Latest news with #TravelandLeisure
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A gross airplane bathroom is the wrong place to do this, experts say — and you should follow their advice
Experts poo-poo the airplane loo. Flying might feel high-tech — but beneath the surface, it can get pretty gross. In fact, some experts warn that the water on board airplanes is so questionable, they wouldn't even wash their hands with it. While tray tables and overhead bins are known germ zones, it's the airplane bathroom that deserves the most caution. 'The toilets are regularly cleaned, but the locks and door handles are not,' Josephine Remo, a flight attendant and travel blogger, told Travel and Leisure. Even more concerning: studies show onboard water tanks may harbor harmful bacteria. A 2017 study in the Annals of Microbiology found over 50 strains of bacteria in ice used on planes. 'My takeaway from doing the research was to not drink the coffee and the tea. At all,' Charles Platkin, the author of the study and the executive director of the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center, told Travel and Leisure. He also echoed his team's findings, saying that he avoids washing his hands with water as well. He uses hand wipes instead. A former flight attendant also revealed to The Sun that the bathrooms onboard don't have great ventilation. 'The airplane loo is essentially a cupboard, with no clean air. There is no window, and the air ventilation is poor,' the unnamed attendant said. 'This means that every time you go to the loo, not only are you breathing in the air of many others who have 'done their business' before you (especially if it's a long-haul flight), but you could also be breathing in potential feces particles, circulating [in] the air after a toilet flush.' They recommend wearing a mask when entering the bathroom — or avoiding it altogether, if possible. If you need to brush your teeth during the flight, it's best to use bottled water, as the expert warns that the water is unfiltered and not in the best condition. Experts suggest packing hand sanitizer, using disinfectant wipes and being mindful of bathroom surfaces. 'I try to avoid the restroom if possible,' Shanina Knighton, a research associate professor at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University, told Travel and Leisure, 'but when I must go, I'm careful about what I touch. 'I wouldn't want to start a vacation with a stomach bug because of unsafe water exposure,' Knighton said.
New York Post
28-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
This convenient airport staple may soon be a thing of the past
Something that's been an airport staple for what feels like forever might soon no longer be a thing. For when frantic travelers need to get from point A to B in an airport while carrying heavy luggage — moving walkways come in handy. However, according to One Mile At A Time and airline, hotel and loyalty program expert, Ben Schlappig — many airports are ripping out these convenient walkways for a strategic reason. Advertisement Schlappig explains that at the end of the day, airports are businesses, and they make money in two primary ways — fees related to airplanes (landing fees, gate fees, etc.), and then all the other revenue opportunities, including airport concessions.' Many airports are planning to rip out their moving walkways. milkovasa – Airport operators want to delay fliers from plopping down in a seat at their designated gate and instead wandering the airport stores and kiosks, spending as much money as they can. Advertisement In turn, this will allow airports to not only make a cut of the money from their stores but also charge higher rents. 'The moving walkway also acts as a divider, with people walking on each side of it. It's like being in a car and seeing a business on the other side of a six-lane road — it's not exactly easy to access,' Schlappig wrote. According to CNBC, so far, airports in Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando, Dallas and Cincinnati are some of the ones that have gotten rid of their moving walkways. Schlappig explains that at the end of the day, airports are businesses, and they make money in two primary ways — fees related to airplanes (landing fees, gate fees, etc.), and then all the other revenue opportunities…' Andriy Blokhin – Advertisement And if you are still noticing moving walkways in some major airports, like Hong Kong and Doha — odds are they don't have many businesses between gates, so the walkways aren't doing any harm, according to the article. Moving walkway or not — once you finally board your plane, experts say that the bathroom onboard is one of the dirtiest places. 'The toilets are regularly cleaned, but the locks and door handles are not,' Josephine Remo, a flight attendant and travel blogger, told Travel and Leisure. To take things even further and make them grosser — studies have proved that in-flight water tanks can harbor harmful bacteria. Advertisement 'My takeaway from doing the research was to not drink the coffee and the tea. At all,' Charles Platkin, the author of the study and the executive director of the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center, told T&L. Experts also suggest wearing a mask when entering a plane's bathroom so you don't breathe in 'the potential feces particles, circulating [in] the air after a toilet flush,' advised a former flight attendant to The Sun.
