Travel Week in Review – March 17th, 2023

The land of tea, biscuits, and sometimes rules I don’t quite understand (I still don’t know why they drive on the left side). Since Brexit, the UK has had quite the shake-up with its border and travel rules, and now they have announced the biggest border rule change in decades. The UK announced that travelers who currently do not require a visa to visit will now need to apply for digital pre-approval before arriving. This includes visitors from the United States, the European Union (EU), Australia, and Canada. Read More…

After the Biden administration put mandatory resort fees firmly in its crosshairs this year, different facets of the hospitality industry found themselves at odds, with some defending the fees and others saying they need to go. Robert Cole, Phocuswright’s senior research analyst for lodging and leisure travel, is among those who say the hospitality fee landscape is long overdue for an overhaul. “The case that the hotel industry has made for resort fees is pretty weak,” he said. Read More…

The pristine beaches, dramatic peaks, stunning waterfalls, and thriving wildlife that draw visitors to Hawaii are the exact elements that are impacted by tourism the most. So a bill currently going through the state’s legislature is proposing a new Hawaii Green Fee: an annual $50 per person fee to visit the state’s natural wonders in order to help protect them for generations to come. “For decades, Hawaii’s natural beauty has enchanted visitors, awakening their curiosity and sense of exploration.” Read More…

Whether you’ve had TSA PreCheck or Global Entry Membership for a long time or if you’re just thinking about applying, there are some surprising things about the two programs that you may not know. From who you can bring with you through expedited screenings to who can cut you in the security line, here are some important facts about the Trusted Traveler programs. Read More…

After more than five years of planning and construction, Kansas City International Airport (MCI)’s single terminal officially opens on February 28—replacing the airport’s outdated trio of Brutalist concrete terminals, which had been in operation since 1972. The original MCI opened about a month before the FAA started mandating physical screenings of passengers in January 1973 (aka the dawn of metal detectors and baggage scanners). Read More…