The conclusion of Hawaiʻi’s legislative session brings mixed outcomes for tourism bills, with HTA surviving under a weakened mandate, underscoring the industry’s ongoing vulnerability to political budget fights and shifting priorities.
And our final fun at the legislature, Green Fee Sleight of Hand
Hawaiʻi lawmakers are heavily modifying the Green Fee’s initial project recommendations during budget negotiations, reinforcing industry concerns that the dedicated environmental tax is morphing into a general state spending pool.
Airbnb Continues Its March Into the Hotel Business
Airbnb is expanding its hotel inventory and utilizing AI-driven personalization to blend search results, signaling a direct challenge to established OTAs and raising questions about the future of commission structures.
