Tag: Hotels and resorts

Does Boston really have the most expensive hotels in the world?

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A new survey found that Boston is the most expensive city in the world to stay overnight in a hotel — ranking it costlier than Paris, Rome and even New York City.

The survey was done by website cheaphotels.org, and ranked 100 cities across the globe by the average cost of the cheapest available double room. The survey only considered only hotels that were centrally located in the city, and had a three-star rating or higher. The average cost was determined by rates in October 2025.

In Boston, cheaphotels.org found that staying over in the city will set you back an average of $375 — enough to top the list of 100 cities. New York City was ranked as the second most expensive, at $338.

The rest of the top five were all in Europe — Zurich, Milan and Paris, which all came in between $250 and $275 per night on average.

Joshua Bowman of Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration, said that October is one of the most expensive months to stay in Boston.

He explained that a number of factors to create the sky-high prices this time of year — including parents weekends at the local universities, leaf peeping crowds and the Head of the Charles all contribute to the markups.

New England has plenty to offer when it comes to hotels — and the region is getting plenty of love with Michelin’s new key system. Photo credit: The Inn at Hastings and Anchor Line Partners

“I think the the rates would be very different and the Boston’s ranking would be very different in the doldrums of February,” Bowman said.

The survey noted that October tends to be the most expensive month for hotels in “most cities”, however.

“If you were to look at all the months, you’re gonna see Boston, in terms of rate, being in the top five in the country,” Bowman said. “Boston is an expensive city to get a hotel room, and it’s actually gotten more expensive in the past few years.“

The hospitality expert pointed to the opening of multiple new luxury hotels over recent years, explaining that average daily rates are being pulled higher by the high-end accommodations.

In the hospitality industry, there is more growth concentrated in the luxury market than middle-of-the-road brands, as middle class people are pumping the brakes on travel amid economic uncertainty, Bowman said.

“But the top 10% of earners in the country are still traveling like crazy,” Bowman said.

So, when is a more affordable time to visit Boston?

Bowman said that during months like December, January and February, hotels usually offer great deals and even special incentives for travelers to come during the winter season.

“They make it really cool for you to be there at a time of year when most people are going to Florida or someplace warmer,” Bowman said. “You’ll get upgraded. You might get some perks for just coming.“

You can read the whole survey, and see the entire ranking of 100 cities, on cheaphotels.org.

For our full conversation with Josh Bowman about hotel costs in Boston, watch the player at the top of this story.

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Matt Fortin

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October 24, 2025
Your vacation was ruined, and the company apologized — with a heartfelt note written by ChatGPT

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Responding to angry customers is one of the hardest parts of her job, Natasha said.

Finding the right words, conveying the appropriate level of contrition — especially when the hotel isn’t at fault (read: rain complaints) — is a tedious and time-consuming process, said the director of a five-star resort, who asked that CNBC not use her real name to protect the resort’s name.

But now she has a secret weapon: generative AI.

Natasha pastes a traveler’s complaint into ChatGPT and asks the chatbot to write a response.

She said a task that would easily take her an hour is done “in two seconds.”

‘A pretty good job’

For all its faults, ChatGPT “does a pretty good job” responding to customer complaints, Natasha said.

“One [response] was much better than what I would have done,” she said. But “it has to be checked …you have to read through it.”

Responses tend to be “schmaltzy” and adjective-laden, she said. Still, they “hit the points of like ‘We’re sorry, we wish we could have done something, we’ll do better’ kind of thing.”

They also address every complaint mentioned by a traveler.

“It’s hard to write these letters; you have to go through line-by-line,” she said. “You wouldn’t be doing the person justice, if you didn’t respond to everything on the list … the AI does this really well.”

But best of all, artificial intelligence isn’t defensive like humans, said Natasha.

“The AI takes all the emotion out of it. Maybe the people were ass—–,” she said. “It doesn’t care.”

The ‘ghosting’ risk

Responding to negative online reviews is even harder, said Natasha, since they are so public.

Plus, research shows that companies that don’t respond to online reviews — even positive ones — can harm their brand’s reputation.

In a ranking of U.S. hotel chains by their “online reputations,” the tech company SOCi found that a driving factor for low scores was “ghosting” — that is, failure to respond to traveler reviews.

The need to constantly monitor and respond to online feedback is partly why using generative AI for “reputational management” is worth an estimated $1.3 billion to the travel industry, according to a 2023 report published by the travel market research company Skift.

Not only can large language models track sites where travel reviews appear — from TripAdvisor to Yelp to Reddit — they can also help companies “respond to reviews, especially negative ones,” the report, titled “Generative AI’s Impact on Travel,” states.

Some 45% of hotels use reputation or review management software already, it said.

A screenshot of a discussion about using ChatGPT to write reviews on Airhosts Forum, a website for Airbnb hosts.

CNBC

But short-term rental owners use AI for these purposes too, said Luca Zambello, the CEO of the short-term rental property management platform Jurny.

“The short-term rental/Airbnb industry has been early adopters,” he said. “Within the next five years, I would say it is probably going to be adopted by the vast majority of the industry.”

He said responding to reviews is time-consuming, which is one of the reasons his company provides this service.

“The majority of our users absolutely love it,” he said. “It is really a no-brainer for companies once they see how good it is.”

An open secret

Using AI to write penitent responses is a taboo topic in the travel industry, which prides itself on personal service. Conventional wisdom, too, has long held that apologies must “come from the heart.”

I want people to think that I am sitting there toiling away over their letter.

Natasha

Director of a five-star resort

When asked if she wants travelers to know she uses AI to respond to negative emails and reviews, Natasha said, “I sure do not. I want people to think that I am sitting there toiling away over their letter.”

One company that acknowledges using AI to deal with customer complaints is the travel booking platform Voyagu, which stores past customer communications to help travel advisors with future interactions, a company representative said.

“Travel advisors always reply to customers themselves, but Voyagu’s AI system tracks all communication — both written and verbal — and suggests a better way to respond,” she said.

Brad Birnbaum, CEO of the AI-powered customer service company Kustomer, said technology of this sort is being used “not just within hospitality, but really all forms of customer support.”

His company, which counts Priceline, Hopper and AvantStay as customers, uses AI to help customer service agents sound more professional, he said.

“We will take text that is really rough and convert it to elegant text, to empathetic text,” he said.

Birnbaum said customers likely don’t know that their interactions with agents are either generated or improved by AI.

“And I don’t think they would care,” he said. “As a matter of fact, I think they probably welcome an agent system because they’re going to get a better response faster.”

More discovering it

Michael Friedman, CEO of the family-run vacation rental company Simple Life Hospitality, said his company does not use AI to respond to customers.

“We never write an email with AI,” he said. ‘There is still a personal element in the ‘tone of voice’ that I believe AI is missing. … I believe there is nothing better than the human touch.”

Wanping Aw, managing director of the Japanese travel agency Tokudaw, said she had never thought to use AI to respond to customer complaints. But after learning that other travel companies are, she decided to test ChatGPT with a real-life problem she recently faced.

She typed: “Our guests are travelling to Mt Fuji. Their bus engine just started smoking. They are scared and anxious to know what is going to happen to their itinerary. What should we do?”

The result? “PRETTY AMAZING!” she told CNBC by email. “ChatGPT suggested exactly what we did!”

The chatbot provided a six-step plan that included evacuating the travelers and arranging alternative transportation.

Text showing the apology letter ChatGPT generated for Wanping Aw.

“Actually it’s better,” she said. “ChatGPT provided a good solution — better than my expectations — and also a great apology letter which I wouldn’t have able been to write under such stressful situations.”

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May 5, 2024
What’s your single best tip for traveling in Japan? Here’s what frequent visitors said
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Japan has long captivated travelers.

But many of its most famous qualities — from the cuisine to the country’s nationwide culture of civility — can initially be befuddling for outsiders too.

To help travelers bridge the cultural gap, CNBC Travel asked frequent visitors for their single best piece of advice when visiting Japan.

1. Speak softly and carry your trash

“Japanese culture is about respecting your environment and the people around you. Don’t talk on your phone on public transit and in confined areas around other people.

Also, savoring your food is an important show of respect, so don’t eat while walking. Instead, sit down and enjoy each bite.

And be prepared to hold onto your trash around the city while traveling and sightseeing — chances of finding a trash can are slim to none! Locals generally bring a small bag to carry the day’s trash until they get home. Japan is very clean, and you’ll find public bathrooms to be spotless compared to other countries. Basically, try to leave no trace.”

— Tyler Monahan, New Jersey-based assistant golf caddie manager married to a Japanese citizen. He has made three trips to Japan totaling 155 days.

2. Punctuality is key (as are jazz clubs)

“Trains are exceedingly punctual, so two minutes is a big deal — if it’s not arriving at the exact time, it’s a different train! If you miss a train in a big city like Osaka or Tokyo, another will be there in minutes, so don’t sweat it. In the countryside though, it could be hours, or tomorrow!

Unlike trains in many cities that pull up and allow plenty of time for boarding, trains in Japan arrive and depart quickly. “Two minutes is a big deal,” said architect Henry Rose.

Source: Oliver Horovitz

Also, know the concept of “last train.” The whole train scene, both public and private, shuts down roughly between midnight and 5 a.m., which can seem a little early in big cities, so be warned. In rural areas, it can be much earlier. Be prepared to take a cab, or if you’re into it, explore this nocturnal world — perhaps at a jazz club that stays open until the first train starts — which in big cities is an entire economy unto itself.”

