On the Go – October 24, 2024

Industry News – Click on the title to read the full article. Many of the sources below require a free registration to gain access to the article. If a paid registration is required, the individual source will be noted.

Airlines

Spirit, Frontier Reportedly Renew Merger Talks (Source: TravelPulse)
Budget carriers Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines have reportedly re-engaged in merger conversations two years after a proposed deal fell apart.  Citing people familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal reports that the two airlines have recently discussed a possible merger. However, sources say the talks are at an early stage and a deal is not guaranteed.

Security

TSA Deploys Biometrics At 8 More Airports (Source: KGW8)
The Transportation Security Administration is ramping up deployment of facial recognition equipment at airports, offering passengers the option of quicker security screening. In the past week, TSA has added the technology in Seattle; Portland, Ore.; Anchorage, Alaska; and five airports in Montana.

Airports

New York’s LaGuardia Airport: From ‘Third World’ To Best U.S. Airport (Source: Travel Market Report)
LaGuardia’s honor recognizes the progress that came with the airport’s $8 million renovation, which touched every part of the airport, including the installation of terminal bridges connecting buildings, better roadway connections, and a brand-new departures hall with new retail and dining options.

Nashville Airport Finishes First Phase Of Expansion (Source: The Tennessean)
Nashville International Airport (BNA) is undergoing a significant expansion with the completion of the first $1.4 billion phase of its BNA Vision project, which included a new international arrivals facility, a satellite concourse, an on-site hotel and new parking garages. The $1.5 billion New Horizon phase, which involves rebuilding Concourse A, expanding Concourse D, and enhancing transportation infrastructure, is set to be completed by 2028.

Video Game Lounge Planned For Minnesota Airport (Source: Simple Flying)
Gameway plans to open a video game lounge at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) which will be the company’s fifth airport location. It currently has facilities at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) in North Carolina, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston (IAH).

Hotels

The Delano Las Vegas Will Convert To A W Hotel (Source: Travel Weekly)
MGM Resorts International and Marriott International have announced plans to convert the Delano Las Vegas into the W Las Vegas by the end of 2024.  The 1,117-room hotel, which is part of the Mandalay Bay complex on the south end of the Las Vegas Strip, will remain open during the conversion process.

Hyatt Hotels’ Bold Bet On The Midmarket (Source: Skift)
Hyatt’s growth strategy seems to boil down to this: build more roadside hotels, not just urban luxury complexes, in places where travelers need to be for practical reasons, without trying too hard to be hip.

Leisure Travel

Asheville’s Biltmore Estate To Reopen November 2 (Source: Travel Weekly)
Biltmore Estate, a top tourist attraction in Asheville, N.C., has set a reopening date of Nov. 2.  The 8,000-acre property shuttered in late September after Hurricane Helene damaged some of the estate’s grounds and facilities. Among the areas undergoing repair and restoration are the Biltmore’s main entrance as well as other low-lying areas impacted by flooding.

For Assistance with your upcoming vacation planning, please call Travel One: 952-854-2551

This industry news synopsis is intended for travel professionals and is provided as a news resource only. Travel One does not endorse advertisements that may be contained or pop up in the links. Please consider the environment before printing this email