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☆ Disney’s new all-access, skip-the-line plan can cost more than the park ticket does
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Natasha Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

For example, it will cost $137.39 (after tax) to add the Premier Pass to an Animal Kingdom park ticket on a less busy day. EPCOT’s pass would cost more, Hollywood Studios a bit more than that, with the most expensive Premier Pass at Magic Kingdom. To buy a Premier Pass for the Magic Kingdom park on a very busy day such as Christmas would cost $478.19 (after tax) in addition to your park ticket. At Universal Studios Hollywood, which has one theme park with 17 express lines, this pass can cost anywhere from $80 to $170 (not taxable) in addition to the theme park ticket price. The Premier Pass is “priced for someone for whom the time-money tradeoff is different,” Munsil said.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Disney, EPCOT’s, Allen J, what’s, CNN Don Munsil, Munsil, ” Munsil Organizations: CNN, Lightning, Disney, Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Los Angeles Times, Disney Food, The Universal Studios, Universal, Busch Gardens, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Resort Orlando, Universal Orlando, Royal Pacific Locations: Florida, California, Animal, Animal Kingdom, Magic, Disney California, ”, SeaWorld, Portofino

But Clark and others in Asheville’s music scene — which has a spunky, up-and-coming reputation — foresee a long recovery ahead. A key question now is how to rebuild lives and livelihoods in Asheville as attention on the region wanes. Debris covers the River Arts District in Asheville, an area popular among artists and musicians. Tim Gormley, who co-owns Burial Beer Co., decided to scrap Burnpile, a music and beer festival that he called his company’s annual “Super Bowl” event. Burial Beer Co.'s Burnpile festival typically draws crowds every fall, but this year's was canceled after Hurricane Helene.

Persons: Kenny Clark, “, ”, Clark, Hurricane Helene, Miranda, Liz Tallent, Grant Halverson, won’t, Tallent, Orange Peel, Katie Cornell, ArtsAVL, “ We’re, Mario Tama, Cornell, Tim Gormley, “ It’s, Gormley, Helene, Anthony Thomas, —, Thomas Organizations: Asheville, Orange, Arts, Cornell, Getty Locations: Nashville , Tennessee, North Carolina, Hurricane, Nashville, Asheville . The, Peel, Asheville, N.C, Tennessee, Charlotte, Raleigh, YMI, American

☆ The most haunted home in every US state
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Priyanka Rajput | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Business Insider identified haunted homes in every US state via various paranormal sighting reports. The haunted homes industry in the US reportedly checks in at least $300 million annually. In America, haunted homes are not only a staple of the spooky season; they can be highly lucrative and raise a town's profile as a tourist destination. To find the most haunted home in every state, Business Insider considered properties that are known locally for their spooky occurrences or ghost sightings, or ones with horrifying backstories. From abandoned mansions to historic hotels, here's where the spookiest haunted home is hiding in every US state.

Persons: —, Lucy Yang Organizations: Service, Ohio State Reformatory, Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society, Business Locations: America, Mansfield, here's

☆ I'm a 2-time college dropout and I followed this unusual career advice to land my dream job working in a national park
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Megan Wright didn't know what she wanted to do until she discovered seasonal work in national parks. AdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Megan Wright, a 29-year-old from Texas who works seasonal jobs in or near national parks. We always joke that you've got to be a little weird to get into seasonal work. I met my fiancé at the Grand Canyon and he was also doing seasonal work. I may not do seasonal work forever, but it's great for nowThere are some people who do seasonal work forever.

Persons: Megan Wright didn't, —, Megan Wright, I've, Wright, you've, who've, There's Organizations: Service, National Park Service, Xanterra, Business Locations: Texas, Yosemite, Death, Zion, Death Valley, I've, Moab , Utah, California, Utah

☆ Hong Kong leader announces measures to address housing crisis in annual policy address
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Dylan Butts | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu delivers his annual policy address at the Legislative Council on Oct. 16, 2024, in Hong Kong. Hong Kong chief executive John Lee announced moves aimed at addressing the city's housing affordability crisis, calling it "an issue of great public concern" in an annual policy address on Wednesday. Under the plan, the Hong Kong Housing Authority will allocate an extra ballot number to applicants aged below 40 — a move that will increase their chances of being selected for the city's subsidized Home Ownership Scheme flats. He also said the government expects to complete about 9,500 new public housing units next year, moving toward a goal of completing about 30,000 units by 2027-2028. The current wait time for a public housing unit in Hong Kong is 5.5 years.