— Henry Rose, Seattle-based architect, who has made more than 10 trips to Japan.

3. To meet people, get Japanese business cards

“Exchanging ‘meishi’ is a glorious, and serious, tradition in Japan. Cards are presented with both hands and a deep bow. It is also one of the most unexpected and fun icebreakers you can use to meet new people.

The author, Oliver Horovitz (right), standing next to a man inspecting Horovitz’s meishi, or business card.

Source: Oliver Horovitz

Get cards printed entirely in Japanese — you can use Google Translate for the translation. The staff at Kinkos — located in all major cities in Japan — will walk you through the whole process. After this, locals will be shocked, and absolutely delighted, that you have meishi for them. During my last trip to Japan, I had 100 cards printed in Kyoto. I handed them out during the rest of the trip, always to smiles.”

— Oliver Horovitz, New York City-based travel writer who has visited Japan three times.

4. Bring fun socks

“Bare feet in Japan is a big no-no. Travelers should expect to remove their shoes often in Japan and should always have socks on when they do so. The removal of shoes might even happen in places that are unexpected, like a restaurant.

Travelers can consider tabi socks, a split-toe Japanese sock dating to the 1400s, that are worn with thonged shoes.

Tina Horne | Istock | Getty Images

Also, it is common to have slippers at the entrance to public bathrooms, with the expectation that restroom visitors use these slippers and return them promptly. Be sure to only pack and wear your best (clean and hole-free) socks while in Japan. If you have a collection of fun or interesting socks, wear them in Japan where they can actually be seen and admired!”

— Jolaine Pfeifer, Aspen, Colorado-based school administrator. She has made nine trips to Japan, on top of spending her middle and high school years in Yokosuka.

5. Don’t knock convenience stores

“Rest assured, the only resemblance these little oases have to their U.S. counterparts is in the name! Stores like 7-Eleven and Lawson are immaculately clean and have just about anything you might need, including a few go-to items that I seek out each time:

A great selection of onigiri, which are sandwich-sized rice triangles wrapped in seaweed and filled with things like salmon, tuna, eggs and pickled plum.

Participants taste onigiri at a product meeting for 7-Eleven Japan in Tokyo on Jan. 23, 2024. Staff and suppliers gathered to discuss flavors, textures and fillings for the Japanese riceballs, one of 7-Eleven’s most important products, with more than 2 billion sold each year.

Noriko Hayashi | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The coffee — especially at 7-Eleven. The automated state-of-the-art machines grind the beans and brew some of the best coffee I’ve had, with lots of preference options like temperature, brew strength, milk, sweeteners and flavors.

These little bottles of flavored vitamin C shots called You-C1000, which I greatly appreciated in the winter on Hokkaido backcountry ski adventures. They come in tasty flavors like apple, orange or lemon and are a handy way to get vitamin C daily.”

— Jeffrey Cole, Colorado-based leadership coach, who has made four trips to Japan, spanning the northern island of Hokkaido to the southern island of Miyakojima.

6. Hire a guide – even if you think you don’t need one

“The language and culture barrier is real, and a local will show you things in places you’d never get to see on your own.

I did this at Tsukiji Fish Market. I’d been there maybe five times before, but finally took a guide with my grandfather, and it was a whole new world. I’ve also done this at Akihabara Electric Town and for lots of culinary tours.”

— Miles Ashton, a Chicago-based entrepreneur who has made more than 10 trips to Japan, including a nine-month stint living in Tokyo.

7. Shop at Tokyu Hands

“Not only is the layout a blast, with a different department on every level — but the merchandise is extensive and unique. There are 60 stores around the country, and they focus on hobby, home improvement and lifestyle products.

It’s a great place to find affordable, non-touristy gifts. They have the best pens, papers, and organizers, as well as camping supplies — if it’s small, efficient, and practical, they have it!

Tokyu Hands, which has been rebranded to Hands, is famous for selling themed household and beauty novelty items.

Source: Oliver Horovitz

Two of the coolest things I’ve purchased are a collapsible Shoji lamp, and a circular cooler carry case that holds a flower-shaped ice pack for under your hat plus a freezable U-shaped neck ring.”

— Kris Beyer, New York-based owner of Destroyer Park Golf Course. She has made over 20 trips to Japan and lived there as a child and teenager. Kris’ father, Dick “The Destroyer” Beyer, was a famous wrestler in Japan.

Editor’s note: Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
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April 7, 2024
Debate heats up as Singapore prime minister says exclusive Taylor Swift deal isn’t ‘unfriendly’

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Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Tuesday that a closed-door deal for Taylor Swift to perform in the city-state ensured she would not perform in other Southeast Asian countries during her Eras tour.

“(Our) agencies negotiated an arrangement with her to come to Singapore and perform and to make Singapore her only stop in Southeast Asia,” he said at a press conference at a regional summit in Melbourne, according to Reuters.

The statement is the first confirmation from the city-state that the agreement for Swift to perform in Singapore contained exclusivity terms preventing her from performing in other countries.

On Monday, Edwin Tong, Singapore’s minister for culture, community and youth, declined to answer this question twice during a parliamentary session.

He also did not reveal the size of the grant to Swift, but stated the amount is “not anywhere as high as speculated.”

“Due to business confidentiality reasons, we cannot reveal the specific size of the grant or the conditions of the grant,” he said.

The issue gained prominence on Feb. 16 when Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin alleged Singapore gave Swift’s team between $2 million and $3 million per show, in exchange for not performing in other regional cities, according to The Bangkok Post.

A diplomatic thorn

The payment of a grant to Swift’s promoters has become a diplomatic thorn for Singapore, prompting criticism from neighboring countries for brokering a deal that shut them out from the highest-grossing tour of all time.

Member of the Philippine House of Representatives Joey Salceda said this “isn’t what good neighbors do” and added that such agreements are contrary to ASEAN principles, according to local media.

Lee on Tuesday disputed this characterization, saying, “It has turned out to be a very successful arrangement. I don’t see that as being unfriendly.”

Taylor Swift performs at Singapore’s National Stadium on March 2, 2024. Singapore and Tokyo are the only stops Swift is making in Asia during her global Eras tour.

Ashok Kumar/tas24 | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images

Swift’s six concerts in Singapore are expected to pump between $260 million and $372 million into the island’s economy, assuming 70% of concertgoers come from overseas.

During her first three concerts in Singapore, Swift asked her audience to applaud — first the locals, then those who had traveled from overseas to come to the show. In every instance, the applause of travelers was far louder.

Average daily rates at hotels in Singapore rose from $256 to $400 this week, with bookings up 92% from travelers coming from Malaysia, 111% from Thailand and 189% from Indonesia, according to the travel software company RateGain.

Swift’s tour prior to Eras, her Reputation Stadium Tour in 2018, included only one stop in Asia — Tokyo.

But her previous tours — Speak Now, Red and 1989 tours — included stops in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia.

Shrewd or selfish?

Singapore’s agreement has sparked a debate on whether this is just smart dealmaking or greed.

“It certainly was a bold, shrewd strategic move for Singapore,” said Selena Oh, a Singapore-based communications director.

But others say a winner-takes-all mentality harms regional tourism industries, which are still recovering from the pandemic, as well as fans who can’t afford the steep travel prices to see Swift in person.

“Slightly selfish with ONLY Singapore in mind and not the wider region. Clearly [Singapore authorities] aren’t very caring for anyone other [than] themselves,” said Christian de Boer, a Cambodia-based hotel managing director.

You have to make your calculations and work out what’s in Singapore and Singaporeans’ best interest.”

Edwin Tong

Singapore Minister for Culture, Community and Youth

Some liken the deal to how cities vie to host major sports events, such as the Olympics, the Super Bowl and the World Cup.

“Did anyone protest when F1 decided to come to Singapore? Is anyone pretending that there were no monetary or other material considerations?” said Irene Hoe, a Singapore-based editorial consultant.

Concerts — which see artists traveling from city to city to reach their fans — haven’t always been this competitive.

But that may be changing as experience-led tourism pushes concerts into money-making juggernauts, with fans willing to travel across continents to see their favorite artists.

A ‘mean’ deal?

During Monday’s Parliamentary session, Singaporean politician Gerald Giam asked Tong whether the Singapore government negotiated to make the island Taylor Swift’s only “blank space” in Southeast Asia, referencing her smash hit of the same name.

“And did it realize that this may be perceived by some of our neighbors as being mean?” he asked.

Tong replied, “You have to make your calculations and work out what’s in Singapore and Singaporeans‘ best interest.”

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March 4, 2024
The Eastern & Oriental luxury train restarted this week — here’s what a trip costs

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After nearly four years, the Eastern & Oriental Express is back on the rails. Â Â Â

The train, which is operated by the luxury travel company Belmond, this week welcomed its first set of passengers since it stopped running as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Â Â

The luxury train has been operating in Southeast Asia since 1993, when it first began shuttling travelers between Singapore and Bangkok. Â

What’s new

Several key elements about the train have changed, however, including its route.

Now Thailand is out, replaced with two new journeys, which start and end in Singapore and explore different sides of Malaysia.

