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1. US retail sales rise, according to delayed report
The U.S. Commerce Department's data from September, which was delayed over a month due to the government shutdown, showed that sales at U.S. retailers and restaurants rose 0.2% in September compared to August, according to the Associated Press.
"The retail sales figures suggest that Americans as a whole are still willing and able to boost their spending, a key driver of the economy, despite high prices for groceries, rent and many imported goods hit by tariffs. Steady consumer spending may lift the economy’s growth to a solid 3% or higher annual rate in the July-September quarter, economists forecast, after a modest 1.6% expansion in the first half of the year," according to the article.
According to information from a Bank of America report, higher-income consumers are driving the gains while lower-income spenders are looking for deals and limiting purchases to necessities.
2. New campaign calls for more civility in travel
The U.S. Department of Transportation is asking travelers to be on their best behavior during the holiday travel season. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy launched the so-called "civility campaign" that's titled “The Golden Age of Travel Starts with You,” NPR reports. DOT released a 91-second promotional video that questioned consumers about their manners to airline staff and fellow travelers after playing clips of airport brawls and shoeless feet on airplanes.
"The campaign is intended to jumpstart a nationwide conversation around how we can all restore courtesy and class to air travel," the DOT news release reads. "This won't just make the travel experience better for the flying public — it will ensure the safety of passengers, gate workers, flight attendants and pilots."
3. What to know before traveling for Thanksgiving
Following the 43-day government shutdown in the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration is preparing for its busiest Thanksgiving in 15 years, the AP reports. While most Thanksgiving travelers are choosing to drive to their destinations, more than 360,000 flights scheduled between Monday and next Tuesday with over 17.8 million people expected to be screened at airports, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
The AP reported on things travelers should know about navigating trips this holiday season — like winter weather and packing considerations as well as optimal times to hit the road.
Colin Sherman, director of hospitality market analytics for Texas and U.S. South at CoStar Group, also weighed in on what the hospitality industry should glean from TSA data and the latest hotel performance numbers in an article for CoStar News.
4. Top travel destinations to avoid in 2026 due to overtourism
Travel guide company Fodor's released its annual list of destinations to avoid to deter travelers from places suffering from overtourism. The group also released its "Go List" — to parallel its "No List" — that features 26 destinations that travelers can enjoy guilt free.
On this year's "No List" are eight destinations — Antarctica, The Canary Islands, Glacier National Park, Isola Sacra, The Jungfrau Region in Switzerland, Mexico City, Mombasa and Montmartre.
"The No List serves a gentle but pointed nudge to ease up on a spot for now — not forever — and give a rest to any location that clearly needs a breather," according to Fodor's article.
5. Wyndham debuts Baymont brand in Asia-Pacific
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts opened the 92-room Baymont Kunming Wuhua, marking Baymont's first property outside the Americas and expanding its global footprint within the Asia-Pacific region. The brand is promoted as providing consistent accommodations at an accessible price point.
"Baymont hotels are more than a place to stay — they're a promise of comfort, familiarity, and community. The debut in Asia-Pacific marks an exciting new chapter for the brand, one that combines heartfelt hospitality with a proven, scalable model for owners and is poised to help fuel further growth across the region's thriving midscale market," said Joon Aun OOI, president, Asia Pacific, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, in a news release.
The new hotel also has 300 square meters of meeting space in two venues that accommodate up to 180 guests for conferences or 150 for banquets.