The U.S. saw gross domestic product grow a seasonally adjusted 4% in the final quarter of the year, but that wasn’t enough to prevent a full-year GDP contraction, The Wall Street Journal reports based on data from the Commerce Department. Economists expect to regain those losses in 2021.

James Knightley, an economist with ING Financial Markets LLC, told The Journal he is expecting “a really good 2021” and likened recent rounds of stimulus to “a wall of money being thrown at the economy.”

GDP contracted 3.5% in 2020, which marked the largest such decline since 1946.

Human interaction is a vital part of the hotel industry, but those interactions are limited at best in an era where guest safety requires physical distance. However, Bryan Wroten reports some hoteliers are using texting, app-based messaging and social media to supplement that lost contact.

Ralph Aruzza, chief marketing officer at Provenance Hotels, said growing in those areas was already a focus pre-pandemic but the transition has been accelerated.

“Guests can communicate with our staff members on a 24-hour basis to confirm preferences and receive additional assistance — from ordering more towels to recommendations on restaurant take-out spots,” he said. “With the health and safety measures in place nationwide, it's been a convenient way to interact more directly with our guests in a holistic way.”

The Lunar New Year and the accompanying Spring Festival are occasions for massive amounts of travel in China, but the Chinese government is banning travel for people in cities with COVID-19 outbreaks and requiring negative tests from those looking to travel from other areas to avoid further spread of the virus, BBC reports.

This will be the second year in a row with travel restrictions around the holiday in China. Just short of 3 billion people traveled at this period in 2018 and 2019, but that number fell to less than 1.5 billion in 2020.

Hotel development saw a 30% year-over-year drop in California in 2020, according to the latest report from Atlas Hospitality Group. CoStar News’ Lou Hirsh reported investors have put many projects on hold amid continued concerns related to the pandemic. CoStar Group publishes Hotel News Now.

Atlas President Alan Reay noted many openings have been delayed even if they were near completion in 2020 due to the difficult operating environment.

“And a high number of projects in planning were either deferred or abandoned altogether,” he said.

Quebec’s Hôtel de Glace is the only true ice hotel — made completely of 40,000 tons snow and ice — in North America, and the property is now offering virtual tours as the border between the U.S. and Canada is still closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Travel + Leisure reports.

The news outlet notes the tours of the temporary structure include looks at themed rooms and suites that include features such as a slide, ice bar and wedding chapel.

Compiled by Sean McCracken.