Catching up on your travel news after a hard-earned holiday break? We have you covered.
Miami just dropped its latest tourism figures—and with $21.3 billion in visitor spend, it’s safe to say the Magic City isn’t slowing down anytime soon. England is taking a page from global tourism hubs with a new overnight stay levy, while Delta is bouncing back from a $200 million shutdown hit. In the air, Lufthansa is making travel smoother for passengers with invisible disabilities, and on the seas, Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady is proving that Jamaica’s cruise sector is back in business.
As always, Smart Travel is here to bring you the latest updates shaping the way we move, meet and plan.
Miami Tourism Hits $21.3 Billion as 2026 Momentum Builds
At its annual meeting this November, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) unveiled a strong tourism performance for 2024–2025, with visitor spending reaching $21.3 billion (a 3% year-over-year increase) and 28.2 million total visitors. Nearly a third of that visitation came from within Florida, with domestic travel remaining steady at 46%.
Held at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, the meeting welcomed over 600 partners and civic leaders, including Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. President and CEO David Whitaker said, “These results tell a powerful story about how our destination leaned into global headwinds and the ability of our industry partners to provide the quality of visitor experiences that helped us stand out against our competition. Our hotels remained among the nation’s top performers, with a 2.4% increase in average daily rate.”
Looking ahead to 2026, Miami is gearing up for a global spotlight with the FIFA World Cup, College Football Playoff National Championship and other headline events. The debut of Grand Hyatt Miami Beach Convention Center hotel is also expected to boost convention bookings.
Read More: Miami: Take Your Meetings to Paradise
England Grants Mayors Power to Implement Tourist Levy
Mayors across England are getting a new tool to invest in local growth: the power to implement a visitor levy on overnight stays. The measure, announced by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, allows mayors to introduce a modest surcharge on hotel, guesthouse and vacation rental bookings, with proceeds reinvested into transport, infrastructure, culture and tourism.
The goal is to give local leaders the same financial flexibility as peers in global tourism hubs like Paris, Milan and New York without requiring central government approval. England sees more than 130 million overnight stays annually, and mayors say even a small nightly fee could make a big difference.
“Giving mayors the powers to raise a tourist levy is great news for London,” said Mayor Sadiq Khan, who pointed to potential investments in culture, clean streets and entertainment. Liverpool’s mayor highlighted how the funds could help support major events like UEFA EURO 2028, while leaders in York, Manchester and West Yorkshire emphasized the benefit to regional economies and infrastructure.
A 12-week public consultation is now underway to shape how the levy will work. Exemptions are expected for emergency accommodation and other categories.
Delta Blames Shutdown for $200M Profit Hit, But Recovery Is Underway
According to Reuters, Delta Air Lines expects to take a $200 million hit to its fourth-quarter pretax profits after the record-setting U.S. government shutdown disrupted flight operations and bookings across the country. The 43-day lapse in funding forced the FAA to mandate flight cuts at 40 major airports due to air traffic controller shortages, leading to widespread delays and cancellations.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian noted a 5% to 10% dip in bookings during the shutdown but said demand has since bounced back. “We’re looking forward to a strong December, strong close to the year,” Bastian told a Morgan Stanley conference. Despite the setback, Delta shares were up about 3% in afternoon trading.
Delta had previously projected Q4 earnings between $1.60 and $1.90 per share. The shutdown and Hurricane Melissa’s impact on operations (especially in Jamaica) have also affected other carriers; JetBlue cited similar disruptions, though both airlines report bookings have since stabilized.
Analysts have warned that the broader airline sector could see up to a 30% earnings downgrade this quarter. Still, with solid demand heading into early 2026, Delta and its competitors are hopeful the turbulence was temporary.
Lufthansa Joins Sunflower Program to Support Travelers with Invisible Disabilities
Starting Dec. 1, Lufthansa officially joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, a global initiative that allows travelers with invisible disabilities to discreetly signal their need for additional support with a recognizable green lanyard featuring a yellow sunflower. With up to 80% of the world’s 1.3 billion people living with an invisible disability, the move represents a significant step toward greater accessibility in aviation.
The program is already live at Munich Airport, with Frankfurt to follow in January 2026. Sunflower lanyards will be available at Lufthansa and airport service counters, though the program doesn’t replace other accessibility services or fast-track privileges—it’s about awareness, patience and empathy.
Lufthansa joins sister airlines Austrian, Eurowings and Swiss in committing to roll out the Sunflower Program groupwide by the end of 2026. The move builds on broader accessibility efforts, including training for crew and the creation of an Accessibility Customer Advisory Committee aimed at enhancing the passenger experience for those with both visible and invisible needs.
Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady Docks in Ocho Rios, Signaling Cruise Comeback
The arrival of Resilient Lady at Jamaica’s newly reopened Ocho Rios Port on Nov. 24 marked a milestone in the island’s cruise recovery following Hurricane Melissa. The adults-only Virgin Voyages vessel was the first in its fleet to call on Jamaica and represents a “vote of confidence” in the country’s capacity to rebound, according to the Port Authority of Jamaica.
The 2,770-passenger ship’s winter season calls are set to continue every other week, with discussions underway to expand to ports in Falmouth and Montego Bay, the latter of which also resumed cruise operations on Nov. 25. Officials say Falmouth’s terminal is now ready, with local readiness expected in the next two weeks.
During a ceremonial welcome, representatives from Jamaica and Virgin Voyages exchanged plaques and emphasized the strong partnership ahead. Tourism leaders say the brand’s commitment and its future visits underscore the island’s resilience and enduring appeal as a Caribbean cruise destination.
