What the Latest Supplier Shutdowns Mean for the Travel Industry

As Americans prepare to witness the total solar eclipse on April 8, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a warning that the event could impact air travel at airports located in the path of totality.

Southern California’s Disneyland Resort has just released fresh details about the offerings guests can expect to see during the highly anticipated Season of the Force limited-time event, coming April 5 through June 2, 2024. The celebration of all things Star Wars universe will feature new experiences, including attraction overlays, nighttime spectaculars, character encounters, and themed food, beverages and merchandise.

This article originally appeared in the March issue of AGENTatHOME magazine.  Subscribe here to receive your free copy each month.

A rep shows off tech device accessories. (Photo Credit: Lark Gould)

With measles making a global comeback - cases increased 79 percent in 2023 - the CDC is issuing new guidelines for those planning to travel abroad.“Many international destinations are reporting increased numbers of cases of measles,” says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, adding: “The majority of measles cases imported into the United States occur in unvaccinated U.S. residents who become infected during international travel.”In particular, the CDC website says Americans who intend to visit other countries should consult with a doctor six weeks prior if there’s any question about whether they’ve had the measles vaccine. Travelers are at risk of contracting measles if they've not been fully vaccinated two weeks ahead of traveling abroad, says the agency's travel advisory.“All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according to CDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.In another notable update, Russia and Malaysia have been added to the CDC’s map of 46 countries that are experiencing a significant uptick in measles cases. Some of the additional countries where health officials have reported large measles outbreaks include Afghanistan, Armenia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Qatar, Saudia Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. To view the full list of countries experiencing a significant measles outbreak, visit the CDC website.And if you do travel abroad and develop any of the following symptoms, the CDC recommends seeking medical care:

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ Women Own the Room initiative, which helps current and prospective women hotel owners break down historic barriers to hotel ownership, has celebrated fifteen hotel openings and over 50 signings in a little over two years. 

As part of its Nonstop to Net Zero effort, Southwest Airlines is signing on to a project that's been dubbed the Hawaii Seaglider Initiative.A new mode of transportation designed to combine the speed of an aircraft with the “relatively lower cost of a boat to reduce the time and cost” of transporting travelers, seagliders are all-electric, zero-emission vessels. They operate exclusively over water and can move at up to 180 miles-per-hour, which dramatically reduces travel time. Seagliders function by floating on their hull before transitioning to “wave-tolerant underwater hydrofoils” and then take flight at ultra-low altitudes about 30- to 60-feet above the surface of the water. The vessels are being designed by Rhode Island based manufacturer REGENT.The Hawaii Seaglider Initiative (HSI) was first announced in January and includes a broad coalition of partners. Some of the high-profile corporate and community partners supporting the effort include AES Hawaiʻi, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaii Building & Constructions Trades Council, Hawaiʻi Lodging and Tourism Association, Japan Airlines, Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, Mokulele Airlines, Molokaʻi Chamber of Commerce, Polynesian Adventure, and United Airlines.

MSC Cruises has just announced the scheduling of a momentous occasion in Miami next year, when it will unveil the latest crown jewel in its fleet, MSC World America, at a glittering naming ceremony on April 9, 2025. 

Choice Hotels International announced on Monday morning that the company has terminated its hostile takeover efforts of rival Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.

There is no better city to start and end a cruise with than New Orleans! Visitors may be headed to sandy beaches in foreign lands or neighboring cities along the Mississippi River, but they can get a head start on vacation time with cool jazz, celebrated cuisine, historic architecture, and much more in this port city.

Cruise travel has never been more popular as the industry is expected to achieve record levels in 2024.

The travel insurance sector is experiencing a meteoric rise, according to the U.S. Travel Insurance Association’s (UStiA) latest market report, which paints a picture of remarkable growth in the sector. According to its analysis, U.S. Total Consumer Spend on Travel Protection surged to $4.27 billion in 2022, marking a staggering 143.9 percent increase from the UStiA’s findings in 2020.