U.S. Hotel Strikes Escalate as Contracts Expire

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.

Taylor Swift's "The Eras Tour" returns to the U.S. next month, and while I'm no Swiftie, I have a 9-year-old daughter who's a massive fan. I may not be able to belt out the lyrics to many of her songs, but I do have a ton of experience leveraging my travel credit cards and knowledge of points and miles to make memories with my family.

Staying overnight in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of AlUla has been possible for some years. Since Saudi Arabia opened its borders to tourism a few years ago, the region has welcomed guests with immersive luxury desert stays at sustainable resorts like Banyan Tree and Habitas AlUla and glamping at Ashar Tented Resort. And now it’s possible to stay in AlUla’s Old Town.

Hiking Machu Picchu. Summiting Rainbow Mountain. Sandboarding dunes in the Ica Desert, paragliding over the Costa Verde. Peru is unmatched for its variety of experiences and there’s no more luxurious place to start (or conclude) the odyssey than The Westin Lima, with rooms starting at $275 per night.

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.

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The Mining Exchange Hotel sits in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs, serving as a historic, revamped reminder that now matter how drastically the city has changed since its early prospecting days, some things have remained the same. Its name is a nod to the Centennial State’s “gilded past” — this property dates back to 1902, having originally served as the city’s stock exchange for precious gold and silver in its heyday. Back then, it quickly became a local hangout spot for those seeking to strike it rich (and those already wealthy). Inside, the atmosphere is ritzy and refined but not unapproachable. Stepping into the lobby is like partaking in a living history film as it’s playing out right in front of your eyes.

Big cities are my Roman Empire. I love staying in the heart of a city, but it can be hard to find hotels that offer a prime location and perfectly blended amenities that suit my travel style. Enter the Hyatt Centric Downtown Nashville.

Stepping into The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch in Beaver Creek, Colorado, just outside of Vail, feels like entering a cozy alpine oasis. This year-round resort destination is tucked into the mountain up on a perch among the majestic Rocky Mountains, peering down to showcase the scenic beauty of the Vail Valley. The property, with rooms from around $1,000 during ski season and far less during shoulder seasons, looks – and feels – like something straight out of a sophisticated Swiss postcard, albeit with Colorado’s rugged Wild West spirit.

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

A full slate of labor strikes are planned throughout Europe this month, which could impact both plane and train travel.Both flights and trains could be delayed as a result of the various labor actions in the coming weeks. Here’s a breakdown of the locations where strikes are expected to take place and when.