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APPROXIMATELY 70.9 MILLION U.S. travelers are expected to journey 50 miles or more from home over the Independence Day holiday, according to the latest AAA forecast. For the first time, AAA considered the entire week of July 4th, plus the Saturday before and the Sunday after the holiday. This year's projected number of travelers marks a 5 percent increase from 2023 and an 8 percent increase from 2019. "With summer vacations in full swing and the flexibility of remote work, more Americans are taking extended trips around Independence Day," said Paula Twidale, AAA Travel's senior vice president. "We anticipate this July 4th week will be the busiest ever with an additional 5.7 million people traveling compared to 2019." AAA estimated a record 60.6 million people will travel by car over Independence Day week, an increase of 2.8 million from last year. This year's number also surpasses the 55.3 million who traveled by car over July 4th week in 2019.

THE U.S. TRAVEL ASSOCIATION recently launched the Sustainable Travel Coalition to align the travel, transportation and technology sectors to create a more sustainable U.S. travel industry, a statement said. The coalition with nearly 60 member organizations will advise USTA on sustainability issues, opportunities and concerns within the industry. The long-term goals of the coalition include, showcasing innovative technologies and calling attention to the ongoing actions and leadership of travel professionals in the sustainability space, boosting industry goals and commitments to conservation, best practices, waste and emission reductions and both long- and short-term investments. It will also highlight why sustainability matters in the industry and play offense by identifying and promoting proactive policies and defend against harmful policies that slow progress or penalize the industry without progress. A policy committee will monitor regular progress and collaboration.

INTERNATIONAL INBOUND TRAVEL is expected to slow down in the fall after surging over the summer, according to the latest U.S. Travel Association forecast. USTA also expects it may take until 2025 for the travel segment to recover to pre-pandemic levels. Inbound travel recovery picked up in summer and reached a pre-pandemic high of 35 percent below 2019 levels in July 2022, said U.S. Travel Association. It improved from a 41 percent decrease in May and declines of more than 50 percent earlier in 2022. The latest report by Aaron Szyf, economist, USTA, said that inbound travel recovery continued from Europe and Latin America in the past few months, which was 22 percent below 2019 levels in July. Meanwhile, Asian markets declined 66 percent in July, largely due to stagnation from China and a very slow return from Japan.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL RECENTLY launched "Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy," an online travel booking program for small and medium business travelers. This program combines the benefits of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio with travel tools for booking, managing, and expensing business travel. It is available to businesses in the U.S., Canada and other countries, Marriott said in a statement. "We recognize the significant value small businesses provide to the hotel industry," said Drew Pinto, Marriott International's executive vice president and chief revenue and technology officer. "Whether small to medium-sized businesses are looking for convenient online booking capabilities for their employees or better expense management solutions, the all-in-one platform, merged with our portfolio of hotel brands around the world, provides everything they need to manage their business travel needs."

Savvy travelers have long known that the best deals on flights, hotels, and cruises are often available at the last moment. So how can you take advantage of last minute travel bargains? All you need is a bit of free time, a valid passport, and the know-how to get a great bargain on last minute travel. Read on the article for our top tips.

Savvy travelers have long known that the best deals on flights, hotels, and cruises are often available at the last moment. So how can you take advantage of last minute travel bargains? All you need is a bit of free time, a valid passport, and the know-how to get a great bargain on last minute travel. Read on the article for our top tips.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S new National Travel and Tourism Strategy sets a 5-year goal of attracting 90 million international visitors to the U.S. each year. Two major associations in the U.S. hospitality industry applauded the strategy as a step forward in restoring the travel industry. The new tourism strategy aims to support broad-based economic growth in the travel and tourism industry across the U.S. AAHOA thanked the U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and the Tourism Policy Council for their continued leadership and support. "[An expected] 90 million international visitors will drive strong economic growth," said Laura Lee Blake, president and CEO, AAHOA. "The $279 billion in annual estimated spending by these visitors will help not only the hotel and hospitality industry, but also the entire American economy. We commend Secretary Raimondo's new National Travel and Tourism Strategy, and welcome her efforts to aggressively rebuild U.S. travel and tourism."

TripHobo Travel Destinations: Explore Popular destinations, Things to do, Place to visit, Eat outs, Travel tips, Guides - inspiration from the travel experts

TripHobo Travel Destinations: Explore Popular destinations, Things to do, Place to visit, Eat outs, Travel tips, Guides - inspiration from the travel experts

New rules go in effect, enforcing travelers to show passports at San Ysidro border crossing. Pedestrian travelers entering Mexico at the San Ysidro/Puerta Este crossing must show a valid passport and fill out an entry form. Travelers who will remain in Mexico for more than one week will also need to pay 326 pesos (approximately $20) for a Tourist Card valid for 180 days. Although the majority of travelers entering Mexico by land continue to be able to cross the border without a passport, it is very important to remember that a passport is required to re-enter the United States. Read the article to get a clearer insight of implementation of the new rules at the Mexican border.

New rules go in effect, enforcing travelers to show passports at San Ysidro border crossing. Pedestrian travelers entering Mexico at the San Ysidro/Puerta Este crossing must show a valid passport and fill out an entry form. Travelers who will remain in Mexico for more than one week will also need to pay 326 pesos (approximately $20) for a Tourist Card valid for 180 days. Although the majority of travelers entering Mexico by land continue to be able to cross the border without a passport, it is very important to remember that a passport is required to re-enter the United States. Read the article to get a clearer insight of implementation of the new rules at the Mexican border.

We all love to travel. But sometimes world can be a scary place due to uncertain events like civil war, terrorist activity, strikes, natural disasters etc. The US State Department has an excellent tool "the Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts" (listed on www.travel.state.gov) to help us determine whether a destination is too risky to visit. If you are planning to travel outside the United States, checkout and understand the Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts issued by State Department.