Arnaud Champenois, Belmond’s senior vice president of marketing and brand, told CNBC this is because travelers have changed in the past four years, with more preferring to explore destinations on a deeper level.

“The idea was to focus on one country here and to offer two different routes. So on the West Coast, we go through Singapore to Penang, and then Langkawi. And then on the other one, we go on the national park of Malaysia to really kind of get the jungle and the natural feel.”

The new routes are seasonal, with the “Essence of Malaysia” running from November to February, and “Wild Malaysia” from March to October.

The E&O’s new routes

“Essence of Malaysia” â passes through Kuala Lumpur, before reaching the islands of Langkawi and Penang

“Wild Malaysia” â explores Taman Negara National Park before heading to Penang

As a result of the new route, the train has received a Malay-inspired revamp, from the cabin interiors to the food. Dinner and afternoon tea service were created by Andre Chiang, the celebrated Taiwanese chef behind Singapore’s two-Michelin-starred Restaurant Andre, which closed in 2018.

The cost

Rates for four-day, three-night journeys start from $3,410 per person, which includes meals, beverages and scheduled activities.

This is less expensive than other trains that use versions of the “Orient Express” name, including the Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, which has run routes through Europe since 1982. Prices start from Â£3,530 ($4,430) per person for a one-night trip in a historic cabin, according to its website. Â

Accor’s “Orient ExpressÂ La Dolce Vita” trains, which are set to start operating in 2024, are priced at â¬2,500 euros ($2,686) per person per night for a deluxe cabin, according to a press release. Travelers can pre-register for trips that mostly operate in Italy, according to its website.

Rates for Accor’s La Dolce Vita trains have increased since pre-booking first opened in December 2022, with stated rates then priced at 2,000 euros ($2,153) per person per night.

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February 15, 2024
How to find hidden cameras in hotels and house rentals: We tested five ways — and one's the clear winner

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Hidden cameras are being found in hotel rooms, house rentals, cruise ships, and even airplane bathrooms, leaving many travelers to wonder:

“Could a hidden camera be watching me?”

Spycams, as they’re called, are getting smaller, harder to find and easier to buy.

From alarm clocks to air fresheners, water bottles and toothbrush holders, cameras come embedded in common household items that seamlessly blend with home decor. They can be purchased in shops or online, and through retailers like Amazon and Walmart.

And rather than having to retrieve the camera to obtain the recording, owners can stream live images straight to their phones, said Pieter Tjia, CEO of the Singapore-based tech services company OMG Solutions.

Even worse, voyeurs can sell the footage to porn sites, where it can be viewed thousands of times.

It’s no wonder why websites, from YouTube to TikTok, are filled with videos of people recommending simple ways to find hidden cameras.

But do they these suggestions work?

To find out, Tjia and his team hid 27 cameras in a home, and then provided CNBC with commonly recommended devices to find them.

In total, CNBC conducted five rounds of tests to see which method was the most effective.

Test 1: Using the ‘naked eye’

First, we examined the rooms using the easiest and cheapest method of all: the “naked eye” test.

My colleague, Victor Loh, went from room to room, noting that nothing seemed out of place or suspicious. After 20 minutes of searching, he found one camera embedded inside a working clock — tipped off because the time was wrong.

“I found one,” he said. “But it’s so well camouflaged.”

Cost: $0 | Cameras found: 1

Test 2: Using a mobile phone

For this round, Victor downloaded a popular app called Fing, which scans Wi-Fi networks for cameras. He also used his phone’s flashlight to make it easier to see camera lenses, a common online recommendation.

The app showed 22 devices were connected to the home’s Wi-Fi — but no cameras.

Tjia explained that when members of his team set up the cameras in the house, they also set up a second wireless network. They then connected the hidden cameras to that network, bypassing the home’s main network.

“Even if we didn’t do this, the app would show cameras are in the house, but not where they are located,” he said.

Victor had better luck using his phone’s flashlight. With it, he found three more cameras — in a Wi-Fi repeater, a shirt button and a teddy bear — the last one, like the clock, catching his eye because of something amiss.

“It’s not grammatically correct,” he said of the bear’s T-shirt, before finding a camera behind one of its eyes.

Tjia said most hidden cameras are made in China, where, ironically, they are banned.

Cost: $25/year for app subscription | Cameras found: 3

Test 3: Using a radio frequency detector

With only four of 27 cameras located, it was time to turn to handheld devices designed to find hidden cameras — like a radio frequency detector which beeps when it’s close to a spycam.

Those work when cameras are turned on and connected to Wi-Fi, which means they won’t find cameras that use SD cards to store data, said Tjia.

They are also prone to false alarms, he added, as we watched Victor search the rooms, for the third time, through a barrage of piercing beeps.

The device also had a built-in lens detector, but the beeping proved so distracting that Victor didn’t locate a single camera with this device. It even beeped when he was in parts of the house that had no cameras at all, said Tjia.

Cost: $100-$200 | Cameras found: 0

Test 4: Using a lens detector

Next up: a basic lens detector, which is cheap, portable and easy to use. The device emits infrared light, which reflects back from a camera lens as a red dot.

The problem? You must be close to the camera for it to work.

Lens detectors are a popular way to locate spycams, but CNBC only found two cameras with this one.

CNBC

Despite its popularity online, Victor found only two cameras with this device — one in an essential oil diffuser, and the other in a Wi-Fi mesh device.

Cost: $50 | Cameras found: 2

Test 5: Using an advanced lens detector

For the final test, Victor used a more sophisticated lens detector.

Resembling binoculars, it also accentuates light that is reflected from a camera lens. However, this device works from a distance, allowing Victor to see cameras from across the room. It also works in brightly-lit or dark rooms, said Tjia.

“Oh wow,” said Victor, as he located cameras — in a tissue box and leather bag, with another buried between files under a desk. But he noted he needed to look straight into the lens to see it. “The angle matters.”

In total, he found 11 cameras with this device — more than all the other cameras found in the other test rounds, combined.

Cost: $400 | Cameras found: 11

The final outcome

In total, Victor found 17 out of 27 cameras — not a bad result, but not a great one either, especially given the time he spent locating them.

“When you are traveling, you are really exhausted,” he said. “The last thing you want to do is spend … one hour scrutinizing every nook and cranny just to locate a camera.”

Social media posts about hidden cameras have increased nearly 400% in the past two years, according to the data company Sprout Social — with countless articles dedicated to finding a quick and easy solution to the growing problem.

But in this cat-and-mouse game, the cameras have the upper hand, said Tjia.

The detecting devices are getting better, but so are the cameras being hidden, he said.

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January 21, 2024
Social media uproar may cost the Maldives millions, as feud with India intensifies

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Social media posts by Maldivian officials may cost the country millions in tourism revenue, as calls by Indian travelers to boycott the island nation intensify.

“We are seeing a 40% drop in bookings over the last two days,” Ankit Chaturvedi, vice president and global head of marketing at the India-based travel software company Rategain, said Tuesday.

“Most people book on weekends, and therefore the drop seems more significant because ideally [bookings] should have gone up,” he told CNBC Travel.

Travel bookings to the Maldives tumbled following a diplomatic row that erupted last week after a series of posts appeared on X, formerly known as Twitter, on India Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s account.

The posts showed him snorkeling, sitting by the water and meeting people in Lakshadweep, which some viewed as a veiled attempt to siphon visitors away from the island nation.

Amid reports that thousands of Indian travelers have canceled trips to the Maldives, one prominent Indian travel booking website, EaseMyTrip, announced it is suspending flight bookings from India to the Maldives.

Some travel agents in India say they are canceling bookings to the Maldives, scrubbing their websites of its photos, and recommending travelers go to the Indian archipelago of Lakshadweep, the Andaman Islands, Nicobar Islands or Sri Lanka instead, according to The India Express.

The dispute has thrust a global spotlight on the little-known Lakshadweep, which like the Maldives, is a scenic chain of sandy atolls, coral reefs and crystalline water.

The Maldives, located some 340 miles to the south, is the preferred playground for India, however. In 2023, more than one in 10 arrivals were from India, making it the country’s largest source market, followed by Russia and China, according to Maldives tourism statistics.

But more British travelers — and nearly twice as many Italians — have visited the Maldives in the first week of January, compared to those from India, which fell to fourth place in terms of visitor arrivals.

In the absence of Chinese international travelers, Indians emerged as the region’s travel powerhouse in 2023 and are set to be the fourth largest global travel spenders by 2030.

If calls to #BoycottMaldives continue, millions could be stake.

Exact losses to the Maldives are hard to estimate, said Chaturvedi, but “India drove $380 million worth of tourism last year to Maldives, which is significant.”

The posts that kicked it off

Some blamed Modi’s posts for setting off the debacle even though they did not mention the Maldives, which has lost favor in India following the 2023 election of Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu.

Muizzu campaigned on an “India out” policy — in contrast to the Maldivian Democratic Party’s “India First” policy. He also broke with long-standing tradition by choosing China for his first official state visit this week, widely viewed as a snub to India.

India’s Ministry of Exterior Affairs did not immediately respond to CNBC’s requests for comment.

However, others say Maldives supporters, bristling at online comparisons to Lakshadweep, kicked off the row by writing negative comments about India’s ability to compete with its resorts and hospitality.

Maldivian Deputy Ministers Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid lobbed various insults at Modi on X, calling him a “clown,” “terrorist” and “puppet of Israel,” according to Reuters.

