American takes lounge dining to new heights

American Airlines is redefining the premium lounge experience with significant upgrades to dining across its Flagship^® and Admirals Club^® lounges. Refreshed culinary offerings deliver greater choice, more complete meal offerings and a noticeably elevated presentation — reflecting American’s substantial investment in creating a premium, restaurant-inspired experience for customers before they fly. The updates broaden menu variety, introduce new ways to build a well-rounded meal and add premium touches that further elevate the experience for both leisure and business travelers.

In Flagship^® lounges, the enhancements further elevate the premium experience with:

• Expanded culinary choices: A wider range of a la carte dishes and small plates gives travelers greater flexibility in how they dine, complemented by ongoing enhancements to our premium wine selection.
• Interactive dining experiences: New action stations, including a cheese-monger cart, bring craftsmanship and personalization to the forefront of the travel journey.

Customers will also be able to order from a QR code-enabled a la carte menu featuring select premium dishes that rotate with seasonal menu updates. Following the overwhelmingly positive feedback to the a la carte scan to order options in the Philadelphia (PHL) Flagship^® lounge, American has expanded this offering systemwide to all Flagship^® lounges, allowing customers to order from their seat.

In Admirals Club^® lounges, customers will enjoy:

• More variety more often: An expanded, frequently refreshed menu brings travelers a steady rotation of new dishes crafted with frequent flyers in mind, along with an elevated premium wine selection featuring Veuve rosé and Caymus cabernet sauvignon available for purchase.
• More to savor: Two additional hot items make it easier to build a more satisfying, well-rounded meal.
• Elevated presentation: An upgraded charcuterie selection enhances both quality and visual appeal, adding a refined touch to the buffet experience.

Flagship^® lounge menus will include:

• Watermelon cucumber feta salad — Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)
• Ham and egg chive waffle — Chicago (ORD)
• Thai basil and chili crispy shrimp — Los Angeles (LAX)
• Citrus-rum shrimp — Miami (MIA)
• Pineapple carpaccio — DFW
• Sour cherry cheesecake — PHL

Admirals Club^® lounge menus will include:

• Lemon herb chicken and mac and cheese bar — Denver (DEN), ORD, St. Louis (STL), Toronto (YYZ)
• Chipotle lime chicken — DFW; Austin, Texas (AUS); Houston (IAH); Nashville, Tennessee (BNA)
• Coconut turmeric chickpea and vegetable curry – MIA
• Build-your-own breakfast tostada – Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT); Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina (RDU); Washington, D.C. (DCA)
• Rustic zucchini and flame-roasted corn — LAX; Phoenix (PHX); Santa Ana, California (SNA); San Francisco (SFO)

Whether travelers are looking for a light bite or a more wholesome meal, the refreshed menus and enhanced presentation create a better dining experience tailored to a variety of tastes and travel occasions.

HOOVER DAM TRANSFORMED BY MOST AMBITIOUS PATRIOTIC DISPLAY IN ITS HISTORY AS ROAD TO AMERICA250 BEGINS

LAS VEGAS – Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer travel, and leaders from Nevada and Arizona came together at Hoover Dam to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to the country. The ceremony also helped launch the road to America250 with the most ambitious patriotic installation ever attempted at one of the nation’s most iconic landmarks.

The ceremony featured remarks from Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, Clark County Commissioner Jim Gibson, Bureau of Reclamation Acting Regional Director Genevieve Johnson, and Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) President and CEO Steve Hill.

The installation features dramatic red, white, and blue illumination and a massive American flag measuring 300 feet wide by 150 feet tall suspended across the dam. The unveiling also marks the start of a summer-long lineup of patriotic programming across Southern Nevada, including eight consecutive Saturdays of fireworks displays lighting up the Las Vegas Strip and Downtown Las Vegas throughout June and July.

Constructed during the Great Depression, Hoover Dam remains one of the nation’s most iconic infrastructure achievements and a lasting symbol of American ingenuity and resilience. More than 21,000 men worked on the project over five years, helping transform Southern Nevada and shape the region’s growth.

The activation also coincides with the start of the summer travel season and America250’s “Great American Road Trip” initiative, which encourages Americans to explore iconic destinations, scenic routes, and uniquely American experiences across the country.

The installation (weather permitting) and light display will be activated every evening through Saturday, July 4.

For Hoover Dam visitor hours, please visit: https://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/service/

From where you go to what you do: More ways to earn miles with Airbnb

SkyMiles Members can now connect their SkyMiles and Airbnb accounts on deltaairbnb.com and earn miles on qualifying Airbnb Homes, Experiences and Services — expanding earning opportunities across more of the travel journey. 

For SkyMiles Members, earning miles isn’t limited to flight day — or even to where you stay.

Today, Delta and Airbnb are expanding their loyalty partnership to reward more of the moments that make trips unforgettable. Members have long been able to earn miles on Airbnb Homes, and now that earning expands to qualifying Airbnb Experiences and Services — bringing added value to the places you settle into, the local moments you discover and the services that help shape how you enjoy a destination. 

When Delta SkyMiles and Airbnb accounts are connected, Members can earn: 

• 1 mile per $1 USD* on Airbnb Homes 
• 3 miles per $1 USD* on qualifying Airbnb Experiences and Services¹
  _{*(Excluding taxes, discounts, incentives and other fees, when booking within 10 days from activating the booking window.)}

This expansion reflects how people are choosing to travel today, with nearly two-thirds of U.S. travelers saying they’d rather spend their money on unforgettable experiences than physical goods^†.  

“Delta and Airbnb both understand that travel doesn’t start or end at the airport,” said Dwight James, Senior Vice President – Customer Engagement & Loyalty for Delta Air Lines, and CEO – Delta Vacations. “By expanding how SkyMiles Members earn miles with Airbnb — from where they stay to what they do once they arrive — we continue to extend the value of SkyMiles beyond the flight and give Members more ways to turn memorable travel experiences into future trips.”

Making it easier to plan, book and earn 

Planning a trip should feel straightforward — and earning miles should, too.

Along with expanded earning, Delta and Airbnb have made meaningful improvements to how Members connect their accounts and move through the booking process. Once SkyMiles and Airbnb accounts are connected, Members can see an estimated number of miles they may earn directly within the Airbnb platform before they book — providing helpful visibility upfront as travel plans come together².

Paired with the new 10-day booking window, this added visibility makes it easier for Members to explore, plan and book their next trip. 

How to start earning miles with Airbnb 

• Visit deltaairbnb.com and follow the instructions to connect your Delta SkyMiles and Airbnb accounts. 
• Once connected, your 10-day booking window begins. When your accounts are connected, you’ll see an estimated number of miles displayed alongside qualifying listings — this is how you’ll know earning is active for that booking².
• Book qualifying Airbnb Homes, Experiences and Services during that window to earn miles¹. 
• Enjoy your stay, experience or service — miles are earned once your qualifying booking is completed.

If you need more time to book, or the next time you’re planning a trip, you can re-connect your accounts at any time on deltaairbnb.com to refresh eligibility and open a new 10-day booking window.

“At Airbnb, we’re focused on creating more value for our community. With Delta, the fit is clear. Now, every stay can go further — giving guests the ability to earn Delta miles toward their next trip,” said Dave Stephenson, Chief Business Officer at Airbnb. “By combining Delta’s loyalty program with Airbnb’s global platform, we’re making travel more rewarding. Every trip can now help power the next one.”

Expedia Reveals “Kick Off or Take Off” Summer Trend as Travelers Split Between Soccer Host Cities and Lower-Priced Vacations

As North America prepares to host one of the world’s largest international soccer tournaments, new data indicates diverging traveler behavior.

New Expedia Group data from the Unpack ’26 Summer: The Trends in Travel report identifies “Kick Off or Take Off” as a defining global travel trend this summer, with travelers making one of two distinct choices as the world prepares for the major international soccer tournament held in North America.

The new data highlights a growing intentionality around crowds, cost and experience:

• Kick Off: Soccer superfans traveling to North American host cities to experience the match-day excitement in person, with demand skyrocketing in destinations like Kansas City, U.S. (+700%), Philadelphia, U.S. (+210%) and Monterrey, Mexico (+210%).
• Take Off: Other travelers are choosing destinations across Europe, Asia and South America with lower hotel prices – nearly 25% lower on average – even with interest rising an average of over 35% year-over-year.

“This summer, we’re seeing a clear split in traveler behavior: soccer fans are heading straight into the action, while others are using the moment to travel somewhere quieter and more affordable,” said Melanie Fish, Vice President, Global Public Relations, Expedia Group. “What’s driving both decisions is purpose: travelers are being more intentional about how and where they want to spend their summer.”

Which cities are seeing the biggest surge in soccer travel this summer?

As tournament anticipation builds, these are Expedia’s 2026 Kick-Off Destinations — the cities seeing the biggest search increases for the games:

• Kansas City, U.S. (+700%)
• Philadelphia, U.S. (+210%)
• Monterrey, Mexico (+210%)
• Atlanta, U.S. (+200%)
• Houston, U.S. (+120%)
• Dallas, U.S. (+115%)
• Guadalajara, Mexico (+95%)
• Mexico City, Mexico (+85%)
• Boston, U.S. (+80%)
• Los Angeles, U.S. (+60%)
• Seattle, U.S. (+55%)
• Miami, U.S. (+45%)
• Vancouver, Canada (+40%)
• Toronto, Canada (+25%)
• San Francisco, U.S. (+25%)
• New Jersey, U.S. (+20%)

Which destinations have lower hotel prices this summer?

For travelers looking to get away this summer, Expedia’s 2026 Take-Off Destinations highlight popular spots in Europe, Asia and South America with lower hotel prices, measured by Average Daily Rate (ADR):

• Fukuoka, Japan (-35% ADR)
• Buenos Aires, Argentina (-35% ADR)
• Nara, Japan (-30% ADR)
• Thasos, Greece (-30% ADR)
• Shenzhen, China (-25% ADR)
• Courchevel, France (-20% ADR)
• Krabi, Thailand (-20% ADR)
• Manchester, U.K. (-15% ADR)
• São Sebastião, Brazil (-15% ADR)
• Kyoto, Japan (-15% ADR)

For more information about these diverging travel behaviors dominating summer travel, check out the Kick Off or Take Off travel trend.

W Hotels Continues Its Italian Expansion with the Debut of W Sardinia – Poltu Quatu

W Sardinia – Poltu Quatu brings the brand’s distinctive design and dynamic energy to one of Italy’s most coveted Mediterranean destinations.

W Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, today announces the official opening of W Sardinia – Poltu Quatu, following a preview in 2025. Set along one of the Mediterranean’s most striking islands, the new opening brings the brand’s design-driven, culture-forward perspective to Sardinia, building on the brand’s dynamic growth in Italy alongside W Rome and W Florence.

W Sardinia – Poltu Quatu is set along Sardinia’s northeast coast, between Porto Cervo and Baia Sardinia, overlooking the Marina dell’Orso in the storied village of Poltu Quatu – meaning ‘hidden port’ in the island’s ancient language. Carved into a natural fjord, the resort’s whitewashed architecture cascades across wind-sculpted granite cliffs, framed by lush Mediterranean landscape and crystal-clear water.

Designed by the multi-disciplinary studio Meyer Davis – the creative force behind W Rome – and architecture by DE.TALES, the hotel features 157 stylishly appointed guestrooms and suites conceived as immersive retreats. Social life centers around destination-driven spaces including TANIT, a marina-front seafood restaurant, a signature W Lounge, WET Deck, AWAY Spa, and FIT, the brand’s take on the hotel gym.

“The opening of W Sardinia – Poltu Quatu marks an important milestone for W Hotels as we debut on the island of Sardinia and continue to deepen our presence across Italy,” said George Fleck, Senior Vice President and Global Brand Leader, W Hotels. “Italy’s cultural influence is unmatched – from design and cuisine to music and fashion – and Sardinia brings a distinct rhythm all its own. This opening reflects our intention to grow thoughtfully in destinations where culture leads, and where W Hotels can offer a bold, modern point of view while staying deeply connected to place.”

