Travel Market Insights
Mandarin Oriental Announces 2029 Opening of Xi’an Urban Resort

Mandarin Oriental has announced plans to open a new urban resort in Xi’an, China, in 2029. The development is part of a management agreement and will be the company’s first urban resort in Northwestern China.
The resort will be situated in Xi’an, a city with a rich historical background, known for landmarks such as the Terracotta Warriors. The property will feature 166 rooms and suites, each with outdoor terraces and views, as well as access to natural hot springs. Additionally, the resort will include seven villas, each equipped with private terraces and pools.
The resort will offer a range of amenities, including The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, which will provide wellness, beauty, and massage treatments. Facilities will include hot spring pavilions and a 50-meter indoor-outdoor infinity pool. The hotel will also feature five dining options, including a Chinese specialty restaurant and a 1,200-square-meter ballroom with outdoor terraces.
ACPV Architects is responsible for the design of the resort, handling both architecture and interiors. The design will incorporate natural materials and reflect Xi’an’s cultural heritage.
The resort will also include various guest experiences such as children’s facilities, an art and culture gallery, a library, a retail boutique, and entertainment options.
Travel Market Insights
Delta Says It Will Not Use AI to Target Customers

Key Points
- Delta Air Lines clarified it does not use AI to set individualized airfares based on personal data, following criticism from lawmakers.
- The airline uses AI, via a partnership with Fetcherr, to assist in dynamic pricing for a growing portion of its domestic flights, but claims all fares are determined by market dynamics and are publicly available.
- Lawmakers and officials have expressed concerns about potential predatory or ‘surveillance’ pricing, prompting Delta to stress its commitment to fair, competitive pricing and data privacy.
Summary
Delta Air Lines has publicly stated that it does not use AI to set individualized prices based on personal customer data, responding to recent criticism and inquiries from U.S. lawmakers. The airline acknowledged using AI technology, through a partnership with Fetcherr, to assist analysts in setting fares for a portion of its domestic flights, with plans to expand this use. However, Delta emphasized that fares are determined by market competition, not personal data, and all prices are transparently published, aiming to dispel concerns about privacy and potential predatory pricing.
Travel Market Insights
U.S. Dollar Slide Hurts Accor, Minor, and Meliá

Some of the world’s largest hotel companies saw their earnings dented by currency swings in the first half of 2025, as euro and baht-reporting groups absorbed losses while U.S.-based chains appeared largely insulated from the volatility.
Accor, Meliá Hotels, and Minor International all reported currency-related losses that offset solid operational performance. Meanwhile, U.S.-based Hilton and Wyndham, which report in dollars, did not mention foreign exchange impacts in their earnings calls and appeared shielded from the same pressures.
The U.S. dollar index dropped 10.8% in the first half of 2025 following the Trump administration’s April tariffs and public clashes with the Federal Reserve. The resulting investor pullback caused the dollar to weaken sharply against the euro, baht, and other currencies.
Accor: Currency Among Its Biggest Headwinds
Paris-based Accor repo
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