Maldives’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer sought to distance the country from the comments, writing on X that the remarks “are unacceptable and do not reflect the official position of the Government of the #Maldives.”

The three officials were suspended for their social media posts over the weekend, according to the news agency.

But the furor has only intensified since, underscoring the travel industry’s exposure to local geopolitical affairs, as well as the on-going conflict in the Middle East.

An inadvertent push?

As to whether Indian travelers are rescheduling their trips to Lakshadweep, it’s hard to say, said Chaturvedi.

“We cannot track this as there are not enough operations,” he said. According to TripAdvisor, there are just 13 hotels in the archipelago.

Given the mercurial nature of social media outrage, Chaturvedi said he expects the boycott will “pass quickly.”

But a national rallying cry to travel domestically will have much greater staying power, he said. Trending hashtags, like #ExploreIndianIslands, are being pushed online from everyday travelers to Bollywood celebrities, like Akshay Kumar.

Chaturvedi said calls to travel inside India “will last longer — it’s a big agenda of the government.”

An agenda which likely received a bigger push than those behind Modi’s serene photographs by the sea ever imagined.

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January 9, 2024
Ultra-luxury Aman Resorts launches a more affordable brand called Janu. Here's what it costs

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Few names exude “quiet luxury” like the ultra-luxe Aman Resorts.

Its hotels bear its moniker: from Amanoi in Vietnam, to Aman Sveti Stefan in Montenegro and the hotel that started it all — Amanpuri in Phuket, Thailand.

Fans of the brands — known as ‘Aman Junkies’ — are accustomed to paying its top-dollar rates, which start at $3,200 per night at Aman New York, which opened in August 2022.

However, travelers who don’t want to spend this much will soon have another option.

Aman is set to open Janu Tokyo, the first hotel from its new more affordable sister brand, in March 2024.

Janu was created to respond to demand from a wider cohort of guests, said Aman CEO Vlad Doronin. It will mirror Aman hotels in service and design, but will have a “different pace and spirit,” he said in a press release.

Inside Janu Tokyo

Janu Tokyo will have eight restaurants and a 4,000-square-meter wellness center equipped with a gym, a hydrotherapy and thermal area, cold and hot plunge pools and hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber, according to the company.

Janu Tokyo is the first of 12 Janu hotels to open worldwide.

Source: Janu

Janu Tokyo spans 13 floors and houses 122 rooms and suites, which are designed, like Aman hotels, with a focus on minimalism and symmetry.

The design has “a youthful energy, brimming with liveliness and playfulness that sets it apart from the poised and composed character of Aman,” said Jean-Michel Gathy, the hotel’s interior designer who also designed many Aman hotels, plus the Maldives’ One&Only Reethi Rah and The St. Regis Lhasa in Tibet.

Most rooms come with a private balcony, overlooking Azabudai Hills, a new urban complex in the special ward of Minato City.

More affordable?

Nightly rates at Janu Tokyo start from $944, according to the company.

However, CNBC Travel was unable to find any rooms before August 2024 for less than $1,000. During the 2024 year-end peak season, rates for entry-level rooms jump to about $1,400 per night, excluding taxes, which is similar to the cost of an entry-level room at Amanoi in Vietnam during the same time period.

Twelve more Janu hotels are in the pipeline, according to the company, in places like in Saudi Arabia, Montenegro, Turks and Caicos, United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Portugal, Thailand, Turkey and Maldives.

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December 24, 2023
Asian cities gain ground in Euromonitor's 'Top 100' cities to visit
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Paris is, once again, the best city to visit in the world, according to Euromonitor International.

The city topped the market research company’s annual list of the “Top 100 City Destinations” which compares cities using 55 metrics across six categories: economic and business performance, tourism performance, tourism infrastructure, tourism policy and attractiveness, health and safety, and sustainability.

Dubai placed second on list, followed by Madrid (No. 3) and Tokyo (No. 4) — with Japan’s capital entering the top 10 list for the first time “thanks to improved developments in [its] tourism infrastructure,” according to the report.

The top 20 cities list

Developed markets continue to lead the rankings, as shown by the top 20 cities on Euromonitor’s 2023 index:

1.    Paris, France
2.    Dubai, United Arab Emirates
3.    Madrid, Spain
4.    Tokyo, Japan
5.    Amsterdam, Netherlands
6.    Berlin, Germany
7.    Rome, Italy
8.    New York City, United States
9.    Barcelona, Spain
10. London, United Kingdom
11. Singapore, Singapore
12. Munich, Germany
13. Milan, Italy
14. Seoul, South Korea
15. Dublin, Ireland
16. Osaka, Japan
17. Hong Kong
18. Vienna, Austria
19. Los Angeles, United States
20. Lisbon, Portugal

The full list is dominated by European cities, which took seven of the top 10 spots, and 63 of the top 100 spots. That’s thanks to the “fast-paced urbanisation and widespread technology adoption” in the region, according to the report.

But Asian cities are gaining ground, showing significant improvement from Euromonitor’s 2022 ranking.

Tokyo is also the only Asian city in the top 10 list, though the city-state of Singapore is close at No. 11 — edging up four places from No. 15 on 2022’s list.

Five Japanese cities made 2023’s top 100 list: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Sapporo and Fukuoka.

Standout cities

The report highlighted cities that stood out in some of the 55 categories they were evaluated for.

Madrid ranked first for sustainability, with the report highlighting the city’s “100% petrol-free public transport.”

London has the “best tourism infrastructure” in the world, with Six Senses, Rosewood, Park Hyatt, Oberoi and Mandarin Oriental planning to open new hotels in the city.

Singapore ranked No. 1 for economic and business performance, and political stability.

Macao ranked first for health and safety, while Hong Kong led the rankings for health and medical services.

In addition, four new cities made this year’s list: Washington (No. 48), Montreal (No. 68), Santiago, Chile, (No. 88) and Vilnius, Lithuania (No. 92), owing to their improved tourism performances, the report said.
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December 12, 2023
Southeast Asia’s first luxury hotel made from retired buses opens in Singapore — take a look inside

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The resort hotel has 20 rooms which will be open for stays from Dec. 1, 2023.

Source: The Bus Collective

It only costs a dollar to ride a Singapore bus — but 398 Singapore dollars to sleep in one.

The Bus Collective is Southeast Asia’s first resort hotel to repurpose decommissioned public buses into luxury hotel rooms.

The project renovated 20 buses that were once owned by SBS Transit, Singapore’s public transport operator, giving them a renewed purpose within the hospitality sector.

The resort hotel officially opens on Dec. 1 and bookings are now available on its website.

A look into the resort

The Bus Collective is located in Changi Village, Singapore — occupying 8,600 square meters of land.

The Queen Victoria room.

Source: The Bus Collective

The property sits near local attractions like the Changi Village Hawker Centre, Changi East Boardwalk, and Changi Chapel & Museum.

The resort hotel has seven distinct room categories, each with different in-room amenities. Nightly room rates start at SG$398 ($296) and some rooms even come with a bathtub and king-sized bed.

Some rooms include amenities like a bathtub, a flat screen television and a minibar.

Source: The Bus Collective

Among the different room types, the Pioneer North room has handrails in the toilet and shower area, built to meet the needs of senior guests, a representative from the resort hotel told CNBC.

Alternatively, the Hamilton Place room is designed to be wheelchair accessible, equipped with an external accessible restroom and a ramp leading up to the room’s entrance, she added.

Some of the hotel rooms come equipped with entrance ramps for wheelchair accessibility.

Source: The Bus Collective

Each room covers 45 square meters and can accommodate three to four guests, the resort’s website showed. Although these retired buses have been entirely refurbished, some features such as the steering wheel, driver seat and windows have been preserved.

The driver’s seat, steering wheel and windows have been retained as part of the room’s design.

Source: The Bus Collective

Recreational activities are not available on the property, but The Bus Collective will be organizing guided tours which guests can book at the resort hotel’s experience center, the representative said.

One of the tours offered is a biking trip around Pulau Ubin — an island off the coast of Singapore. This tour is priced at SG$99 per person and includes a two-way ferry transfer to and from the island. Other experiences include a guided food tour and sailing at Changi Sailing Club.

The inspiration behind the project

The Bus Collective was founded by WTS Travel & Tours, a Singaporean travel agency, along with its partners LHN Group, a real estate management services group, and Sky Win Holding, an investment holding group headquartered in Singapore.

The renovation process of the decommissioned buses.

Source: The Bus Collective

WTS Travel and partners wanted to showcase how tourism, nature and environmentalism can come together and be a “catalyst for creating unique and exciting new experiences,” Micker Sia, managing director of WTS Travel told CNBC.

He added that the project aims to “establish a precedent for eco-conscious practices in construction and hospitality … setting a new standard for sustainable luxury.”

Although The Bus Collective only operates in Singapore currently, Sia told CNBC it could expand in the future. “We are definitely open to exploring opportunities for growth and innovation in the future … and we believe it has the potential to resonate with audiences in other locations within the Asia Pacific region,” Sia said.

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November 26, 2023
Is your hotel sustainable? Not if these two things are in your room, says Soneva’s founder

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Many hotels claim to be eco-friendly.

But are they?