Coastline Craft Meets Distinctive Design

The hotel’s architecture honors the original vision of renowned architect Le Suisse. Sweeping arches and geometric openings reinforce a strong sense of place, blending heritage architecture with a contemporary, design‑forward lens. On arrival, guests are welcomed by a signature W statue by Sardinian artist Nicola Filia, crafted from steel and clay. Inside, the W Lounge draws inspiration from local legends of the Janas – mythical guardians said to dwell in Sardinia’s caves. A sculptural wall by ceramist Luca Scassellati recalls marine life, while mirrored surfaces, hammered metals, matte finishes, and Sardinian Orosei marble flooring evoke the allure of submerged relics and ancient grottoes.

Design at W Sardinia – Poltu Quatu is grounded in a deep sense of place, with soft textures, tactile materials, and sculptural, rounded forms echoing the island’s natural rhythms, layered in a palette of sand, stone, and sun‑washed wood tones. Select suites feature private plunge pools, while curated works by local artists bring Sardinian craftsmanship into focus – from ceramic vases by Walter Usai and tapestries by Fabrizio Sanna, to paintings by Cinzia Murgia, all selected in collaboration with Kooness art studio. Each space is further enriched with aerial photography by Giuseppe Chironi, creating an immersive, gallery‑like experience that feels both refined and rooted.

The experience reaches its apex in the two Penthouse Suites, offering sweeping outdoor terraces with a private pool, alongside a full kitchen and bar designed for elevated entertaining. Set against panoramic views of Sardinia’s dramatic coastline, the Penthouses deliver a residential‑style retreat defined by privacy, scale, and effortless luxury.

Social energy unfolds across the hotel’s public spaces. W Lounge, inspired by the island’s flora and ancient ruins, blends sea and shoreline influences into a dynamic gathering space, while outdoors, the brand’s signature WET Deck pool terrace reflects the sculptural beauty of the surrounding granite. Natural textures and relaxed, architectural huts set the scene for sun‑soaked days that transition seamlessly into vibrant nights. FIT completes the experience, offering a modern wellness counterpoint to the hotel’s always‑on rhythm.

Taste the Island Through Sardinian Slow Dining

At W Sardinia – Poltu Quatu, dining is an expression of place – rooted in Sardinia tradition and reimagined through a modern, creative lens. Led by Chef Antonio Bitetto, alongside award-winning Pastry Chef Fabrizio, each culinary experience balances heritage and innovation, celebrating the local ingredients, coastal rhythms, and the island’s deeply ingrained culture of gathering around the table. Fiorani’s signature desserts take center stage in the Dolce Room, an interactive, immersive space where guests are invited to engage with his playful, sweet creations.

TANIT, named for the ancient goddess of abundance, pays homage to the sea and Sardinia’s enduring connection to it. Open daily for breakfast and dinner, the waterfront restaurant delivers a refined take on Sardinia seafood, set against sweeping marina views. Organic curves, textured white walls, and sculptural lighting echo the movement of the water, while traditional thatched ceilings frame an atmosphere that feels both elemental and elevated.  

From day to night, WET Deck and W Lounge anchor the resort’s social and dining scene​ with live music and curated DJ sets, creating an elevated cocktail culture that reflects the brand’s always-on energy. Outdoors, WET Deck pairs poolside bites and aperitivos with sun-drenched views, transitioning seamlessly from relaxed afternoons to vibrant evenings – where food, music, and atmosphere converge at the heart of the resort.

Always-on Island Programming

At W Sardinia – Poltu Quatu, the island becomes the stage. Throughout the season, the hotel brings together Sardinian artisans, chefs, and performers, creating a rotating calendar of experiences rooted in craft, culture, and creative exchange. Culinary rituals spotlight native ingredients and local producers, while the artist-in-residence program invites guests to engage directly with Sardinia’s creative community. From hands-on moments with local ceramicists and traditional pasta-making sessions, to guided hikes through rugged, untamed landscapes, each experience is designed to feel intimate, immersive, and unmistakably of place. As day turns to night, the rhythm shifts to handcrafted cocktails, live music, and DJ-led moments, closing each chapter of discovery with the brand’s signature social energy.

Wellness at W Sardinia – Poltu Quatu, moves beyond the walls of FIT, the resort’s 24/7 Technogym-powered fitness center, extending outdoors and into the natural surroundings. Experiences include sunrise yoga overlooking the sea and energizing power walks around the marina, blending movement, mindfulness, and the restorative pace of island life.

From the hotel’s private marina, guests can venture out to explore some of the Mediterranean’s most spectacular coastal scenery. In partnership with Fjord 41 XL speedboats, curated excursions unlock exclusive access to Sardinia’s spectacular coastline – from anchoring in hidden coves and secluded swimming spots, to discovering La Maddalena Archipelago and embarking on day trips to the pristine island of Caprera. Each journey is designed as a gateway to the island’s wild beauty, sense of freedom, and spirit of exploration.

The Met to Present a Major Exhibition Dedicated to the Careers of Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock 10/4/26-1/31/27

Featuring over 120 works from more than 80 U.S. and international lenders, this exhibition marks the first major New York presentation of either artist’s work in over two decades—and their first at The Met.

(New York) —Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous at The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a major exhibition that charts the full arc of the careers of Lee Krasner (1908–1984) and Jackson Pollock (1912–1956) in parallel, examining the distinct yet connected practices of these artistic peers and life partners. On view October 4, 2026, through January 31, 2027, it marks the first major New York presentation devoted to either artist in more than 20 years, introducing their work to a new generation while reassessing their enduring impacts on modern and contemporary art.

Krasner and Pollock were emerging artists in New York when they met on the occasion of being included in a 1942 exhibition organized by the artist John Graham. They married in 1945 and moved to Springs, Long Island, where they remained entwined personally, artistically, and professionally until Pollock’s death in 1956. Pollock’s life’s work had secured his legacy, while the nearly three decades that Krasner survived him marked some of the most transformative years of her career. Drawing its subtitle, Past Continuous, from a 1976 painting by Krasner, the exhibition traces parallel lives and practices, first forged by lived experience and then shadowed by memory. It foregrounds the range and art historical significance of Krasner’s work while offering a sustained examination of Pollock’s rich and complex practice.

The exhibition is made possible by Kenneth C. Griffin and Griffin Catalyst, Marina Kellen French, and the Barrie A. and Deedee Wigmore Foundation.

Additional support is provided by Trevor and Alexis Traina, the Aaron I. Fleischman and Lin Lougheed Fund, The Huo Family Foundation, and Joyce Kwok.

“With its distinctive premise and scope, Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous exemplifies The Met’s commitment to reexamining modern art through rigorous scholarship and fresh perspectives,” said Max Hollein, Marina Kellen French Director and Chief Executive Officer of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. “By considering each artist on their own terms while also foregrounding their consequential relationship, the exhibition situates Krasner’s and Pollock’s work within a broader cultural and artistic context—an approach central to the mission of The Met’s Department of Modern and Contemporary Art and to the vision of the forthcoming Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing, opening in 2030. This project affirms Krasner and Pollock not only as defining figures of their moment, but as artists whose work continues to shape and inspire future generations.”

“Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous begins with the fundamental premise that these artists are equals, partners in life, giants in the history of art, and revolutionaries who defined what abstraction could be,” said David Breslin, Leonard A. Lauder Curator in Charge, Department of Modern and Contemporary Art, The Met. “Each found a partner who would insist on the primacy of art over life; and they both aspired to an art that was forged out of historical connections but that also promised freedom and radical possibility in a world forever changed by war. The exhibition concerns entwined lives but is also about how different artistic directions come from shared terrain.”

“Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous approaches these artists not as a single story, but as two practices unfolding in proximity over time,” said Brinda Kumar, Associate Curator, Department of Modern and Contemporary Art, The Met. “The exhibition examines how Krasner and Pollock shared a commitment to testing the possibilities of abstraction—through shifts in scale, material, and form—and how those investigations continued to evolve along distinct trajectories.”

Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous follows each artist’s life and work. The exhibition highlights their differences as much as their interrelation, with some galleries that place the artists together and others where they are presented independently. Krasner and Pollock were shaped by their distinct upbringings and formative trainings. Krasner adopted and negotiated the tenets of the European avant-garde, particularly Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Piet Mondrian. Her training under Hans Hofmann was key to her development. Pollock’s network of broad influences included Thomas Hart Benton and American Regionalism, Mexican mural traditions, Surrealism, and even his own family of artists. Their early paths unfold as complementary divergences, tracing distinct strands of American modernism that would ultimately converge in the rupture known as Abstract Expressionism. For Pollock, his breakthrough was the “drip” technique, a radical mode of painting that flourished in a condensed but prolific period from 1946 to 1951. Krasner’s varied practice was typified by ceaseless explorations of abstraction, often cued by her abiding interest in the possibilities of nature and color. This manifested in bold collages, gestural canvases and vividly hued hard-edge painting. Historically, Pollock’s reputation has eclipsed Krasner’s. LIFE Magazine asked in 1949 if Pollock was “the greatest living painter in the United States.” His early death and posthumous media attention further amplified his fame and eclipsed critical appraisal of Krasner’s contributions. Today, both artists’ practices are rightly recognized as key to the innovations of art from the mid-20th century onwards. This exhibition continues and amplifies this reevaluation.

The exhibition draws on The Met collection and rarely loaned works from more than 80 U.S. and international lenders, bringing together over 120 paintings, works on paper, and ephemera to reconsider Krasner’s and Pollock’s careers—both on their own terms and in dynamic relation to each another and their shared artistic context. Major institutional lenders include Peggy Guggenheim Collection, MoMA, the Whitney Museum of American Art, Tate, National Gallery of Art, National Gallery of Victoria, Centre Pompidou, Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Dallas Museum of Art, The Art Institute of Chicago, and SFMoMA. The exhibition will also include several rarely seen works from important private collections.

Organized into 12 chapters that span each artist’s career and are punctuated by defining moments, Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous unfolds from the 1930s through the postwar years to the end of their respective lives, moving between moments of convergence and difference. The exhibition’s design, informed in part by historic spaces and installations, enhances moments of exchange—across time and practices—while allowing for discrete encounters with works by each artist, from Krasner’s Little Images series and Pollock’s drip paintings of the late 1940s to his monumental canvases in the 1950s and Krasner’s Umber and Earth Green series. The exhibition charts ongoing dialogues—Pollock’s late return to earlier motifs in the mid-1950s and Krasner’s extended engagement through the 1960s and 1970s with artists such as Klee, Picasso, Mondrian, and Matisse. This presentation will reveal two artists in constant negotiation with each other, themselves, and the cultural, political, and aesthetic stakes of their time.

A constellation of landmark works anchor the exhibition’s exploration of both artists’ practices, including Lee Krasner’s Composition (1949), The Seasons (1957), The Eye is the First Circle (1960), and Combat (1965), along with Jackson Pollock’s Stenographic Figure (1942), Guardians of the Secret (1943), Number 1, 1950 (Lavender Mist) (1950), and The Deep (1953). Two earlier exhibitions, Krasner/Pollock: A Working Relationship (co-organized by Guild Hall and Grey Art Gallery, 1981) and Lee Krasner-Jackson Pollock: Kunstlerpaare Kunstlerfreunde (Kunstmuseum Bern, 1989–90), concentrated on the approximately 15-year overlap in the artists lives, from 1941, when they met, until Pollock’s death in 1956. Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous is the first exhibition to consider both artists’ practices, in their full chronological sweep, together.

The Met has long been significant for both Krasner and Pollock. Pollock first exhibited a painting at The Met in 1943 in an exhibition in support of World War II. By the end of the decade, he would be among the artists—The Irascibles—who mounted a notable critique of the Museum’s then-prevailing attitude to contemporary art. However, a short while after Pollock’s death, The Met acquired the landmark painting Autumn Rhythm (Number 30) (1950). The Met’s collection of works by Lee Krasner were complemented by important gifts to the Museum by the artist during her lifetime. The Met was notably also the venue for Krasner’s memorial service in 1984. Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous builds on this history, marking the Museum’s first major exhibition devoted to either artist. A focused survey, the exhibition traces the arcs of their artistic developments, offering fresh perspectives on two of the most influential figures of 20th-century art.

