News in Brief

 

US visa health screening seen as threat to hotel bookings   (Uladzimir Zuyeu/Getty Images) The hotel industry is worried about recent US visa guidance that requires consular officers to consider chronic illnesses such as heart disease, obesity and diabetes when issuing visas. "Since visa officers are instructed to evaluate not only the applicant's health but also dependents' health status and financial resources, this may discourage older travelers or travelers with chronically treated illnesses from visiting the US," Mohamed Dabo writes. Full Story: Hotel Management Network (11/14) Canadian trips to the US fall for 10th consecutive month Canadian travel to the US has continued its sharp decline, with Statistics Canada reporting a 30.5% year-over-year drop in car returns and a nearly 24% decrease in air returns for October. This marks the 10th consecutive month of reduced car travel to the US by Canadians. In a survey by the Angus Reid Institute, around 70% of Canadians say they feel uncomfortable about traveling to the US, with many citing concerns over invasive border requirements such as fingerprinting and registration for long-term visitors. Full Story: Skift (tiered subscription model) (11/12) Boston launches Frostival to increase winter tourism Meet Boston has introduced the Boston Frostival, a winter festival running from late November through February. The event, aimed at attracting more visitors during the off-season, features new attractions such as weekly drone shows, a Ferris wheel on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, and the Femme Fête Wine Festival, as well as existing events such as Snowport and the SoWa Winter Festival. Full Story: Luxury Travel Advisor (11/13) LVCVA OKs $7M for F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, WrestleMania The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has approved more than $7 million to host WrestleMania 42 and buy tickets to the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix. The LVCVA will spend $6 million to sponsor WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium, after WrestleMania 41 generated more than 140,000 room nights and more than $200 million in economic gain. The LVCVA will spend $1.25 million on tickets to the Las Vegas Grand Prix to bring in key customers and collaborate with partners. Full Story: Las Vegas Review-Journal (tiered subscription model) (11/12) Miami mayor seeks $7.5M for World Cup events Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has proposed that the City Commission approve up to $7.5 million in city services for FIFA-sanctioned events during the 2026 World Cup, in addition to a previously agreed $5 million cash contribution. Suarez believes that the city's investment in the World Cup will bring substantial economic benefits to Miami. The FIFA Fan Festival alone is expected to attract over 1 million attendees to downtown, boosting local tourism and supporting small businesses, restaurants and hotels. Full Story: Miami Herald (tiered subscription model) (11/14)

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FAA removes all shutdown-related flight restrictions The Federal Aviation Administration has announced that it is lifting all commercial flight restrictions at 40 major US airports, ending measures implemented during the recent government shutdown due to air traffic control safety concerns. The restrictions, which also affected space launches and general aviation at 12 airports, will be removed today, allowing normal operations to resume. This decision comes after a review showed a steady drop in staffing-related safety incidents, signaling improved conditions across the National Airspace System. Full Story: USA Today (11/17)