Mallorca Had Record Hotel Stays Despite Overtourism Protests

Everyone wants to save money on vacation, but steep discounts are rare for most — unless you are a high-profile celebrity, influencer, or, it seems, the mayor of New York City.

Since Choice Hotels’s attempt to merge with rival Wyndham Hotels & Resorts collapsed earlier this year, the two companies have competed to win deals from developers and grow their footprints, average daily rates, and franchisee fees at faster paces.

An ongoing hotel labor strike in the U.S. is once again underway in Hawaii, where roughly 2,000 workers at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort began an indefinite walk-off this week.

Amsterdam, like many other European cities, is facing an overtourism problem. The numbers don’t lie. In the year 2000, the Dutch capital broke a record when it welcomed over 4 million visitors. In 2019, the city’s enthusiasm for unbridled tourism had curbed: 10.2 million visitors came to Amsterdam, which has a population of about 820,000, that year and spent 21.8 million nights in the city.

The Catskills does Autumn very well. A getaway in the fall provides a consolation for the end of summer. It feels like a homely embrace, offering comfort, warmth, and a sweep of color that will bring cheer to even the most die-hard warm-season devotees. As fall begins to drape across New York State, it’s the perfect time to book a getaway — after all, we deserve to celebrate this time of year in a place where the season is in its brightest incarnation. The Catskills’ Hamptonsification, however, means that a weekend in the mountains can quickly get expensive. There are some ways to do a getaway on the dime. One is to set a reminder for October 3, noon ET. On a first-served basis, Urban Cowboy Lodge, arguably the best cabin hotel in the area, is offering a stay on the Big Indian Wilderness for $24 per night.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, September 25, and here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Playa Hotels & Resorts announced reservations are open for Kimpton Tres Rios, the company’s latest all-inclusive property, for stays in early 2025.

Etihad Airways is preparing to announce “around 10” new routes, according to Arik De, the airline’s Chief Commercial Officer, in an exclusive interview with Skift. De said the network additions will be revealed in late November.

Marriott Bonvoy is making it easier to plan a fall getaway for less with a flash sale that has up to 20 percent off stays around the world.

Bali has long been a tourist honeypot, but the growing influx of visitors is putting pressure on local infrastructure and endangering the environment. 

As Europe's main tourist season winds down, cities are putting in place legislation to control overtourism and crack down on badly-behaved visitors alongside landlords who run illegal accommodation. 

In the dusty desert of Marfa, Texas, hotel and campground El Cosmico serves as an eclectic respite in Far West Texas.