The exhibition also reflects The Met’s commitment to showcasing artists whose work continues to shape how art is made and understood today. Krasner’s and Pollock’s contributions to modernism and their serious engagement with the possibilities of painting continues to be significant for the work of contemporary artists. In advance of the opening of the Tang Wing for Modern and Contemporary Art, opening in 2030, Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous models a curatorial approach that reexamines canonical narratives and connects 20th-century innovations to the concerns of today’s artists and audiences.

Exhibition Catalogue
The exhibition’s accompanying catalogue, Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous, expands the project’s central themes through newly commissioned texts. Featured essays by the exhibition’s curators as well as Johanna Fateman, Prudence Peiffer, and Matthew Holman consider a range of topics, including Krasner and Pollock’s intertwined creative lives as an artist couple, their strategies of abstraction in the 1950s, and the transatlantic reception of their work, while artist Amy Sillman offers a contemporary painter’s perspective on artistic breakthrough and legacy. The volume also includes an illustrated, interwoven chronology as well as reflections by leading contemporary artists, underscoring the enduring resonance of Krasner’s and Pollock’s work across generations.

Expedia Group Reveals ‘The AI Trust Gap’: Travelers Embrace AI for Planning but Rely on Trusted Brands to Book

New report finds nearly 70% of travelers prefer booking with trusted travel brands over AI chatbots and agents

SEATTLE,  — Expedia Group released its AI Trust Gap report, revealing a growing disconnect between how travelers use AI chatbots and agents and where they book. While AI is quickly becoming a go-to tool for trip planning and inspiration, travelers still overwhelmingly rely on trusted travel brands for booking and support.

The Expedia Group survey, which interviewed more than 5,700 adults across the U.S., U.K., and India, highlights a defining shift in travel: AI is reshaping discovery, but trust — not technology — is the deciding factor in where travelers transact.

Travelers embrace AI for discovery and planning

Expedia Group research shows that travelers are open to using AI chatbots and agents to help with planning a trip:

• 53% are comfortable letting AI suggest travel options
• 42% use or would use AI to monitor prices
• 40% use AI to help build itineraries
• Nearly half (48%) say AI saves them time and helps them discover places they wouldn’t have found otherwise

However, traditional channels still dominate trip planning

Even as travelers experiment with AI, familiar tools continue to lead in the planning phase:

• Only 8% of travelers in the US and UK rely on AI chatbots and agents, such as ChatGPT or Gemini, when planning a trip
• By comparison, 59% use search engines
• And 49% use online travel agencies

When it’s time to book, travelers still turn to trusted brands

Despite growing comfort with using AI in the planning phase, travelers are not ready to transact with the technology: The AI Trust Gap is most pronounced at the point of purchase, where travelers clearly favor trusted travel brands over AI booking tools:

• The majority, 68%, prefer to book with a trusted travel brand over AI chatbots and agents, even when AI booking is available
• Two-thirds (66%) say they would not trust an AI assistant to buy or book anything on their behalf
• Very few (8%) feel comfortable booking through an AI platform

Travelers’ concerns about AI-driven transactions center on:

• Loss of control (57%)
• Data/payment detail privacy (57%)
• Misuse of personal data (56%)

Travelers want accountability – not just automation

As a high-stakes category, travel amplifies the importance of trust in both technology and customer support. When something goes wrong, travelers expect reliable support and real accountability:

• More than a third (40%) of travelers are concerned about poor customer service if something goes wrong after AI has made a purchase

“Travelers don’t have a technology problem with AI. They have a trust problem,” said Xavi Amatriain, Chief AI & Data Officer at Expedia Group. “AI is already transforming how people plan, discover and experience travel. But travelers aren’t interested in booking a trip through an AI chatbot, and what’s holding them back isn’t model quality or features. It’s trust. Trust in travel isn’t built through technology alone. It’s built through real-world relationships and assets, strong customer support, and decades of deep industry knowledge. That kind of foundation takes time to build.”

What this means for the travel ecosystem

For the travel industry, this creates both a challenge and an opportunity. Travelers are starting to plan their trips in new places — AI assistants, conversational search, and social platforms — but they are still booking and managing their trips where trust is strongest. This fragmentation makes distribution more complex, but also more critical across the full journey.

The opportunity lies in offering innovative, AI-powered experiences at every stage of the traveler journey, while being the trusted place where travelers discover, book, manage, and complete their trips.

To read more about The AI Trust Gap in travel and explore additional findings, visit the Expedia Group partner blog.

Methodology

The AI Trust Gap research, which was commissioned by Expedia Group and conducted by YouGov, surveyed more than 5,700 adults across the U.S., U.K., and India from March 10-25, 2026. The survey explored attitudes toward AI across the full travel journey, including planning, booking, and in-trip support, as well as trust, concerns, and future expectations.

Hyatt Regency Niagara Falls Fallsview Opens Overlooking The Natural Wonder of Niagara Falls

April 2026): Today, Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) introduces Hyatt Regency Niagara Falls Fallsview to World of Hyatt as the latest addition to the Classics Portfolio. As the first Hyatt hotel in Niagara Falls and the closest Canadian hotel to the Falls, guests and World of Hyatt members can experience welcoming service alongside the best views of the natural wonder, with newly renovated rooms and suites available. Beyond leisure travel, the hotel is also a premier destination for meetings, conferences, and milestone gatherings, offering an inspiring setting where business events, celebrations, and unforgettable guest experiences come together. Hyatt Regency Niagara Falls Fallsview will contribute to Hyatt’s continued brand growth in Canada and strengthen Niagara Falls’ presence as a world-class destination.  

“At the center of one of North America’s most visited attractions, Hyatt Regency Niagara Falls Fallsview gives World of Hyatt members and guests the opportunity to take in unobstructed views of a natural wonder,” said Katie Johnson, Vice President of Global Brand Strategy, Classics Portfolio, Hyatt. “We’re excited to welcome this property to the Classics portfolio to give our members opportunities to explore the beauty of the Niagara region.”

Situated on top the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, the hotel combines contemporary design and thoughtful service with panoramic views of one of the world’s most recognized natural landmarks. Guests will be able to stay in the heart of the Fallsview district and steps from dining, entertainment, and casino attractions, the upscale retreat offers convenient access to the city’s most sought after experiences. Just a short drive from Toronto and Buffalo, N.Y. and within easy reach of major highways and border crossings, the property delivers a seamless stay for leisure travelers and groups alike.   

The hotel has 42 floors and 611 new premium-designed rooms and suites which offer a refreshed and modernized guest experience featuring contemporary furnishings and lighting. Each room offers spacious accommodations and sweeping views of Niagara Falls or the vibrant city skyline. Many rooms overlook the iconic Horseshoe and American Falls, allowing guests to visually take in the mist rising from the water and the nightly illumination that lights up the Falls after sunset. Guests can also enjoy a large flat-screen television, Nespresso machine, beverage station, mini fridge, and thoughtfully selected in-room amenities designed for comfort and convenience. Suites provide additional space with separate living and sleeping areas, along with elevated amenities for an enhanced stay experience.  

“Niagara Falls is one of the premier tourist destinations in the world,” said Anthony Menechella, Fallsview Group Vice President. “With the introduction of Hyatt Regency Niagara Falls Fallsview, we represent the best that this destination has to offer in terms of hospitality, tourism, and elevated experiences.”

Hyatt Regency Niagara Falls Fallsview provides guests with a variety of hotel features, including an indoor pool, fitness centre, laundry facilities, and over 20,000 square feet of on-site meeting and banquet space, including a business centre and concierge services. With the capacity to host events of varying sizes, the property offers a versatile setting supported by contemporary amenities and dedicated service, making it an ideal destination for organizations and groups seeking a memorable backdrop for meetings and special occasions. 

Hyatt Regency Niagara Falls Fallsview offers several dining experiences that complement Niagara Falls’ renowned entertainment scene, including the lively atmosphere of STK Steakhouse Fallsview and the family-friendly environment at TGI Fridays.  

For more information on Hyatt Regency Niagara Falls Fallsview or to make a reservation, please visit the hotel’s website and to learn more about the Hyatt Regency brand and its hotel experiences, visit https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-regency.   

The term “Hyatt” is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates.

WEST SIDE FEST RETURNS JULY 10–12 WITH FREE FUN FOR ALL AGES AT MUSEUMS, PARKS, PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS, AND
CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS

West Side Fest is back this summer! Celebrate the cultural village along the western edge of Manhattan with free admission to museums, special programs for all ages, crafts and artmaking activities for kids, and more during West Side Fest from July 10–12, 2026.

New York, NY, — The West Side Cultural Network—a group of museums,
parks, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions located within a half-mile portion of historic New York—is delighted to announce the return of West Side Fest. The fourth annual West Side Fest returns with three days of festivities from July 10–12, 2026, and will offer free
admission, special indoor and outdoor programming, crafts for kids and families, artmaking activities for all ages, performances, and much more.

Coinciding with the FIFA World Cup and America250 celebrations, 2026 promises to be the most exciting West Side Fest yet, with New
Yorkers and visitors of all ages invited to celebrate the vibrant, cultural village along the waterfront of Manhattan’s west side!
West Side Fest highlights the city’s newest cultural destination on the western edge of Manhattan, a historic area with a welcoming and unique mix of fresh activities, open gathering spaces, and more. The neighborhood includes organizations that have been on the West Side
for decades as well as newer arrivals like Gansevoort Peninsula in Hudson River Park. West Side Fest is conveniently accessible by subway, bus, the High Line, bike, or car.

More information about West Side Fest can be found at westside fest.nyc. The official digital guide for West Side Fest 2026 will be available on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app. The West Side Cultural Network includes the Center for Art, Research and Alliances, CUE
Art, Dia Chelsea, The FLAG Art Foundation, the High Line, Hill Art Foundation, Hudson Guild, Hudson River Park, The Joyce Theater, The Kitchen, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, Little Island, New York City AIDS Memorial, Poster House, Print Center New York, Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, The Shed, Westbeth
Artists Housing, White Columns, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Walt Disney World Launches New Family Experiences, Refreshed Attractions and Summer Savings for Cool KIDS’ SUMMER

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (March 12, 2026) — Walt Disney World Resort is sharing additional details and opening dates for new and refreshed attractions, stage shows and limited-time entertainment coming this summer, along with special ticket and hotel offers to help families save and visit in ways that make sense for them. This is all taking place during the return of Cool KIDS’ SUMMER, running May 26 through Sept. 8.

• Opening April 8: Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom
• Opening May 26: Bluey’s Wild World at Conservation Station at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! and “The Walt Disney Studios” courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Soarin’ Across America at EPCOT.

Cool KIDS’ SUMMER Fun for the Whole Family

With the kids out of school and looking for excitement, summer is all about family fun, and guests have plenty of ways to make unforgettable memories at Walt Disney World.

Bluey’s Wild World at Conservation Station

Bluey and Bingo are on their way to Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Starting May 26 and staying beyond Cool KIDS’ SUMMER, guests can play games and dance with Bluey and Bingo at Conservation Station.

Once guests hop off the Wildlife Express Train, it’s time for fun. Play special games directly from “Bluey” episodes, grab a photo with Bluey and Bingo themselves, and even discover animals native to Bluey’s home country, Australia, at “Jumping Junction.” 

Jessie’s Roundup: A Rip-Roarin’ Review in Magic Kingdom

A new limited-time, Toy Story–themed Cool KIDS’ SUMMER exclusive experience, Jessie’s Roundup: A Rip-Roarin’ Revue, will debut at the Diamond Horseshoe in Frontierland, featuring Jessie, Woody, Bullseye and more Toy Story pals in an energized roundup with songs, dance, games and other playful activities.

GoofyCore at EPCOT

Families can take part in GoofyCore at CommuniCore Hall, a Cool KIDS’ SUMMER special party that’s packed with music, movement and maximum silliness. The limited-time fun is filled with DJ-led dance breaks, interactive games and larger-than-life playground-style activities inviting kids to wiggle, giggle and let loose in true Goofy fashion.

Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

It’s time to Mousekedance with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in a new show coming May 26 and staying beyond Cool KIDS’ SUMMER.Inspired by Disney Jr.’s global hit series, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+, the entire family is invited to a party at the Clubhouse with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Daisy and Pluto, filled with original songs, dance and interactive fun.

A Disney Springs Dance Party

When visiting the Marketplace on select nights, guests can break out their best dance moves during a party featuring hits from “Descendants: Wicked Wonderland” and “Camp Rock 3,” in celebration of the new original movies coming to Disney+ this summer.

Disney Friends Make a Splash at Water Parks

This summer, guests can meet Goofy in his laid-back style at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park or catch Stich spreading playful chaos at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park.

And for those guests preferring to splash the night away, Disney H2O Glow After Hours returns to Typhoon Lagoon on select nights from June 2 through September 5. The separately ticketed event will bring waves of excitement, with guests being able to enjoy the water park after dark, boogie on the beach and see some rare Disney characters like Powerline Max, Chip ‘n’ Dale Rescue Rangers and more.

Additional Cool KIDS’ SUMMER Perks for Resort Guests

Summer is one of the best times to visit, with some of the best ticket prices of the year and longer theme park hours, too. Combine this with everything that’s new and debuting, and it makes for the perfect trip filled with experiences that can only be found at Disney.

Early Theme Park Entry

Guests staying in Disney Resorts Collection hotels can take advantage of 30 minutes of early theme park entry each day of their stay (valid theme park admission and a park reservation, if applicable, required). And this summer, special surprises are in store for Cool KIDS’ SUMMER, including early morning character appearances across all four theme parks providing more time to interact with favorite Disney friends.

Character Appearances and More

During Cool KIDS’ SUMMER, guests staying at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside will have even more experiences and amenities designed for families with young children, including scheduled visits from favorite Disney pals, like Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.

• These four Disney Resort hotels will also be ready to cover little one’s needs, with complimentary essentials, including bottle warmers, infant bathtubs, diaper disposals and nightlights for guests’ use during their stay.
• Special libraries from Disney Publishing will be available at these Cool KIDS’ SUMMER resorts, featuring beloved stories from Disney Princesses to Disney Heroes. Plus, on select nights, a pajama party featuring story time and “create your own bedtime story” activities will wind down the evening before lights out.

Marriott International Signs Agreement to Bring St. Regis Hotels & Resorts to Kapalua Bay, Hawai’i

March 14, 2026 Bethesda, MD

The Resort at Kapalua Bay

Spanning 25 oceanfront acres, The Resort at Kapalua Bay is situated on one of Maui’s most treasured coasts.

Key Facts

• Marriott’s management of The Resort at Kapalua Bay goes into effect on March 14, 2026, with the property maintaining the same ownership.
• The property is now part of Marriott Bonvoy and is slated to join the St. Regis Hotels & Resorts portfolio in 2027, following a renovation.
• As The Resort at Kapalua Bay enters its next evolution, the property remains open, continuing to deliver the exceptional experience guests have come to expect.

Marriott International, Inc. today announced it has signed an agreement with Kemmons Wilson Hospitality Partners (“KWHP”) to bring The Resort at Kapalua Bay, a luxury oceanfront resort located on Maui’s northwest coast, into the company’s leading luxury portfolio.

Working with KWHP, Marriott has assumed management of the hotel’s operations and continues to welcome guests to the remarkable resort as it undergoes the conversion. Following the completion of a renovation, the property is slated to join the iconic St. Regis Hotels & Resorts portfolio in 2027.

Set on approximately 25 acres of pristine oceanfront and situated within the larger Kapalua Resort community, The Resort at Kapalua Bay features 146 expansive, multi-bedroom, ocean-view residences that provide privacy, space, and residential comfort paired with bespoke hospitality services.

“We are proud to work with Kemmons Wilson on the evolution of this exceptional resort,” said Dana Jacobsohn, Marriott International Chief Development Officer, Global Mixed Use and Luxury, North America. “Kapalua Bay is one of the most iconic leisure destinations in the world, and this agreement reflects our continued momentum in growing a best-in-class luxury resort portfolio that resonates with today’s discerning luxury traveler.”

“KWHP is thrilled to soon welcome St. Regis to Kapalua Bay. Since first investing in this extraordinary resort, our vision has been to continually elevate the quality, service, and care that define the guest experience here,” said Webb Wilson, CIO at KWHP. “We believe this next chapter of the resort powerfully reinforces that commitment. Our mission—that everyone deserves hospitality—will continue to guide us as Kapalua Bay enters this exciting new era.”

“White Label Asset Management is proud to help lead the repositioning of The Resort at Kapalua Bay as it soon joins the St. Regis brand. This is one of the truly great resorts in the world, with an iconic setting, extraordinary grounds, and some of the most spacious accommodations in luxury hospitality,” said Jonathon Vopinek, CEO and President, White Label Asset Management. “We look forward to this exciting new chapter and to delivering an exceptional luxury resort experience for locals and travelers alike.”

At The Resort at Kapalua Bay, guests can enjoy a variety of incredible amenities, including:

• Expansive residential-style accommodations overlooking tropical gardens and the Pacific Ocean, ranging from 1,774 sq ft to over 4,050 sq ft.
• Access to championship level golf courses and tennis courts
• A 40,000 sq. ft. spa featuring 19 treatment rooms and ocean-view wellness facilities
• 3,415 sq. ft. of indoor meeting space and 30,210 sq. ft. of outdoor event space
• Direct access to Kapalua Bay Beach
• Several extraordinary outdoor pools, including a multi‐tiered, cascading lagoon pool

This agreement expands Marriott’s offerings in Hawai’i, with around 30 open properties and six in the pipeline.

Michelangelo Rodin. Living Bodies  

April 15 – July 20, 2026

Two unparalleled masters of Western sculpture engage in a dialogue across the centuries: Michelangelo ( 1475-1564) and Auguste Rodin (1840-1917). Their works , embodying the strength of the body and the depths of the soul, meet in an unprecedented confrontation, revealing both continuities and ruptures.
The exhibition “Michelangelo Rodin: Living Bodies,” bringing together more than 200 works , emphasizes formal and conceptual issues that lead to a shared ambition: to make visible the inner energy of the body. The body appears as both the envelope and the skin of the soul, living matter subject to time and gesture. This exhibition also explores the legacy of these gestures: how did the reinterpretation of antiquity and the use of the human body prepare the way for the ruptures of the 20th ^century  ?
By highlighting connections, borrowings, and reinterpretations, the exhibition offers a sensitive reading of the myths surrounding these two geniuses and invites us to rethink sculpture not as an element that “creates form” but as a laboratory for artistic innovation. Masterpieces by these masters are juxtaposed with Mannerist works inspired by Michelangelo (by Vincenzo Danti, Vincenzo de Rossi, and Pierino da Vinci), as well as powerful contemporary creations by Joseph Beuys, Bruce Nauman, Giuseppe Penone, and Jana Sterback, demonstrating the enduring relevance of this legacy.

The exhibition brings together marbles, bronzes, plasters, terracotta sculptures, casts, and a wealth of graphic works, thanks to the collections of the Louvre, the Rodin Museum, and significant loans from major international museums. The exhibition is structured around five key sections, presenting the two artists, their sources of inspiration, their relationship to the materials of creation, and their preferred themes, all following a central thread: the body and life.
This theme is immediately apparent at the entrance, where five emblematic sculptures— Michelangelo’s Dying Slave and Rebellious Slave , masterpieces from the Louvre, and Rodin’s The Age of Bronze , Adam and John of Aire, which escaped from the Burghers of Calais —greet visitors like so many bodies inhabited by a powerful life force.

Two Mythical Artists:
The first section presents the two sculptors from a mythical perspective. Posthumous portraits and displays, artistic tributes, and even relics help to embody the artistic stature of the two men. The construction of their respective lineages is shown through a selection of works created after the masters and, in Rodin’s case, specifically after Michelangelo. The importance of Michelangelo’s models for the French sculptor is also contextualized by his pivotal trip to Florence in 1876 and the discovery of the Chapel of the Princes at San Lorenzo, a complete work by “this magician” who seemed to leave him “a few of his secrets,” as he wrote to his companion Rose Beuret at the time. Period casts made by Vincenzo Danti after the allegorical depictions of the hours of the day on the tombs of Giuliano and Lorenzo de’ Medici allow the exhibition to evoke these emblematic figures of the Florentine master.

Nature and Antiquity: Reinventing the Model.
Nature and Antiquity constitute the primary sources of inspiration for both artists, but these models are only valuable insofar as they are surpassed, as the second section demonstrates. Several sketches and drawings result from a meticulous observation of the human body and a profound understanding of anatomy, acquired, among other things, by Michelangelo through the practice of dissection, and by Auguste Rodin through long hours working from live models. But the final figure transcends the strict naturalistic reproduction of a body and involves the recomposition of anatomy, culminating in the formation of ideal figures in Michelangelo, which eventually replace Nature for the next generation, and in the creation, in Auguste Rodin, of forms that the artist strives to make accurate and true. Admirers and connoisseurs of ancient art, which Rodin collected with passion, both artists grapple with this great model and seek to surpass it.
For Vasari, this transcendence embodies the profound meaning of Michelangelo’s arrival on earth. The advent of the torso as an artistic form constitutes the core of this section: while Michelangelo is said to have refused to restore the Belvedere Torso , recognizing the aesthetic completeness of this fragmentary form, Rodin was the first artist to conceive of torsos as works in themselves, thus establishing one of the main themes of modernity in sculpture.

The unfinished.
At the heart of the exhibition lies theunfinished, an aesthetic emblematic of Michelangelo’s works and reappropriated by Rodin: leaving the marks of the creative act perceptible, demonstrating that the visible sculpture is merely a stage in a virtual form already existing, revealing through the use of the transient the flow of life passing through bodies. A small wooden Christ on the Cross, an exceptional loan from the Casa Buonarroti, not far from theSlavesin the Louvre, demonstrates the full force ofunfinished. The demiurgic relationship to matter is synthesized inThe Hand of God: here, Rodin depicts in marble the divine hand modeling the bodies of Adam and Eve in clay. WithPenone‘s 7-Meter Treeunfinished.
A selection of red chalk and stump drawings by Michelangelo and Rodin testifies to the animation of bodies suggested by the vibration of contours, responding to the surface effects produced by theunfinished technique. This technique, by catching the light, creates a soft luminous halo around the marble, a kind ofsfumatoanchoring the work in the surrounding atmosphere.

Body and Soul:
By choosing the body as the central subject of their works, both Michelangelo and Rodin perceived it as animated by an intense inner life. Their figures are vessels of thought and dream, sometimes bordering on death. The psyche comes to imprint itself on the body, and the physical form becomes a representation of the soul inMichelangelo’s Saint Bartholomew or Auguste Rodin’s Balzac , works to which Joseph Beuys’s Skin offers powerful contemporary echoes. The anatomies and faces, the poses of the figures, and the group compositions express human feelings and passions, which permeateMichelangelo’s Last Judgment and Auguste Rodin’s The Gates of Hell , presented respectively through a period copy and a model, as is the large bronze relief of the Brazen Serpent by Vincenzo Danti, a sculptor in the style of Michelangelo.

Energy and Life:
The bodies created by Michelangelo and Rodin are alive because they overflow with energy, a concept central to the artistic concerns of both artists and to the final section of the exhibition. Fluidity gives the figures an intense vitality, as illustrated by numerous serpentine figures drawn by Michelangelo,Pierino da Vinci’s marble River God , and Rodin’s The Inner Voice . The power of the human figure appears brilliantly: the Michelangeloesque terribilità , embodied here by a cast of Moses from the collection of the École des Beaux-Arts, is countered by the magnetic presence of Rodin’s Balzac . These powerful bodies radiate despite their static poses, but both sculptors also frequently employ the deployment of bodies in space. Vital energy is thus translated into a skillfully orchestrated interplay of balance and imbalance, leading to the very edge of instability. This artistic exploration resonates today in Bruce Nauman’s major video work, Walking a Line , which concludes the exhibition. Visitors are then invited to rediscover in the rotunda the five sculptures that opened the exhibition: five bodies, naked and muscular, emotional and powerful, alive.

