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1. Storms complicate holiday travel
Wind storms, heavy winds, a bomb cyclone and an Arctic airmass are among the weather issues complicating travel ahead of New Year's, Axios reports. The National Weather Service is projecting a "multi-day heavy lake effect snow event" off of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
Reuters reports that by mid-afternoon Monday nearly 6,000 flights had been delayed and another 751 were canceled as large portions of the country deal with Winter Storm Ezra. A total of 3,600 flights were cancelled for the full weekend.
"The storm hit during one of the year's busiest travel periods, when airlines operate near capacity with limited flexibility to rebook passengers," the news outlet reports. "Holiday travelers faced long waits, rebooking difficulties and accommodation challenges as airlines coped with severe winter weather."
2. $464 million financing lined up for new Aman brand's debut property
A 4.25-acre parcel in Miami's Brickell district is slated to be built out to include Aman's first Atma property with $464.5 million in financing arranged by Walker & Dunlop, Inc, CoStar News' Natalie Harms reports. Officials with the finance and commercial real estate advisory firm described the financing as the largest land acquisition loan in Miami.
"The property currently includes a 32-story office tower and a 31-story rental building, offering 485 feet of continuous Biscayne Bay frontage," a news release announcing the financing states. "Planned development will move forward in two ultra-luxury residential phases totaling 480 condominium residences, alongside a five-star hotel featuring 185 suites. The project will also include a racquet club, spa and private marina, creating a landmark destination that sets a new standard for integrated living, elevated hospitality and waterfront leisure."
3. How hotelier sentiment shifted across 2025
While 2025 was a year that hoteliers entered with their typical sense of "cautious optimism," tariffs and weaker-than-expected demand left them with more caution than optimism as the year nears its end, CoStar News Hotels reports.
"First of all, we're all optimists, right?" said Michael Lipson, CEO and Chairman of Access Point Financial. "So we thought '25 would be better than '24. It was and is as an industry and at the company level. I think some of us thought it would go faster, but obviously we have to listen to the global events and the national events. Nobody knew back then what things like Liberation Day would mean and other considerations."
4. Travel headwinds add up for Thailand
Currency and conflicts are proving to be difficult challenges for Thailand's tourism industry with the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports reporting a 7% drop in foreign travelers year to date, Bloomberg reports.
"The year started badly, with many Chinese travelers scrapping plans to visit after Chinese actor Wang Xing was abducted from Thailand, and later rescued from a scam center in neighboring Myanmar," the news outlet reports. "Thailand was then rocked by Myanmar’s biggest earthquake in a century, a bloody border conflict with Cambodia, severe flooding in the south and a political crisis that brought a new government to power."
5. Miami Beach ranked most expensive New Years destination
A survey from Cheaphotels.org has identified Miami Beach as "the most expensive destination in the world for accommodation this New Year's Eve" with the most affordable rooms coming in at $1,187 for a three-night stay. Rio de Janeiro and New York City came in second and third, at $1,172 and $1,164, respectively.
The survey notes those rates mark a 197% increase over typical January rates. Edinburgh, Scotland, saw an even starker jump from normal rates, up 316% to $1,040 for a three-night stay.