Tough times for hoteliers in the US

Growth for US hotel operators has come to a crashing halt, industry analysts say.

Rising wages, taxes, insurance premiums, and other costs are outrunning revenue growth at many hotels - and tourist numbers are heading down,

Nearly six years after the pandemic, US hotels are still struggling to regain lost occupancy: spending more to operate while taking in less revenue.

Labour costs alone have soared 9% this year on a per-available-room basis, industry analyst CoStar's survey of about 6,000 hotels shows.

Hotels took in 0.4% less revenue per available room in 2025 than a year earlier, estimates from CoStar and Tourism Economics show.

"Luxury class hotels were the only ones getting close to increasing average daily rate to the level of inflation," said Jan Freitag, national director, hospitality analytics at CoStar Group told news hub Skift.

"All other classes saw flat average daily rate growth or even a contraction."

This year's US hotel EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) is forecast to decline 2.8%, Lodging Analytics Research & Consulting (LARC) reported.

Many travellers from overseas cancelled trips in response to President Trump's trade war and "America First" policies.

From January to October, travel to the US from Western Europe fell about 3.5% year-over-year, the US National Travel and Tourism Office reported.

But the trend varies by destination. The nation's capital of Washington D.C., New York and California are seeing fewer visitors, while Tennessee, home to Elvis Presley's Graceland estate, has welcomed 24% more people from Western Europe this year.

Among the top 25 markets, Tampa, Florida (top image), reported the steepest decreases with occupancy down 20.5% to 66.1%.

 

New destinations help boost Western Australia

It's all happening in Western Australia with new international flights to and from Perth and a wave of new accommodation options around the state.

Qantas has introduced two new non-stop international services this month.

Travellers can now fly from Perth direct from Auckland and Johannesburg.

Each route operates three times per week, offering greater flexibility for holidaymakers, business travellers, and those visiting friends and family.

The new HYDE Perth hotel (above), meanwhile, will open its doors in March, 2026.

Located on Pier Street, this 121-room hotel will be HYDE’s first ground-up, purpose-built hotel globally.

Its star attraction hero will be FARRA - a Grecian-inspired dining, pool and terrace venue which combines Mediterranean influence with West Australian produce.

Local artists and musicians will helm a cultural program, while DJ residencies, live sets, poolside gatherings, and wellness sessions will also be on the agenda.

In Margaret River, winery Aravina Estate has unveiled 21 new eco accommodation offerings as part of a brand expansion.

The contemporary cabins (above) are set high on Wildwood Ridge and offer views of the property’s spectacular lake and vineyards, enhanced by floor-to-ceiling windows.

There is a choice of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, accessible and honeymoon cabins.

Aravina’s offerings include a cellar door, restaurant and pizza bar, craft brewery, and the state's first Surf Museum.

Nearby, Grandis is the latest cabin from Tree Chalets on a stunning property located just 15 minutes outside of Busselton.

Offering a relaxing tree-stay, the property features walking trails and more than 1,000 towering Rosegum trees. Guests can elevate their stay with grazing boards and hampers on arrival.

Australia going nuts for almonds

Australia's almond industry is going nuts. 

The almond sector is entering a new era as it begins large-scale orchard replanting to enable future growth and satisfy increasing local and global appetite, Rabobank says in a newly-released report.

In its Australian Almond Outlook: Replanting for Growth Beyond 2030, the specialist agribusiness bank’s RaboResearch division says the Australian almond industry is “entering a pivotal transition phase” with renewal of ageing orchards and expansion into new areas.

“The next five years will begin the first large-scale replanting cycle that (along with expansion into new regions) sets the foundation for long-term growth in the Australian almond industry,” the report says.

This could see total planted area of almonds in Australia lift by between 5000 and 10,000 hectares [the equivalent of seven to 15% growth in total area] by 2030, it says.

Meanwhile, positive global demand for almonds - coupled with limited production growth in California, the world’s largest almond producer and Australia’s main export competitor - should contribute to an improving market outlook, RaboResearch says, “offering opportunities for the Australian industry to grow its share of the global market”.

The report's author, RaboResearch analyst Pia Piggott (top image), says the next five years will see the first large-scale replanting occur in Australia’s burgeoning almond industry, with many of the sector’s first-established 10,000 hectares of almond trees planted between 2001 to 2005 reaching the end of their productive life between now and 2030.

“This represents approximately 16% of the total area of Australian almonds in 2024, which will require replanting over the next five years,” she said.

On top of this, some of an additional 13,000 hectares of almond trees planted between 2006 and 2010 are also expected to need replanting in the coming five years as the productivity of older plants declines.

While the replanting effort may flatten production levels from now to 2030, longer term it should support further production growth for the industry, Piggott says.

“And we expect to see further orchard developments as almonds will likely continue to be one of the highest-value use cases for water in the southern Murray Darling Basin,” she said.

The report noted Australian almond production in 2025 was down 4.6% on the previous year to 155,697 tonnes KWE. This, however, was still up 19% on the five-year average, Piggott said.

Fast train to link Riyadh and Doha

The Middle East, already home to several of the world's top airlines, is now moving into the fast train sector. 

Saudi Arabia and Qatar are moving ahead with an ambitious plan that will slash travel time between their capitals to about two hours, a statement carried by official Saudi media and reported by Travel Mole reveals. 

