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1. Consumer sentiment in US dips to four-month low
In September in the United States, consumer sentiment dipped to a four-month low, according to Reuters reporting on data from the University of Michigan's Surveys of Consumers. The Consumer Sentiment Index dipped to 48.1 in September, down from 51.7 in August. The index is down 15% from January, per the article.
"Overall, interviews reveal broad agreement across the political spectrum that the outlook for the economy has weakened since the beginning of the year," said Joanne Hsu, the director of the Surveys of Consumers. "After particularly large declines in sentiment this month, Republican sentiment is now 20% lower than January 2026. Democrats are down 13% over the same period."
2. Storms affect travel on both coasts
The Northeast United States was pummeled by storm conditions over the weekend, with flight and train disruption overflowing into Monday. Boston Logan International Airport had over 300 flight cancellations and 400 delays Sunday, per the city's local NBC affiliate, with 65 flight cancelations and 10 delays already reported for Monday morning. Boston also saw delays and cancellations for Amtrak's train schedule.
On the opposite side of the country, experts are keeping an eye on Hurricanes Polo and Odalys. While neither are expected to make landfall, their swells might send hazardous conditions to the Southern California coast on Monday and Tuesday, according to Lost Angeles news station KTLA.
3. How hoteliers decide when, why to evolve brands
At a certain point, international hotel brand companies have to decide how they want to refresh their brands, and, as CoStar News Hotels reports, there are a lot of aspects and nuances to that decision-making process. A brand refresh can be vital to the brand's longevity.
“Brands need to continuously improve to survive and thrive," Chekitan Dev, distinguished professor at Cornell University's Nolan School of Hotel Administration, said. "If a brand is not improving, it is falling behind, and if it falls behind too far, it will fail.”
A recent example is Accor's Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, which recently announced a sweeping transformation across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
4. IHG debuts new brand in Tokyo
IHG Hotels & Resorts introduced its premium collection brand, Noted Collection, to Japan with the signing of two Tokyo hotels — a conversion property in Shinjuku and a new-build hotel in Ginza. Expected to open next year, the 207-room Shinjuku property is made possible with a partnership between IHG and SC Capital Partners. An Consulting partnered with the global brand on the first new-build Noted Collection hotel in Japan. The 81-key Ginza property is expected to open in 2029.
“Introducing Noted Collection to Japan through these two signings marks an important milestone for the brand and reflects the strong opportunity we see in the premium segment in Japan," said Abhijay Sandilya, managing director, Japan & Micronesia, IHG Hotels & Resorts and CEO of IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan. "Owners are increasingly looking for flexible brand solutions that allow hotels to maintain their individuality while benefiting from IHG’s global scale, enterprise platform and loyalty programme."
IHG launched the Noted Collection earlier this year.
5. Transport costs soar in US
A combination of macroeconomic factors is creating a perfect storm for transport costs in the U.S., reports the Wall Street Journal. Ground transportation has gotten significantly more expensive while tariffs have taken their toll on the international trade economy.
"Trucking expenses are at their highest level since the Covid pandemic," reads the article. "Diesel prices are up 77% in the past year. Container-shipping rates, meanwhile, are up, while railroads, parcel-delivery companies such as FedEx, and even the U.S. Postal Service are also raising prices."
The country is also experiencing a shortage of truck drivers. Since early 2025, the Transportation Department has removed over 28,000 drivers after they failed English-proficiency tests. Additionally, the department has pushed states to cancel more than 30,000 commercial driver's licenses belonging to foreign drivers.