CURATORS:
Chloé Ariot, curator, Rodin Museum and Marc Bormand, curator, Department of Sculptures, Louvre Museum.

United’s Spring Break Travel Forecast

JetBlue Vacations and WeatherPromise Launch Industry-First ‘Great Weather Guarantee’ for Jamaica Packages

03/03/2026

Included at no additional cost, customers receive $500 if it rains more than promised during their trip

DANIA BEACH, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– JetBlue Vacations (Nasdaq: JBLU), in collaboration with the Jamaica Tourist Board and WeatherPromise, today announced a first-of-its-kind “Great Weather Guarantee” for Jamaica vacation packages. The new destination-specific offering gives customers $500 back if it rains more than promised during their trip, at no additional cost.

JetBlue Vacations was the first airline vacation brand to partner with WeatherPromise in 2025, introducing rain protection for Flight + Hotel packages. With the launch of the Great Weather Guarantee in Jamaica, JetBlue Vacations becomes the first in the industry to integrate a destination-based weather guarantee directly into a vacation package.

From March 1–May 31, 2026, eligible Jamaica Flight + Hotel packages* will include the Great Weather Guarantee built directly into the booking, which continuously monitors weather conditions using advanced data analytics, satellite imagery and radar technology. If rainfall exceeds the unique threshold set for each trip, customers will receive $500. If the conditions are met, customers are notified and can quickly select how they would like to receive the $500 payout. After booking a Jamaica Flight + Hotel package through JetBlue Vacations, customers receive a personalized dashboard outlining their coverage details and what conditions would activate a payout from WeatherPromise.

Jamaica remains one of the Caribbean’s most sought-after destinations, celebrated for its white-sand beaches, world-renowned music, rich culinary traditions, and welcoming hospitality that captivates travelers from around the globe. While brief tropical showers are common across the region, this new guarantee provides added confidence for travelers planning their island getaway.

“JetBlue Vacations has always focused on removing friction from the travel experience,” said Jamie Perry, President at Paisly, the company that powers JetBlue Vacations. “We were proud to be WeatherPromise’s first airline vacation partner last year, and with this Jamaica-specific guarantee, we’re continuing to lead the industry. Customers can book knowing that if the weather doesn’t meet expectations, they’re covered.”

In Montego Bay, known for its thriving nightlife and luxurious resorts, travelers can also access JetBlue Vacations’ exclusive Insider Experience program, offering exclusive perks like free airport transfers worth up to $50, arrival meet & greet and 24/7 support from a local insider.

“Jamaica is a destination of rich culture and warm hospitality,” said Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica. “The Great Weather Guarantee allows travelers to fully embrace everything our island has to offer with added confidence. We are proud to collaborate with JetBlue Vacations and WeatherPromise to help visitors create unforgettable memories across Jamaica’s unique landscapes and vibrant communities.”

“We are thrilled to expand our partnership with JetBlue Vacations through this exciting new program,” said Daniel Price, Co-Founder of WeatherPromise. “WeatherPromise is designed to give customers greater confidence to travel and experience new places. This collaboration allows us to bring that sense of reassurance to even more people as they visit one of the Caribbean’s truly iconic destinations.”

The Great Weather Guarantee is included on new Jamaica vacation package bookings of 3–16 nights made between March 1 and May 31, 2026, for travel through December 1, 2026. Travel must begin at least seven days after booking to qualify.

In addition, JetBlue Vacations is offering a limited-time spring promotion of up to $500 off Flight + Hotel packages sitewide, including Jamaica. Customers can save $25 off $750 with code HELLOSPRING25, $300 off $4,000 with code HELLOSPRING300, or $500 off $7,000 with code HELLOSPRING500. The offer is valid for bookings made March 3 through March 9, 2026, for travel through August 31, 2026. Customers may also save up to 50% on flights when booked as part of a package. Minimum spend required.**

For more information or to book a Jamaica vacation package, visit jetbluevacations.com or call 1 844 JB VACAY.

Expedia 2026 Air Hacks: Friday Takes Off as the New Cheapest Day to Depart and Book

Today, Expedia^® released its 2026 Air Hacks Report, revealing a major shift in traveler savings: Friday, has become the cheapest day of the week to fly and book, driven by reduced business travel at the end of the week. The report shows that August is the most affordable month to travel, with international destinations, Honduras, Morelia and Tokyo, seeing some of the biggest fare drops. 

Now in its tenth year, the Expedia Air Hacks Report draws on millions of Expedia data points and new consumer research to highlight how changing traveler behaviors, from extreme daytrips to carry‑on‑only packing, are reshaping when Americans choose to take to the skies.

“Business travelers head home earlier in the week these days, so new opportunities are opening up for leisure travelers to save by choosing smarter travel days, like Friday for the best prices or Tuesday for fewer crowds,” said Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group Brands public relations. “With a year of data from Expedia’s Flight Deals now in – which highlights routes and dates priced at least 20% lower than the norm – July and October are emerging as two of the best months to travel to secure these high-quality fares.”

Key Air Hacks for 2026 include:

• When you fly matters more than when you book:
  • August is the most affordable month to travel, with flights 29% cheaper on average than December, saving travelers roughly $120 per ticket.
  • January is the cheapest month to fly domestically, driven by lower demand after the holidays.
  • A year of data* from Expedia’s Flight Deals, reveals that July, October and November are the travel months with the most deals available. The tool scans millions of flights daily to find quality flights from a chosen airport that are at least 20% lower than typically predicted prices for that route.
• Friday is the new best day to book and fly:
  • Friday is the cheapest day to book flights but flying on lower‑demand days unlocks bigger savings.
  • Flying on a Friday instead of Sunday can save up to 8%, while Tuesday is the cheapest day to fly domestically, averaging 14% less than Sunday departures.
• Avoid crowds by timing your trip:
  • Tuesday is the least busy day of the week to fly, Friday is the busiest.
  • February is the least busy month for air travel, July is the busiest.
  • The least busy travel dates include February 25, March 4 and November 18.
  • The busiest travel dates include May 22, July 3, August 29.

• “Micro-cations” is a fast‑growing flight trend:
  • ‘Micro-cations’ – flying to a destination for 24-hours – started as a TikTok trend but is going mainstream in 2026, as 25% of both Millennials and Gen Zs plan to fly somewhere for just one day.
  • Expedia data reveals the most popular daytrip destinations are Toronto, Nassau, San Juan and Montreal.
• Book closer than you think — but not last‑minute:
  • The most affordable booking window for domestic economy flights is 15–30 days before departure, averaging $130 less than bookings made more than six months out.
  • International travelers can save $190 on average by booking 31 – 45 days ahead, instead of six months out. For those bold travelers, booking 8–15 days ahead can offer the best value, saving an average of $225.
• Your departure airport can make or break the price:
  • Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas and Orlando are the most affordable mainstream U.S. departure airports, with average fares about 25% lower than the national average.
  • Washington Dulles, San Francisco and New York’s JFK are the most expensive airports to fly from.
• Saver routes unlock short‑haul and international value:
  • Domestic routes under $160 on average include Orlando–Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas–San Diego and Los Angeles–Las Vegas.
  • International saver routes under $275 include Fort Lauderdale–Nassau, Bahamas, Houston–Comayagua, Honduras and Orlando–Toronto, Canada.
  • Several international routes, including flights to Honduras, Morelia (Mexico) and Tokyo, are seeing prices drop up to 25% year‑over‑year, making 2026 a standout year for these destinations.
• In‑flight habits are evolving:
  • 48% of travelers now fly carry‑on only, and 26% plan long layovers to explore another city. Additionally, 37% would wear extra layers to dodge baggage fees (47% Gen Z, 45% Millennials vs 16% Boomers).
  • Top oddities seen by travelers on a flight include bringing smelly food (28%), nail-cutting (21%), and seeing a couple going to the toilet together (19%) followed by spotting content creators filming a dance or vlog for their social platforms.
  • 31% of travelers said that having their seat kicked is the ultimate pet peeve, above crying babies and loud conversations.
• Map the best Flight Deals and then bank more savings with Expedia’s Annual Vacation Sale.
  • Use Expedia’s Flight Deals* tool on the app to find quality flights from your chosen airport that are at least 20% lower than typically predicted prices for that route. The tool features a new interactive map to compare destinations, custom deal alerts and allows travelers to filter by destination and travel date.
  • Thinking about your big spring or summer trip? Members save up to 40% off select stays during Expedia’s Annual Vacation Sale. Book by March 16, 2026, for stays between February 10 and September 30, 2026.

• Cheapest day to BOOK is a Friday, most expensive is Sunday – it’s 3% cheaper if you book on a Friday
  • US domestic: Saturday is the cheapest day to book, Monday the most expensive (2% saving)
  • Saturday is the cheapest day to book business class flights, Thursday the most expensive (1% saving)
• Cheapest month to BOOK is July, most expensive is December – it’s 18% cheaper to book in July

• Cheapest day to FLY is a Friday, most expensive is Sunday – 8% cheaper if you fly on a Friday
  • US domestic: Tuesday is the cheapest and Sunday the most expensive (14% saving)
• August is the most affordable month to fly, with December most expensive (29% cheaper/$120 average).
  • January is the cheapest month to fly domestically, with December still the most expensive (19% cheaper).
• Average Ticket Prices for Americans is up 3% for domestic flights and down 2% for international year-on-year.
• Average US domestic first-class fares reduced by 27%, making it more affordable to treat yourself to an upgrade.

• The most affordable time to book a domestic economy flight is 15 – 30 days out, the most expensive is 180+ days out – $130 difference in price.
• The most affordable time to book an international economy flight is 8 – 15 days out ($585), the most expensive is 180+ days out ($813) – $225 difference in price.
  • For those who don’t want to leave it until the last minute, booking 31 – 45 days out can still save $190 compared to booking 180+ days out.
• Time of day to fly:
  • Over half of both domestic and international flyers book morning flights. Approximately 30% book afternoon flights, over 15% evening and around 5% nighttime flights.
• Top 10 most popular destinations Americans fly to:

Domestic: New York Orlando Los Angeles Las Vegas Miami Atlanta Dallas Boston Houston Phoenix

International: Cancun, Mexico Mexico City, Mexico Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic El Salvador Guadalajara, Mexico Tokyo, Japan Punta Cana, Dominican Republic London, UK Montego Bay, Jamaica Guatemala City, Guatemala

• Top 10 trending destinations Americans fly to:

Domestic: Carlsbad, CA +1210% Vero Beach, FL +840% Portsmouth, NH +440% Taos County, NM +405% St Simons Island +320% San Bernadino, CA +295% Las Cruces, New Mexico +155% Orange County, CA +150% Morgantown, West Virginia +30% Maui, Hawaii +25%

International: Alghero, Italy +560% Ankara, Turkey +295% Toluca, Mexico +225% Nha Trang, Vietnam +185% Naxos, Greece +160% Hyogo Prefecture, Japan +105% Ontario, Canada +85% Minas Gerais, Brazil +85% Rome, Italy +60% Guatemala +45%

• Tuesday is the least busy day of the week to fly, with Friday being the busiest
• February is the least busy month to fly, with July the busiest
• Least busy dates to travel: February 25 and March 4 and November 18, based on bookings.
• Busiest dates to fly: May 22, July 3, August 29, and November 25, based on bookings.

• The three busiest airports for departures in the US based on Expedia’s booked data for flights flown are LAX, JFK and Newark.
• Airports that are trending upwards in terms of volume of flights are:
  • Everett, WA +115%
  • Islip, NY +100%
  • St. George, UT +75%
  • Akron, OH +60%
  • Manchester, NH +50%
  • Peoria, IL +45%
  • Santa Rosa, CA +45%
  • Providence, RI +40%
  • Grand Junction, CO +40%
  • Wilmington, NC +30% 
• The most affordable mainstream US airports to fly out of are Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas and Orlando – with the average ticket price over $100 less (25% less) than the average.
• The most expensive mainstream US airports to fly out of are Washington Dulles, San Francisco and New York’s JFK – with the average ticket price $100 more (25% more) than the average.

