In search of comfortable-yet-affordable accommodations for your next meeting or event? City Express by Marriott is gearing up to offer options in four new markets. Looking to wow A-level attendees at a retreat or incentive? Jetting off to some of the most coveted ski resorts in the U.S. just became easier. Planning a meeting in the UK or Ireland? Heads up—don’t expect a quick reply from colleagues there, as they’re currently dealing with a massive storm that’s disrupting just about everything.
As always, Smart Travel is here to bring you the latest must-read travel and tourism news.
Jet Service Aero Launches Route to Park City and Partnership with Stein Collection
Meeting profs seeking top-tier services and exceptional destinations for retreats, incentives or other special gatherings now have an exciting new option with the recently launched partnership between Aero and Stein Collection. This collaboration combines Aero’s semi-private jet service with Stein Collection’s luxurious ski-in/ski-out properties, offering a seamless travel experience that prioritizes comfort, convenience and exclusivity.
Aero’s flights will depart from Los Angeles (VNY) to Salt Lake City (SLC), where guests can head to one of Stein Collection’s stunning alpine venues, including the renowned Stein Eriksen Lodge, Stein Eriksen Residences and The Chateaux Deer Valley. These properties provide an idyllic setting for group gatherings, offering world-class amenities and breathtaking mountain views.
Group travel benefits through this partnership include 10% off round-trip airfare, 20% off the best available room rate at Stein Collection properties, a $100 daily resort credit per room for food, beverages, or spa treatments, as well as complimentary room upgrades and late departures (subject to availability). These perks are designed to enhance the overall guest experience, making it an appealing option for meeting profs looking to impress their attendees. Liz Mazzei, Aero’s head of marketing, said of the collaboration, “Traveling from city to slopes has never been easier. Aero’s service eliminates the stress of traditional air travel, allowing planners to focus on delivering exceptional experiences for their guests.”
City Express by Marriott Will Expand to Destinations Across the Caribbean and Latin America
Marriott International’s City Express by Marriott brand is making waves in the affordable midscale segment, with plans to enter four new markets: Argentina, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Peru. This expansion strengthens Marriott’s presence in the Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) region, opening up new possibilities for meeting and event planners seeking high-quality yet budget-friendly accommodations.
Since Marriott’s acquisition of the City Express brand in 2023, the portfolio has grown significantly, with 12 new properties signed in 2024, adding 1,236 rooms to the brand’s inventory. The current portfolio already boasts 153 hotels and 17,777 rooms across CALA, including key markets like Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Costa Rica.
Laurent de Kousemaeker, chief development officer for Marriott International in CALA, emphasized the growing demand for City Express locations, saying, “The brand’s expansion underscores the increasing demand for affordable, high-quality lodging options in the region. These new signings reflect our commitment to providing diverse travel experiences for every guest and new opportunities for our owners and developers.”
Mayor of Nice, France, Seeks to Ban Large Cruise Ships
As headlines highlighting overtourism concerns become more frequent, one solution is being pursued in Nice, France. The mayor of the destination, Christian Estrosi, is seeking to ban large cruise ships, a decision that would impact several international brands, including Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Holland America Line, Cunard, Norwegian Cruise and Viking. The ban would be enacted as soon as July 1 of this year and target cruise ships with a capacity of over 900 passengers and measuring over 190 meters (roughly 620 feet).
Estrosi told residents of Nice earlier this week of the development, saying, “Tourism, yes, overtourism, no…The cruises that pollute and dump their low-cost clientele, who consume nothing, but leave their waste behind…These cruises have no place with us.”
Read More: Healthy World: Overtourism and Crowd Avoidance
For meeting and event profs, this decision signals a shift in how destinations like Nice manage tourism, creating new considerations for hosting events in such locations. While the ban may reduce congestion in the city and its surrounding areas, planners should anticipate changes in the availability of cruise-based accommodations and itineraries that have traditionally complemented meetings and incentive programs in Nice.
This initiative could also elevate Nice as a destination for more intentional, high-quality events. By limiting overtourism and focusing on sustainable practices, the city may position itself as an ideal location for planners prioritizing eco-conscious gatherings. Meeting profs would benefit from a less crowded environment, providing attendees with a more authentic and enjoyable experience in this Mediterranean gem.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT Launches Travel, Restaurant and Event Booking Service
A research preview of a new task agent by OpenAI has been launched on the company’s ChatGPT platform, offering users a service that can perform web tasks such as typing, clicking and scrolling. Meeting profs can use the tool, dubbed “Operator,” to fill out forms such as travel, restaurant and event booking, alongside a wide range of other tasks, including ordering groceries and creating memes.
Read More: How AI is Revolutionizing Travel and Events
Jeremy Fine, who works on product partnerships at OpenAI, announced on LinkedIn that contributors included travel, F&B and ticket heavyweights Tripadvisor, Priceline, DoorDash, OpenTable and StubHub. Operator is currently available in its testing phase for ChatGPT Pro users, with plans to expand to Plus, Team and Enterprise subscribers. Safety protections include prompts for users to take over tasks that require login, payment details or solving CAPTCHAs.
OpenAI also announced its partnership with DMOs, including City of Stockton, saying, “Operator transforms AI from a passive tool to an active participant in the digital ecosystem. It will streamline tasks for users and bring the benefits of agents to companies that want innovative customer experiences and desire higher rates of conversion…We see a lot of potential to improve the accessibility and efficiency of certain workflows, particularly in public sector applications. To explore these use cases further, we’re working with organizations like the City of Stockton to make it easier to enroll in city services and programs.”
Storm Éowyn Spurs Total Travel Shutdown in UK and Ireland
The UK and Ireland are experiencing an unprecedented travel shutdown due to a once-in-a-lifetime weather event now known as Storm Éowyn. Over 1,000 flights across airports, including those in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin and Heathrow, have been canceled, and rail service has been suspended across Scotland, northern England and Wales. Irish Ferries, Stena Line and CalMac have all canceled crossings in the Irish Sea and west of Scotland, leaving much of the region at a standstill. Over 1 million hunkered-down residents are now doing so without power as gusts exceeding 100mph are recorded.
As travelers face staggering challenges to return to or depart from the region, authorities are urging people to prioritize safety as they deal with delays and cancellations. Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, told the press, “I want to thank members of the public for largely following Police Scotland’s advice not to travel. However, this storm is not over yet.
Even once the red weather warning expires, severe weather warnings for wind, snow and ice remain in place across much of the country tonight and into tomorrow morning. A high level of vigilance is still required. There are still too many lorries on the road and I urge all [large trucks] to follow Police Scotland advice not to travel during the red weather warning…It will take time to recover power and transport services across the country, as conditions still remain too dangerous for recovery teams to operate.”
