News in Brief

 

Hyatt Studios to launch in Ala., eye secondary markets Hyatt Studios is set to debut in January 2025 with its first location in Mobile, Ala., and the brand has generated strong interest, with more than 4,000 rooms in the pipeline and 250 deals in negotiation. Hyatt has collaborated with developers, housekeepers and consumers to refine the product, aiming for cost-effective builds and targeting secondary and tertiary markets.  Full Story: CoStar Group (11/12) Using Data Looks Different These Days In today's privacy-focused world, it is a challenge to balance connecting with your target audience and respecting their choice and privacy. Between rapidly shifting regulations and increased consumer privacy expectations, marketing & advertising are in the midst of a major transformation. Learn How to Optimize Your Data Strategy.

Amtrak debuts Chicago-to-Miami route (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images) Amtrak has launched the Floridian, a temporary train route running from Chicago to Miami in a 47-hour journey. The route combines the Capitol Limited and Silver Star, with stops in major cities, and is a temporary measure during the East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project in New York City.  Full Story: WMAQ-TV (Chicago) (11/10),  Fox News (11/11)  Phoenix, Las Vegas lead US in meetings growth for Oct. Phoenix led US markets for meetings and events growth in October, with a 19.7% increase year over year, according to Cendyn, driven by national association events and sectors like technology and health care. Las Vegas followed with a 17.7% increase, with Dallas, Atlanta and New York taking the third, fourth and fifth spots, respectively.  Full Story: Hotel Dive (11/8)  Va. Beach to host USA Volleyball beach championship Virginia Beach, Va., will host the 2025 USA Volleyball Beach National Championship from July 16-21, featuring four age groups for boys and girls. "Our community is dedicated to creating an unforgettable experience for athletes, fans and families alike," says Dani Timm, the city's director of sports tourism.  Full Story: Sports Travel Magazine (11/12)

United Airlines redesigns amenity kits for business cabins United Airlines has introduced redesigned amenity kits for its Polaris business-class passengers, collaborating with wellness brand Therabody. United will also launch an updated children's travel kit in December, including an activity book and a pop bracelet.  Full Story: The Points Guy (11/8)

"Skillcations" blend travel with personal growth (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) "Skillcations," a travel trend focused on personal growth, are gaining popularity as travelers seek to learn new skills while exploring areas ranging from cheese making to sailing. "Skillcations are vacations centered around learning, reflecting a revolution in soft and vocational skills development," said Ben Martin, an economics practice director and principal at the architecture and hospitality strategy firm HKS.  Full Story: HuffPost (11/12)

Hotel uniforms evolve with sustainability, modern design Hotel uniforms are increasingly blending style with functionality, reflecting the brand's image and enhancing employee comfort. Current trends include customization to match brand identity, the use of sustainable materials like organic cotton and recycled polyester, and modern aesthetics with minimalist designs.  Full Story: Hotel Management online (11/7)

Brand USA's Dixon charts future with new C-suite roles Fred Dixon Fred Dixon, 100 days into his role as CEO of Brand USA, has already taken significant steps to shape the organization's future, adding four C-suite positions, including a chief AI officer, to focus on partnerships, marketing and technology. "We're focusing on product development for markets beyond the gateways; we're thinking about things like seasonality and where can we bring additional value to the industry, about product distribution and if our product is being sold in all the right possible places and the most strategic ways," said Dixon, the longtime CEO of New York City Tourism & Conventions.  Full Story: Travel Weekly (11/10)  Should your brand be part of the unhinged social trend? While brands like Ryanair and Duolingo have embraced chaotic, "unhinged" content on social media, others might find a slow and steady approach more effective writes Dept's Angharad Salazar Llewellyn. Llewellyn notes that brands like eBay and grocery stores can succeed with more sentimental or purposeful ads and points out other potential means of innovation, such as interactivity or engagement with platforms like Reddit, emphasizing the importance of matching content with brand values.  Full Story: The Drum (free registration) (11/11)   Optimize Performance using First-Party Data Join product leaders from Salesforce and Meta for an in-depth exploration of how businesses can maximize their marketing ROI using first-party data. In this webinar, you'll discover proven strategies to leverage your existing customer data through a new, seamless integration between Salesforce Data Cloud and Meta Conversions API. Register now. ADVERTISEMENT: Roblox's programmatic ads attract shifting brand focus Roblox's programmatic advertising is gaining traction as marketers shift focus from bespoke brand activations to more automated solutions. Roblox launched the programmatic video ad business in May 2024, attracting brands to the platform and diversifying revenue streams despite competition concerns.  Full Story: Digiday (tiered subscription model) (11/11)   Temu, TikTok top app downloads among Generation Z Generation Z's app preferences in 2024 highlight their diverse interests, with Temu leading downloads at 41.98 million, followed by TikTok with 33.23 million. Meta's Threads and WhatsApp also saw significant downloads, as did OpenAI's ChatGPT. Streaming and payment apps like Netflix and PayPal remain popular among this demographic.  Full Story: TechCrunch (tiered subscription model) (11/10)  How AI is enhancing product launches and media buying Agency integration of generative AI is advancing as it becomes a regular part of operations in media and marketing. The technology is incorporated at both the holding company level and within individual media agencies, affecting media buying and creative processes to deliver predictable client results.  Full Story: Digiday (tiered subscription model) (11/11)