Hawaiʻi’s new Green Fee promises funding for climate resilience and sustainable tourism, but with allocations still unclear, the real test will be whether residents can see tangible projects tied to the $100M in annual revenue.
Resort Fees Banned! – Don’t Believe the Headlines… Except Ours.
Despite headlines, New York City hasn’t banned resort fees, only reinforced upfront price disclosure, but as total-price transparency becomes the norm, the economic advantage of resort fees may be quietly disappearing.
2025 Was a Step Back. 2026 Looks Like a Grind
U.S. hotel performance slipped in 2025, with occupancy and RevPAR down for the first time since 2020, and 2026 is shaping up as a grind marked by uneven market performance, rising supply, and tighter margins.
New Logo, New Name, Same Synxis
Sabre Hospitality has officially rebranded as Aven Hospitality following its carve-out, bringing a new name, logo, and platforms; but the same SynXis core and a bigger question about what comes next.
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Exploding Grills, Wyndham Tiptoes onto Kauaʻi, and a Resort Fee Ban That Wasn’t
Grills, bills… and bitter pills. The condo liability mess, Wyndham’s quiet Kauaʻi surprise, and why the ‘Green Fee’ plan is still MIA.
Heads in Beds, Hands in Cuffs
A recent Visitor Public Safety Conference highlighted growing use of drones, cameras, and AI in Waikīkī, raising a harder question: as surveillance expands for safety, how far should privacy be allowed to shift?
We Finally Stop Lecturing and Start Selling
HTA and HVCB have shifted from Mālama messaging to the new “Hawaiʻi Stays With You” campaign, leaning into cinematic, shareable storytelling that feels more invitational, while raising questions about reach on a limited budget.
Airbnb and Hotels: We’ve Heard This Before. This Time Might Be Different.
Airbnb is reviving its hotel push as short-term rental rules tighten, elevating hotel listings in key markets, hiring Booking.com veteran Lou Zameryka to lead global hotels, and signaling a major AI-driven distribution play.
The Passport Gap: Easy Out, Hard In.
The 2026 Henley Passport Index shows a widening global mobility gap: Singapore leads with 192 visa-free destinations, the U.S. still ranks strong at 179, but remains far less open to inbound travelers, while China is rapidly expanding visa-free access as a competitive travel lever.
The Netscape Moment: Is ChatGPT Losing the Room?
A “Browser Wars” replay may be emerging in generative AI: as ChatGPT shows signs of drift and user friction, Google Gemini is gaining ground through tight integration, massive distribution, and new moves that turn AI from chatbot into transaction engine.