Persons: John Lee Ka, chiu, John Lee, Hong Kongers, Lee Organizations: Legislative, Hong, Hong Kong Housing Authority Locations: Hong Kong, Hong Kong . Hong Kong

☆ NYC's short-term rental ban slashed Airbnb listings. A year later, it's unclear if it's made housing more affordable.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Eliza Relman | Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

It's been a year since New York City began enforcing its near-ban on short-term rentals, including Airbnbs. While the number of short-term rentals has plummeted, the effect on the housing market is unclear. AdvertisementNew York City's ban on most short-term rentals was supposed to make housing cheaper in the city. In September 2023, NYC began enforcing new regulations — known as Local Law 18 or LL18 — that severely restricted short-term rentals. With so many Airbnbs out of the short-term rental picture, they've been able to charge more.

Persons: It's, Airbnb, —, it's, Ben Kallos, LL18, they've, Sean Hennessey, Jonathan M, that's, they're, Paul, who's, Paul —, Theo Yedinsky, Yedinsky, Eric Adams Organizations: New, Service, New York Times, New York, Tisch Center of Hospitality, Facebook, Business, York City Locations: New York City, York, New, Astoria, Queens, San Diego, Mission Beach

☆ I stayed at a Gilded Age hotel built by a railroad tycoon. It was cozy but the $478-a-night cost felt steep.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-15 | by ( Erin Mcdowell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I recently stayed at The Inn at St. John, a historic hotel in Portland, Maine. We stayed at the inn during one of the busiest Portland weekends, making the cost higher. Described on the hotel's website as a charming Victorian-era inn, The Inn at St. John was established by railroad tycoon John Deering in 1897, toward the end of the Gilded Age. Now, the hotel claims the title of being the oldest continually operating hotel in Portland. Here's what it was like to stay at The Inn at St. John in Portland, Maine.

Persons: —, John, John Deering Organizations: Service Locations: St, Portland , Maine, Portland, Connecticut, John

☆ Hotel chains are launching ultra-luxury cruise ships. Here's how the newest entrant plans to compete with Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-15 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Go to newsletter preferences Thanks for signing up! download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . The hotel company plans to venture out to sea with its first luxury cruise ship, set to debut in early 2025. Grupo Vidanta's new cruise arm, VidantaWorld, has some luxe promises for its first floating resort. The 500-foot-long vessel, called Elegant, would have amenities like three pools, 13 restaurants and bars, and an almost one-to-one crew-to-guest ratio.

Persons: — Organizations: Grupo Vidanta, Ritz, Service, Grupo Locations: Mexico, Cabos

☆ Inside a high-tech parking garage where robots valet park your car
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-15 | by ( Ray Parisi | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Five bays equipped with self-serve kiosks provide entry and exit to the building's automated parking garage. Automated parking is a growing trend in high-end real estate where buildings from New York to Miami now come equipped with kiosks, car lifts and car-parking robots. One of five car lifts inside the automated parking system. The AGVs are essentially free roaming, self-charging, robo-parkers that use vision systems, lifts and lasers to precisely park and retrieve cars. An AGV prepares to park a Ferrari inside the Brickell House's automated parking system.

Persons: Ginger Monteleone, Monteleone, ParkPlus, Peter Manis, Manis, Billionaire Palmer Luckey, Luckey, Palmer Organizations: Brickell House, CNBC, Grand View Research, ParkPlus, Brickell, Ferrari, VR, Anduril Industries, Anduril Industries CNBC Locations: Miami, New York, Manhattan, North America, Brickell, ParkPlus Florida, Newport Beach , California

☆ Prague bans bar crawls to discourage ‘drunk’ tourists
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-15 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Prague, a city as famous for its beer as its historic architecture, is set to ban late-night bar crawls, seeking to end its reputation as a party destination. Prague’s deputy mayor, Jiri Pospisil, said the city wants to discourage tourists who come “for a short time only to get drunk” in favor of “a more cultured, wealthier tourist,” according to the AFP news agency. The news, announced on Monday, follows complaints from residents in Prague 1, the city’s historic district – home to the UNESCO-protected Old Town Square, Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge – over noise caused by rowdy pub crawls. Prague joins many cities across Europe that have been pushing back against tourists in recent months. Officials in Venice, Italy recently limited tour group sizes to 25 people and banned megaphones, while Barcelona’s mayor plans to end apartment rentals for tourists by 2028.

