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US PASSPORT DELAYS ARE AFFECTING SUMMER TRAVEL PLANS
US passport renewal services are facing increased wait times as the busy summer travel season ramps up, reports Business Insider. According to the US State Department, processing times for routine passport renewals are now up to 13 weeks, with expedited services increased to 7-9 weeks. That doesn't include delivery times, which can add "several weeks" more, the department says. Travelers have been facing passport renewal backlogs for the past two years, as the government struggles to keep up with post-pandemic travel demand. The State Department says it is getting a record 500,000 passport applications a week. That is on track to top the 22 million passports issued last year. To help with the backlog, the department has increased staffing levels this year and is currently hiring additional staff, adding that a majority of applicants receive their passports within the published timeframes. But some frustrated travelers say they still haven't received their passports despite applying multiple months in advance and are now faced with canceling their trips. The State Department recommends that any individuals who applied and have not received their passport within five days of planned international travel should call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 to make an appointment at a passport agency.
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TSA TO EXPAND FACIAL RECOGNITION
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) plans to roll out facial recognition at security checkpoints in 400 more airports in the coming years after success and early results of its pilot program, reports Travel Pulse. The pilot program is currently implemented at 25 airports across the country, with a 97 percent success rate, according to the TSA. The agency hopes to someday get to a point where it does not need physical identification, such as a driver’s license, but relies solely on facial recognition. However, opponents of the program say that facial recognition is a violation of personal freedoms, and that the TSA is improperly coercing people to participate and not allowing them to opt out. The TSA has refuted the claims, reiterating that participation is voluntary and that there is signage at the airport that allows travelers to simply tell an agent that they do not wish to participate and prefer the use of physical IDs.
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US RECOMMENDS AMERICANS RECONSIDER TRAVEL TO CHINA DUE TO RISK OF WRONGFUL DETENTION
The US State Department has updated its travel advisory for China, recommending that Americans should reconsider travel due to the risk of wrongful detention, reports CNN. Although the previous advisory also listed mainland China as a “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” destination, it was due to the risk of “arbitrary enforcement of local laws.” The risk of wrongful detention was listed as a reason for US travelers to “exercise increased caution” in that advisory, which was issued in March. A State Department spokesperson explained that because the Chinese government “continues to engage in this practice” of wrongful detention, “the Travel Advisory has been updated to advise US citizens to reconsider travel to Mainland China due to the risk of wrongful detention.” The updated advisory comes amid a period of heightened tensions between the US and China. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese officials in Beijing last month in the hope of repairing the deteriorating relationship between the two countries, while Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will visit the People’s Republic of China later this week, in an effort to do the same.
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NORTH AMERICAN CARRIERS CONTINUE ON-TIME IMPROVEMENT IN MAY
For the second straight month, North American carriers in May improved their on-time performance from the month prior, reports Business Travel News. According to aviation analytics company Cirium's monthly report, on-time performance in May was 78.7 percent, up 5.5 percentage points from April. Delta Air Lines (88.9 percent), Alaska Airlines (84.7 percent), American Airlines (83.9 percent), United Airlines (79.7 percent), and WestJet (79.3 percent) took the top five spots, each above the weighted average of 78.7 percent. The three largest US carriers—American, Delta, and United—each made the global on-time performance list, at second, eighth, and 10th, respectively. Additionally, North American airlines in May canceled 6,042 flights, less than half the April total. Alaska had the highest completion factor at 99.8 percent, followed by American at 99.64 percent and Delta at 99.61 percent. A flight is considered on time if the aircraft arrives at the gate within 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival time.
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UNITED DEBUTS SLEEK NEW CLUB AT NEWARK TERMINAL A
United Airlines has officially opened its new lounge at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), reports Travel Pulse. Located in the newly renovated Terminal A, the 15,000 square foot space is located across from Gate A27 and includes about 350 seats. Some of the amenity and design highlights of the new lounge include two large living room-style spaces filled with recliner seats and individual chairs. There’s also a stylish bar area where highlights include granite counters and wood-lined paneling. Food and drink offerings include a buffet with all-day dining options that range from hot appetizers to sandwiches, soups, and a salad bar, as well as a bar with six beers on tap and a variety of nonalcoholic drinks. The lounge also features easy access to power outlets, USB-A and USB-C ports, as well as free Wi-Fi. Additional design features include a wellness room that can also be used as a changing and lactation room. The new United Airlines lounge is the first to open in Terminal A and is expected to be followed by an American Airlines Admirals Club, a Delta Air Lines Sky Club, and an American Express Centurion Lounge.