• Saver Routes: Domestic flight routes for under $160 on average
  • Orlando to Fort Lauderdale $107
  • Las Vegas to San Diego $125
  • Tampa to Fort Lauderdale $136
  • Los Angeles to Las Vegas $140
  • Austin to Midland, TX $152
  • San Francisco to Ontario $155 
• Saver Routes: International flight routes for under $275
  • Fort Lauderdale to Nassau $242
  • Houston to Comayagua $229
  • Las Vegas to Vancouver $242
  • Miami to Nassau $246
  • Orlando to Toronto $260
  • Tampa to Toronto $252 

Universal Studios Hollywood Announces “Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift” Will Open This Summer

Universal City, California, February 5, 2026 – It’s official: “Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift,” Universal Studios Hollywood’s first high-speed outdoor roller coaster will open this summer.

The eagerly awaited news coincides with the launch of an exciting media campaign that includes a dynamic :30 spot featuring narration by Fast & Furious franchise producer, star and longtime parks collaborator, Vin Diesel.

The pulse-pounding spot is slated to air within several high profile sporting event telecasts, including The Winter Olympics, Super Bowl LX and NBA All-Star all on NBC and Peacock.

The campaign spot captures the spirit of the thrill ride, designed to immerse guests within Universal Pictures’ exhilarating Fast & Furious universe, as Universal Studios Hollywood prepares for its much anticipated summer opening.

A sneak peek of the spot can be seen here.

This innovative roller coaster will be located on the Upper Lot of Universal Studios Hollywood within an expansive red brick, garage-like structure. It will feature groundbreaking 360-degree rotation technology designed to create a seamless sensation of drifting cars as guests spin in motion at speeds up to 72 MPH, while careening along 4,100 feet of elaborate aerial track—the equivalent of nearly 12 football fields—that winds its way over sections of the theme park, including the multi-level Starway escalator that connects the Upper and Lower Lots.

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will launch as Universal Pictures kicks off the 25^th anniversary of the blockbuster Fast & Furious franchise and its final theatrical release, Fast Forever, slated for March 17, 2028.

“Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift” will benefit from Universal Destinations & Experiences’ decades-long expertise in revolutionizing the development of contemporary roller coasters across its global theme parks.

This ambitious roller coaster will join Universal Studios Hollywood’s slate of unprecedented groundbreaking attractions, including the interactive land, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™, featuring the critically-acclaimed “Mario Kart™: Bowser’s Challenge” ride; “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™” highly immersive land that features Hogsmeade™ village, “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™” and “Flight of the Hippogriff™ rides; “Jurassic World—The Ride”; Illumination’s award-winning “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash” and “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem”; Springfield, U.S.A. and “The Simpsons Ride™”; “TRANSFORMERS™:  The Ride-3D” and “Revenge of the Mummy—The Ride,” as well as the theme park’s signature, behind-the-scenes Studio Tour attraction.

Booking.com Announces the World’s Most Welcoming Cities for 2026

Whether it’s a bucket-list adventure or a much-needed break, travelers consistently look for destinations that offer memorable experiences, good value, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. In fact, nearly half of travelers (45%*) say that places with friendly locals are a big attractor when deciding where to go.

As part of the fourteenth edition of the Traveller Review Awards, Booking.com unveils the 10 Most Welcoming Cities for 2026**, powered by more than 370 million verified reviews from travelers across the world. Based on the share of local accommodation partners recognized this year with an Award, these destinations stand out for their top-tier service and commitment to great hospitality.

Montepulciano, Italy 

Perched high above the Tuscan countryside, Montepulciano is a hilltop gem where medieval architecture, world-class wine, and sweeping vineyard views create an atmosphere of timeless charm. Known for its celebrated Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, the town invites visitors to wander Renaissance palaces and narrow stone alleys that lead to Piazza Grande, the central square crowned by the imposing Palazzo Comunale tower and breathtaking panoramas of rolling hills and cypress-lined ridges. The town’s culinary traditions are equally enticing, from signature hand-rolled pici pasta to hearty local dishes like Bistecca alla Fiorentina. To enjoy more of the local cuisine and experience rural Tuscan life up close, travelers can embark on a Cinta Senese Pigs adventure with stops at olive groves and vineyards before visiting Cinta Senese pigs, easily recognized by their distinctive white belt. With its blend of rich history, striking scenery, and refined hospitality, Montepulciano offers an effortlessly authentic Tuscan escape

Where to stay: Once the retreat of a noble family from Montepulciano, Villa Cicolina is now a beautiful hotel that serves as a welcoming base for those exploring the town. Adorned with original paintings and frescoed ceilings, the hotel is decked out with antique furniture reminiscent of the town’s rich history. Guests can explore the hotel’s gardens which lead to a small church, as well as its own wine cellar home to an impressive collection of wines and olive oil.

How to get there: Montepulciano is a few hours north of Rome Fiumicino International Airport, accessible on public transport by train and bus, or more conveniently with a rental car.  

Magong, Taiwan 

Nestled along the western coast of Penghu Island, Magong is a lively harbor city that seamlessly pulls together historic backdrops, vibrant markets, and coastal scenery. Known for centuries-old temples and traditional architecture, the city entices guests to stroll narrow streets lined with red-brick buildings, admire the ornate Tianhou Temple, and explore the waterfront dotted with fishing boats and seaside cafés. The nearby Zhongyang Old Street is lined with traditional shops and crafts, coming alive at night with oyster omelets, grilled squid, and cactus sorbet. Travelers can also explore fishing villages and farms to savor fresh seafood with locally brewed drinks while experiencing the warm hospitality of the Penghu community. Just beyond the city, dramatic columnar basalt cliffs, sandy coves, and clear waters offer some of Taiwan’s best coastal scenery, while seasonal events like the Penghu Fireworks Festival and local specialties such as Penghu brown sugar cake highlight the island’s vibrant cultural spirit. Magong’s mix of cultural heritage, scenic ocean vistas, and warm local hospitality presents an authentic and memorable Taiwanese island escape.

can enjoy a heated outdoor pool and spa, free undercover parking, and easy access to boutique shopping, cafés, or even early morning surf sessions.

How to get there: Noosa Heads is around a 30-minute drive from Sunshine Coast Airport or about two hours from Brisbane Airport, which has more international flight options.

Klaipėda, Lithuania  

Framed by sweeping Baltic coastlines and pine-scented dunes, Klaipeda is a breezy seaside escape where maritime heritage meets modern coastal living. Its delightful Old Town, full of timber-framed houses, cafés, and cobbled streets, leads to a harbor alive with ferries, sailboats, and ships. Across the water, the UNESCO-listed Curonian Spit offers dunes, forests, and beaches ideal for cycling, hiking, and wildlife spotting. Back in the city, Smiltynė Beach, the Sea Museum & Dolphinarium, sculpture parks, and summer festivals create a laid-back yet culturally rich atmosphere. As night falls, handmade wooden canoes glide down the Dane River, drifting past illuminated waterfronts into the quiet, enchanting side of Kaipeda’s old streets. With historic lanes, tranquil beaches, and glowing river nights, Klaipėda showcases Lithuania’s coastal beauty and refreshing seaside allure. 

Where to stay: Adler Aparthotel is a stylish and convenient base for discovering the city’s heritage and lively waterfront. Housed in a restored historic building, it combines contemporary design with Baltic character, featuring exposed brick and warm wooden furnishings. With flexible self check-in and attentive service, this aparthotel ensures a seamless stay while providing a stylish and welcoming retreat.

How to get there: Klaipėda is easily accessible for travelers flying into Palanga International Airport or just 40 minutes away by car.

A Closer Look at Southwest’s New Gate Experience and Boarding Process

Southwest’s transition from open seating to an assigned seating model is almost here, bringing several changes across our operation. As we near this major milestone on January 27, we’re sharing more details on how assigned seating reshapes two key areas: our gate experience and boarding process.

Gate Area Experience: New Lanes for Line Up

Beginning January 27, Southwest will no longer use numbered metal stanchions (silver columns) for boarding lines. Instead, we’ll have two alternating boarding lanes with digital screen displays (at gates where screens already exist today) that show which group is boarding. We’ll also have a separate Preboarding and Priority Boarding area for active-duty military, Customers who purchase the new Priority Boarding product (available beginning 24 hours before departure for flights starting January 27), and Customers who need to preboard.

Gate areas will be converted in a phased approach, beginning the evening of January 26. It will take approximately 60 days to remove the numbered stanchions from all airports. The stanchions that are not removed overnight on January 26 will have their numbers removed or covered so they are not visible by the morning of January 27, when assigned seating begins.

The New Boarding Process, Optimized for Assigned Seating

As we’ve previously shared, Southwest is transitioning from A/B/C boarding groups to Groups 1-8. The goal of this change is to maintain an efficient and orderly boarding approach that’s optimized for assigned seating, prioritizing Customers into boarding groups based on seat location, beginning with Extra Legroom seats in boarding Groups 1 and 2. Customers with premium fares and our most loyal travelers will both enjoy access to preferential seats and earlier boarding.

Below are the boarding process details:

• Priority Boarding is available for purchase starting 24 hours before departure, when available.
• Newly designed boarding passes will show seat assignment and boarding group.
• Certain Passengers needing special accommodations will be able to self-identify digitally prior to their day of travel, with special service requests (SSRs)—like wheelchair assistance—visible on their boarding pass.
• Everyone on the same reservation of nine or less Customers, including families, will be assigned to the same boarding group.
• Our eight boarding groups will be based on seat location, fare type purchased, tier status, and Rapid Rewards® Credit Card benefits. Fare, tier, and Cardmember boarding benefits will extend to up to eight Passengers on the same reservation. Companion Pass holders and their Companions will receive the highest applicable boarding benefit based on their individual status.
  • Groups 1-2: A-List Preferred, Choice Extra fare, Extra Legroom seat purchase or upgrade (including A-List Members who upgrade at no additional cost to ELR seats within 48 hours prior to departure, when available)
  • Groups 3-5: A-List and Choice Preferred fare, plus Rapid Rewards® Credit Cardmembers who did not receive an earlier boarding group will also board in Group 5
  • Groups 6-8: Choice fare and Basic fare who did not receive an earlier boarding group

Hyatt Announces Newly Enhanced Secrets Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort Following Extensive Renovation

The 424-room adults-only AAA Four Diamond resort completes transformative renovation, elevating the guest experience

CHICAGO (January 7, 2026) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) has announced the reopening of Secrets Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort, an adults-only, all-inclusive haven, following a transformative renovation. These new updates reaffirm Hyatt’s commitment to mainstay destinations and elevate the refined experience guests have come to know from the Secrets Resorts & Spas brand.

Situated within the private, gated community of Playa Mujeres, just north of Cancun, and conveniently located just 35 minutes from Cancun International Airport, Secrets Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort is framed by a Greg Norman-designed golf course. With breathtaking sunsets, this AAA Four Diamond, all-suite resort offers a tranquil Caribbean escape with white-sand beaches and sweeping ocean views. Guests can also enjoy complimentary access to the neighboring family-friendly Dreams Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort, offering additional culinary and experiential adventures.

“We are thrilled to debut the newly renovated Secrets Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort following extensive enhancements to elevate the guest experience,” said Mauricio Martinez, general manager of Secrets Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort. “The resort delivers Secrets Resorts & Spas signature blend of romance, relaxation, and elevated experiences, while also offering guests seeking a more active getaway access to a world-class golf course and a unique mix of leisure and stunning coastal scenery that truly sets it apart.”

Accommodations with a Coastal Escape

All guest rooms at Secrets Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort have been thoughtfully reimagined with a contemporary coastal design, inspired by the serenity of the sea and the endless horizon. Natural textures, soft fabrics, and fluid layouts create an intimate sanctuary for relaxation, while organic shapes and soothing color palettes invite guests to disconnect, unwind, and embrace true quality time with one another.

