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APPROXIMATELY 43.8 MILLION Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home, surpassing pre-pandemic figures, according to a forecast by AAA. This represents a 4 percent increase from last year and approaches the 2005 record of 44 million Memorial Day weekend travelers. A record 38.4 million are expected to drive, marking the highest number since AAA began tracking in 2000. "We haven't seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years," said Paula Twidale, AAA Travel's senior vice president. "We're projecting an additional one million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we're exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead." The number of drivers this year is up 4 percent compared to last year and 1.9 percent higher than in 2019, the auto club said. Traveling by car is appealing for many people because of the convenience and flexibility it provides.

MAYA HOTELS RECENTLY celebrated the 25th anniversary of its first ground-up hotel, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Belmont in Belmont, North Carolina. The event marked the hotel's evolution from a 65-room establishment in 1999 to a modern 92-key hotel, while showcasing original site plans, franchise approval letters, snapshots from the 1999 grand opening and earned awards over the years. IHG Hotels & Resorts representative Jason Miller, local government officials, along with associates, community members, vendors and investors attended the event. "We came to the United States with nothing, but we knew one thing - this is the land of opportunity," said Baldev Thakor, Maya Hotels' cofounder. "We knew we wanted to build a Holiday Inn Express in this community and we knew there were many guests not being served," J.D. Deva, Maya Hotels cofounder, said. "Here we are, 25 years later, and it has been a remarkable journey."

STR FILED A motion to dismiss a lawsuit that claims it, along with several major hotel companies conspired to inflate luxury hotel rates. The research firm said in the motion that the seven individuals named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit failed to show a knowing conspiracy to fix prices through STR's "Forward STAR" program in violation of federal antitrust laws. The lawsuit, filed in February in federal court in Washington state, alleges that STR, owned by commercial real estate information researcher CoStar Group, and hotel companies including IHG Hotel & Resorts, Marriott International and Hyatt Hotels Corp., entered an exchange of "competitively-sensitive information about their prices, supply, and future plans" in violation of the antitrust provisions of the Sherman Act, according to the lawsuit. The plaintiffs seek to make it a class-action filing on behalf of every person who stayed at the defendants' hotels from February 2020 until the present for an unspecified amount. However, STR's motion claims it fails to provide evidence of any illegal actions and is mistakenly part of a current legal trend.

APPROXIMATELY 6,095 PROJECTS with 713,151 rooms are in the U.S. construction pipeline at the end of the second quarter, according to Lodging Econometrics. This all-time high marks a 9 percent year-over-year increase in projects and an 8 percent increase in rooms compared to the second quarter of 2023. LE's Q2 2024 U.S. Hotel Construction Pipeline Trend Report revealed 1,171 projects with 147,611 rooms under construction at the end of the second quarter, reflecting a 10 percent increase in projects and a 4 percent increase in rooms year-over-year. LE expects that as interest rates decline, projects scheduled to start in the next 12 months will quickly move to under construction. Extended-stay brands remain popular with developers, comprising 36 percent of projects under construction, 33 percent of those starting in the next 12 months and 34 percent of projects in early planning, the report said. Sixty-four percent of these projects are in the middle tier of brands.

IHG HOTELS & RESORTS recently entered a multi-year partnership with global NGO Action Against Hunger to address food insecurity and hunger affecting millions globally. The collaboration will support the NGO's efforts to prevent, detect and treat malnutrition in children through its "screen, treat and sustain" program operating across multiple continents, IHG said in a statement. IHG, operating thousands of hotels in more than 100 countries, supports food security, disaster relief and skills training, pledging to improve 30 million lives in its "Journey to Tomorrow" plan. "Food sits at the heart of our hotels and hospitality, nourishing people and communities, and yet sadly we know it remains in desperately short supply for millions of people, despite enough being produced to feed everyone on the planet," said Elie Maalouf, IHG's CEO. "This is a problem the world can solve if societies, organizations and businesses work together. IHG Hotels & Resorts is proud to partner with Action Against Hunger on their life saving work, in addition to the many other long-standing partnerships we have with incredible charities in local markets. Collectively we want to help create lasting change in a world where people are nourished, always welcome, and always respected."

WITH 67 PROJECTS and 7,772 rooms in its construction pipeline, Charlotte, North Carolina, ranks 15th among the top 25 U.S. markets by project count, according to Lodging Econometrics. LE predicts continued growth in the city's future. Hotels under construction in the city total 11 projects and 1,435 rooms at the end of the first quarter, with 31 projects and 3,466 rooms set to begin construction in the next 12 months, and 25 projects totaling 2,871 rooms in early planning. LE's first quarter hotel development data for Charlotte, released ahead of the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference, showed that more than 65 percent of the projects are upscale and upper-midscale brands, totaling 44 projects and 5,007 rooms combined.

NEW YORK LEADS the top 50 U.S. markets in hotel construction with 47 projects and 7,655 rooms currently underway, according to Lodging Econometrics. The city has a total of 78 projects and 13,549 rooms in its hotel construction pipeline, the 10th largest in the U.S. Projects set to start in the next 12 months include eight projects with 1,079 rooms, while early planning includes 23 projects with 4,815 rooms, according to LE's Q1 2024 Market Trend Report for New York, released before the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference. Within the New York market, the three submarkets with the largest hotel construction pipelines are the New York City area (including Brooklyn East, the Bronx, and Staten Island) with 25 projects and 2,096 rooms, the report said. Similarly, the Midtown South area features 11 projects and 2,535 rooms, while the Midtown West/Times Square area has 10 projects and 4,131 rooms. Combined, these submarkets account for 59 percent of the projects and 65 percent of the rooms in the market's total construction pipeline.

