Business travel
From guns to Trump: See which factors are deterring travelers from visiting the U.S.
More than 90% of travelers from Southeast Asia say that gun prevalence in the United States influences whether they will visit, according to a new survey. The study — which surveyed 6,000 international travelers from the six countries — showed that respondents perceived Hawaii to be the safest state in terms of gun violence, while […]
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Starlink to end the days of spotty Wi-Fi on planes, says Air New Zealand CEO
The days of spotty — or worse, no — Wi-Fi on airplanes are numbered, said Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran. Reliable and fast Wi-Fi will become “ubiquitous” on full-service carriers, he told “Squawk Box Asia” Friday. But not just any Wi-Fi will do. As airlines race to entice passengers with fast — and ideally free […]
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‘Golden Week’ bookings show Chinese travel preferences are evolving
Outbound travel from China is set to receive a much-anticipated jolt as “Golden Week” bookings show changes in where and why Chinese people are traveling. Buoyed by falling airfares, Chinese travelers are booking more overseas trips for the National Day holiday period, which extends from Oct. 1 to 7, according to Fliggy, a major travel […]
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Cathay Pacific bans couple after video showed inflight dispute over reclined seat
A couple, who argued with a passenger who reclined her seat, won’t be flying with Cathay Pacific ever again. The Hong Kong-based airline banned the pair after video footage emerged showing the couple taunting, using vulgar hand gestures, and jostling the chair of a female passenger who reclined her seat on a 14-hour flight from […]
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The unspoken rules of celebrating Oktoberfest in Munich
Oktoberfest is a worldwide phenomenon, a Bavarian beer festival celebrated in countries around the globe. But many say nowhere is it more fun than in its original home of Munich. The festival attracts some six million celebrants every year, according to a festival website operated by Munich’s Department of Labor and Economics. As a non-Bavarian […]
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People like traveling, but hate planning. Hear how Booking Holdings CEO plans to change that
Most people like traveling. But far fewer enjoy booking it. A survey of more than 2,400 people who book their own travel arrangements found that 71% say the process is at least somewhat stressful for them, according to a 2024 survey by the consumer data company CivicScience. The percentage is even higher among parents of kids […]
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Passengers often ignore in-flight safety videos. But this ‘honest’ one has 8.4 million views
“Greetings from the cockpit. This is your captain speaking.” It’s a phrase frequent flyers know well. Only this isn’t a pilot. And what follows isn’t the same ol’ in-flight safety talk. Rather, it’s the opening salvo of a now viral YouTube video from travel journalist Doug Lansky, who delivers a near 7-minute “honest pre-flight […]
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Has Boeing shaken your confidence to fly? A new MIT study could restore it
Airfare, departure times, flight length — these are the usual considerations for travelers who want to book a flight. But now, more are looking at a new factor: the aircraft itself. One in five travelers said they are doing more research into the plane they may be flying on before they book, while slightly […]
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A tale of two travel recoveries: Japan soars, while China struggles to lure travelers back
With a plum position atop many “Best Places to Travel” lists, Japan is on track to welcome a record-breaking number of travelers in 2024. But China faces a different reality: a far slower return of international visitors. Both countries dropped Covid-related border restrictions relatively late — Japan in October 2022, and China in January 2023 […]
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Can a robot give a decent massage? We tested one at a luxury hotel in New York City
One step inside a spa’s dimly lit room, and I’m already anticipating a serene, therapeutic experience: an hour-long full-body massage that leaves me relaxed and revitalized. But a recent appointment at ila Only Spa at the luxurious Lotte New York Palace hotel didn’t resemble past spa experiences. Although a human escorted me into the room, […]
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