NATIONAL REPORT—According to a global sentiment survey conducted by leading travel technology innovator Sabre, the travel industry is witnessing a shift in trends in 2025. The survey reveals that most respondents plan to take at least two vacations in 2025, a 6 percent increase from 2024. Additionally, nearly a quarter of survey respondents plan to embark on four or more trips, an increase from the previous year. This suggests prioritizing global travel, with Sabre’s global travel insights confirming this trend. Asia Pacific travelers are leading the way in 2025 travel plans, showing a 34 percent increase in bookings for the year. This...

PARIS—UNESCO and the Relais & Châteaux Association announce having signed a partnership agreement to develop and implement joint projects supporting the sustainable conservation and use of biological diversity through the world’s hospitality and culinary traditions and savoir-faire. “The partnership with UNESCO is a natural step for our Association to take: Our objective is to support and encourage change, to continue to rethink our properties’ operational models so as to dovetail travel—a source of personal enrichment—with environmental, social, and economic objectives,” explains Laurent Gardinier, President of Relais & Châteaux. “Never in history has nature experienced such dramatic decline. One million species—of the eight million...

NORWALK, CONN.—Shatterproof, a national nonprofit organization and a leader in improving the way the healthcare system addresses and treats substance use disorders, announced a new partnership with Northstar Travel Group, a leading global provider of trusted information and experiences for the travel industry. Over the next year, Northstar Travel Group will highlight evidence-based information, educational resources, and engagement opportunities to those in the hospitality and travel industries to address substance use disorder. This treatable medical condition impacts the industry at a higher-than-average rate. According to a recent report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, employees in the accommodations...

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN—Addressing world leaders during Ocean Action Day at COP29 in Baku, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) called for urgent climate investment in coastal and marine tourism to protect it from escalating climate risks. To achieve necessary mitigation, WTTC says that coastal and marine tourism will require annual investments of $30 billion for direct emissions reduction, with total needs reaching as high as $65 billion when including climate adaptation efforts. Developed in collaboration with Iberostar Group and Oxford Economics, the soon to be released report, “Climate and Ocean: Quantifying Coastal and Marine Tourism and Protecting Destinations,” underscores the dual...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Historic Hotels of America announced the winners of the 2024 Historic Hotels of America Annual Awards of Excellence. Historic Hotels of America is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing, celebrating, and promoting the finest historic hotels in the United States. Award recipients were announced and honored on the evening of November 21, at the 2024 Historic Hotels Annual Awards of Excellence Ceremony and Gala at The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Va., in front of an audience of more than 200 industry leaders, owners, general managers, senior management, and representatives of the world’s finest...

VANCOUVER, B.C.—A new 250-room floating hotel is being proposed for Vancouver by Finnish hotel developer, Sunborn International Holding (SBIH). In partnership with the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre (VHFC), the hotel will be a unique, world-class hospitality venue, bringing new jobs, economic growth, and creating a new destination on the water. “The new floating hotel will be a jewel for the crown of Vancouver’s waterfront,” says Graham Clarke, Chairman of VHFC. “The new property will contribute to the urgent need for hotel rooms in Vancouver in an innovative and effective way, with no permanent footprint or environmental ramifications, adding new public spaces, viewpoints, cafés and restaurants to Vancouver’s vibrant waterfront.” The...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—AHLA Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Hotel and Lodging Assn., announced the distribution of nearly one million dollars in scholarship funding for students at hospitality programs around the country. The Foundation awarded approximately $944,000 to 369 students who will be attending 88 different colleges and universities. AHLA Foundation awards two types of scholarships: self-nominated, in which students apply directly to compete for one of eight scholarships regardless of where they attend school; and school-nominated, which requires that a student attend one of the 67 schools affiliated with the foundation. Scholarship awards have been the bedrock of AHLA Foundation since...

NORTH BETHESDA, MD.—Choice Hotels International, Inc. recently announced two new contracts as part of its Supporting Ownership Access and Representation (SOAR) program, which aims to help empower and support hotel ownership for underrepresented entrepreneurs. The new contracts—a WoodSpring Suites in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, and a Rodeway Inn in Effingham, Illinois—are part of the 17 SOAR contracts signed year-to-date. During the first 15 years of the SOAR program, Choice averaged one contract per month and has increased that to an average of two per month in the last five years. “Our latest SOAR contracts with veteran and Latino hotel owners in New...

LOS ANGELES—As the devastating impact of the Los Angeles wildfires continues to unfold, Hilton and American Express are partnering to make 20,000 hotel room nights available at no charge to impacted people across the greater Los Angeles area. Hilton is working with Los Angeles County nonprofit organization 211 LA to coordinate the distribution of rooms to people who have been displaced by wildfires, many of whom have already applied to the nonprofit for accommodation. Individuals who have not yet applied can complete an application online. With more than 70 years of history in Los Angeles, including serving as the company’s headquarters for...

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA—Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett says Jamaica is positioning itself as a global leader in health and wellness tourism, combining its rich cultural heritage and natural resources to attract travelers seeking transformative experiences. The Minister shared this ambitious vision at the 6th Annual Jamaica Health and Wellness Tourism Conference, held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre. The event, themed “Beyond the Horizon: Embracing Innovation in Health and Wellness Tourism,” brought together industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders to explore opportunities in this fast-growing sector. “Today’s travelers seek more than leisure; they are searching for experiences that enhance their physical, mental, and emotional...