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HBX Group has agreed to acquire Bridgify, an AI-native travel technology company, as it expands beyond hotels and pushes deeper into experiences distribution.

Kayak co-founders Steve Hafner and Paul English are working on Lola, a new Booking Holdings-backed AI travel startup focused on conversational access to travel brands.

Fairfield by Marriott has reached 100 hotels in Greater China with the opening of a new property in Chongqing, highlighting the brand’s rapid rise in one of Marriott’s most important growth markets.

G6 Hospitality is expanding its reach in the extended-stay market with Studio 6 Plus, a new upper-economy brand designed around longer stays, new-build hotels, and a more residential guest experience.

Leo Express is launching a new Prague-Bratislava route at the end of April, using Talgo trains to strengthen cross-border rail links between the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

St. Regis has entered Hungary with a new hotel inside Budapest’s landmark Klotild Palace, bringing butler service, signature rituals, and a strong sense of local heritage to the city center.

Marriott has launched its first Autograph Collection hotel in India, choosing a heritage palace in Karnal over a major metro and signaling stronger demand for design-led, culturally rooted stays.

Travel + Leisure Co. is bringing a Sports Illustrated Resort to downtown Baton Rouge, converting the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center into a new sports-focused hospitality property tied to LSU, riverfront traffic, and the city’s growing role as a sports tourism hub.

The EU’s new Entry/Exit System is now fully operational across 29 countries, replacing passport stamps for many non-EU travelers. The system is designed to modernize border control, but early travel is likely to come with longer queues and more biometric checks.

Meta’s new Muse Spark model may matter to travel less as a standalone AI launch than as an ecosystem move. If its multimodal and reasoning features spread across Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and smart glasses, Meta could tighten its influence over how trips are imagined, planned, and navigated.

Air France-KLM is strengthening its U.S. strategy with a new Flying Blue Visa card designed to boost loyalty and accelerate elite status.

Tripadvisor is reshaping its board after pressure from activist investor Starboard Value, signaling a push for faster strategy and growth.

The U.S. expands its visa bond program to 50 countries, requiring travelers to post up to $15,000 to reduce visa overstays.

U.S. airports could face closures as TSA staffing shortages worsen during the ongoing government shutdown affecting Homeland Security.

Plaza Premium Group has opened the first Plaza Premium First lounge in the United States at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, introducing a new tier of airport hospitality.