Takeaways from PATA and AHLA point to a K-shaped recovery in Hawaiʻi tourism, with luxury holding up while structural pressures, housing, labor costs, taxes, insurance, and weakening international lift, keep 2026 in a holding pattern.
A Star Is Born… If We Write the Check
A proposed Hawaiʻi bill would use state funds to bring Michelin to the islands, raising a broader debate over whether public dollars should pay for global validation of an already world-class dining scene.
Keep The Country, Waikiki?
Host’s $680M Turtle Bay acquisition includes $50M in expansion rights now facing legal pushback, as new development plans test whether large-scale growth can coexist with North Shore community priorities.
A $227 Million Plan. Zero Shovels. Now at Auction.
A planned $227M South Shore Kauaʻi resort, The ʻŌhia, is heading to bankruptcy auction after missing its 2023 debut, underscoring the financial and development risks facing large-scale Hawaiʻi projects.
The (Maybe Not So) Slow Death of Metasearch
As AI reshapes travel discovery, metasearch players like Trivago, TripAdvisor, and Kayak face mounting pressure, raising questions about whether the traditional comparison engine is becoming an expensive middle layer.
Expedia is at it again, layoffs that is
Expedia is opening 2026 with another round of layoffs, signaling a continued shift toward consolidation, automation, and leaner operations even as labor shortages persist across the hotel sector.
Is AI the Next OTA?
Marriott and Hilton now warn investors that AI platforms could become the next powerful intermediaries, reshaping travel discovery, diverting bookings from direct channels, and introducing a new generation of digital gatekeepers.
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$180K Bartenders, Buying Michelin Stars, and a Battle at Turtle Bay
Flat arrivals, fat payrolls. A Michelin push, a $227M project in limbo, and why metasearch may be on life support.
Turns Out Ron Was Right
TBO’s acquisition of Classic Vacations revives a storied wholesale brand, underscoring the enduring value of high-touch advisor relationships and the challenges traditional operators face when folded into digital-first travel giants.
Wyndham Quietly Grows on Kaua’i
Wyndham is quietly expanding its Hawaiʻi hotel footprint as Castle Resorts adds The ISO on Kauaʻi to the Trademark Collection, signaling a low-friction growth strategy through soft branding and distribution scale.