A quick-and-easy test is to look for two items, said Sonu Shivdasani, founder of Soneva and Six Senses hotel brands.

First, sustainable hotels should not have branded water of any sort, he told CNBC Travel.

“When you have incredible filtered water, and where the tap water is pretty pure in most countries in the world … there’s no need to have any sort of branded water,” he said.

Not only does this reduce single-use bottles, but it’s healthier too, he said.

“There are quite a lot of brands of water that can be quite toxic, because they’re in areas where there’s sort of chemical pollution,” he said. Plus “plastic bottles are a carcinogen. You can imagine … that plastic bottle … sitting in a store for two or three months, getting hot and roasting.”

A better, cheaper option for hotels is to purify tap water and add electrolyte minerals, such as sodium, potassium and chloride, he said.

Next, check for toiletries in plastic bottles, which Shivdasani called “silly.”

“One should really buy in bulk containers, and then you refill in ceramic bottles,” he said.

But that’s really the bare minimum, said Shivdasani, who sold Six Senses in 2012.

He now focuses on Soneva’s three hotels: two in the Maldives and one in Thailand, plus another — Soneva Secret — set to open on a remote atoll in the northern Maldives in 2024.

The resorts serve guests produce grown on-site, rely partly on solar energy and recycle 93% of generated waste, said Shivdasani, who was awarded the 50 Best Hotels inaugural “Icon Award” for responsible luxury tourism in September.

‘Ecology is economy’

Shivdasani rejects the idea that operating sustainably is costlier.

“Ecology is economy,” he told CNBC Travel.

By relying more on solar power than diesel fuel, he said, Soneva resorts will save money in the long run.

“Our bankers are very supportive of us doing it,” he said. “The payback on this investment is about four and a half years.”

By making charcoal using fallen branches, Shivdasani estimates his company saves $20,000-$30,000 per year. Plus, on-site gardens deliver about $10,000 a month of vegetables — at market prices — into each resort, he added.

But Shivdasani doesn’t dispute that sustainability — at this level — is harder.

“It’s certainly not easier. But it’s more interesting,” he said. “It is more difficult, but it’s certainly much, much more fulfilling.”

A 2% environmental levy

As the tourism industry adopts more sustainable practices, one question remains: Who pays for it?

“Governments can create the context, but businesses need to make the change,” Shivdasani told CNBC Travel. “We can do that by making small changes to the way we do business that does not affect our profitability, but which can have a huge impact on people well beyond our shores.”

Nearly 80% of travelers will pay at least 10% more for eco-friendly travel, despite the cost-of-living crisis, according to a Euromonitor International report published in August.

Soneva Fushi, a resort in the Maldives where Shivdasani said he and his wife, Eva, live about half of the year.

Source: Soneva

Shivdasani said he decided to institute a guest environmental levy after the company measured its “scope 3” emissions.

“I didn’t know what scope 3 CO2 emissions were,” he said. “Scopes 1 and 2 are like the light bulbs, the air-conditioning … scope three is externalities outside the property [like] guests flying in, supplies coming in.”

Companies often fall short of reporting scope 3 emissions, said Kelvin Law, an associate professor of accounting at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University who researches corporate sustainability and financial fraud.

“Missing one out of three reporting scopes may not seem like a big deal — but it is,” he wrote for CNA, since they account for the lion’s share of most companies’ emissions. “Leaving out scope three emissions reporting is akin to solving a jigsaw puzzle without the largest piece — the picture is never complete.”

Shivdasani said that after Soneva determined that 85% of its carbon emissions were “scope 3” emissions, the company introduced the 2% carbon levy. That was in 2008.

“That’s why we said we had to do something about it,” he said.

Small changes

The levy has generated about $12 million for The Soneva Foundation, a British charity founded in 2010.

The revenue has been used to restore forests in Thailand, fund a 1.5 megawatt windmill in India (“giving the local community subsidized energy”) and to buy stoves in Myanmar and Darfur, Sudan.

“The cookstoves has been a fantastic investment,” he said adding that they not only reduce CO2 emissions but also decrease firewood expenses and the risk of lung disease. The latter causes an estimated 3.2 million deaths per year, including some 230,000 children under the age of five, according to the World Health Organization.

Moreover, the stoves have created a carbon surplus, he said.

“We now have two million surplus carbon credits, which is worth about $20 million,” he said.

The credits — which currently sell for $10-$15 each on the open market — are certified and then purchased by companies, such as Marks & Spencer, which use the credit to meet their own carbon reduction goals, he said.

The Soneva Foundation is reinvesting that money, using it to plant 1 million trees in Nepal and Mozambique each, among other projects, he added.

“It’s a small change, but it’s had this fantastically growing impact,” he said.

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October 30, 2023
Which is better — ChatGPT or a travel agent? Here’s our pick

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Planning a holiday can be stressful — that’s where travel agents come in.

But now, travelers have another option: chatbots like ChatGPT, Bard AI and Microsoft Bing. Simply input a prompt and watch the travel recommendations pour in. The best parts? It’s instantaneous and, for the most part, free.

But which is better when it comes to planning vacations?

Intrepid Travel, a small group travel agency, accepted CNBC Travel’s request to find out.

CNBC asked both sides to plan a two-day trip for four friends, all in their mid-20s, to Melbourne, Australia.

Here’s how they fared.

Where to stay in Melbourne

The ask: Recommend three places to stay in Melbourne that have a pool and gym, are near Swanston Street, and that are priced less than $500 a night.

Right off the bat, there was a rather glaring error with ChatGPT: All three recommendations were no longer in service. If that wasn’t enough, some of the places lacked both a pool and a gym, and one was over the budget.

Intrepid Travel, on the other hand, provided options that came with either a pool or a gym, or both. The company also recognized that those amenities were not necessities but additional benefits.

The winner: Intrepid Travel

Where to eat

The ask: Provide dining options for breakfast, lunch, dinner and post-dinner drinks for two days.

Again, ChatGPT struggled. The suggested restaurant on the first day, a place called Fatto Bar & Cantina, had been closed for years.

Apart from that, a quick Google search of the other places showed that they were (thankfully) still in operation. Those were, to me, on the safer end, with suggested spots appearing on several “must-visit” restaurant lists for Melbourne.

Conversely, I felt that Intrepid Travel suggested places that were more niche and representative of Melbourne’s unique culture.

It is worth noting that both Intrepid Travel and ChatGPT proposed breakfast at Hardware Société, a popular brunch spot with locations in Paris and Barcelona too.

The winner: Intrepid Travel

What to do

The ask: Provide a two-day itinerary around Melbourne with a focus on art and cultural activities.

Both Intrepid Travel and ChatGPT came back with reasonable options around the city. Multiples places were on both lists — Queen Victoria Market, Hosier Lane and National Gallery of Victoria — which point to the popularity of those spots.

My favorite recommendation? Incube8r, a store with handmade gifts and art, as recommended by Intrepid Travel.

The winner: Intrepid Travel (again)

Finding a ‘hidden gem’

The ask: Recommend one place that is not well known by travelers

Intrepid Travel’s hidden gem recommendation: Le Bar Europeen. It’s been touted as Australia’s smallest bar and barely fits four people.

Reds | Room | Getty Images

Intrepid Travel recommended hidden speakeasy Le Bar Europeen for a nightcap, and the Yalinguth App walking tour as a daytime activity. I found both recommendations exciting and felt that they were lesser-known ways to explore the city.

Between the two, I particularly enjoyed the Yalinguth App walking tour, which is an audio tour along Gertrude Street in Melbourne’s Fitzroy district. The app uses geolocated stories and sounds from Australia’s aboriginal community so listeners can understand a slice of Australia’s past as they make their way around one of Melbourne’s cultural hubs.

On the other hand, ChatGPT interpreted the request as asking for a full day’s itinerary, recommending visits to Hardware Société, Rippon Lea House and Gardens, Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne Museum, Chin Chin and Eau De Vie.

I don’t consider any of those “hidden gems” in Melbourne, as all are all rather popular locations for tourists to visit.

The winner: Intrepid Travel

Conclusion

Ultimately, some of the teething problems I had with ChatGPT boiled down to the chatbot not being up-to-date — it currently only “knows” data up to 2021.

In ordinary circumstances, a two-year time lag doesn’t seem like much. After all, restaurants and hotels open and close all the time! That said, the initial two years of the Covid-19 pandemic caused many closures in the hospitality sector, making recommendations given prior to it unreliable at times.

I also found browsing Intrepid’s itinerary more enjoyable as each recommendation came with a short write-up. The company also suggested specific activities and dishes to try at each location.

On the other hand, ChatGPT was much more succinct in its recommendations. Though impersonal and utilitarian, it got the job done. However, I found myself less excited about my trip than when I read Intrepid Travel’s suggestions.

Overall, I won’t discount the recommendations put forth by ChatGPT. It’s a quick and easy way to suss out the classic top spots to visit on your holiday. But if you want a more personalized itinerary that focuses more on local spots, sticking with travel companies is the way to go.

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September 18, 2023
‘Just a temporary blip’: Chinese travelers will be back, says Banyan Tree founder

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Chinese travelers are returning to Banyan Tree Holdings hotels, it’s founder told CNBC.

Christian Heeb| Prisma By Dukas | Universal Images Group | Getty Images

A dearth of Chinese travelers is nothing to “worry about,” said Banyan Tree Holdings founder Ho Kwon Ping.

