News in Brief

 

Sonesta's refocus centers on wellness Sonesta Hotels & Resorts has repositioned itself as a wellness-focused brand centered on self-care, discovery and fun after rapid growth from 60 hotels to more than 1,100. "We're not trying to be a wellness brand per se," said Elizabeth Harlow, chief brand officer, instead "offering affordable, differentiated ways to unwind, to be present."  Full Story: Forbes (tiered subscription model) (5/15)

INDUSTRY UPDATE Western Sports Park to boost Utah event tourism Western Sports Park is set to open this summer in Davis County, Utah, as one of the largest multipurpose venues in the Rocky Mountains, featuring six full-sized fields for sports like soccer and lacrosse as well as indoor arenas for basketball and volleyball. "Western Sports Park marks a major step forward for Davis County," says Erin Miller, destination sales manager for Discover Davis, noting that the facility "makes it possible to host larger-scale events that weren't feasible before" and year-round usability creates "opportunities for regional and even national tournaments, all within a welcoming, family-friendly setting."  Full Story: Sports Travel Magazine (5/15)  Mesa, Ariz., hosts two baseball tournaments at once Mesa, Ariz., is hosting two major college baseball tournaments simultaneously: the Western Athletic Conference Tournament at Hohokam Stadium and the Mountain West Conference Tournament at Sloan Park. "For the city of Mesa to be synonymous multiple NCAA baseball championships from two different conferences really catapults Mesa and the state of Arizona to the top of mind when considering who is nationally recognized as a baseball mecca," said Lance Fite, vice president for sports at Visit Mesa.  Full Story: Sports Travel Magazine (5/16)  Destination DC CEO: WorldPride demand below expectations (Bloomberg Creative/Getty Images) Destination DC CEO Elliott Ferguson says attendance for WorldPride 2025 in Washington, D.C. is lagging behind projections, which he attributes to concerns about federal government policies. The event was expected to draw 3 million visitors and generate $787 million in economic impact. "As a community, we're very welcoming and we try to separate ourselves from whatever the rhetoric might be, from a federal perspective," Ferguson said, adding that "there's no better place to focus on advocacy than Washington, D.C., to support all the letters of the LGBTQ+ community and make sure that rights are spoken of at the federal level."  Full Story: Travel Weekly (5/17)  March decline has Fairbanks, Alaska, tourism worried Fairbanks, Alaska, saw a significant decline in tourism in March compared to 2024, raising concerns about the coming summer season, says Scott McCrea, President and CEO of Explore Fairbanks. "That's airport numbers, that's railroad numbers, that's visitation here at the Morris Thompson Center, that's numbers from the hotel," McCrea said.  Full Story: KTUU-TV (Anchorage, Alaska) (5/16)  Amplify your IPW Show Presence Promote your booth space, boost visibility, and connect with buyers before and after they hit the show floor. Download U.S. Travel SmartBrief Advertising Packages for Exhibitors. :