The project, billed as a major step toward deeper regional cooperation and sustainable development, will create a new 785-kilometre rail corridor linking Riyadh and Doha, passing through major Saudi cities including Al-Hofuf and Dammam.

Along the line, trains would also connect Doha's Hamad International Airport with the planned King Salman International Airport, forming what officials describes “a new backbone for fast, low-carbon mobility across the Gulf“.

Designed for trains to exceed speeds of 300kmh, the service will offer a competitive alternative to air travel. Flights between Riyadh and Doha take roughly 90 minutes. The journey takes over six hours by road. 

Once operational, the rail line is expected to handle more than 10 million passengers annually, bolstering business and leisure travel and giving riders easy access to major attractions in both countries. 

Officials say the project will generate more than 30,000 direct and indirect jobs. 

The line will be built over six years to international safety and quality standards, using advanced rail and smart-engineering technologies aimed at cutting emissions and supporting the region’s transition toward cleaner transport.

The agreement was signed in Riyadh by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. 

Making a statement: Tasting Australia unveils new experiences

Tasting Australia presented by Journey Beyond has unveiled a series of new culinary adventures that aim to showcase South Australia and its bounty by plane, train and road. 

Three highlights from the festival’s 2026 program went on sale today, each offering a fresh perspective on culinary tourism showcased by leading chefs and beverage producers.

The festival will run from May 8-17, 2026. 

An evolution of popular Tasting Australia by Train invites culinary travellers to board The Ghan in Darwin and travel southbound to Adelaide, joined onboard by chefs including Michelin-starred Nieves Barragán Mohacho, Jo Barrett, Mark Best, Shannon Flemming and host Mandy Hall. 

The three-night journey will include a full day in Coober Pedy, exploring the outback town and its remarkable landscapes, together with lunch at Simpsons Gap, dinner beside the Alice Springs Telegraph Station and a bespoke Bollinger tasting and masterclass. Bollinger was not a South Australian product last time I checked. 

Tasting Australia Airlines will travel to the Eyre Peninsula in celebration of seafood and coastal views.

This full-day experience includes time aboard a historic tuna fishing boat, a visit to Coffin Bay National Park and food from chefs Mindy Woods, Ben Devlin and Jimmy Toone. 

The new Tasting Australia by Road series offers a chance to explore Adelaide’s surrounding regions with local food and beverage identities. Guests will travel in small groups to McLaren Vale, the Barossa, Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula, spending time on private farms, orchards, kitchens and at cellar doors.

South Australian Minister for Tourism Zoe Bettison said the festival’s program would highlight culinary experiences unique to the state.

“We know quality food and wine are the top drivers of interstate visitation to our state, and Tasting Australia is where the very best eating and drinking experiences are brought together,” Bettison said.

“Its next edition is a renewed invitation to discover South Australian people, produce and places – to share adventures and enjoy the warm hospitality we are renowned for.”

Tasting Australia Festival Curator Kane Pollard said the first program release was an exciting milestone.

“These new program highlights speak to the spirit of adventure that runs through this festival, now in its 19th year and with a reputation for consistently raising the bar,” he said.

“South Australia’s hospitality scene is as diverse and delicious as ever. We can’t wait to feature its heroes in joyful events that chart their own course.”

The full Tasting Australia 2026 program will launch in February. 

See tastingaustralia.com.au for more info. 

Images: Melissa Lee

Aussies book ahead and want the best cabins, cruise data shows

Australians are taking a new approach to cruise holidays. 

New data from Cruise Guru reveals Aussies are booking bigger cabins, planning ahead and prioritising value. 

The new booking data released by Cruise Guru, one of Australia’s leading cruise specialists, has revealed major shifts in how cruise holidays are being planning and purchased. 

There is record demand for balcony cabins, signals that customers are planning further ahead and a renewed appetite for value-adds. 

Australians are continuing to book up, with balcony cabins now the most popular choice across all the  major cruise lines.

Cruise Guru booking data shows 48% of travellers booked balcony cabins and 11% booked suites in 2025, while inside cabin bookings were down across some cruise lines.

Cruise Guru CCO Michael Betteridge says this reflects a “quality over quantity” mindset.

“Aussies tend to love the fun and excitement of cruising but also want their own private sanctuary, views and the comfort that upgraded cabins offer," Betteridge says. 

"They see cruising as the best of both worlds and they’re willing to invest in that experience.”

Cruise Guru’s data shows a shift toward value-bundled fares.

“What we’re seeing is a shift from reactive buying to intentional planning," Betteridge says. "Customers are weighing total trip value, not just the headline price. Bundled inclusions succeed because they reduce decision fatigue and give travellers a sense of financial control over a trip that might be a year or more away.” 

Forward planning is also popular with an average lead time overall of around nine months. 

“While we have seen last-minute cruising demand, many itineraries are filled already," Cruise Guru reported. 

"We can see our Aussie clients planning more strategically. The desire to secure the right ship, the right itinerary, and the right cabin is pushing bookings further out. Customers have learned that waiting may mean missing out.”

Contact 13 13 03 to learn more or visit www.cruiseguru.com.au.

Image: Giuseppe Anello, Scop.io