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Visitation Hotel Frederick – Image Credit Marriott    Visitation Hotel Frederick, part of the Tribute Portfolio, opened yesterday at 211 E. Church Street in Frederick, Maryland. The hotel is a renovation of a former convent and Catholic school that maintains the building’s historic grandeur while introducing a modern minimalist design. It will be the first hotel to open in downtown Frederick in 50 years. The hotel features 65 rooms and will serve as a gathering place and dining destination for locals and visitors. Local chef Bryan Voltaggio created the dining concept with his brother, Michael Voltaggio. Together, they will launch a…

It has been a full year since the Yucatan Peninsula’s Maya Train, or Tren Maya, celebrated its inaugural departure for its first section connecting Cancun to Merida on Dec. 15, 2023. Former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador set this ambitious, multibillion-dollar project in motion in 2018.On Sunday, Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, inaugurated the final section between Escarcega and Chetumal, completing this nearly 1,000-mile rail network that runs in a loop across five states and 34 stations in Mexico.While the Maya Train offers a new way for tourists and locals to move around Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Chiapas, Campeche and…

Prima’s London Paddington hotel redevelopment project – Image Credit Prima    Singapore’s real estate firm, Prima Asset Management, has joined forces with Australia’s Schwartz Family Company in a strategic move to speed up its real estate growth in Europe’s prime hotel investment hub, London. This partnership will see Schwartz Family Company investing in Prima’s London Paddington hotel redevelopment project, and likely future endeavors. This alliance marks a critical stage in Prima’s UK expansion plans, which are further strengthened by Schwartz Family Company’s vast portfolio of 15 hotels and over 4,300 rooms throughout Australia. Dr. Jerry Schwartz, Director of Schwartz Family Company,…

As 2024 winds down, we’re looking ahead to changes coming to the travel world in 2025. From new hotels and airline routes to premium credit cards and swanky airport lounges, here are 11 things we’re looking forward to next year.Related: Points and miles tasks to complete by the end of the yearPoints on mortgage payments10’000 HOURS/GETTY IMAGESOne piece of news I’m especially excited about is a statement from Bilt’s founder and CEO in an email sent to Bilt Rewards members earlier this month:”[In 2025], we’ll announce the first phase of plans in the mortgage space, creating a whole new category…

Festive Season Fuels Travel Boom in the UK: Christmas and New Year Getaways on the Rise – Image Credit ABTA    Millions of people in the UK are expected to travel overseas during the Christmas and New Year period (20th December – 2nd January) Sunday, 22nd December, is forecasted to be the busiest day for departures, and Christmas Day is expected to be the quietest. ABTA predicts a surge in overseas travel during the festive season, particularly among families with young children. Popular destinations for those seeking winter sun include the Canary Islands, Southern Spain, Portugal, Turkey, and Dubai. Meanwhile,…

When Harry B. and his wife boarded Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas, they were looking forward to a relaxing tropical getaway. Buying $10,000 of skincare products definitely wasn’t part of the plan, but that’s exactly what Harry inexplicably did when the cruise ship made a port stop in the Bahamas.Harry — whose last name I’m concealing because he is highly embarrassed about what happened and believes he is a victim of a crime — suspects that to convince him to buy all that stuff, the merchant must have spiked the cocktails that were served to him with drugs.However, as…

Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Innovation and Growth at Cendyn – Image Credit Cendyn    As we wrap up 2024, Cendyn celebrates a year marked by significant milestones and collaborations in the hospitality industry. From a refreshed brand identity to prestigious award wins, Cendyn has dedicated efforts to help hoteliers worldwide connect with guests, drive bookings, and explore new revenue streams. This year, as the industry embraced technology to meet evolving traveler expectations, Cendyn led the way. Enhancing the digital experience In 2024, Cendyn transformed the digital landscape for hoteliers with tools that boost personalization and streamline operations. Our upgraded…

It’s never fun when your luggage fails to arrive at your destination at the same time as you. Unfortunately, that happens to thousands of travelers each day.More than 270,000 checked bags were mishandled (meaning lost or delayed) in the U.S. in August 2024, according to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Transportation. That equals an average of 6.4 checked bags per 1,000 travelers — and that’s just the statistics from U.S.-based airlines. When you think about how many international airlines there are and the potential for mishandled bags with them, the number skyrockets. Considering how many people will…

Innsbruck – Mews, the industry-leading hospitality cloud, has been chosen by Hotel Simmerlwirt to bring seamless, automated hospitality to its Apartments by Simmerlwirt properties, located in Tyrol, Austria. The family-owned brand is popular with those seeking spectacular mountain views, with skiing in the winter and paragliding in the summer. Despite its classic setting in the Austrian Alps, the team is embracing digitalization with automation and connected technology throughout the hotel, from embedded payments to digital keys. We spoke with a lot of PMS providers, and Mews was our clear favorite when it comes to modernizing guest and staff experiences, said Simon…

Airport lounges can be a much-needed oasis from a stressful travel day.While there’s already a lot of variety in airport lounges, this year ushered in some stellar new outposts that are sure to impress. In fact, while lounges outside of the U.S. have generally been nicer than those back home, U.S. airports did some serious catching up this year.We saw new lounges from Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines, as well as flagship outposts from credit card issuers that quickly became some of the nicest across the entire country.Upgrades clearing less? Airlines say more passengers are just paying for those…