For an elevated experience, the Preferred Club offers a newly constructed two-story building featuring a dedicated check-in lounge on the first floor and an exclusive ocean-view restaurant on the second floor, with breathtaking ocean views. For moments of ultimate relaxation, the newly constructed private beach club offers a tranquil setting overlooking the sparkling sea, ideal for savoring quiet escapes or romantic sunsets.

Refreshed Public Spaces and Secrets Spa

To accommodate guests and create a welcoming arrival experience, the resort’s vibrant social spaces have been thoughtfully redesigned, including the relocation of the Rendezvous lobby bar to the former main lobby, as well as the relocation of the check-in area to be closer to guestrooms, ensuring seamless convenience. Enhanced meeting spaces accommodate group gatherings with modern sophistication, while additional enhancements to the world-class Secrets Spa, which are expected to debut in mid-February, will provide rejuvenating escapes.

Elevated Dining and Entertainment

Culinary and nightlife offerings have been reimagined to inspire connection and celebration, including Desires Night Club and Coco Café, which now feature refreshed, dynamic atmospheres, while Portofino delights with elevated Italian flavors. Also expected to debut in mid-February, Bordeaux has been transformed into an Amazonian-inspired dining experience, offering an immersive journey for the senses.

ls with enhanced technology features. At Booking.com, we’re continuously evolving to make it easier for everyone to experience the world and fully lean into their dream trips by offering more choice, flexibility, and convenience than ever before.”

Unlock holiday ease: 5 ways the Delta app can save you time at the airport this season

Taking to the skies this holiday season? Whether you’re a seasoned road warrior or an every-now-and-then adventurer, Delta’s app helps you stay informed and in control throughout your journey. With digital time-savers like interactive airport maps and self-service standby options, the app is your ultimate travel companion –this holiday, and every day. That’s why more than 97% of SkyMiles Medallion Members use the app to manage their day-of travel experience.  

Whatever your travel profile, discover how the app can help you breeze through the airport and focus on what matters most: enjoying your journey. 

1. Checking a bag? Use App Bag Drop to save time in the lobby.   

Delta’s App Bag Drop – now in ATL, BOS, JFK, DTW, LAX, MSP and SEA– is a game-changer for customers who want to save time and skip lines at the airport.  

If you’ve checked in and added your bags via the app, you can use a dedicated App Bag Drop lane to quickly print your bag tag and drop off your luggage, bypassing the main queue. That means shorter lines, faster check-in and more time to relax before your flight.  

Plus: Did you know you can redeem miles toward checked bags? Use miles to cover fees for standard checked bags on flights originating from select U.S. airports by selecting “Pay with Miles” during check-in through the app.  

These self-service bag drop lanes are rolling out to remaining Delta hubs by end of year, bringing the gift of efficiency to even more app users systemwide.  

2. Upload your travel documents to the app before you get to the airport.  

Make flying overseas a breeze by uploading your passport and other essential documents to the app before you reach the airport. With everything securely stored in the app, check-in is faster and more convenient; no more searching for paperwork at the counter.  

NEW! Starting in December, SkyMiles® Members can scan and store their passport to their SkyMiles Member Profile in the app. Scan just once and have your passport available in your profile for all future international trips. (Just remember to always bring your physical passport with you!) 

Plus, you can now add and edit your Known Traveler Number (KTN) directly in the app, making it simple to update your information and ensure you’re set for expedited security screening.  

3. Navigate the airport like a pro.  

Find your pre-flight comfort drink quickly with the app. Use interactive maps at major airports to find gates, lounges and amenities quickly. Find airport maps on your app boarding pass.  

4. Plan your Delta Sky Club® visit  

In airports with more than one Delta Sky Club, customers with Club access can strategically plan their visit with the app’s occupancy tracker. With a quick glance, you can see how busy each lounge is – helping you plan your visit and choose the best location for a relaxing break. Tap “Delta Sky Club” section in the app to see real-time occupancy levels (updated every 10 minutes) for your Club of choice.  

Did you know? Delta Concierge, Delta’s AI-powered travel assistant in the app exclusively for SkyMiles Members, is currently in beta testing and will continue with phased rollout in 2026. Read more on Delta Concierge here. 

5. If plans change, stay flexible with self-service standby through the app.  

Travel plans don’t always go as expected—but luckily, the app’s self-service standby feature puts flexibility at your fingertips.  

If you’re impacted by a delay or cancellation, you can list yourself for standby on an earlier domestic flight directly in the app (even if Delta has already rebooked you). No need to wait in line or call customer service—this  digital option lets you view available flights, join the standby list and track your status in real time, helping you reach your destination sooner when seats open up.* 
 
*Listing on standby is only available for nonstop, domestic flights.  

Download the app ahead of your holiday getaway and tap into a better journey.   

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JW Marriott Debuts in Tokyo, Marking Bold Expansion in Japan with the Unveiling of JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo

JW Marriott Debuts in Tokyo, Marking Bold Expansion in Japan with the Unveiling of JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo

JW Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, today announces the highly anticipated opening of JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo. Marking the second JW Marriott property in Japan, this hotel is located in the heart of Takanawa Gateway City, the city’s newest urban destination billed as the city of the future. With an art and design narrative inspired by Zen philosophy and the natural beauty of Takanawa, the hotel pairs elegance with excellent connectivity and seamless access to the heart of Tokyo and beyond. Conveniently located above the new Takanawa Gateway Station, Tokyo Haneda Airport is about 20 minutes away. The property is within walking distance to Shinagawa Station, which is planned to serve as the terminus for the Chuo Shinkansen connecting Tokyo with other major cities in Japan including Nagoya (40 minutes) and Osaka (65 minutes).

“JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo represents a milestone opening in the brand’s continued global expansion  – where a warm approach to luxury meets world-class hospitality. With the launch of this hotel, we will  introduce the brand’s new Mindful Rooms & Suites concept in Asia, reaffirming our commitment to holistic well-being. This opening also  proudly extends the brand’s legacy in Japan, offering guests experiences that are both mindful and rooted in the brand’s heritage,” said Bruce Rohr, Vice President & Global Brand Leader, JW Marriott. “Inspired by the elevation and views of Gotenyama, the hotel invites guests to experience a new perspective – a journey upward through  spaces designed to inspire tranquility and foster meaningful moments of togetherness.”

A Timeless Sanctuary

Crafted by the internationally acclaimed design studio Yabu Pushelberg, the design narrative of JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo  is envisioned as a timeless sanctuary of balance and mindfulness. At the entrance on the ground floor, , stands abstract Japanese artworks that evoke tranquility and a deep connection to nature. An installation featuring Zen rocks and a mirrored Mount Fuji – an iconic symbol of Japan once visible from Shinagawa – further reflects the spirit of harmony, well-being, and timelessness woven throughout the hotel.

On the 30th floor, the reception area greets guests with sweeping views inspired by the historical Tokyo Bay horizon and the scenic Gotenyama Hill. These vistas are complemented by traditional Kamakura-bori inspired artworks that capture dramatic cloudscapes in muted tones. Photographic art by Sho Makishima, employing soft colors and delicate light trails, depicts the ever-changing beauty of nature and serves as a poetic metaphor for the Takanawa skyline and Tokyo Bay.

At the heart of the Lobby Lounge is the Tree House; a luminous centerpiece where organic materials such as tree leaves, shells, and mushrooms are transformed into glass artworks. Created in collaboration with acclaimed Czech glassmaker Lasvit, this installation  radiantly expresses the artistry of nature within the hotel’s serene environment.

The 200 stylishly appointed guest rooms and suites at JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo feature modern Japanese interiors crafted with serene tones and natural materials inspired by the earthy textures of a garden. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping Tokyo city views, creating spaces that inspire  mindfulness, stillness, and serenity. Elegant bathrooms are thoughtfully curated with indulgent, sustainable amenities. The hotel will also debut the brand’s signature Mindful Rooms and Suites – thoughtfully designed for travelers seeking a more intentional and personalized stay. Each Mindful Room is a calming sanctuary for the senses, and these accommodations inspire rest, reflection, and well-being. As the first JW Marriott  hotel in Asia to feature this innovative accommodation offering, the Mindful Rooms and Suites are set to launch in December 2025.

Exceptional Dining and Inspiring Meeting Spaces Designed to Elevate Every Experience

The restaurants and bars at JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo are intimate, experience-rich spaces, including a kappo counter with a view, a croissants bar, and a modern Mediterranean restaurant with immersive murals and narrative architecture. Set to redefine the city’s dining scene through mindful and enriching culinary experiences, at the helm is Culinary Director, Conrado Tromp, a globally acclaimed chef with over 25 years of international experience. Guided by the principles of innovation and authenticity, Chef Tromp weaves together the refined sensibilities of Japanese cuisine, the richness of the Mediterranean, and the vibrant dynamism of Tokyo, resulting in  a truly unique culinary journey.

Guests are invited to discover the essence of washoku cuisine at Kakō, a refined dining experience honoring tradition and modern elegance, where each dish reflects Japan’s seasonal beauty and harmony. Diners can indulge in sashimi, wagyu, and local vegetables paired with sake from all 46 prefectures around Japan. A signature JW Garden is located within the restaurant, where local herbs and plants are cultivated and thoughtfully incorporated into select cocktails and dishes throughout the hotel. Saki is an intimate eight-seat avant-garde kappo restaurant where seasonality, creativity, and storytelling converge to create a tasteful dining experience. The concept is brought to life through an exceptional collaboration between Chef Kazumine Nishida of the two-Michelin-starred Shoukouwa and Chef-Owner Emmanuel Stroobant of Saint Pierre, also distinguished with two Michelin stars, uniting their culinary vision to deliver a truly elevated and memorable journey. On the 29th floor, Modern Mediterranean restaurant Sefino represents a partnership with Chef Agustin Balbi from the one-Michelin Star Andō, and features a striking ‘Spring in France’ mural and wine cellar passage. Sefino serves sun-soaked Mediterranean flavors, vibrant spices, and a menu that celebrates origin, seasonality, and sustainability. Le Cres offers artisanal croissants, infused with unique Japanese flavors such as matcha and citrus. Adjacent to the reception, the hotel’s signature JW Bar serves classic cocktails and fine champagnes by the glass, in a sophisticated setting with stunning views of Tokyo’s skyline as its backdrop Throughout the 30th floor, dining areas feature playful artworks with garden creatures and floral motifs. JW Lounge, perfect for quiet moments, casual meetings, or indulgent breaks, is an inclusive space for guests to relax or connect over handcrafted drinks, light bites, and the hotel’s signature seasonal afternoon tea.

Perched on the 27th floor, the Executive Lounge provides an elevated sanctuary with sweeping views of Tokyo’s dynamic skyline. Guests are invited to indulge in curated presentations throughout the day, including breakfast with made-to-order hot entrées, afternoon tea, evening hors d’oeuvres, and chocolates and cordials, complemented by attentive and personalized service. The interiors feature artworks that reinterpret traditional plaster techniques into a modern expression, inspired by the notion that earth embodies the spirit of the land – bringing a sense of depth and serenity to the space. Exclusive access is available to guests staying in select rooms.

Set against stunning views of the Tokyo skyline, JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo offers an expansive event space  spanning 1,140 square meters. The flexible event spaces include a ballroom with 270° movable LED walls, the largest in Japan, and state-of-the-art audiovisual technology, providing the perfect setting for sophisticated business meetings and social gatherings.

Relax and Rejuvenate with Japanese-inspired Wellness Techniques    

Situated on the 28^th floor, the hotel’s breathtaking pool area features a quarry-inspired stone backdrop and floor-to-ceiling windows framing panoramic views of the city including Tokyo Tower. The signature Spa by JW offers holistic, rejuvenating modern spa treatments infused with Japanese wellness traditions. Guests can maintain their fitness routines with cutting-edge equipment and expert training at the hotel’s modern Fitness Center.

