The Austin Convention Center is undergoing a $1.6 billion renovation that will nearly double its rentable space, but the project has led to a complete closure until December 2028. To address the disruption, the city's tourism and hotel leaders are adopting a networked approach to meetings and events. Visit Austin is coordinating with hotels to host 'mini-wide' events across multiple properties, leveraging the city's ample hotel meeting spaces. Despite initial communication challenges, these strategies are helping Austin maintain event business and even improve hotel margins during the interim period. Full Story: CoStar Group (9/18)
US travel agencies set a record for air ticket sales in August, reaching $8.3 billion, a 2% increase from last year, according to the Airlines Reporting Corp. Passenger trips totaled 24.6 million, with a slight decline in trips issued by online, leisure and corporate agencies. New Distribution Capability bookings accounted for 20.8% of transactions, up from 18.8% last year. |
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Corporate travel is experiencing a decline this year as rising costs have become the top concern for companies, according to Deloitte's 2025 Corporate Travel Report. Over half of the surveyed travel managers identified increasing travel expenses as the main factor limiting business trips. In response, 60% of managers are focusing on stricter compliance to better control costs. Live events and training are the primary reasons for business travel, while sustainability remains a priority, with more companies favoring airlines that use sustainable aviation fuel. |
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Kansas City is preparing for a significant influx of visitors during the 2026 World Cup, with the White House projecting up to 450,000 visitors and a potential economic impact of $480 million. The Missouri Restaurant Association is actively supporting local businesses to address staffing shortages and operational challenges, such as the preference for cash among international visitors. |
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The merger between Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines is improving profitability and revenue for Alaska Air Group a year into the deal. Analysts say this combination has created a new competitor for the Big Four. |
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Expedia Group's consumer business experienced sluggish growth in the second quarter, primarily due to a slow US travel market. CEO Ariane Gorin emphasized that the company's consumer brands, which are heavily concentrated in the US, were particularly impacted by these market conditions. In contrast, the B2B segment fared better, partly because of its broader international presence, highlighting how the domestic market's weakness continues to weigh on overall consumer performance. |
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The United States Collegiate Athletic Association has extended its agreement with Buffalo to host the USCAA Basketball Small College National Championships through 2028. The event brings 36 teams to Erie County each March, generating a projected $2 million in visitor spending and a significant boost in hotel occupancy. Full Story: Sports Travel Magazine (9/17)
The advertising industry must proactively implement responsible AI practices rather than waiting for regulations, writes Kevin Alvero, chief compliance officer at Integral Ad Science. Alvero advocates for human oversight, bias mitigation, data protection and transparency as essential components of responsible AI, and suggests third-party certification to validate ethical standards. |
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