Miscellaneous

✈️ In 2023, travelers spent over 2 hours researching flights, averaging 128 minutes, and visited 141 webpages per trip, up from 38 in 2013. In the U.S., the figure soared to 277 pages. Three out of four travelers find comparing flight prices too time-consuming, leading to airlines and hotels being viewed as the second most misleading industry in pricing transparency. This issue is not just about transparency but a growing mistrust. AI may streamline booking but won't fix trust issues.

🏃️ The 112th Tour de France in 2025 stays entirely within France, passing through 34 departments and featuring 39 stage cities. With nearly 12 million spectators and coverage in 190 countries, host cities pay €65,000 for a stage start and €110,000 for a finish. Returns are up to five times the fees, with economic benefits reaching €500,000 monthly. Lille hosts the departure on July 5, with hotel bookings at 90% capacity, 35 points above average, and prices 40% higher.

🛫 Trump has announced a travel ban for 12 countries, including Afghanistan and Iran. This affects tourism, particularly with upcoming events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup. French tourist numbers dropped by 8.3% in 2025, with a 12% drop in April. New York expects 400,000 fewer tourists in 2025, revising projections from 67.6 million to 64.1 million visitors. The US could lose $12.5 billion in revenue, impacting its $2.6 trillion tourism sector.

✈️ Accelya dominates the global airline retailing technology sector, handling 53.3% of New Distribution Capability (NDC) transactions, as per T2RL. This represents more than half of global volumes, eclipsing other providers. With 66% of airlines adopting NDC, distribution is set to triple in three years, transforming retail strategies. Accelya’s AWS-powered platform supports full Offer, Order, Settle, and Delivery (OOSD) processes. CEO Sam Gilliland emphasizes their role in enabling scalable, revenue-generating airline commerce.

✈️ Global air passenger demand increased by 5% in May 2025 from the previous year, with an 83.4% load factor. The Asia-Pacific region led growth at 13.3%, while North America saw only a 1.4% increase, impacted by a 1.7% decline in U.S. domestic travel. International travel rose by 6.7%, and domestic by 2.1%. The Africa–Asia route was the fastest-growing at 15.9%. Forward bookings indicate strong demand for the summer.

🍴 Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor for Nation’s Restaurant News, has been with the publication since 1999. He hosts "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn" podcast. Thorn wrote for The New York Sun (2005-2008) and was a runner for ABC News during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. He graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University and studied at Le Cordon Bleu. Thorn won a 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award and was president of IFEC in 2005.

🍴 Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor for Nation’s Restaurant News, joined in 1999 after five years in Thailand. He previously wrote for The New York Sun (2005-2008) and was a sub-editor at Asia Times (1995-1997). A Tufts University magna cum laude history graduate, Thorn studied at Le Cordon Bleu Paris and worked for ABC News during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. His column won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award, and he was inducted into the Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014.

🍴 Niño Gordo, ranked #34 in Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, opened in Buenos Aires in 2017 and debuted in Miami's Wynwood on May 19. The 74-seat Miami outpost features four themed rooms and Dekotora, a hidden sushi and cocktail bar. Co-creators Germán Sitz and Pedro Peña adapt the menu using local ingredients like Key West prawns. Christine Wiseman crafted Asian-inspired cocktails, including the Red Bean Old Fashioned and Neon Skyline. The menu includes katsu sando, hamachi, and Peking-style duck.

🏨 Michel Miserez was working in Amsterdam 30 years ago and began at Marriott in Paris. The first Marriott opened in Arlington, Virginia, in 1957. Marriott evolved with innovations like a decentralized reservation system and loyalty programs in the 1980s. Courtyard, now over 40 years old, is the largest brand with 1,300 locations globally. Marriott emphasized service quality and consistency as a "home away from home" since its early days.

📖 Edward Mady discusses working with Ritz Carlton founder Horst Schulze. He introduces his new book, "Honing the Human Edge." This content is part of a series featuring Schulze. Additional resources are available, including a subscription for daily episode summaries and insights.