Tagged: starwood

Marriott Finalizes Purchase of Starwood, Creating World's Biggest Hotel Chain

On Friday, Marriott International's $13 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide was finalized, having been delayed for months pending approval from U.S.,…

The World's Largest Hotel Chain, a Lawsuit Over Airplane-Seat "Spillover," and More: Today's Travel Briefing

Good morning! Here's the latest from the world's airplanes, hotels, and tourism destinations.* MARRIOTT FINALIZES PURCHASE OF STARWOOD, CREATING WORLD'S BIGGEST HOTEL CHAIN (Associated…

Cuban Hotel Becomes First Operated by US Company

Sometimes slapping a Four Points by Sheraton sign on the side of a building can be a historic event. That's what happened in Havana this week, as the Gaviota 5th Avenue Hotel began…

Counting Down the Top 6 Travel Stories of 2015—And Looking Ahead to 2016

(Photo by Zach Dischner/Flickr)Unusually dramatic events and trends shaped the way we traveled in 2015 and should continue to impact our wanderings in 2016. Counting them down,…

Numerous Parts of the Travel Industry are Rapidly Being Dominated by Monopolies—and Relief Does Not Seem at Hand

It is slightly more than a year since final Justice Department approval of the merger between American Airlines and U.S. Airways, but most of the travel industry is still dazed and…

Cyber Monday Travel Savings: A (Growing) List

Apparently tryptophan, the sleep-causing amino acid in turkey, also inspires wild bouts of shopping. How else to explain the mad rush after the holidays to empty Best Buy and…

Cyber Monday Travel Savings: A (Growing) List

Apparently tryptophan, the sleep-causing amino acid in turkey, also inspires wild bouts of shopping. How else to explain the mad rush after the holidays to empty Best Buy and…

At Westin, If You Decline Housekeeping, They'll Give You $5 to Spend

If you're cheap, you will now benefit from being a slob, too.Westin, an upscale-ish branch of the giant Starwood group of hotels, has a new idea. If you do something "great for…

Recent Changes to Hotel Loyalty Programs That Travelers Should Know About

Here’s news that will likely keep travelers up at night: thanks to recent changes, it’s going to take significantly more loyalty points to redeem free night stays at the majority of…

That's Ridiculous! The Gas Price Bait and Switch

Cheaper isn't always better. On a recent trip to Bend, Ore., I discovered that cheaper can actually mean more expensive. The scam was perpetrated by a service station selling unleaded…

The Able Traveler: Through Redwoods on a Wheelchair-Accessible Train

Although most long distance trains feature some type of wheelchair-access, that's not always the case with small excursion trains. Fortunately that's not the way things work at…

The Royal Wedding: What to See and Do

Our ebook Frommer's The Royal Wedding will give you the inside edge on planning a trip to London before, during and after the April 29 wedding. Find inspiration for your…

Disneyland Paris: Top Tips from the Experts

Getting the most out of your Disneyland Paris experience is a science. It's an art as well, sure, but if you want lots of fun rather than sore feet, tears before lunchtime, and a head…

Paris Neighborhood Discovery: Butte aux Cailles' Small-Village Feel

A wonderful way to discover Paris is simply to wander -- the word in French is flaner. Pick a different neighborhood each day and spend a morning, afternoon and/or evening exploring…