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☆ Inflation isn’t keeping Americans from having fun this Memorial Day weekend
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Alicia Wallace | Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

And this Memorial Day weekend could be a case in point: Travelers are expected to come out in record-setting droves. Three-plus years of high inflation have taken their toll on Americans’ budgets and, especially, their mindsets. Inflation has slowed during the past couple of years, pulling back significantly from its peak of 9.1% in June 2022. Americans, especially lower-income consumers, have pulled back spending at retailers as goods inflation outpaces wage growth. Pandemic-era savings have been spent while sticky inflation and high inflation rates eat into household budgets.

Persons: ” Gus Faucher, Price, ” Faucher, Taylor, it’s, ”, Ed Bastian, Swift, Delta, Taylor Swift’s, That’s, Kathleen Oberg, “, Peter Kern Organizations: New, New York CNN, Transportation Security, TSA, PNC Financial Services, CNN, Consumer, Mickey Consumer, Commerce Department, Disney, Delta Air, ” United Airlines, Mastercard, Institute, Marriott International, Marriott, Expedia Group Locations: New York, United States, Hong Kong, Europe

☆ Americans are shopping less but they’re still spending on flights, hotels and Disneyland
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —Consumers may be fed up with high prices at the store, but they’re still willing to splurge on travel. Other key players in the travel industry have reported a similar trend this earnings season. Americans, especially lower-income consumers, have pulled back spending at retailers as goods inflation outpaces wage growth. They’ve even become frugal with some experience-based spending like dining out, opting instead to eat at home. “We saw a healthy but more normalized market environment for travel globally,” CEO Peter Kern told analysts on May 2.

Persons: they’re, ”, Hugh Johnston, it’s, Ed Bastian, Kathleen Oberg, “, Peter Kern, ” FTX, FTX, Sam Bankman, Fried, Olesya Dmitracova, Read, Tesla, Anna Cooban, André, Elon Musk’s Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Delta Air, ” United Airlines, Marriott International, Marriott, Disney, Expedia Group, Alameda Research, CNN, RTL Locations: New York, Hong Kong, California, Florida, Alameda, Berlin, Germany, Europe

REUTERS/Ammar Awad/ Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK/LONDON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Travelers are canceling or postponing planned vacations to the Middle East and North Africa due to fears of the Israel-Hamas conflict worsening, and as touring companies have also altered itineraries and canceled flights. Travel operators say the war is affecting demand for travel to nearby nations including Egypt, Jordan and Turkey. German airline Group Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) said on Thursday their Middle East bookings have not been affected by the war, with only an initial dip when the conflict started. Spanish travel agency Essentialist said it has canceled 75% of trips to the extended Middle East and Northeast Africa region. The conflict's effect on travel demand to the Middle East may extend beyond the holidays and even just neighboring countries.

Persons: Ammar Awad, Israel, Todd Elliott, Konrad Waliszewski, Willie Walsh, Kathleen Oberg, Patrick Scholes, Essentialist, Matt Berna, Khaled Ibrahim, Doyinsola Oladipo, Joanna Plucińska, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, Cruise Line Holdings, Royal Caribbean Group, International Air Transport Association, Group Lufthansa, AS OMAN, Marriott, Intrepid Travel, Americas, East Travel Alliance, Thomson Locations: Damascus, Jerusalem's Old City, East, North Africa, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Orlando , Florida, Israel . Washington, Cyprus, Lebanon, Valencia, Spain, Spanish, Northeast Africa, Australia, Norway, Sharm el Sheikh, Oman, UAE, New York, London, Chicago

International travel reached around 90% of pre-pandemic levels this year, according to the International Air Transport Association. Those trends lifted quarterly earnings of travel companies, with cruise operators like Royal Caribbean (RCL.N) reporting record results in recent weeks. Ticket prices, which in some cases have increased by double-digit percentages since the pandemic, are unlikely to plummet. She expects air fares on long-haul international routes to remain high until supply outpaces pre-pandemic levels, demand normalizes and jet fuel prices decline further. International inbound vs outbound in the U.S this yearAverage domestic airfare is currently $246 round-trip, down 8% from 2022, according to travel booking app Hopper.

Persons: Dan McKone, Amadeus, Jozsef Varadi, Hayley Berg, Hopper, that's, Glenn Fogel, Kathleen Oberg, Joanna Plucinska, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Doyinsola, David Gaffen, Matthew Lewis Organizations: International Air Transport Association, Consulting, Royal, Booking Holdings, Marriott, Lufthansa LHAG.DE, United Airlines, Wizz, Reuters, Holdings, International, U.S . National Travel, Tourism Office, British Airways, IAG, Thomson Locations: CHICAGO, Southern Europe, Britain, France, United States, Germany, Singapore, Royal Caribbean, Manila, Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo, Europe, Asia, COVID, U.S, Canada, London, Chicago, New York, Bengaluru

☆ Americans are going abroad in droves — at the expense of domestic travel
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Airlines and hotel chains in recent weeks have reported a surge in bookings for international trips — along with rising prices. International airfare is averaging $962, up 10% from last year and 26% from 2019, according to fare-tracking company Hopper. Marriott International on Tuesday said second-quarter revenue per available room rose 6% year over year in the U.S. and Canada. Nightly rates for Marriott luxury properties, like JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton and Edition in the U.S. and Canada ticked 1% down year over year. "The fact that I'm spending a month in Europe is going to stop me from taking some domestic trips in the near future," Inman said.

Persons: Guglielmo Mangiapane, Hopper, airfare, Kathleen Oberg, Jesse Inman, Inman, Michael Cavanagh, we're Organizations: Reuters, Airlines, Marriott International, Marriott, JW, The Ritz, Carlton, U.S, Six Flags Entertainment, Comcast, Universal Locations: Rome, Italy, U.S, Paris, Orlando , Florida, Canada, Marriott, Europe, North Carolina, Israel, Austria, France, Atlanta, Denver, Austin, San Antonio, Texas, Orlando, Covid

☆ Europe's top hotel chain is hiring workers without experience or even résumés because it's so desperate for staff
▼ + stars: | 2022-07-05 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The CEO of Accor, Europe's top hotel chain, said he's hiring workers without experience or résumés. Sebastien Bazin said some Accor hotels were limiting restaurant hours because of staff shortages. Hospitality workers have been quitting their jobs over wages, benefits, and working conditions. It means some hotels have been forced to widen their candidate pools — with Accor, Europe's largest hotel chain, turning to workers without experience or even résumés. Some days, Accor hotels have been forced to stop serving lunch or even completely close their restaurants because they don't have enough staff, Bazin said.

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