino in downtown Las Vegas is in the process of adding 106 rooms and suites to its inventory, marking a 20% increase in capacity. This expansion comes after leaving four floors as shells when the resort first opened in 2020, in order to better understand customer demands. The new additions, including four
The all-inclusive resort industry, which experienced rapid growth and high demand in recent years, is now beginning to witness signs of a slowdown. According to industry experts like Geoff Millar, the rising costs of all-inclusive vacations have reached a point where travelers are now considering other vacation options. The perceived value-for-money appeal that once defined
Outrigger Resorts & Hotels has been making significant strides in expanding its presence in Hawaii. With the addition of the Outrigger Kaanapali Beach Resort in Maui and the Outrigger Kauai Beach Resort & Spa, the company has solidified its foothold in its home state. Despite challenges such as the aftermath of wildfires, Outrigger Resorts &
Paris Las Vegas is commemorating its 25th anniversary with a complete redesign of 756 luxury guestrooms in its Versailles Tower. These rooms are some of the largest standard rooms on the Strip, boasting a spacious 420 square feet each. As part of the renovation, thirty-eight of these rooms now feature new 55-square-foot balconies offering stunning
Madagascar, with its outstanding biodiversity, is carving a niche for itself in the luxury responsible-tourism sector. Travelers are now seeking unique experiences beyond the usual lemur treks, such as Go2Africa’s Omura’s Whale Conservation Research Sailing Adventure. This expedition, led by renowned whale researcher Salvatore Cerchio, offers participants the opportunity to study the elusive Omura’s whale
The Beaumont Mayfair, a luxurious five-star hotel in London, is gearing up to celebrate its 10th anniversary in September with a grand unveiling of a multimillion-dollar renovation. The most notable highlights of this renovation include the addition of 29 brand new rooms and suites, as well as the refurbishment of the existing 72 rooms, lobby,