U.S. HOTEL INVESTOR sentiment remains robust, with investors indicating an increase in hotel acquisitions in 2024, according to a recent survey by CBRE Hotels Research. About 35 percent of survey respondents expect acquisition activity to remain the same as in 2023, while less than 16 percent anticipate a decrease. Despite high interest rates, more than 70 percent are targeting value-added and opportunistic hotel investments. CBRE's Global Hotel Investor Intentions Survey, which included more than 130 respondents responsible for U.S. investments, found that value-added acquisitions offer opportunities to reposition assets by adding rooms, redesigning interiors, or adding amenities to increase returns and long-term value.

HILTON WORDLWIDE HOLDINGS aims to double its 350 lifestyle hotels by 2028, planning to add 350 more within four years, including 100 this year. Also, the company appointed Kevin Osterhaus as president of global lifestyle brands to oversee the growth, design, and development of Canopy by Hilton, Curio Collection by Hilton, Graduate by Hilton, Motto by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton and Tempo by Hilton. The growth will be supported by the addition of the Graduate and NoMad brands, Hilton said in a statement. The company added more than 50 new lifestyle hotels and approved another 100 in 2023. Additionally, this year will mark the debut of Hilton's 400th property in this category. "As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Hilton's entry into the lifestyle segment, we look ahead to even more rapid growth with a powerhouse lineup of brands that will meet the needs of developers and guests alike in some of the world's most desirable locations," said Kevin Jacobs, Hilton's chief financial officer and president, global development. "The recent addition of the Graduate and NoMad brands to our lifestyle and luxury lifestyle portfolio will accelerate our growth as we look for more opportunities to deliver the exceptional experiences guests want in the world's top hotel destinations."

APPROXIMATELY 53 PERCENT of Americans plan not to use all their vacation time this year, despite receiving 12 days annually, the fewest of any country, according to a recent study by travel platform Expedia. Vacation deprivation in the U.S., defined as the feeling of not having enough time off, reached an 11-year high at 65 percent, even as rates have decreased in many other parts of the world. Expedia's 24th annual Vacation Deprivation Report 2024, which surveyed 11,580 people across 11 countries in March and April, found that American and Japanese workers take a similar number of days off each year, 11 and 12 respectively. However, Japan has the world's lowest vacation deprivation level at 53 percent. This may be due to Japanese workers taking more frequent short vacations and prioritizing relaxation during their getaways, Expedia said.

MOST AMERICANS PLAN to keep spending at least the same on travel, according to a recent Jenius Bank report. The report indicates that consumers view "richness" as balancing expense management with enjoying life and growing their wealth. Approximately 29.3 percent of Americans refuse to cut back on travel, despite its non-essential status, according to the Jenius Bank report. Also, 20.1 percent of consumers' largest one-time payment in 2023 was for a vacation. The study, "The Mind-Money Connection: How Managing Your Finances Can Make You Happier," reveals how consumers' financial situations are linked to their mental health and wellbeing.

NEWCRESTIMAGE HAS SOLD most of its hotel portfolio, along with some other properties, in a $822 million transaction with Summit Hotel Properties. Dallas-based NewcrestImage will remain invested in Summit and will own and operate two historic hotels it recently acquired and plans to make new acquisitions in the future. The definitive contribution and purchase agreement includes 27 hotels with 3,709 guestrooms for $776.5 million, or $209,000 per key. It also includes $24.8 million for two parking structures and $20.7 million for the various financial incentives through Summit's joint venture with Singapore-based sovereign wealth fund GIC, made in 2019 to acquire hotels in the U.S. "NewcrestImage has assembled a collection of high-quality distinctive Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG hotel properties throughout the Sun Belt region, which will be a great addition to Summit's portfolio," said Mehul Patel, NewcrestImage's managing partner and CEO. "As we will become one of Summit's largest shareholders, we have confidence in Summit as one of the industry's leading owners with a highly regarded public platform. We believe the two portfolios create an excellent combination of hotels that have tremendous growth potential and are well-positioned to create long-term shareholder value as the lodging recovery continues."

There is a very important part of getting ready for your upcoming vacations, and that is being healthy and ready to fight any disease that might caught you in the middle of your voyage. Nothing will ruin your vacation or business trip faster than a health crisis,and even minor medical issues can put a damper on an otherwise fun and productive trip. With some careful planning, you can prevent a lot of medical problems while traveling. Read on PassportInfo's guide here to preparing for a healthy trip!

Teenagers are always on the go... and who are planning to go to travel outside the US will need to have valid passports. The US State Department issues minor passports to children up to age 15, and adult passports to teens starting at age 16. Read and learn the special procedures to obtain a passport for your teen traveler under the age of 15, 16 to 17, and for teen the age of 18 and older.

Need your passport fast but looking for a reliable option? Then, G3 Passports can be the one that can help you out. G3 has long been known for white glove customer service and treats your request with the utmost respect and care. The services can help with all passport requirements, from, new passport, lost or damaged passport, minor passport, passport renewal etc. In time, as soon as 1 day. Check out complete information of G3 passports here.

If you're planning an international trip anytime soon, there's a good chance that you'll be flying to one of the world's top destination cities! We have a list of the top ten international travel destinations that you would love to visit this year. Also, know what passport and visa requirements you must have in order to visit for tourism.

Are you planning to get a passport? And, looking for a US passport help guide? Check this guide that breaks down every component of the passport request, to give you the details you need to do right in the first time. Read the details about official application forms, passport fee, FAQs, passport photo guidelines and other documents required.

As we know, it takes a lot of paperwork to get a US Passport, but Passportinfo.com is here to help you. Our US Passport Help Guide breaks down every component of the passport request to give you the details you need to do everything right the first time. Read our guide to #ExpeditedPassports to find all the answers.