Gadling

A strike threat timed to the World Cup gave hotel workers maximum leverage. Every hotel union negotiator in other major cities will see this deal the new national labor benchmark. hubs.li/Q04h7QGv0

The 2026 World Cup is bigger than ever. So are its ticket prices. But how many travelers are willing pay record prices? Resale ticket sale prices are starting to soften, and hotel bookings are falling short of forecasts. Catch up on everything here: hubs.li/Q04gTQl60

With the World Cup less than a month away, corporate hospitality planners face a daunting problem: getting clients to a stadium. It has effectively killed the traditional VIP model and forced planners to rebuild the matchday experience from scratch. hubs.li/Q04gSZjP0

The travel industry has misunderstood loyalty for years. Travelers are leaving destinations highly satisfied, recommending them to friends — yet still have little intention of returning. Repeat visitation isn’t automatic. It must be actively earned hubs.li/Q04gLS320

The Trump administration is waiving visa bond requirements of up to $15,000 for confirmed World Cup ticket holders from certain countries, the State Department told the Associated Press on Wednesday. hubs.li/Q04gx0rL0

Nick Adams wants the world to know that America is open and welcoming. He also wants the world to know that anyone suggesting otherwise is, in his words, “full of it.” hubs.li/Q04gvz6K0

TikTok turned scrolling into buying with TikTok Shop — now it wants to do the same for trip booking. TikTok Go lets users tap destination videos to compare rates and book hotels, tours, and experiences through OTAs and experience partners. hubs.li/Q04gcTyW0

Japan is moving to charge visitors more than residents across a range of tourist sites, with the Tourism Agency announcing plans to publish formal guidelines by March 2027. hubs.li/Q04fJYpm0

Kayak founders Steve Hafner and Paul English are collaborating on an AI startup for Booking Holdings called Lola, according to English and a source familiar with the plans. hubs.li/Q04fHhNY0

Priceline has been a savvy marketer over the years, and this new/old ad campaign tease hits the right notes at a time when affordability concerns are a major trend. hubs.li/Q04fv-dl0

Five U.S. states accounted for nearly 60% of overseas visitor spending in 2024, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office: New York, California, Florida, Texas, and Massachusetts. But the states have since reported a slowdown in inbound tourism. hubs.li/Q04f6R3V0

Google is expanding AI Max ads – which go beyond keyword campaigns and connect ads to AI Overviews – to travel brands. The move brings hotel ads, property promotions, and booking links into a system designed to match ads to conversational queries. hubs.li/Q04f5hpX0

More than 120 organizations back a travel advisory warning World Cup visitors to “exercise caution” when traveling to the U.S. under the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. The advisory outlines 6 potential risks to fans and other visitors: hubs.li/Q04dhKSD0

Spirit Airlines, once among the most profitable carriers in the U.S., has become a case study in how an airline can unravel — 2 bankruptcies, tons of furloughs, and many failed merger attempts in under 4 years. Here’s a timeline of how Spirit got here: hubs.li/Q04d62Fk0

Travelers are increasingly adjusting where and when they travel to avoid extreme weather such as heatwaves, as well as overcrowding and overtourism, according to new data from Booking Holdings. hubs.li/Q04d66cz0

In 2026, the American traveler has traded the pursuit of the best deal for the stable experience, as geopolitical shockwaves transform predictability into the ultimate luxury. hubs.li/Q04ck-GB0

The $495 nap: Bunk beds are coming to economy class this fall Economy class bunk beds have been an industry talking point for years. Now Air New Zealand is finally making the leap from prototype to paying passengers. hubs.li/Q04cdtXK0

Inbound travel to the U.S. rebounded again in March, extending a slight recovery that began in February. The rebound was driven by a 6.4% jump in visitors from Western Europe — the region accounting for the largest share of inbound tourism. hubs.li/Q04bTHgl0

It’s been a few weeks of big turnover in airlines’ C-suites. Just imagine what these former CEOs are chatting about, post-escape. We did. Stay ahead of the group chat with our daily news coverage here: hubs.li/Q04bwLfg0

Many countries have updated their travel advisories for the U.S., citing concerns about border detentions and violence. One country warns that, because of U.S. gun culture, “there is a risk of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.” hubs.li/Q04b4F7m0