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CAMBRIA HOTEL HOUSTON DOWNTOWN CONVENTION CENTER | |
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1314 TEXAS AVENUE
HOUSTON
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Experience a modern twist on historic Art Deco architecture at the Cambria Hotel Houston Downtown Convention Center. Located in one of the city’s most iconic skyscrapers, their AAA Four Diamond hotel offers upgraded amenities and classic Texas charm. The décor reflects the unique spirit of Texas’ largest metro area, with design elements that reflect the Old West, the oil industry, and NASA’s influence on the city. This downtown Houston hotel's convenient location makes it easy to get to top attractions. Just a 10-minute walk to the Toyota Center, the George R. Brown Convention Center, and a 5-minute walk to Minute Maid Park, home of the city’s pro baseball team. Space Center Houston is around a 40-minute drive from the hotel. Planning a meeting or banquet? Treat guests to the skyline views in their 20th-floor event space.
The amenities at Cambria Hotel invite guests to indulge in the little luxuries that make travel fun. Enjoy a locally inspired meal at The Rig restaurant or sample a specialty cocktail or local craft beer at the bar. Rooms feature smart TVs, premium bedding and spa-style bathrooms, as well as Bluetooth mirrors to stream favorite music or podcasts.
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HILTON NEW YORK TIMES SQUARE | |
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234 WEST 42ND STREET
NEW YORK CITY
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The Hilton New York hotel soars above Times Square, offering panoramic views from their spacious rooms and restaurant. Located within blocks of iconic New York sites such as The Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, Bryant Park, and Grand Central Station. Many of Broadway’s theaters are within a mile of them and Rockefeller Center is a 15-minute walk from their door. | | |
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517 LEXINGTON AVENUE
NEW YORK CITY
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A gracious welcome awaits visitors at Hotel 48LEX. From the moment they arrive, with a curbside greeting, through to check out, the hosts at this Four Diamond hotel endeavor to provide an effortless stay. Plugged into the best of the city, hosts will gladly show guests the New York experience they desire.
Onsite, The Lounge offers a naturally lit enclave of couches and modern art with a fully stocked bar and light bites. It's the perfect space to enjoy a nightcap or morning espresso while taking in the views of Manhattan.
The hotel’s sleek design is defined by a black, white, and silver motif carried throughout the building, while contemporary works from New York City artists and tech-forward amenities fill the public spaces and guest rooms. Marble bathrooms, meeting rooms with fully stocked wet bars and penthouse suites with terraces overlooking the bustling city offer refined delights throughout the public and private spaces of the hotel.
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1600 WEWATTA STREET
DENVER
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Formerly the Hotel Born, the new Limelight Hotel Denver begins the next chapter of Aspen Hospitality. The Limelight Denver offers 200 rooms boasting an alpine-meets-city aesthetic that matches the mood of Denver, Colorado perfectly. Each room features knotty-pine headboards to evoke the coziness of a mountain getaway, while offering modern leather furniture, floor-to-ceiling windows revealing monumental city and Rocky Mountain views, and carefully curated art to remind guests of why they are visiting this dynamic city. Of course, their most important amenity is the location. | | |
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546 CARONDELET STREET
NEW ORLEANS
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Maison de la Luz, a luxury hotel in New Orleans. A place for reverie and proper Southern swoon, for prophetic visions or quiet inspiration, Maison de la Luz finds beauty in the curious and defines luxury as moving through the world with grace.
With 67 resplendent bedrooms and suites, private sanctuaries, and bespoke concierge service, Maison de la Luz is a luxury boutique hotel for the senses, reverent of elegance, irreverent of convention and is marked by generosity of spirit.