Persons: Jiri Pospisil, Zdenek Hrib, Charles, Vaclav Starek, Starek, ” Simon Old, ” Organizations: CNN —, AFP, UNESCO, Czech Association of Hotels, Brits, stags, ”, CNN Travel Locations: CNN — Prague, Czech, Prague, Europe, Venice, Italy

You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. The exceptions are flights to South America, as well as transatlantic and transpacific flights, which allow a carry-on bag. Spirit AirlinesFees for checked and carry-on baggageSpirit charges varying fees for checked bags and carry-on bags. Opt for a carry-on bag whenever possible, as most airlines allow at least one free carry-on bag. Oversized bags: Fees for oversized bags depend on the bag's dimensions.

Persons: aren't, Doesn't, stow, Miles, it's, Harlan Vaughn Harlan Vaughn, he’s, Harlan, Read Organizations: Business Insider, Citi, Mastercard, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, U.S . Airlines, American Airlines, U.S, U.S ., Airlines, Delta Airlines, United, New Zealand, Delta, Express Card, U.S . Supermarkets, PayPal, United Airlines, United ®, United Club, ℠, FDIC, Southwest Airlines, Southwest ®, Rapid, Southwest, Rapid Rewards, JetBlue Plus, Card, Alaska, Spirit Airlines, Chase, American Express, Frontier Airlines, Frontier, American, Citi ® Locations: Puerto Rico, U.S, U.S . Virgin, Canada, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, Guyana, Cuba, North America, South America, China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, Europe, Israel, Qatar, Australia, Suriname, Panama, San Pedro Sula, Honduras, San Salvador, El, North, South, North Africa, South Africa, Emirates, New, Brazil, East, Africa, Asia, Central, delta.com, Delta, California , Idaho , Oregon, Washington, Dallas , Texas

☆ The Panda Factories
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-15 | by ( Mara Hvistendahl | Joy Dong | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +30 min

They show that, from the beginning, zoos saw panda cubs as a pathway to visitors, prestige and merchandise sales. Panda keepers with cubs at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, in China, in 2022. A Chinese giant panda at the Panda Park in Al Khor, in Qatar, in 2022. Smithsonian Institution Archives A panda wakes up from anesthesia in March 1999 during a seminal study by American and Chinese researchers into panda breeding. Smithsonian Institution Archives Giant panda Mei Xiang taken out of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong, Sichuan Province, in 2000, for shipment to the National Zoo in Washington.

Persons: Ariana Drehsler, Kati Loeffler, “, ’, Loeffler, Kimberly Terrell, ”, Terrell, Soraya, Xin Bao, zookeepers, Richard M, Nixon, Pat Nixon, Annalisa Meyer, Melissa Songer, Heather Bacon, Bacon, Don Kohlbauer, JoGayle Howard, Darting, Howard, Ping Ping, Thomas Hildebrandt, Dr, Hildebrandt, Lei Lei, Meyer, Lung Yuan Chih, Lung, James Ayala, . Hildebrandt, Ayala, interjected, Mei Xiang, Ken Cedeno, Tian Tian, Xiang, David Wildt, Mei, Mei Xiang vomited, Qi Ji, Agnes Bun, scrawled, Pierre Comizzoli, Mads Frost Bertelsen, Meng Lan, Su Weizhong Organizations: Zoo Washington, Factories, Chengdu Research Base, Archives San Diego Zoo, The New York Times Chengdu Research Base, China, National Zoo, New York Times, Smithsonian Institution, Times, Pandas, Agence France, Memphis Zoo, Tulane University, Smithsonian, San Diego Zoo, The New York, Smithsonian . Pandas, Zoo, Associated Press, University of Central, Bear Care Group, China Conservation and Research Center, San Diego Union Tribune, Feature, Future Publishing, Getty, U.S . Fish, Wildlife Service, ”, Leibniz Institute for Zoo, Wildlife Research, National Zoo Washington, Institution Archives Chengdu Research Base, Breed, The New York Times, Beijing Zoo, Tsinghua University, Animal Studies, Visitors, New York Times China Conservation and Research Center, Smithsonian National, Associated, Smithsonian’s, and Wildlife Service, National, Fujifilm, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Reuters, Smithsonian Channel, “, Copenhagen Zoo Locations: China, Chengdu, Sichuan, Archives San Diego Zoo California, Washington, Louisiana, Japan, San Diego, San Francisco, Indonesia, Qatar, Al Khor, University of Central Lancashire, England, U.S, San, Fuzhou, United States, Feature China, Sichuan Province, Beijing, Berlin ., Wolong, Taiwan, American, estrus, New York Times China, Europe, Washington ,, Washington , DC, Beijing Zoo Beijing

☆ I'm the CEO of a remote-first company. I'll never ask my employees to return to the office.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-14 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Landau used to be pro-office but says remote working has helped his employees' work-life balance. AdvertisementThe world is my oyster for recruitmentAs the company grew, I became increasingly enamored with remote work. Most Park My Fleet employees are US-based, but we have tech teams in Costa Rica and Israel. I don't think there's anything wrong with in-person office work; it makes sense in certain environments. As an employee who joined a company as a remote worker, it would feel like a bait-and-switch move if the CEO then decided to change the remote work policy.

