I’ll be honest; when American Airlines overhauled the American Airlines AAdvantage program a few years back so that you earn elite status primarily based on spending with the airline, its cobranded credit cards and other partners, I figured I’d rarely make it past AAdvantage Gold or AAdvantage Platinum status. And that’s largely been true. I…

The travel industry was among many rocked by a year of uncertainty in 2025 — and that trend isn’t going anywhere in 2026. A nexus of inflation concerns, consumer pullbacks on travel spending, drops in overseas visitors and burgeoning trade wars have U.S. consumers and businesses alike wondering what next year has in store. The…

Here’s a question: Why do we travel? To connect with loved ones, to unwind from our daily routines, to discover something new — and to learn more about the world around us. The architecture behind most trips incorporates all of the above reasons — and airlines, hotels and destinations are taking notice. In 2026 and…

Artificial intelligence is quietly becoming the travel industry’s newest co-pilot. It isn’t just reshaping how we book flights or choose hotels — it’s redefining every step of the travel experience. What started as basic chatbots and predictive pricing has evolved into sophisticated systems that personalize offers, automate upgrades and help travelers plan trips in minutes…

St. Regis Hotels & Resorts is recognizing properties with historical significance with a new collection, St. Regis Estates, launching in 2027. The new brand expression will be reserved for “legacy-rich, leisure-led estates” with each property selected based on “historical resonance and extraordinary natural surroundings,” the hotel group told TPG. The first hotel to receive this…