Hyatt is placing its hopes on luxury travelers and a corporate travel comeback, with executives painting an optimistic picture on Thursday despite some near-term headwinds.

Key takeaways from the second-quarter earnings call:

The well-off are still traveling: Luxury brands were up over 5% in revenue per available room (RevPAR), while budget hotels dragged. That underscores how demand momentum lives at the top end, where high-income consumers still prioritize experiences and travel.

The company has benefited from this cycle because luxury and upper-upscale hotels now represents 70% of its rooms, while other competitors are more exposed to mid-market and economy brands that are suffering more f

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) crossed one million open hotel rooms in July, capping a record pace of global expansion. But the milestone comes as revenue slipped in the United States — IHG’s largest market — and China struggles to recover.

The numbers show both momentum and pressure across IHG’s portfolio.

U.S. RevPAR Slips Despite Strong Start. IHG’s U.S. revenue per available room (RevPAR) fell 0.9% in the second quarter, reversing the 3.5% growth seen in Q1 and bringing first-half growth to just 1.2%. Executives blamed the downturn on shifting holiday calendars and broader macroeconomic headwinds.

Executives attributed the softness to shifting holidays and broader macroeconomic developments, but pointed to positive shifts.

“We believe we’re past the peak of th

Key Points

• American Airlines will launch new summer routes from Philadelphia to Budapest and Prague starting May 21, 2026, using Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners.
• These new routes reflect a strategic shift toward more international and premium travel to offset weaker domestic demand and profits.
• American’s international network expansion includes other new European routes and the debut of upgraded business class seats on select long-haul flights.

Summary

American Airlines is expanding its international network by launching new seasonal summer routes from Philadelphia to Budapest and Prague in May 2026, becoming the only U.S. carrier to serve the Hungarian capital. This move is part of a broader strategy to focus on premium and international travel, areas where demand remains strong despite softer domestic markets. The airline is also introducing new business class offerings and additional European routes to boost profitability and compete more effectively with rivals Delta and United.