Persons: Mike Landau, Landau, —, I've, we've, RTO, that's Organizations: BI, Service, Business Locations: Costa Rica, Israel, Europe

☆ I've been to Disney World dozens of times. Its dining plan is a great value for families like ours — especially when offered for free.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-13 | by ( Matt Cabral | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Fortunately, Disney brought back its dining plans this year, and I find them to be a great value. AdvertisementDisney dining plans come in 2 tiers and include multiple meals and beveragesDisney dining plans with table-service meals included come with dessert. Through this same promotion, guests staying in pricier deluxe hotels could get free standard dining plans. Matt CabralThe paid dining plan is worth it for folks who enjoy Disney's food as much as its entertainment. AdvertisementBefore the dining plan was suspended, Disney also regularly offered deals that allowed guests to get it for free.

Persons: we'd, —, we've, Disney, Matt Cabral, Dole, You'll, Disney Visa cardholders Organizations: Disney, Service, Port Orleans Riverside, Disney Visa Locations: Port Orleans

☆ I'm a single mom to a toddler and only book luxury resorts for us. It allows me to also enjoy our vacation.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-13 | by ( Michelle Stansbury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The first time I traveled with my daughter, I chose a family-friendly resort and didn't like it. Now, I take my 16-month-old to luxury resorts where we can both enjoy ourselves. AdvertisementSince I became a mother, my Instagram has been filled with ads for family-friendly hotels and vacations. Related storiesNow, we stay at luxury resortsNow, I opt for luxury hotels, which are sometimes no more expensive than the big resorts marketed to families. One recent luxury hotel we stayed at offered complimentary laundering, which came in exceptionally handy when my daughter threw up her yogurt all over me.

Persons: I'd, —, Chase Organizations: Service

He’s lived through many storms in his 30 years on Longboat Key, but Bob Parrish said he’s never before seen the level of destruction that Hurricane Helene blew into town a little more than two weeks ago. It also brought a double whammy of destruction from two major hurricanes to a string of islands and their residents who were still rebuilding from Hurricane Ian in 2022. Honestly, I only cried a little bit after Milton because I cried so much after Helene. Even before Helene and Milton brought the one-two punch, Rodocker was still reeling from Hurricane Debby’s path of destruction in August. “It was like a right, a left and an undercut.”Marco Island, seen here on Sept. 26, was badly flooded by Hurricane Helene.

Persons: He’s, Bob Parrish, he’s, Helene, Milton —, Mary, what’s, “ We’ve, ” Parrish, ”, Angela Rodocker, Anna Maria Island, “, ” David Farrar, everybody’s, Farrar, Milton, ” Rodocker, Maria Island, Rodocker, Marco, Hurricane Helene, Scott Schilke, Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie, ” Chappie, Chappie, Mike Norman, Norman, ” Amy Ace Lance, Hurricane Milton, Thomas Simonetti, John Lai, ” Lai, Ian, Rod Nibert, Parrish —, cancer —, Parrish Organizations: NBC, Island Estates, Silver Resorts, AP Residents, Bradenton Beach Mayor, Florida Department of Transportation, Bradenton Beach, Hurricane, Washington, Getty Locations: Lakeland, Sarasota, Hurricane, Island, Clearwater, Bradenton Beach, “, ”, Sanibel, Cape Coral, Charlotte County, Orlando

☆ Insider Today: Hallways are disappearing
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-12 | by ( Joi-Marie Mckenzie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter. Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email. More of this week's top reads:AdvertisementThe Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York City.