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OCEANA SANTA MONICA, LXR HOTELS & RESORTS | |
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849 OCEAN AVENUE
SANTA MONICA
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Idyllically located on Ocean Avenue with unparalleled Pacific Ocean views, 70 suites are just blocks from the boutiques and cafes of Montana Avenue, and a seaside walk to the iconic Promenade and world-famous Santa Monica Pier. Outside, where bluffs give way to miles of bike paths, complimentary beachfront yoga, and beach cruisers let guests play like a local. And from al fresco, poolside dining in a lush, firepit-cozy courtyard to unscripted 5-star service, Oceana has a refined-yet-relaxed sensibility that makes it the perfect seaside escape. | | |
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100 SHOREDITCH HIGH STREET
LONDON
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This community is one of the most creative in London and they’re proud to call Shoreditch home. Guests will never be short of things to do here, on the hotel’s doorstep find some of the most eye-catching street art in London, some of city’s best restaurants and pubs, edgy galleries, and brilliant independent stores. The bedrooms and suites at One Hundred Shoreditch are designed to be a retreat from the vibrancy and energy of the hotel’s restaurants and bars, providing headspace in the heart of Shoreditch, allowing guests to disconnect from the outside world. | |
PGA NATIONAL MEMBERS CLUB | |
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400 AVENUE OF THE CHAMPIONS
PALM BEACH GARDENS
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Stay, sip, swim, and swing into Palm Beach splendor at the all-new PGA National Resort, is the luxury lifestyle retreat that delights far beyond golf. Palm Beach style meets breathtaking amenities at the crown jewel PGA National Resort, newly reopened and completely redesigned. Commanding 800 manicured acres just minutes from Palm Beach’s aquamarine coastline, the all-new resort’s legendary history meets fresh tropical modernity with gorgeous guestrooms & suites, newly reimagined 2-bedroom cottage designed by Serena & Lily, inventive dining venues, a stunning 40,000 square foot wellness facility for endless tranquility and treatments, flexible indoor and outdoor meeting space, six championship golf courses, resort-style pool, family activities for all ages, fitness classes, six new pickleball courts, and golf programs that are renowned worldwide. | |
SOFITEL MEXICO CITY REFORMA | |
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297 AVENUE, AV. P.º DE LA REFORMA
MEXICO CITY
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Sofitel Mexico City Reforma is a luxury hotel located in the heart of historic Reforma Avenue, offering a chic French-style experience immersed in the vibrant and lively Mexican culture. The hotel showcases an elevated and sophisticated French-inspired aesthetic, where every room is tastefully designed to blend style and functionality. With 56 exclusive suites, guests can indulge in added luxury.
For business travelers, the hotel provides Club Millésime, an exclusive lounge that offers top-of-the-line business facilities, delightful culinary options, breathtaking city views, and personalized attention to ensure a comfortable and productive stay. Whether for leisure or business, Sofitel Mexico City Reforma is a sanctuary of indulgence and sophistication.
Discover ultimate relaxation at Sofitel Spa with L'Occitane, where local pre-Hispanic traditions blend with innovative treatments and French flair to create an ideal space for revitalization, rest, and rejuvenation. Additionally, onsite restaurants and bars offer a creative culinary journey, seamlessly fusing the best of French and Mexican cuisines.
Last but not least, don't miss the extraordinary culinary experience at Balta, where the classic preparations and flavors of the Mediterranean meet the coastal delights of Mexico. With a touch of smoky essence, the menu features shareable dishes crafted from flame-kissed ingredients from land and sea, creating unique textures and tastes.
Experience the best of both worlds at Sofitel Mexico City Reforma, where luxury, culture, and culinary excellence intertwine and enjoy 15% off at Balta and on the In-Room Dining Menu, which showcases beloved room service classics, deluxe culinary experiences, and delectable French-inspired dishes.
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THE POST OAK HOTEL AT UPTOWN HOUSTON | |
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1600 WEST LOOP SOUTH
HOUSTON
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The Post Oak Hotel is the only Texas Forbes Five-Star Hotel and Spa and Houston’s only AAA Five-Diamond destination boasting elegant accommodations masterfully blended with extensive conference space, prominent office space, designer fashion, signature dining, and sophisticated amenities all in one tower. The 700,000 square foot tower embraces every desire of savvy business and leisure travelers alike. Add commanding views of downtown Houston, the unmatched culinary excellence of Mastro’s, Texas' only Forbes Five-Star Spa and direct helicopter pad access, The Post Oak Hotel is sure to satisfy even the most discerning taste. The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston – a lavish experience so uniquely refined there can only be one. | | |
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415 NEW JERSEY AVENUE NW
WASHINGTON, DC
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One will find YOTEL Washington, DC in the thick of the action next to Capitol Hill. Walk through history and discover views of The US Capitol Buildings, The Supreme Court, and a collection of other historical and political monuments to be found in and around Washington Monument Grounds. Stay at YOTEL Washington, DC and enjoy its playful design together with technology-driven experiences. | | | | |
