As cruise lines surge ahead with strong marketing and record bookings, Hawaiʻi’s hotels and destination marketing lag behind amid funding gaps, mixed messaging, and new regulations that risk ceding even more ground to the cruise sector.
Hopper: One Last Hop Before Exit?
Hopper’s future is in question as Capital One moves to acquire the tech behind its travel portal and hires key teams, signaling a shift that leaves the once-hyped OTA struggling for relevance amid slowing growth and changing industry dynamics.
It’s Baaack: Vacasa Gets Rewired
Casago’s acquisition and dismantling of Vacasa signals a shift to its franchise-first model, raising questions about whether lean local operators and tight owner-manager splits can sustain a new era of vacation rental management in Hawaiʻi.
Brand USA Funding Might Finally Catch a Break
Congress is moving to restore Brand USA’s funding through the VISIT USA Act, aiming to counter declining global sentiment and strengthen U.S. competitiveness ahead of major events by using surplus visa fees, not taxpayer dollars.
Agentic Booking Is Not Here. But the Claims Are.
Despite headlines declaring that ‘agentic booking is here,’ today’s AI tools still offer assisted, not fully automated, travel purchases. Google is developing agentic capabilities, but true end-to-end booking remains at least a year away.
You Don’t Need a Passport To Go To Kapolei
A rare entertainment pick: Brendan Fraser shines in Rental Family, a heartfelt Tokyo-set film about an actor hired to play family members, blending humor and emotion with standout performances and refreshingly authentic Japanese dialogue.
Google Cracks Down on Misleading Hotel Prices (Finally!)
Google’s new Meta Price Accuracy rules now require hotel rates shown in search to exactly match the bookable price, fees included, or risk being penalized or removed, tightening the metasearch ecosystem and cracking down on misleading listings.
TripAdvisor Lost the Plot — and Now 20% of Its Staff
TripAdvisor is laying off 20% of its staff as it pivots toward experiences and AI, but years of overmonetization and declining trust mean the platform’s bid for relevance may already be too late.
![[Aggregator] Downloaded image for imported item #2418](https://hawaiihotelhui.com/wp-content/uploads/image-503x282.jpg)
Sonder Went Bust. Marriott Went Missing
Sonder’s collapse was predictable, Marriott’s mishandling wasn’t. The failed SPAC burned through cash, dissolved 7,700 licensed rooms, and left guests stranded, exposing major cracks in Marriott’s due diligence and partnership strategy.
![[Aggregator] Downloaded image for imported item #2418](https://hawaiihotelhui.com/wp-content/uploads/Eve_Sprinboard-503x282.jpg)
Springboard New Marketing Head
Springboard Hospitality has named Eve Tronson as its new VP of Marketing, stepping into the role after Jason Pirock’s move to Outrigger. She’ll oversee brand, digital, CRM, and field marketing across a 50-property portfolio, including 12 in Hawaiʻi.