The recent passport woes faced by NBA player star Enes Kanter have put a spotlight on US Travel Documents. Did you know that even if you are not a US citizen you can still get travel document from the US to travel internationally and come back to the United States? Check out the article by PassportInfo.com which put light on the passport issue took place with Enes Kanter and what are the travel documents available to non-US citizens who live in the US.

THE U.S. HOTEL industry will continue its recovery in 2022, but the path will be uneven and potentially volatile, according to a report by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. It added that a full recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will take several years. AHLA's 2022 State of the Hotel Industry report also revealed shifts in consumer and business sentiment. The report was created in collaboration with Accenture and is based on data and forecasts from Oxford Economics and STR. According to the report, hotel occupancy rates and room revenue will approach 2019 levels this year, but the outlook for ancillary revenue, which includes F&B and meeting space, is less optimistic. Leisure travelers will continue to drive recovery, the report added. Hotels lost a collective $111.8 billion in room revenue alone during 2020 and 2021. Business travelers made up 52.5 percent of industry room revenue in 2019 and it will be 43.6 percent in 2022. Business travel will be down more than 20 percent for much of the year, the report said. As the full effects of Omicron is not yet known, just 58 percent of meetings and events are expected to return. AHLA report said that the rapid rise of bleisure travelers-those who blend business and leisure travel-are impacting hotel operations now. A recent study revealed that 89 percent of business travelers wanted to add a private holiday to their business trips in the next twelve months.

Are you a lazy traveler or not? Here below is the list of travel tips for lazy travelers.

Learning the art of travel, what is needed to travel, where and why are you travelling.

This past weekend, Trump gave a speech in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood that laid out the latest Cuba travel policy for US citizens. Will it make travel to island more difficult for US citizens? Will it impact Cuba's small businesses and tighten the commercial ties between the US and Cuba? PassportInfo is here to tell you what the new Cuba travel policy will mean for you.

As a parent, you know that two of your most crucial tasks are keeping your baby clean and keeping your baby asleep at night! Those jobs can be challenging enough at home, where you are armed with changing tables, cribs, swings, wipes warmers, white noise machines, ergonomic baby bathtubs, and a slew of other special items. While you are traveling, it can seem like an even more daunting challenge. But, with these baby travel gear essentials, you can keep your baby clean and sleeping peacefully on your trip!

The laptop ban has been the top travel news that shocked everyone and is still dominating all the other travel news. There are more travel and passport news for you to stay updated and prepared for your next travel. Check out the status of the Miami Passport Agency, which flooded last month. And, if you are traveling to Europe, you'll want to check out the latest news about entry procedures for Italy and France!

Having a baby doesn't mean it's the end of your traveling days. With the right baby travel gear, you can keep exploring the world. It just might be a different kind of adventure than the ones you are used to having! If you are planning to take your little one on a plane, then take a look at these transportation items to keep your baby on the move. You won't be afraid to take off when you have these baby travel gear essentials.

HILTON HAS LAUNCHED a new extended-stay brand, Project H3, designed to meet the needs of the rapidly expanding $300 billion workforce travel market, looking for apartment-style accommodations for 20 nights or more. Launching in the U.S. as Hilton navigates the final stages of the trademark process, this lower midscale, extended-stay brand is the newest addition to Hilton's portfolio, the company said in a statement. Hilton is engaged in more than 100 active development conversations with many owners expressing interest in multiple locations. According to the statement, the product provides a foundation for the long stay, allowing guests to make the most out of every day, and delivers an exciting investment option for developers looking to diversify their portfolio under the Hilton name. "Project H3 is perfectly positioned to serve the unique needs of the long-stay traveler, thanks to its innovative design, strong value proposition for our owners and of course, the hospitality our team members offer every day," said Chris Nassetta, Hilton president and CEO. "We aim to serve any guest, anywhere in the world, for any travel need they may have, and this new brand represents a greater opportunity for us to grow our portfolio while providing the reliable and friendly service our customers expect from Hilton." Hilton's in-house research shows long-stay travelers, including traveling nurses, military personnel, and those experiencing workforce relocations, place quality time and comfort above all else. In addition, those looking for a long stay will book an average of 20 or more nights and desire a reliable home base that allows them to maintain their routines while delivering simplicity, consistency and convenience.

HOTELS ARE THE top lodging choice for holiday travelers who are certain to take trips in the next three months, according to a survey commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. AHLA also announced a new system for indexing bookings. The new national Hotel Booking Index Survey, conducted by Morning Consult for AHLA, revealed that 31 percent of Thanksgiving travelers plan to stay in a hotel during their trip, compared to 22 percent who planned to do so last year. The survey of 4,000 adults, conducted between Oct. 14 to 16, said that 28 percent of Christmas travelers plan to stay in a hotel during their trip, compared to 23 percent in 2021. As many as 54 percent of those who are certain to travel for leisure in the next three months plan to stay in a hotel.

NEARLY EIGHT IN 10 Americans plan to travel by car to their summer destination, with the majority citing the enjoyment of driving, according to a recent survey commissioned by G6 Hospitality, parent company of the Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands. Most travelers prefer hotel stays, though they acknowledge that cost will influence their travel plans. The study, surveying 2,000 Americans with summer leisure plans, found that 80 percent distinguish between a "trip" and a "vacation". "There's nothing better than cruising on the highway with the windows down, sun shining and music playing, especially when you're surrounded by your loved ones - even those on four legs," said Julie Arrowsmith, G6 Hospitality's president and CEO. "Whether you're the planner or just along for the ride, Motel 6 and Studio 6 provide pet-friendly and affordable lodging so you can relax, enjoy the journey and focus on creating memories."