Beaches Resorts Re-Launches Autism Certification Partnership
The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) created the Certified Autism Travel Professional program to help travel professionals assist families and individuals with special needs prepare for their perfect vacation, and Beaches Resorts is offering 50% off the cost to its valued travel partners, through 2025. Show that you’re a professional who has demonstrated…
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Playa Hotels & Resorts to be Acquired by Hyatt
Photo courtesy of Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos Playa Hotels & Resorts N.V. (NASDAQ: PLYA) today confirmed it has entered into an agreement with Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) under which an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Hyatt will acquire all outstanding shares of Playa for $13.50 per share in cash, or approximately $2.6 billion, including…
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Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Announces Junior Suites
The Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa has expanded its accommodations with the introduction of junior suites. These newly designed 475-square-foot rooms provide sweeping views of Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head, and the Honolulu skyline. A total of 80 junior suites have been added, each featuring a spacious lounge area and stunning ocean vistas. “We’re…
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USTA Travel Price Index
The January 2025 Travel Price Index shows that inflation for travel-related goods continued to remain lower than overall U.S. inflation on an annual basis. However, for the fourth consecutive month, the TPI increased at a faster rate than overall prices on a seasonally adjusted monthly basis. In January, gas prices continued to be the fastest-growing…
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Programs and Updates to Know About in the New Year
A new year is here and with it comes the continuation of technological advancements in the industry. Come along as we explore some industry-leading programs, platforms and the latest updates you’ll want to know about in 2025. GroupCollect-a registration, payment and operational tool for multi-day tour operators-allows operators to launch a trip to a group,…
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Royal Caribbean Group Announces Sixth Edge Series Ship
Royal Caribbean Group recently announced that it has signed an agreement with Chantiers de l’Atlantique to order a sixth Edge Series ship for delivery to Celebrity Cruises in 2028. Edge 6 or Xcel 2 will be the sister-ship to Celebrity Xcel, which is preparing to take its inaugural sail later this year. Other Edge Series ships include Celebrity Ascent, Celebrity Beyond, Celebrity…
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USTA Winter Travel Forecast
The U.S. Travel Association’s Winter 2025 Forecast has arrived, and it projects travel expenditure in the U.S. will continue to grow at normalized rates, driven by resilient consumer spending, sustained business investment and major events (such as the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics) promoting international visits. Total U.S. Travel spending is projected to…
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Slow Down, Take It Easy
While some travelers love a jam-packed itinerary, others might feel overwhelmed by it all and instead yearn for a more relaxed pace. It makes perfect sense then why “slow travel” is a concept being wholeheartedly adopted by many. Contrary to what some may assume, slow travel isn’t a luxury afforded only to those who can…
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Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval Begins
Universal Orlando Resort’s wildly popular event began February 1 and runs daily through Sunday, March 30, inviting guests to celebrate 30 years of beads, parades, music and food. The celebration returns with an all-new mouth-watering menu of international cuisine, a spectacular parade with dazzling floats where guests can catch tons of beads, and live concerts…
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Allianz Vacation Confidence Index
Every year since 2009, Allianz Partners releases the Vacation Confidence Index. The most recent VCI, released in 2024, garnered an optimistic response, with 62% of respondents confident they’d take a summer vacation, and spending expected to top $221.6 billion, more than doubling pre-pandemic levels. The index also shows that the 35-54 age group is most…
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Whitney Museum Now Free for Visitors 25 Years Old and Younger
Thanks to a $2 million donation from artist Julie Mehretu, the Whitney Museum of American Art plans to offer free admission to anyone 25 years old and under, making the experience that much more accessible and affordable for families and young adults. Now, the whole family can visit, with only parents purchasing tickets. Visitors can…
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Five Reasons Customers Leave
I was recently hired as a keynote speaker to talk to a group of financial advisors about client service. One of the topics of the meeting was a discussion about why a client would leave. The most obvious reason might be that the financial advisor gave bad advice, and the client lost money. But let’s…
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