“They are definitely going to come back,” he told CNBC’s Chery Kang at the Milken Institute’s Asia Summit on Wednesday.

“China is just a temporary blip,” he said. “Most of us in the hospitality industry, a year or so ago, predicted that Chinese tourism would only start to rebound around maybe this year or even next year.”

No one expected a quick turn-around from lockdown to mass travel, he added.

For Banyan Tree Holdings — which operates more than 60 hotels in 17 countries — Ho said “Chinese tourism [is] coming back quite strongly.”

What’s missing are the “mass group tours, which provide the numbers, but they don’t come to our hotels anyway,” he said.

“So you have a lot more free individual travelers … and they’re the ones who can pay the higher airfares and so on.”

He’s also bullish on the tourism market within China.

“The Chinese government made it very clear, they don’t want to have a heavy investment-led growth, they want consumption-based growth and consumption equals tourism. And tourism, as any economist will tell you, has got the greatest sort of trickle-on effect,” he said.

China’s property market

Ho also dismissed concerns about the turmoil surrounding China’s real estate market, which makes up about 30% of its economy.

“The banking system is not going to collapse because it’s Chinese banks that are lending money,” he said.

We’re comfortable with a China real estate story, because we had a number of hotels in China which were all sold prior to the property bubble.

Ho Kwon Ping

Banyan Tree Holdings

“So that’s why you see things like Country Garden … near to going bust, yet not going bust,” he said, referring to the Chinese property giant that narrowly missed a default.

In addition, “the percentage of the Chinese population that actually still lives in modern housing is not halfway near what it is in the Western world. So there’s a lot of demand still.”

As to his company’s exposure to a Chinese real estate bubble, he said: “We’re comfortable with a China real estate story, because we had a number of hotels in China which were all sold prior to the property bubble.”

Not just two superpowers

Ho said he believed Singapore, where his hospitality brand is headquartered, can help soothe geopolitical tensions that have escalated between China and the United States.

“I think Singapore can actually play a very important role in trying to make the U.S., the West in particular, understand that the rise of China is the rise of an entire civilization — and that it’s not a zero-sum game where they’re trying to rise to the extent of putting America and the West down.”

The Western psyche has been too absorbed by the Cold War, which was a zero-sum game, he said.

Even though the West has been dominant for the last 300 years, one global dominant power is not sustainable into perpetuity, he said.

“I think we’re going back to what I call ‘Back to the future’ — like in the movie, where the world 50 years from now will consist of various great civilizations,” he said.

“I use the word civilization because it’s not about economics. It’s not about military power, even politics [or] the idea of the only criteria by which you should judge a country’s politics is whether it practices liberal democracy … I think that’s all changing.”

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September 13, 2023
Taylor Swift is single-handedly giving a boost to hotel industry revenue

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Taylor Swift performs in Cincinnati, Ohio, June 30, 2023, during her Eras tour.

Taylor Hill/tas23 | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images

Taylor Swift is providing a gold rush for the hotel industry.

The “Cruel Summer” singer’s attention-grabbing “Eras” tour has pushed up revenue for hotels in cities across the U.S., according to data from investment firm Bernstein. And the so-called Swift-lift could be seen around the globe as the tour goes international.

“This has been a notable boost to the hotel industry,” Bernstein analyst Richard Clarke wrote in a note to clients Friday, using the term “Swiftonomics.”

Average revenue generated per room was more than 4 percentage points above the national benchmark in U.S. states during the months of Swift’s visits, Bernstein data shows. These states saw revenue per room up about 7% on average in the months of her stops compared with the same periods a year prior. (Revenue generated per room is calculated by dividing the total hotel revenue by number of available rooms, regardless of whether they were occupied.)

Much of the revenue jump can be attributed to higher prices for rooms, Clarke said, but the number of bookings also improved in many cases. In the most extreme example, Nashville saw hotel occupancy rise more than 30% and room rates increase more than 50% on concert nights. Revenue per room more than doubled the weekend Swift was in town.

Swift’s aid also buoyed U.S. hotels amid a boom among Americans in international tourism, Clarke noted. But he said other countries will have their chance at feeling the Swift-induced bump given the tour has an international leg.

Meanwhile, Bernstein found a relatively muted — though still notable — impact on hotels from Beyoncé’s “Renaissance” tour.

Bernstein’s analysis follows months of anecdotal reports about the economic boost from the tours, as well as other popular culture events this summer. The concerts have caught the attention of Wall Street and the Federal Reserve, which specifically noted high hotel bookings during Swift’s stop in Philadelphia.

“Despite the slowing recovery in tourism in the region overall, one contact highlighted that May was the strongest month for hotel revenue in Philadelphia since the onset of the pandemic,” Fed officials wrote in the July beige book, which summarizes economic activity. That’s “in large part due to an influx of guests for the Taylor Swift concerts in the city.”

Indeed, Clarke said occupancy was 11% higher in Philadelphia during the nights of Swift’s tour, while revenue per available room was up 59% on average.

Swift announced last week that a filmed version of her tour would premiere in theaters in October.

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September 8, 2023
Where to stay in India? Here are 8 former palaces that are now hotels

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The Maharajas of India’s past built magnificent palaces as a symbol of their power.

But in 1971, India abolished “privy purses,” or governmental payments made to these rulers. Several of them transformed their vast estates into heritage hotels, or leased them to renowned hotel chains which carefully restored them to their former glory.

From the eastern state of Odisha to Rajasthan in the north, here are eight regal retreats where travelers can live like kings and queens.

1. Jehan Numa Palace — Bhopal

Visitors can step back in time at Jehan Numa Palace in Bhopal, which has a neoclassical style and a 19th-century exterior.

Jehan Numa Palace.

Source: Jehan Numa Palace

This pristine white building was built by General Obaidullah Khan, son of the last ruling Begum of Bhopal, and transformed into a 100-room hotel by his grandsons in the 1980s. The hotel contains salvaged original artifacts and Raj-era photos as well as modern luxuries, such as a palm-lined pool and Chakra spa services.

Its palatial charm lingers among the racehorses that gallop around the track encircling the hotel. Travelers can dine on Italian and Mediterranean cuisine here, but Indophiles opt for the hotel’s legendary Bhopali fare prepared from secret palace recipes in a restaurant named Under the Mango Tree.

2. Haveli Dharampura — Delhi

Once a nobleman’s home, the 19th-century Haveli Dharampura was meticulously restored over six years under the leadership of the prominent political figure Vijay Goel.

Haveli Dharampura.

Source: Heritage Dharampura

It’s now a 14-room boutique hotel, which received an honorable mention in 2017’s UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The atmospheric Mughal-era hotel has red sandstone-arched colonnades, a marble courtyard, Arabesque tile-work and intricate stone and wood details that echo the opulence of yesteryears.

The in-house Lakhori restaurant prepares historic Mughal recipes, while the breezy rooftop provides a delightful setting for drink-in-hand lounging while listening to the muezzin’s call from the nearby Jama Masjid — a soul-stirring reminder that you are in the heart of Old Delhi.

The hotel has guided heritage walks, kite-flying and high tea on the roof terrace, and kathak performances on Saturday and Sunday, where guests can enjoy an evening of Indian classical dance.

3. Taj Lake Palace — Udaipur

Accessible by boat, this stark white edifice in the heart of Lake Pichola (as seen in the 1983 James Bond flick “Octopussy”) was originally a summer pleasure palace for Mewar royalty in the 1740s.

It was transformed into a heritage hotel in the 1960s and is now impeccably managed by the Taj Group.

Taj Lake Palace

Source: Taj Lake Palace

Straight out of a fairy tale, the Taj Lake Palace boasts domed pavilions, ornamental turrets, crystal chandeliers, and 83 antique-filled rooms and suites, some which overlook a gleaming courtyard that hosts nightly folk dances.

It has four dining options serving globe-trotting menus, a spa boat and butler service.

4. Taj Falaknuma Palace — Hyderabad

Perched nearly 2,000 feet above sea level, this hilltop hotel has 60 rooms and suites, which increase in lavishness as you move up its room classes.

Taj Falaknuma Palace.

Source: Taj Falaknuma Palace

By the time you reach the Nizam Suite — graced with fine tapestry, a private pool and personal butler — it’s easy to envision the lifestyle of the Nizam of Hyderabad, who lived in the palace in the 19th century.

The rooms aren’t the only lure. The 130-year-old edifice is known for its state banquets of yore-style food, grand gardens, billiard room with monogrammed cues and ivory balls, and a library modeled on the one at Windsor Castle. Staterooms are decked out with Venetian chandeliers, royal portraits and heirlooms from the Nizams’ era.

5. Taj Usha Kiran Palace — Gwalior

This palace dating to the 1800s was, in its past life, a guesthouse and later royal residence of the ruling family of the state of Gwalior.

Taj Usha Kiran Palace.

Source: Taj Usha Kiran Palace

Today, it’s a lavish Taj hotel that balances old-world vibes with contemporary style. Its interiors contain ancient stone carvings, filigree work and rich tapestries. For a regal experience, travelers can take a heritage tour through the sprawling estate and stay in one of the Royal Suites, which are kitted out with four-poster beds, Venetian mirrors and mother-of-pearl mosaics.