Skift
09-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
More First-Time Buyers – and 3 Other Takeaways From the Largest Timeshare Companies
Timeshares are holding up, but only with more help from first-time buyers and loyalty perks. The three largest timeshare companies, Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV), Travel and Leisure, and Marriott Vacations Worldwide, have reported first-quarter earnings. Together, they brought in nearly $2.85 billion in revenue. Here are four things we learned from their results: 1. More Spend at Hilton and T+L, More Tours at Marriott Hilton Grand Vacations and Travel and Leisure said average spending per guest rose in the first quarter, even as fewer people took sales tours. For Hilton, that measure - called volume per guest – jumped 15% to more than $4,100, while tour volume fell 4%. Travel and Leisure's volume per guest rose 6% to $3,212, with tours down 1%. However, Travel and Leisure CFO Mike Hug said the company saw signs of recovery later in the quarter. "We saw year-over-year tour growth in March, and we expect that will continue into the second quarter," said Hug. Marriott Vacations took the opposite path. It increased tours by 1% to nearly 98,000, while volume per guest fell 4%, to $3,979. "Half of the decline [was] due to a higher mix of first-time buyer sales, while owner sales declined year-over-year," said CFO Jason Marino. 2. First-Time Buyers Are Filling the Gap As repeat timeshare owner activity softens, first-time buyers make up more of the sales base. Marriott said first-time buyer sales grew 6%. CEO John Geller said that shift "is good for the long-term health of the system, though it negatively impacted our reported [volume per guest] this quarter." Hilton said 25% of its sales came from new buyers. That was helped by a new resort in Hawaii, opening in 2026, and the rollout of its Max membership program to owners from Bluegreen Vacations, which Hilton acquired in January 2024. "Our Max members have our highest satisfaction scores across every ownership tenure," said CEO Mark Wang. "We're now over 215,000 Max members with Bluegreen contributing nearly 13,000 members." Travel and Leisure, which was acquired by Wyndham Destinations in 2021, said 7% of new owner tours came through its Wyndham partnership. CEO Michael Brown said 65% of new buyers were Gen X, Millennials, or Gen Z, a sign the product is reaching a younger market. 3. Demand is Holding Steady While Travel and Leisure said owners are waiting longer to commit, with the average booking window falling from 130 to 116 days, Brown said demand hasn't dropped. "We saw an acceleration of resort bookings as the quarter progressed," Brown said. Hilton and Marriott didn't report changes in booking windows, but both also said demand remains stable. Hilton said bookings for the next six months are ahead of last year. "While we're cognizant of the broader environment and news flow, we haven't yet seen any material shifts in our four demand indicators,' Wang said. Marriott said resort occupancy topped 90% in the quarter, and 35% of its 265,000 tour packages had already been activated for this year. "We are seeing owner arrivals improving as we progress through the year," Geller said. 4. Loyalty, Apps, and Brand Extensions Are Doing More Work With in-person tours under pressure, timeshare companies are leaning on digital tools and brand partnerships to keep moving. Travel and Leisure said the Club Wyndham app now accounts for 71% of search-to-book conversions, up 22% compared to the website. "The Club Wyndham app has now been downloaded by nearly 100,000 owners, or approximately 20% of our Club Wyndham owner base," said Brown. "This is up from 40,000 downloads when we last reported." Hilton opened new sales locations at Bass Pro Shops and Great Wolf Lodges and is expanding its Max program. "We believe these initiatives can support our EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization] and cash flow goals regardless of the macro environment," said Wang. Marriott will soon let owners use points to book nearly all 9,000 Marriott hotels. "All these initiatives are helping drive higher owner and guest satisfaction while lowering our costs," said Geller.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
Think You Have to Do TSA Facial Recognition? Think Again
If you've flown recently, you've likely seen the new facial recognition cameras at TSA checkpoints. They scan your face, match it with your ID, and—supposedly—speed up your trip through security. But here's what the signs may not tell you: that process is optional. And opting out might be the smartest move you make before boarding. The TSA says this tech improves convenience and security, and claims the photos aren't stored—except in 'limited testing environments.' That phrase alone raises eyebrows, especially for privacy watchdogs, according to Travel and Leisure. Critics warn that once this technology becomes the norm, reversing course will be nearly advocates aren't mincing words. The Electronic Privacy Information Center called facial recognition 'an invasive and dangerous surveillance technology,' adding that it's a tool ripe for abuse in the wrong hands. Even lawmakers have taken aim. Sen. Jeff Merkley went as far as calling TSA's program 'a precursor to a full-blown national surveillance state.' Still, most travelers go along with it, often unaware they can say no. TSA policy clearly states that facial scans are voluntary, and you can request a manual ID check instead—without losing your place in line or facing a delay. But good luck finding those details clearly posted at the airport. Add in concerns about accuracy—especially when it comes to misidentifying people of color—and the stakes get even higher. A federal study in 2019 found significantly higher false positives for Asian and Black travelers compared to white ones. That's a pretty big flaw for something that's being touted as foolproof. Bottom line: you don't need to be part of a pilot program you never signed up for. Next time you're at the airport and see that camera lens pointed your way, remember that you can take a step back, look the officer in the eye, and simply say, 'I opt out.'
Daily Tribune
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Tribune
Jennifer Aniston using hypnosis to cure ‘extreme fear of flying'
Jennifer Aniston has been undergoing hypnosis in a bid to cure her 'extreme fear of flying'. The 'Friends' star, 55, has been battling the phobia for years and developed a superstition which involved tapping the outside of the plane with her right hand and stepping onboard with her right foot, but she's now managed to put the ritual to rest. She told Travel and Leisure magazine: 'I have an extreme fear of flying. But I have been doing some hypnosis lately, and one of the requirements is to remove all of those superstitions. 'I have not been doing the right hand, right foot - and now it's shockingly good!' Jennifer went on to reveal she uses meditation to calm her anxiety during the flight, adding: 'Plugging into a good meditation can get you through.' She also told the publication she's been trying to split down her suitcase recently because she's always over-packing. The actress explained: 'I've been trying so hard to become an under-packer because I am notoriously an over-packer. You just don't know where you're going to be on a certain day, or what mood you're going to be in. 'My girlfriends really appreciate me because they can usually borrow all of my things that they have forgotten - I'm providing a service! ... 'I put all my T-shirts in, then all my underwear, bras, socks, workout stuff, and they just stack on top of each other, which really helps you out.' It comes after Jennifer recently admitted she has learned that she 'doesn't need to beat [herself ] up' over health and fitness. The actress has tried everything to stay in shape through her decades in Hollywood and since taking up a low-impact regime with resistance-based equipment through her partnership with Pvovle, she has realised that she could have been too hard on herself in the past. She told People: 'I know more, because I've tried it all. And my big takeaway is, 'Boy, you didn't have to hurt your body so much back then. You didn't need to beat yourself up.