Persons: —, Chelsea Jia Feng, Imani Bashir, it's, Bashir isn't, They've, Rebecca Zisser, Issa Issa Rae, Issa Rae, There's, Rae, Issa Rae's, Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Menendez, Ryan Murphy, Jose, Kitty Menendez, Lyle, Erik, Abbott, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb, Lisa Ryan, Amanda Yen, Grace Lett Organizations: Business, Service, BI, DC, Getty, HBO, Apple, Netflix, ABC Locations: Mexico, Washington, Hulu, New York City, New York, Chicago

☆ These are the 10 dirtiest cruise ships, according to the CDC — including an ultra-luxury vessel
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-12 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The CDC randomly inspects and scores cruise ships to prevent the spread of stomach viruses. The 11 dirtiest ships this year so far scored 89 or less, including one that received 62 points. For cruise ships, scoring an 85 out of 100 on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vessel Sanitation Program review is considered a failure. The CDC has reported 10 bacterial and viral outbreaks on cruise ships since the start of 2024. The CDC checks cruise ships for details such as how frequently the pool's hair and lint strainer is disinfected.

Persons: —, Sergi Reboredo, Brittany Chang, Jens Büttner, Lloyd Organizations: CDC, Service, Centers for Disease Control, Getty, Cruises, Seas, Caribbean International, Expeditions, Magnifica, MSC Cruises, — Ritz, Carlton, Lloyd Cruises, MSC Seaside, Rederij, Hanseatic, Getty Images, Sanitation, MSC, Lindblad Expeditions, Ritz Locations: norovirus, Hanseatic, Amsterdam, Royal Caribbean

☆ Flooded roads, worried passengers, and no income: Florida Uber and Lyft drivers share their experiences on the road before and after Hurricane Milton
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-12 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Uber and Lyft drivers in Florida saw gas shortages and obstructed roads before and after Milton. After making landfall in Florida, Hurricane Milton caused at least 14 deaths and left millions without power. In the days preceding the storm, some Uber and Lyft drivers went from transporting beachgoers to helping residents flee their communities — before eventually fleeing themselves. Related storiesTrent T., 50, drives independently for his own transportation company and for Uber and Lyft in South Florida. Are you an Uber or Lyft driver in a hurricane-impacted area who's willing to share your story?

Persons: Milton, —, Sergey, Hurricane Helene, Florida , Hurricane Milton, Hurricane Milton, Uber, Fort, Lyft, Trent, Blaine, Yvonne, Charles P, Orlando —, I'm, Charles Organizations: Service, BI, Hurricane, Florida Division, Emergency Management, Tampa, Drivers, jzinkula Locations: Florida, St . Petersburg , Florida, Hurricane, Florida , Hurricane, St . Petersburg, Clearwater, Orlando, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Tampa Bay, South Florida, Milton, Tampa, Ocala —, Savannah , Georgia, Titusville —

☆ I ski in Aspen at the same time every year. I've found the perfect travel dates to make trips cheaper and more fun.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Latifah Al-Hazza | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I ski in Aspen every year and always prefer to go early in the season. Go to newsletter preferences Thanks for signing up! One of my favorite places to ski is Aspen. So, instead of waiting for the height of ski season in January and February, I typically head to Aspen Mountain (Ajax) and Snowmass at the beginning of December, sometimes days after their lifts open. Hitting the slopes early in the season has helped me make the most of the iconic ski spot.

Persons: — Organizations: Service Locations: Aspen, Colorado

☆ When Europe’s railroad dining cars were the height of luxury
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Oscar Holland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The most luxurious experience of them all, however, could be found in the dining car. The latter was the first train car to offer on-board meals, including regional specialties like gumbo, which were prepared in a 3-foot-by-6 foot kitchen. By the 1870s, dining cars could be found on sleeper trains across North America. But this decentralized production model also contained the seed of dining car’s ultimate demise. And despite a revival of interest in train travel on the continent, dining cars (or certainly those equipped with kitchens) are now largely the preserve of tourist services.

Persons: —, impeccably, Henri Opper de Blowitz, Francois Guillot, Graham Greene, Agatha Christie, Charles Dickens, George Pullman, ”, Pullman, Georges Nagelmackers, Arthur Mettetal, “, René Prou, glassmaker, ” —, Mettetal, ” Mettetal Organizations: CNN, Orient Express, Gare de, Getty, New, Compagnie Internationale des, Orient, Nord, Express, “, Pullman, Deco, Italy —, Bettmann, SNCF, Documentation Department Locations: Gare, Gare de l’Est, Paris, Europe, Constantinople, Istanbul, AFP, Britain, America, New York, North America, Belgian, Saint Petersburg, Lisbon, France, North Africa, East, London, Vichy, Switzerland, Italy, Toulouse