The hotel also offers plenty of facilities to help guests unwind, including a spa, outdoor pool, and an Art Deco-style bar.

6. Rambagh Palace — Jaipur

Set in 47 acres of gardens that are home to peacocks, this former hunting lodge and royal abode of the Maharaja of Jaipur, dates back to 1835. It is now a heritage hotel managed by the Taj Group.

Rambagh Palace.

Source: Rambagh Palace

Exquisite antique furnishings, silk drapes, domed wooden ceilings and four-poster beds give the 78 rooms and suites a regal feel.

Many other features make Rambagh Palace an unforgettable retreat: heritage walks around the premises conducted by the palace butler, golf putting green, original palace dining room with chandeliers and gilded mirror, a Polo bar festooned with trophies and memorabilia of the Jaipur polo team, and a spa with Indian healing services.

The palace has hosted the likes of King Charles, Louis Mountbatten and Jacqueline Kennedy.

7. The Belgadia Palace — Mayurbhanj

Nestled in the charming town of Baripada, The Belgadia Palace has been with the descendants of the same royal family since it was built in 1804, giving it an authenticity that is hard to replicate.

The Belgadia Palace.

Source: The Belgadia Palace

A portion of this historic palace has been converted into an 11-room hotel by Mrinalika and Akshita Bhanj Deo, royal descendants of the family. It boasts lofty ceilings, marble corridors and artifacts.

There’s also a lavish dining hall that serves Odisha-style meals, and elegant verandas on which to drink tea. The palace arranges activities such as traditional Chhau dance performances on the pristine lawns, handicraft village tours and other excursions.

8. Chittoor Kottaram — Kochi

The height of exclusivity, the Chittoor Kottaram — which once belonged to the king of Cochin — hosts only one group of no more than six people at any one time.

Chittoor Kottaram.

Source: Chittoor Kottaram

Nestled amid coconut groves by the edge of the lagoon backwaters of Kerala, the three-room abode boasts beautiful Athangudi floor tiles and wooden ceilings.

Precious artworks by Lady Hamlyn of The Helen Hamlyn Trust, the restorer of this 300-year-old palace, lend the property something of a museum feel. A personal chef prepares traditional Keralan dishes that can be eaten at a waterside gazebo or in the lush garden.

Ayurvedic massages and private cultural shows can be arranged, as can a private sunset cruise on the serene waterways.

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September 7, 2023
A new hotel trend that puts you to sleep — literally

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Yearning for a good night’s sleep?

Join the club.

Globally, more people searched about sleep this year than ever before, according to data released by Google Trends last week. People are turning to the internet to learn about bedtime routines, sleep positions and to understand — “Why am I so tired all the time?” — a question which peaked in June, according to Google.

In fact, restorative sleep eludes so many that it’s given rise to a new type of travel. Hotels and wellness resorts are launching “sleep tourism” programs that go beyond plush bedding and blackout curtains.

From beds that use real-time artificial intelligence to on-call hypnotherapists, here are six spots that go to great lengths to help travelers get great shut-eye.

Zedwell Hotel, London

For those who need to switch off completely, London’s two Zedwell hotels have minimalist rooms that are free of “distractions” — such as televisions, telephones and even windows — according to its website.

Zedwell Hotel, London.

Source: Zedwell Hotels Trocadero (London) Hotel Ltd

The clutter-free aesthetic incorporates natural oak and ambient lighting, and rooms have sound insulation and purified air.

Six Senses Laamu, Maldives

Sleep-deprived guests can book a sleep wellness program that ranges from three to 10 days at Six Senses Laamu. Each stay comes with sleeping tracking, wellness screenings, spa treatments, meditation or breathwork exercises and nutritional advice, according to its website.

Six Senses Laamu, Maldives.

Source: Eleven Six PR

There are also yoga and Ayurvedic treatments, and visitors get access to the Timeshifter app to curb jet lag.

Sleep packages are also available at select Six Senses resorts in Switzerland, Fiji, India, Turkey and Thailand, among other locations.

Park Hyatt, New York

For restless sleepers in the Big Apple, New York’s Park Hyatt refreshed its three “Sleep Suites” with the latest version of Bryte’s “Balance” smart beds.

Park Hyatt Hotel, New York.

Source: Park Hyatt New York

The mattress plays sounds and uses subtle motion to lull guests to sleep. To wake up, the bed gradually moves over a period of 15 minutes to slowly and silently wake users up again. Within the mattress, a matrix of AI cushions adapts to body movements to relieve pressure in real time, too.

Suites also come with a diffuser and relaxing essential oil blend, along with a collection of “sleep-related books,” according to the hotel.

The Cadogan, London

Partnering with sleep specialist and hypnotherapist Malminder Gill, The Cadogan has a “Sleep Concierge” service that comes with a meditation (recorded by Gill), pillow menu, weighted blanket, bedtime tea blend and scented pillow mist.

The Cadogan, London.

Source: The Cadogen, A Belmond Hotel

For extra help, guests can book a session with Gill for one-on-one in-room sleep assistance, according to the hotel’s website.

Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, Miami

From ocean-front rooms on Miami Beach, this resort applies a tech-forward approach to sleep wellness through vibration and sound therapy that will provide an “essential powernap — even for the busiest of minds,” according to the hotel’s website.

Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, Miami.

Source: Carillon Miami Wellness Resort

In addition to having Bryte Balance mattresses, the resort provides hypnosis, saltwater bath therapies that allow guests to immerse in water loaded with 800 pounds of Epsom salt, and a “Somadome” futuristic meditation pod that combines color and sound, according to the website.

Sha Wellness Clinic, Alicante, Spain

With the help of sleep medicine specialist, Dr. Vicente Mera, guests at this luxury hotel and wellness clinic can participate in its “Sleep Medicine” program, which includes a sleep consultation, night-time polygraph, a continuous positive airway pressure (or CPAP as it’s known) study and tests that measures sleep and daytime indicators, such as resting heart rate and heart-rate variability, according to its website.

Sha Wellness Clinic, Alicante, Spain.

Source: Sha Wellness Clinic

A wellness plan is put in place for each guest that includes stress management sessions and hydrotherapy.

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September 3, 2023
$1,850 a day? What it costs to visit the 10 most expensive vacation destinations in the world
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Looking to splurge on your next vacation?

The travel website FloridaPanhandle.com analyzed costs in 100 popular vacation spots, looking into average prices for accommodations, transportation, food and attractions.

Here are 10 destinations that certainly call for big budgets.

According to the analysis, the most expensive vacation destinations, excluding flight costs, are:

Gustavia, St. Barts

Gstaad, Switzerland

Aspen, Colorado

Park City, Utah

Maui, Hawaii

London, England

Cocoa Island, Maldives

Maun, Botswana

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Monte Carlo, Monaco

The 10 most expensive vacation destinations around the globe.

Source: CNBC

The list was dominated by islands and ritzy ski towns, though the draw of eco-tourism safaris in Botswana and Europe’s financial capital, London, rounded out the ranking.

Where hotels average $1,000 per night

The Caribbean island of St. Barts is the most expensive vacation destination in the world, largely because of its high accommodation costs, which average $1,770 per night, according to the analysis.

Average hotel rates in Switzerland’s Gstaad (No. 2) are $1,360, according to the research. The town in the Swiss Alps also has the highest average food costs on the list, at $177 per day.

Accommodations at the third priciest spot — Aspen, Colorado — average $1,385 for one person, but a family of four can expect to pay $2,274, according to the analysis.

A street in downtown Aspen, Colorado.

Nik Wheeler | Corbis Historical | Getty Images

To find those prices, FloridaPanhandle.com researched average rates for four- and five-star hotels for stays during Christmas (Dec. 21-27) and the spring (May 19-25), but did not include taxes.

Attractions: from $0 to $333 per day

To estimate the price of activities, FloridaPanhandle.com calculated the average cost for each location’s three most-reviewed attractions on TripAdvisor.

The ski town of Park City, Utah, averaged $333 for daily attractions — the highest on the list.

Attractions in Maun, Botswana, Africa’s lone destination on the list, averaged more than $100 per day for activities like a one-day visit to the Okavango Delta.

Despite having higher overall average costs, St. Barts and the Maldives’ attractions were valued at $0. Vacationers may have to pay top dollar for hotels in those locations, but their beaches are free.

Monaco, Monte Carlo.

Ostill | Istock | Getty Images

Monte Carlo had one of the lowest average rates for attractions on the list, a surprising result for a vibrant gambling hot spot.

While “Monte Carlo is known for its casinos, it is also not the most popular thing to do in town,” said a representative from FloridaPanhandle.com.

According to the company, the three most popular attractions in Monte Carlo are the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, an outdoor area called Casino Square, and the Casino of Monte Carlo, which has an entrance fee of 18 euros ($20).

Gambling losses, however, are not included in Monte Carlo’s average attraction costs.
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August 10, 2023
Serving ‘lunch’ before midnight — and other ways airlines can help reduce jet lag
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From popping melatonin to making fists with your toes, passengers have long employed strategies to combat the negative effects of air travel.

But airlines can play a role too, according to new research from Qantas and the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre.

The research is part of Qantas’ Project Sunrise program, which plans to link Sydney to New York City and London via non-stop flights in 2025.

Qantas says that while it has the capability to fly the 20-hour flights, it’s studying ways — from lighting schedules to eating spicy foods — to make the journey less arduous for passengers and crew.

