President tips

One of the top reasons Marriott's Westin brand has a loyal following just got a glow-up.

Air Canada has just launched a direct flight from Vancouver to Singapore. This new direct flight not only marks Air Canada's newest international route but also represents the only non-stop service that links the country of Canada directly with Singapore. The route spans an impressive distance of 7,965 miles (12,818 kilometers) and is the longest in Air Canada's portfolio. The total flight duration can reach up to 16 hours and five minutes.

Hospitality titan Simon Cooper, whose prolific career encompassed leadership roles at Ritz-Carlton, Delta Hotels and Omni Hotels, died on April 24 following a battle with leukemia.

The red-and-blue neon lighting at the Rio Hotel & Casino had been a landmark just west of the Las Vegas Strip since the property opened in 1990. Guests were drawn by the excitement of the World Series of Poker (at the Rio for 17 years), an ambitious buffet, a free regularly scheduled show above the Mardi Gras-themed Masquerade Village and the jazz-tinged, comedic magic of Penn & Teller.

In November, managers at the Arenas del Mar resort near Manuel Antonio National Park in Costa Rica, challenged employees to come up with ways to operate more sustainably. The maintenance crew suggested electric locks on guest room doors. The food and beverage department proposed making jams from fruit peels. And the housekeepers advised: Ditch the slippers.

Carnival Cruise Line has officially christened its newest ship, Carnival Firenze, at Long Beach in California.

Delve into Local Strolls, a series where writers reveal their favorite walks in their hometowns. Each route offers a snapshot of urban life, guiding you to lesser-known attractions and cherished local spots. Here, Alexa Moore takes us on a two-mile-long amble through the historic streets of Georgetown, Washington, DC.

With submissions for the 2024 Skift IDEA Awards well underway, we are excited to introduce the first cohort of industry experts that will bring their unique perspectives and experiences to support us in selecting the 2024 Award winners. 

WHY IT RATES: Individuals interested in attending the marquee event will have to join the waitlist now.—Patrick Clarke, TravelPulse Senior Editor

Princess Cruises has pushed back the inauguration of its newest ship and canceled several sailings for next year in the process.

For his 73rd birthday in April, Felice Macchi had lunch at La Bettola Del Gusto, a restaurant in Pompeii, Italy, with a focus on seafood.

While the term “rustic elegance” gets bandied about to the point of cliché, Farmhouse Inn in Sonoma County is its epitome. Rather than a watered-down hybrid of rusticity and elegance, this hotel fully embodies both. (Think heated marble bathroom floors with a view of the chicken coop.)

We are thrilled to unveil the first group of esteemed speakers for the upcoming Skift Short-Term Rental Summit, happening on June 5 in New York City. This gathering is set to be a pivotal event for professionals in the short-term rental industry, providing unparalleled insights, networking opportunities, and expert discussions.

Welcome back to another episode of the TravelPulse Podcast!

Prince did it. Twitter did it. Meta and WW and KFC have all done it. Now Oakland International Airport wants to do it, too.

Bilt apologized April 10 after some Bilt Rewards members received an alarming email notice from Bilt Legal that their accounts were in jeopardy due to misuse. And there's good news for those who may have transferred their points out just in case.

Paul Ludlow is the President of P&O Cruises.

Last month, five travel advisors from four Dream Vacations franchises headed to France for AmaWaterways' Taste of Bordeaux wine cruise. The women, who describe themselves as a "tribe," didn't take the trip together just for fun: They were gathering photos, videos, experiences and memories with which to sell a partial charter of the AmaDolce's October 2025 sailing of the same itinerary.

Despite a recent surge in cruise popularity, the number of new cruise ships under construction is set to taper off after 2024. However, one company plans to keep building them and has indicated lines will likely follow suit.

Tag Heuer, a star performer in the watches portfolio of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton last year, has opened a 550-square-foot boutique on Carnival Jubilee, marking the biggest standalone store for the luxury brand at sea.

InteleTravel (No. 26 on Travel Weekly's 2023 Power List) has launched a rewards program for travel advisors, IntelePerks.