U.S. Hotels Extend Growth Streak, but Labor Day Skews Results
U.S. hotels posted a 21st straight week of year-over-year growth, but Labor Day timing made the latest 16.1% RevPAR gain unusually favorable.
Travel
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FTA awards $166 million to replace aging railcars
Federal grants will support future railcar replacements in Pittsburgh, Dallas and the Philadelphia region, but riders should not expect immediate service changes.
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2026 Park Fee Changes: What September 17 Visitors Need to Know
The next federal fee-free date is September 17, but 2026 rules limit free admission to U.S. citizens and residents and add fees at 11 major parks.
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FAA’s New Delay Categories Take Effect Oct. 19. What Passengers Should Watch
A new DOT reporting category will reclassify 10 types of airline disruptions. Here is what may change for flight data, assistance and refunds.
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Fiji tourism tax will apply only to new bookings from Sept. 1
Fiji says its 5% Tourism Services Tax will apply only to qualifying new bookings from September 1, protecting existing reservations from the levy.
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U.S. Hotels Post Strong July as World Cup Demand Lifts Room Rates
U.S. hotel RevPAR rose 8.2% in July, driven more by higher room rates and event-heavy markets than by a broad return to pre-pandemic occupancy.
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U.S. Plans Review That Could Revoke Up to 200,000 Visitor Visas
A proposed State Department review could affect up to 200,000 business and tourism visa holders who later sought asylum, but no mass revocation is final.
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July Tourism Data Show U.S. Inbound Travel Below Expectations
Preliminary July data show weaker foreign air arrivals and overnight visitors, putting the U.S. tourism outlook below the growth expected for 2026.
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Amtrak Breaks Ground on Queens Facility for New Airo Trains
Amtrak began work at Queens’ Sunnyside Yard on a facility expected to support Airo trains and future maintenance for major Northeast routes through 2030.
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Severe storms disrupt New York-area flights as flooding hits roads
Thursday storms caused major delays and cancellations at New York-area airports and flooded roads. FAA records showed lighter general delays Friday morning.
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South Africa records 991,696 overnight tourists in July
South Africa recorded 991,696 overnight international tourists in July, up 12.5% year over year, as regional African travel remained the main source of growth.
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U.S. hotel growth holds up as summer gains begin to cool
U.S. hotel revenue continued to rise through mid-August, but growth slowed from July as school-year travel patterns and World Cup effects begin to shift.
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Nearly $615 million awarded for 238 airport infrastructure grants
Federal airport grants will fund runway, terminal, tower, boarding-bridge and noise-mitigation projects across 42 states and two territories.
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Spain-Italy border checks add friction to peak-season travel
Temporary air and sea border checks between Spain and Italy remain active, adding possible document checks and extra processing to peak-season travel.
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FAA’s New Air-Traffic Software Is Due for Initial Operations This Fall
The FAA’s new FMDS and SMART systems are designed to spot congestion earlier and improve weather routing, but results will come only after launch.
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National-park fee rules put tour operators on the hook
A $100 nonresident fee applies at 11 major parks, requiring tour operators to count passengers, manage named passes and prepay charges before arrival.
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National Park Service fee-free day is August 25. What visitors need to know
Entrance fees will be waived for eligible visitors on August 25, but reservations, parking, camping and crowd controls may still affect park access.
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Trump administration plans to close five smaller U.S. diplomatic posts
The State Department told Congress it intends to close five smaller diplomatic posts. They remain open, and service changes or closure dates have not been finalized.
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Proposed FTC-Hopper deal puts hotel-booking fees under scrutiny
A proposed $35 million FTC settlement with Hopper highlights federal rules requiring clearer hotel-booking prices, optional fees and final checkout totals.
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2026 U.S. tourism forecast faces a mixed summer test
A federal forecast projects more international visitors in 2026, but domestic travel is shifting closer to home while hotels and parks report mixed demand.
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Leisure and hospitality jobs fell in June as seasonal hiring slowed
Leisure and hospitality employment fell by 61,000 in June, but BLS said seasonal hiring was weaker than usual—not that hotel demand had collapsed.
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Why Airlines Are Watching Fuel Costs After United Flags a Sharp Rise in Jet-Fuel Expense
United and American are revising their outlooks as fuel costs rise faster than fares can adjust, putting pressure on ticket prices, schedules and margins.