Miscellaneous

💼 Marriott Bonvoy, recognized as the Best Hotel Loyalty Program by The Points Guy in Bethesda, Md., excels with the Best New All-Inclusive Points Hotel, W Punta Cana. Founded in 2018, the awards highlight travel excellence. Marriott's portfolio includes 9,100 properties across 142 countries. In 2025, it expanded with citizenM and the Outdoor Collection, offering unique experiences like Michelin-starred journeys. The Points Guy, a travel media leader, reaches 11 million monthly visitors.

🗺️ Travellers during the Lunar New Year 2026 are booking longer trips with a 40% increase in cross-border stays of seven nights or more and a 50% rise in long-haul bookings. Destinations like Norway and Australia see booking spikes of over 200% and 100% respectively. First-class flights are up by 83%, and five-star hotel stays increase by 59%. Major Asian cities such as Seoul and Ho Chi Minh City report booking growths exceeding 70%.

💠 Hotel de la Ville in Rome partners with Coreterno in February to launch the ULTRAROME Journey, highlighting scents of Rome. Located above the Spanish Steps, the hotel offers suite guests the ULTRALOVE gift. Highlights include scents from the Pantheon, Campo de Fiori, Orange Garden, and Baths of Diocletian. On February 14, a candlelit dinner with Chef Fulvio Pierangelini at Cafè Ginori is featured. This journey invites visitors to explore Rome through its fragrances, enhancing the sensory experience.

🌱 Late Spring (May-June) and Early Autumn (September) are the best times to walk the Camino de Santiago, with temperatures around 15°C-25°C. Summer (July-August) is crowded, with temperatures exceeding 30°C. Early Spring (March-April) offers solitude but with unpredictable weather. Winter (November-February) is for experienced hikers due to cold and limited accommodations. Adapt your gear and plan based on weather and crowd levels to fully enjoy the pilgrimage experience.

🛒 Amazon will close all Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores, affecting 72 locations by February 1, except those in California, which will remain open for 45 more days. The shift focuses on Whole Foods Market, with plans for over 100 new stores and faster online grocery delivery, including Same-Day Delivery in 2,300 cities. About 16,000 Amazon roles face layoffs, though some employees may be reassigned or receive severance. Amazon Now tests ultra-fast delivery in select cities.

📖 Established in 1968 by 12 independent hoteliers, Preferred Hotels & Resorts has over 50 years of experience enhancing the prestige of luxury hotels globally. The company, family-owned since 2003, introduced the I Prefer Hotel Rewards program in 2006. They acquired Beyond Green Travel in 2020. Renowned locations include NIZUC Resort & Spa (Mexico), Wynn Las Vegas (USA), and Hotel Unique (Brazil). Their strategic approach focuses on marketing partnerships, distribution, and guest loyalty to boost profitability and awareness.

🛳️ Cruise loyalty programs transform traditional transactional models into emotional engagement. Research highlights that cruise travelers often return year after year, with many taking three to five cruises annually. Cruise planning spans six months or more, allowing for continuous engagement. Cruise loyalty members contribute 40% of bookings and spend 25% more per trip. The global cruise industry has rebounded to near pre-pandemic levels, with 30% of travelers planning another cruise. Cruises offer unique, experiential rewards, enhancing loyalty across industries.

✈️ Accelya reports a 168% increase in corporate NDC bookings and a 162% rise in NDC volumes through GDS in Q4 2025 vs. Q4 2024. Airlines on Accelya's platform included ancillaries in 31% of NDC bookings, adding up to $12 per ticket. January 2026 set new NDC volume records, signifying growth. BCD Travel saw NDC bookings quadruple, highlighting rapid adoption. This reflects a shift from pilot projects to large-scale operations, driven by significant investment in modern retailing technology.

📚 Using data from over 13,000 restaurants, a machine-learning model was built to rethink Google's ratings of London eateries. This model, a gradient-boosted decision tree, considers review volume, cuisine, and location. Insights show algorithm-driven market dynamics favor chains while new independents struggle. A London food dashboard was created, revealing algorithmic influences and identifying underrated gems. Central London remains dominant, with algorithmic visibility shaping culinary diversity. Platforms like Google Maps act as market makers, impacting economic survival by controlling visibility.

📈 Hampton by Hilton ranked No. 1 hotel franchise in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for the 17th consecutive year and No. 8 overall in 2026, marking its 11th year in the top ten. With over 3,100 hotels in 46 countries, it leads Hilton’s portfolio, which includes 12 brands in this year's ranking. Hilton operates more than 7,600 properties globally, welcoming over 3 billion guests throughout its history. The Hilton Honors program supports franchise success, attracting nearly 190 million members.