Family by JW: Nurturing the Next Generation of Travelers The hotel offers Family by JW; a complimentary program designed to engage and inspire young travelers. Reflecting the brand’s commitment to creating enriching family moments and ensuring every guest feels warmly welcomed, children are gifted an activity booklet featuring drawings, origami, and fun quizzes. Upon completing the quiz, young guests receive a JW-branded pochette filled with sweets.

“We are honored to open the doors of first JW Marriott hotel in Tokyo and bring the brand’s signature luxury hospitality and warmth to this vibrant destination. This hotel is designed to offer guests a haven of sophistication and tranquility, where every detail inspires moments of connection, reflection, and well-being. We look forward to welcoming travelers from Japan and around the world and becoming an integral part of the community,” said Christopher Clark, General Manager, JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo.

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Southwest Showcases Elevated Aircraft Cabin Design

Southwest Airlines^® is celebrating a major milestone in our journey to give Customers more choice with the delivery of the first aircraft with an updated cabin. This new aircraft provides a tangible way for our Customers to experience our elevated product, including:

• Updated cabin design;
• New aircraft seats made by RECARO;
• The Extra Legroom¹ experience, including enhanced snack options² (coming soon); and,
• Larger overhead bins, in-seat power at every seat, and seatback design updates. 

The Boeing MAX 8 aircraft (tail number N8972S) is expected to enter service on Thurs., Oct. 16. Each new aircraft Southwest® receives from Boeing will include these features, delivering on Southwest’s fleet modernization plans and bringing an elevated onboard experience with premium options to our Customers. 

 Our New Cabin Design

Southwest is introducing an updated cabin look with new RECARO R2 seats, a refreshed lighting package, updated carpet, and other unique design details. The look centers around a palette of blue tones that connect to our Brand while pairing seamlessly with our new seats.

The design is based on extensive research covering Customer and Employee perceptions of color, comfort, and aspirations for the overall onboard experience, and it’s meant to create a cabin environment that feels modern, welcoming, and uniquely Southwest.

RECARO Seats

In 2024, we selected RECARO—the global supplier of premium aircraft seats—to provide comfortable seating, based on Customer research and product testing. These new seats will be installed on all new Southwest aircraft deliveries, and we will be retrofitting a few of our current  -800s with RECARO seats later this year.

RECARO seats are intuitively designed for ultimate comfort, while maximizing seat width and overall support. Every multi-adjustable headrest cushion features a Southwest Heart, while the seat features a sunray pattern.

The Extra Legroom (ELR) Experience, Including Enhanced Snack Options!

The cabin features Extra Legroom (ELR) sections that provide our Customers a roomier experience with more room to stretch out at the front of the cabin and near the Exit rows.

RECARO ELR seats will iconically stand out from the rest of the cabin, featuring a sky blue sunray design that is visible from the front and back.

When we begin operating with assigned and premium seating on Jan. 27, 2026, Customers in our Extra Legroom seats will have an enhanced experience throughout their journey. In addition to the extra legroom ELR seats provide, Customers in these seats will receive:

• Boarding Group 1 or 2, providing earlier access to overhead bin space³;
• Complimentary premium beverages; and,
•  Enhanced snack options.

We are pleased to announce that Customers seated in ELR seats will have the option to choose from Wonderful® Pistachios No Shells, both the Roasted & Salted and Honey Roasted flavors, in addition to our current snacks. These new onboard offerings provide more options exclusively for Customers in our most premium seats, while harkening back to our history with a nod to the lightly salted and honey roasted peanuts we previously served onboard.

Larger Overhead Bins, In-Seat Power at Every Seat, and Seatback Design Updates

Southwest has been hard at work to update our fleet with in-seat power and larger overhead bins for carryon storage.

This aircraft and all new deliveries feature the larger overhead bins and a USB-A and USB-C port on each seatback, providing Customers with in-seat power to charge their phones, tablets, laptops, and more.

In addition, the new RECARO seatbacks also include a personal electronic device holder, designed to allow Customers a comfortable way to enjoy inflight entertainment; and a tray table with two inset beverage holders—one for right-hand flyers and one for left.

More Onboard Enhancements to Come

In addition to the new features available on new aircraft deliveries beginning this week, Southwest continues to elevate the onboard experience for our Customers through 2026 and beyond. These include:

• Modernizing our -700s;
• Free WiFi⁴ for all Rapid Rewards Members® thanks to T-Mobile®; and,
• Refreshed uniforms.

Modernizing Our -700s

As we work to enhance the Customer experience across our fleet and provide more consistent offerings, we will modernize more than half of our Boeing 737-700s by adding in-seat power, work that is expected to begin in the second half of 2026 and aimed to be completed by mid-2027. Aircraft expected to remain in our fleet longest are being prioritized for this upgrade.    

Free WiFi is Coming for Rapid Rewards Members

As we announced last month, we’ll offer free inflight WiFi, thanks to T-Mobile, to all Rapid Rewards Members, beginning Oct. 24, 2025! As we continue to enhance our onboard experience, inflight WiFi is a key element in that journey and allows us to provide meaningful value to our loyal Customers.

Refreshed Uniforms

As a complement to the elevated cabin design, a uniform refresh for Southwest Employees who work in and around airports, including Inflight Operations, Ground Operations, Provisioning, Cargo, Ground Support Equipment Teams, and Technical Operations, is expected to rollout in 2027.

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The Met to Showcase One of Art History’s Greatest Figures, Italian Renaissance Genius Raphael, in First Major International Loan Exhibition in the U.S.

(New York, August 26, 2025)—Raphael: Sublime Poetry, on view March 29 to June 28, 2026, at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, will be the first comprehensive, international loan exhibition in the United States on Raphael (Raffaello di Giovanni Santi; 1483–1520), considered one of the greatest artists of all time. This landmark exhibition will explore the full breadth of his life and career, from his origins in Urbino to his prolific years in Florence, where he began to emerge as a peer to Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, to his final decade at the papal court in Rome. Bringing together more than 200 of Raphael’s most important drawings, paintings, tapestries, and decorative arts from public and private collections around the world, the exhibition will offer a fresh perspective on this defining figure of the Italian Renaissance, presenting his renowned masterpieces alongside rarely seen treasures to reveal an extraordinarily creative mind.

The presenting sponsor of the exhibition is Morgan Stanley.

Major funding is provided by Kenneth C. Griffin and Griffin Catalyst, and Jessie and Charles Price.

Significant support is provided by the Richard Riney Family Foundation, the Ing Foundation, and Anthony W. and Lulu C. Wang.

Additional support is provided by Julie and David Tobey, Barbara A. Wolfe, Gilbert and Ildiko Butler, Dinah Seiver and Thomas E. Foster, and Ann M. Spruill and Daniel H. Cantwell.

“This unprecedented exhibition will offer a groundbreaking look at the brilliance and legacy of Raphael, a true titan of the Italian Renaissance,” said Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director and Chief Executive Officer. “Visitors will have an exceptionally rare opportunity to experience the breathtaking range of his creative genius through some of the artist’s most iconic and seldom loaned works from around the globe—many never before shown together.”

Among the highlights will be The Virgin and Child with Infant Saint John the Baptist in a Landscape (The Alba Madonna) from the National Gallery of Art, one of the most emblematic examples of Raphael’s mastery over High Renaissance ideals of harmony and classical beauty, which will be united with his preparatory drawings from the Museum of Fine Arts, Lille, and Portrait of Baldassarre Castiglione, now in the Louvre, widely regarded as one of the greatest portraits of the High Renaissance.

Lenders include the Accademia Carrara (Bergamo), Albertina (Vienna), Ashmolean Museum (Oxford), British Museum (London), Galleria Borghese (Rome), Gallerie Nazionali Barberini Corsini (Rome), The Duke of Devonshire and Trustees of the Chatsworth Settlement (Chatsworth), Galleria Nazionale delle Marche (Urbino), Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria (Perugia), Kupferstichkabinett (Berlin), Louvre (Paris), Fondazione Brescia Musei (Brescia), National Gallery (London), National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.), Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte, Palais des Beaux-Arts (Lille), Patrimonio Nacional de España (Madrid), Pinacoteca Comunale of Città di Castello, Pinacoteca Nazionale (Bologna), Prado (Madrid), Städel Museum (Frankfurt), Szépmüvészeti Múzeum (Budapest), Gallerie degli Uffizi (Florence), and the Vatican Museums, among others.

“The seven-year journey of putting together this exhibition has been an extraordinary chance to reframe my understanding of this monumental artist,” said Carmen Bambach, the Marica F. and Jan T. Vilcek Curator in The Met’s Department of Drawings and Prints. “It is a thrilling opportunity to engage with his unique artistic personality through the visual power, intellectual depth, and tenderness of his imagery.

Though he lived a mere 37 years, Raphael achieved such profound success as a painter, designer, and architect that he was regarded as the pinnacle of artistic perfection for centuries after his death. The son of a painter and poet, Raphael engaged with the foremost writers and thinkers of his age in Rome, displaying a poetic sensibility that captivated his peers and generations that followed. Matching ambition with lyricism, he created works with both intellectual heft and emotional depth, a necessary skill in the complex political landscape of Renaissance courts.

The exhibition will unfold roughly chronologically, tracing Raphael’s life and career, with thematic sections focused on the development of his ideas and imagery. Recent scientific discoveries will also be incorporated. By featuring drawings in relationship to paintings and works in other media, the presentation will demonstrate Raphael’s prodigious versatility and creative process. The figural compositions in his paintings, drawings, tapestry designs, and prints reveal him to be an unparalleled storyteller, and this exhibition will pay particular attention to his portrayal of women—from his pioneering use of nude female models to his sensitive portrayals of the Madonna and Child.

The exhibition is featured on The Met website, as well as on social media using the hashtag #MetRaphael.

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Flight Deals is our new, AI-powered flight search tool from Google

Attention deal-seekers! Today, we’re introducing Flight Deals, a new, AI-powered search tool within Google Flights.

Flight Deals is designed for flexible travelers whose number one goal is saving money on their next trip. Instead of playing with different dates, destinations and filters to uncover the best deals, you can just describe when, where and how you’d like to travel — as though you’re talking to a friend — and Flight Deals will take care of the rest.

To get started, search for something like “week-long trip this winter to a city with great food, nonstop only” or “10 day ski trip to a world-class resort with fresh powder.” You’ll see the best bargains available that match your search, including destinations you may not have previously considered.

What makes Flight Deals unique is that it uses Google’s advanced AI to understand the nuances of what you’re looking for and identify matching destinations. Then, it’ll tap into real-time Google Flights data to quickly show you relevant, up-to-date options from hundreds of airlines and booking sites.

We’re launching Flight Deals in beta to gather feedback and explore how AI can improve travel planning. But we know you love the original Google Flights, and that’s here to stay (in fact, it will keep getting better: we’re adding a new option to exclude basic economy fares for trips in the U.S. and Canada).

Over the next week, Flight Deals will roll out in the U.S., Canada and India — no opt-in required. You’ll be able to try it out by heading straight to the Flight Deals page, or via the top-left menu on Google Flights. We hope this helps you book an amazing trip (at an amazing price), and we look forward to your feedback!

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Inclusion in the list is a source of pride for many destinations eager to showcase their unique attributes to travelers. Leaders from Thailand and Jamaica shared their excitement about the recognition:

“We are honored that the pearl of the China Sea, Koh Samui, has been recognized among the top 10 Expedia Island Hot List – a testament to the breathtaking beauty and vibrant culture of our island. Koh Samui, with its pristine beaches, lush landscapes, and warm hospitality, stands ready to welcome travelers from around the world to experience the very best of Thai island life,” said Mr Narin Tijayang, Former Executive Director of Koh Samui Office, Tourism Authority of Thailand.

“Being named among Expedia’s top 10 island destinations is a proud moment for Jamaica,” said Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett. “There is a vibe that can only be found in Jamaica and this recognition reflects the soul of our island – our music, food, people, and unforgettable rhythm of life. Travelers around the world continue to choose Jamaica not just for its beauty, but for the energy and authenticity that sets us apart.”

For more inspiration check out our Travel Blog

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