The research

According to preliminary results released in mid-June, researchers used volunteer passengers on three test flights to analyze ways to reduce jet lag, including:

Adjusting cabin lighting and mealtime schedules

Providing special food and beverage menus that included chili, chocolate and ingredients known to produce sleep-inducing tryptophan

Performing onboard stretches and exercises

Volunteers were monitored using wearable tech devices during the flight, and their reaction times were measured through online tests, according to the press release. They also kept a daily health log before, during and for two weeks after test flights, it said.

The report concluded that, compared with other passengers, the volunteers “experienced less severe jet lag (self-reported), better sleep quality inflight [and] better cognitive performance in the two days after flight.”

Flight volunteers reported their jet lag wasn’t as severe and ended one to two days earlier than expected, according to a summary of the research released last week.

David Gray | Getty Images News | Getty Images

“Light exposure is critical for reducing jetlag,” said Svetlana Postnova, who studies sleep-wake cycles and circadian rhythms at the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre.

The flight departed New York City at 9 p.m., and the researchers kept the lights on for an additional six hours, she told CNBC.

Lights were turned off around 3 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, and the cabin stayed dark for 11 hours, before being turned back on for the final two hours of the flight, she said.

That was done “to nudge the body clocks towards the destination time zone,” she said.

Serving lunch at night

Meals were aligned with the lighting, said Postnova, noting they were served after takeoff, before the lights were turned off and before arriving.

But the initial meal wasn’t dinner — it was lunch, said Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce.

“Night flights usually start with dinner and then lights off. For this flight, we started with lunch and kept the lights on for the first six hours, to match the time of day at our destination. It means you start reducing the jetlag straight away,” he said in a statement after the first test flight was conducted.

Qantas also monitored brain waves, melatonin levels and alertness of pilots who flew the 20-hour test flights.

James D. Morgan | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Studies on the brightness and color tone of cabin lighting are planned for later this year, and more research on departure and arrival times and seasonal differences is needed, according to Qantas and the University of Sydney.

Findings from the test flights have not been published, but Peter Cistulli, professor of sleep medicine at the University of Sydney, called the early results “promising.”

For now, Postnova said, travelers shouldn’t wait until they land to combat jet lag — rather, they should start the process as soon as their flight departs.

An onboard ‘wellbeing zone’

The jet lag research is being conducted while Qantas awaits 12 Airbus 350 aircraft it ordered in May 2022. Delivery is expected to begin in late 2025, with the New York-Sydney route starting shortly thereafter, according to the press release.

Joyce said the new non-stop flights will reduce travel times between New York and London to Sydney by some three hours.

Passengers exercise during a Qantas test flight from New York to Sydney on Oct, 19, 2019. Flyers can do this in an onboard “Wellbeing Zone” once the airline’s new Airbus 350s are delivered.

James D. Morgan | Getty Images News | Getty Images

The new Airbus fleet will also have an onboard “Wellbeing Zone” where passengers can stretch and perform simple exercises.

“Our A350s will have about 100 fewer seats than most of our competitors, which gives us room for more space in all classes as well as a Wellbeing Zone for Premium Economy and Economy passengers to stretch,” Joyce said.

As for what passengers do on the flights, which will likely be the longest commercial flights in the world, Joyce said: “People can choose how they spend their time but we’ll make recommendations based on science.”
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June 21, 2023
It’s now cheaper for travelers to go to Bhutan — if they stay long enough
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Travelers can avoid paying some of Bhutan’s daily tourism fees, as long as they stay at least five nights.

Last week, Bhutan announced changes to its Sustainable Development Fee which made headlines after it jumped from $65 to $200 a day when the country reopened its borders in September.

Travelers who pay the SDF for the first four days can stay an additional four days without paying the fee, according to an announcement on Bhutan’s Department of Tourism website.

Similarly, travelers who pay the fee for the first seven days can stay an additional seven days without paying for the second week, while those who pay for 12 days are exempt from paying it for 18 days thereafter, it said.

This equates to $600 in savings for tourists staying a week, and some $3,600 in savings for those staying a month.

The changes, effective June 1, are meant to encourage vacationers to stay longer. Bhutan’s Department of Immigration created a website where travelers can calculate potential savings under the different incentive programs.

Travelers who have already booked trips to Bhutan can take advantage of the new incentives by canceling their visas and re-applying for a new one, according to the announcement.

Government officials are quick to point out that Bhutan’s SDF has not changed however, and remains $200 per traveler per night.

The new fee incentives — which officials have called a “promotion” — are set to remain in place until the end of 2024, after which “the standard SDF will apply once again,” according to tourism department.

A controversial fee

Spending at least $200 a day isn’t new to travelers to Bhutan.

Prior to the pandemic, tourists were required to spend a minimum of $200 to $250 per day, which was often wrapped into tour packages that included hotel, food and transportation charges as well as the SDF, which was $65 at the time.

Bhutan scrapped that spending structure in 2022 in favor of a set $200 SDF for all tourists except:

Children aged 6 to 11 years old, who pay 50% of the daily SDF to visit, or $100;

Children 5 and younger, who are exempt from the fee.

Additionally, Indian nationals are charged 1,200 rupees per night ($14.50), while day visitors to Bhutanese border towns do not need to pay the SDF.

Supporters of Bhutan’s $200 daily fee say it furthers the country’s goal to attract “high value, low volume” tourists who can afford the fees which will go toward upgrading infrastructure, protecting the environment and creating jobs that provide fair wages and working conditions.

But others argue the increased rates are “elitist,” and will harm the country’s travel industry that was already reeling from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

News that officials were considering changing the SDF followed discussions between Bhutan’s Prime Minister Lotay Tshering and members of Bhutan’s tourism and business communities in April, according to a local media report.

After citizens argued the tourism fees were harming investment in the country and discouraging long vacations, Tshering assured community members that changes were in the works, the report said.
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June 7, 2023
The No. 1 ‘underrated’ city in the world, according to 175 travel experts: It’s the ‘new hot city’

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New York, Paris and Tokyo may be on your travel bucket list, but there are plenty of cities that don’t get enough credit and are well worth a visit. Underrated cities have their benefits — they can often be less crowded, more affordable, and just as interesting.

As a travel journalist for over 20 years, I recently asked 175 travel enthusiasts, experts and agents about what they think is the most underrated city to visit. The most popular answer was surprising: Bologna, Italy.

“Bologna is very up-and-coming and poised to be the new hot Italian city to visit,” says Tom Marchant, founder of luxury traveling company Black Tomato. “And as the home of Bolognese pasta, it’s a foodie mecca.”

Bologna: The new ‘hot’ city to visit

Bologna’s many nicknames — La Rossa (the “Red,” for its red-tiled roofs), La Dotta (the “Learned,” for the ancient University of Bologna), and most famously, La Grassa (the “Fat,” for its rich cuisine) — explain the best parts of the city.

Street in Bologna with Asinelli tower in the center

Alexander Spatari

Here are the top three reasons to put Bologna on your travel list this year:

1. The food scene is unparalleled.

“[Bologna] quite possibly has the best food scene in all of Italy,” says Jeff Miller, a travel blogger at Our Passion for Travel.

Food lovers can explore the city’s open-air markets and hidden pastifici (pasta shops) and visit the restaurants that created favorites like pasta Bolognese and Tortellini.

You can also spend a day at FICO Eataly World (a.k.a. the “Disney World of food”), Bologna’s 20-acre theme park entirely dedicated to Italian cuisine.

Bologna’s food markets often tumble into the streets. Produce, cheese and wine from local farmers can be bought around the city.

Gary Yeowell | Stone | Getty Images

Or, take a day trip to the Emilia-Romagna region, where Italian gastronomy was born.

“Bologna has great access to Modena and Parma, both with famous products [like Modena prosciutto and Parmigiano-Reggiano] named after them,” says David Hawkraven, owner of Designed Travel.

Hawkraven often sends travelers to local farms, where they can taste Modena prosciutto — which is rarely found in the U.S. — or learn about the delicate process behind authentic balsamic vinegar.

2. Its architecture and history rival other Italian cities.

Bologna is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its 38.5 miles of porticoes, or arched walkways.

It’s also home to 24 medieval stone towers, including Bologna’s most iconic landmark, the Two Towers.

The porticoes of Bologna are often covered in decorative tiles or paintings.

Julian Elliott Photography | Stone | Getty Images

Travel writer Ann-Marie Cahill says climbing the Asinelli Tower, one of the Two Towers that’s open to the public, is exactly where history buffs should start.

She also suggests visiting the unfinished San Petronio Basilica and touring the Roman ruins that run under Bologna’s library (you can also look at them through the library’s glass floors).

3. It’s convenient and accessible.

Bologna is “entirely walkable,” according to Marchant, which will save you the cost of a car rental. If you want public transit options, there is a city bus with tickets starting at just 1.30€.

Marchant says locals are friendly, and the city is generally safe, making it a comfortable vacation spot. And the average hotel room costs under $200 per night for eight months out of the year, according to travel search engine KAYAK.

Located in Northern Italy, it is convenient to travel from Bologna to other Italian hot spots. It’s only about 70 miles from Florence, 95 miles from Venice and 135 miles from Milan.

Still, the city is a destination all on its own.

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May 26, 2023