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.
When Liability Explodes: The Messy Reality of Condo Management
A lawsuit following a deadly grill explosion at a Maui condotel exposes the tangled liability of condo and vacation rental management, raising hard questions about who is truly responsible when multiple owners, brands, and operators overlap.
Sue Kanoho Stepping Down After Three Decades
Sue Kanoho is stepping down after nearly three decades leading the Kauaʻi Visitors Bureau, marking the end of a long and influential chapter in Hawaiʻi’s visitor industry.
Green Fee: Still Waiting for the Plan
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.
