Mallorca's Visitor Boom, Hotels and AI and Southwest's Optimism

It hasn’t been an easy year for Southwest Airlines. 

Will Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Gate be finished on schedule by 2030? Does it have the right mix of luxury and affordable hotels? Will tourists come year-round? 

Hotel companies are continuing to game out how the innovations and disruptions brought about by generative AI will impact them. But it’s still early days.

Low-cost Icelandic airline Play is making it easier to travel this fall and winter with $99 flights to popular cities across Europe.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, September 26, and here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Atlanta’s neighbor in the greater metropolitan area, Cobb County is a sweet spot for travelers: you get the Southern charm of suburban Georgia while being a half-hour away from a major city. With attractions like Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves, and Six Flags, Cobb County is a particularly great place for family vacations. But there’s a little something for everyone, from historical sites and outdoor spaces to great restaurants and breweries. These are some of the best things to do in Cobb County, plus where to eat, drink, and stay.

Iceland is known as one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights, as it sits just south of the Arctic Circle and is known for clear winter skies. But with numerous outdoor activities ranging from coastal hiking to horseback riding and trekking through ice caves, it’s a bit hard to stay awake every night to watch the skies.

W Minneapolis–The Foshay has been a part of the Minneapolis skyline for nearly a century in the iconic Foshay Tower. This storied but hip property is located in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. It is, by all means, a Midwest landmark—using the original elements of its Art Deco design paired with a modern air of trendiness, tying everything together to create an air of timelessness. The towering structure’s 10-foot tall “FOSHAY” letters can be seen bright and proud from across the city (it’s still the only rooftop sign in downtown Minneapolis), symbolizing its continuing legacy in the city’s skyline.

Jamaica has hosted just over two million overnight, land-based visitors and one million cruise arrivals between January 1 and September 14, said Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s tourism minister, in a statement.

More than 1,500 San Francisco hotel workers went on strike Sunday, demanding better pay and working conditions from Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt.

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

Delta Air Lines is being sued by a Jewish flight attendant who is claiming religious discrimination, according to a lawsuit seen by Business Insider.