☆ Rich people are obsessed with longevity. Luxury hotels are cashing in by charging guests up to $40,000 for IV drips and MRIs before they hit the pool.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Kim Schewitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Luxury hotels are offering guests longevity packages that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. AdvertisementFrom offering guests IV drips for hangovers to personalized nutrition programs and full-body MRIs, luxury hotels are upping their wellness game — and wealthy Americans are ready for it. "It's astounding the speed in which a new focus on longevity is rewriting the wellness market," she said. AdvertisementThe global wellness market — which encompasses beauty, healthy eating, spas, wellness tourism, personalized medicine, and more — was valued at $5.6 trillion in 2022, up from $3.4 trillion in 2013, according to the Global Wellness Institute. Luxury hotels want to cash in on the longevity trendBlink and you'll miss an announcement for a new longevity-themed program.

Persons: —, Bryan Johnson, Beth McGroarty, Mark Hyman, Tony Robbins, Sam Nazarian, Robbins, Nazarian, COVID Organizations: Service, Global Wellness Institute, Consulting, Clinique, Next, Bloomberg, Times Locations: Clinique La, Swiss, Dubai, St Kitts, sbe, London

☆ Japan is giving free flights to international tourists, but it may backfire
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Japan Airlines has offered free domestic flights to international tourists visiting Japan. AdvertisementJapan Airlines is giving free domestic flights to international tourists, making travel to smaller cities and hidden gems far easier. In order to obtain the free tickets, passengers must book round-trip international flights with Japan Airlines and domestic flights within the same purchase. PHILIP FONG/Getty ImagesThe move came after complaints about the behavior of international tourists, including littering and bad parking. Greenfield-Turk said Japan Airlines' initiative has the potential to stretch the economic benefits of mass tourism to less-visited areas.

Persons: —, Sara Aiko, Aiko, Marco Bottigelli, Ben Julius, Julius, PHILIP FONG, Duncan Greenfield, Turk, There's, Amy Thomasson, Travelmation, Thomasson, Monica Humphries Organizations: Japan Airlines, Service, Japan, Tourist Japan, Mount, BBC News, Turk, World, Tourism Council, Employment Locations: Japan, Tokyo, Kyoto, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, India, China, Taiwan, Osaka, overtourism, Yamanashi, Mount Fuji, Greenfield

☆ Disney World employees felt pressured to stay and work despite forecasts of looming tornadoes and flash floods in the hours leading up to Hurricane Milton
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Multiple Disney World employees told BI about their disappointment with how the company handled Milton. The Walt Disney World Resort was still open for business. AdvertisementIn a statement, a Walt Disney World spokesperson said the company prioritizes the well-being of those on park grounds. At Disney World, workers' minimum wage starts at $18 an hour. With 80,000 staffers, the Disney World Resort is one of the largest single-site employers in the United States.

Persons: Cash, —, Milton, Goldman Sachs, they'd, Reed Alexander Organizations: Disney, Milton, Service, Orlando, Sunshine State, Walt Disney, Workers, Hollywood Studios, Animal, Magic, Magic Kingdom, Disney World, BI, Wilderness Locations: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Orange County, Central Florida, Florida, Saratoga, Orlando, United States

☆ Wealthy jet setters are flocking to these unexpected countries, travel agents say
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Wealthy travelers are vacationing at a mix of traditional and emerging destinations. The Asian countries wealthy travelers are increasingly visitingLuxury travel companies are expecting more travelers to visit Thailand following the premiere of "The White Lotus" season three, shot at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui. Ken SeetAccording to Virtuoso, bookings for summer trips to Thailand were up 95% from 2023 to 2024. According to Virtuoso, summer bookings for the central European country were up 24%. More wealthy travelers are heading to Porto, Portugal proslgn/ShutterstockOr, for a greener, chillier getaway, head to the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Persons: —, What's, Ken Seet, Belles, Peter Zelei, Melissa Krueger, Quintessentially, Kelly Grumbach, Brian Kennedy, George Rose, Lucia, Virtuoso, Jim Krane, Barthélemy, Barts, Hurricane Irma, Grumbach, Saint Barthélemy, Holger Leue, Aman Organizations: Service, globetrotters, Eiffel, Belles, Ireland, Banff National Park, St, AP Locations: Rome, Paris, Thailand, Slovenia, United Kingdom, London, France, China, Canada, New York, Europe, Japan, Khao Villas Phuket, Maui, Hawaii, Taormina, Italy, Florence, Tuscany, Portugal, Lisbon, Porto, Ireland, Scotland, Banff, Lake Louise, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Hurricane, Saint, Caribbean, Anguilla

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