JUNE 4, 2026

Hilton recently debuted a report that identifies the emerging behaviors shaping the future of work and examine how hospitality-inspired leadership can strengthen workplace culture. The project found that workers continue to seek connection, trust, and belonging in a hybrid world. And as organizations navigate AI-driven change, work is becoming more transactional, creating new pressure on leaders to build cultures that foster genuine human connection.

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JUNE 3, 2026

Live ticketed events from sports to music festivals are inspiring more Americans to travel this summer, with the youngest generations leading the way. New data from Allianz Partners shows that almost two-thirds of Gen Z (65%) and Millennials (63%) are planning to attend live entertainment or experiences while traveling this summer. More than half of Gen Z travelers (52%) say a ticketed event is the main reason they are traveling.

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JUNE 2, 2026

Assembly Bill 1640, the "California Restaurant Reservation Anti-Piracy Act" by Assemblymember Catherine Stefani (San Francisco) was approved last week. The bill would prohibit the unauthorized sale or transfer of restaurant reservations for profit without the restaurant's consent. It is intended to protect diners from deceptive markups and give restaurants, which already operate on thin margins, new tools to fight fake bookings, no-shows, and lost revenue.

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JUNE 1, 2026

CoStar and Tourism Economics unveiled significant upward revisions to their 2026 U.S. hotel forecasts last week. The revised forecast projects RevPAR growth of 2.8% for the year, up from a prior estimate of just 0.6% and last year's 0.3% RevPAR decline. CoStar attributed the revision to a strong first quarter, with room demand up more than 8 million room nights year over year through the first four months of 2026.

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MAY 30, 2026

Operating on a sharply pared-down budget this year, Brand USA faces an uphill battle to get full funding restored for the coming fiscal year. In November, a bipartisan group of six senators introduced the Visit USA Act to restore the $100 million funding for Brand USA. The bill now has 14 co-sponsors. U.S. Travel has also begun focusing on Brand USA reauthorization ahead of its expiration in fall 2027. 

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MAY 30, 2026

According to a new report from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the number of people experiencing homelessness decreased both in California and nationwide last year. There were 181,934 homeless Californians counted last year—a 2.8% decrease from 2024. Nationwide, an estimated 745,652 people are homeless—a 3.3% drop and the first decrease since 2016. California was among the five states that reported the largest decreases.

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MAY 26, 2026

The 2026 summer travel season carries extra significance as the U.S. prepares to welcome the world for historic events like the World Cup and America 250 celebrations. Recent research highlights the enormous economic opportunity presented by the World Cup, with international visitors expected to spend more than $5,000 per trip. Tourism Economics projects the tournament will drive more than 1.2 million international visits this summer.

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MAY 25, 2026

The California gubernatorial race has become the latest testing ground for modern digital campaigning, which in the last ten years has morphed from individual politicians doing stunts to go viral on Facebook to a system of paid outreach to creators in exchange for their support and promotion.

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MAY 20, 2026

Long a force in presidential politics — most recently through its opposition to Donald Trump — the industry is entering the California midterms with a more urgent, self-interested agenda, driven less by celebrity donors and national or international causes than by workers and executives alarmed that California could lose its signature business.

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MAY 20, 2026

U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman has expressed frustration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection's plan to scale back a proposal mandating travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries to provide five years of social media history.

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MAY 18, 2026

Americans are preparing for a busy summer travel season, with younger travelers planning multiple trips and increasingly relying on AI tools to research and book their vacations, according to PwC’s U.S. Consumer Poll on Summer Spending.

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MAY 15, 2026

CalTravel Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy Emellia Zamani joined CalChamber and others to participate in a press conference supporting Senator Anna Caballero at a news conference promoting her bill SB 690 on May 13 at the state Capitol.

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MAY 11, 2026

AAA projected that 45 million Americans traveled at least 50 miles from home for Memorial Day between Thursday, May 21 and Monday, May 25. This year’s domestic travel forecast is slightly higher than last year and sets a new Memorial Day weekend record with 39.1 million people traveling by car and 3.66 million expected to fly to their destinations.

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APRIL 23, 2026

Last week, California’s six leading candidates for governor squared off on the debate stage. It was the first chance for voters to hear from the candidates following former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s exit from the race. Republicans Steve Hilton, a former Fox News commentator, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco were joined on the Democratic side by former Rep. Katie Porter, billionaire activist Tom Steyer, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan.

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APRIL 23, 2026

More than 120 civil society organizations have issued a travel advisory warning of safety risks for fans, players, and journalists attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S. The advisory highlights risks including arrest, deportation, electronic device searches, and violent immigration enforcement, among others. The groups also allege that travelers from immigrant communities, racial and ethnic minority groups, and LGBTQ+ individuals face an outsized risk. 

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APRIL 22, 2026

According to a new report commissioned by Sports Events and Tourism Association (Sports ETA), sports-related travel in the United States generated $111.2 billion in direct economic impact in 2025, with a larger, indirect economic impact of $274.5 billion.

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APRIL 21, 2026

In 2025, travel and tourism spending rose in California, despite a $1 billion decline from international visitors. Statewide, travel spending reached $158.9 billion, a 1.7% increase from $156.2 billion in 2024; but only an 0.8% increase when adjusted for inflation.

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APRIL 21, 2026

According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index's Travel Study 2026, lodging, airlines, car rentals, rideshare, and online travel agencies all are posting gains. Airlines soared 3% to a score of 76—one point off its all-time high in 2024—same as car rentals, rideshare, and online travel agencies, all up 1%. Lodging is slightly ahead, improving 1% to a score of 77.

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APRIL 20, 2026

People are drinking less alcohol these days. For California’s wine country, that means finding ways to expand its tourism appeal beyond the tasting rooms. The destination is evolving from solely a wine mecca to appeal to younger and more diverse travelers who are interested less in alcohol and more in experiences.

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APRIL 16, 2026

The U.S. Travel Association hosted its Destination Capitol Hill event in Washington, DC earlier this month. During the two-day fly-in event, nearly 300 travel and tourism leaders from 49 states met with members of Congress to advocate for key policy changes shaping the future of travel.

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APRIL 10, 2026

California has launched the Salton Sea Conservancy, a new state agency to oversee restoration, manage habitat, and improve air quality at the deteriorating inland lake. The conservancy board will hold its first meeting in La Quinta on May 14, to plan projects to rehabilitate the lake. Those include replanting native vegetation, increasing the flow of fresh water, and creating wildlife habitat along the banks of the Salton Sea.

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APRIL 10, 2026

A mix of geopolitical tensions, rising fuel costs, and an uncertain economic climate may be pushing many American travelers toward closer-to-home destinations. New data shows domestic U.S. hotel and air bookings growing steadily through the first quarter of 2026, outpacing international growth. Interest dropped for several markets in the Middle East, North Africa, and some Europe destinations, while markets like California and New York saw increases.

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APRIL 9, 2026

Senate Bill 1246, authored by Sen. Cortese (D-San Jose), would require robotaxi companies to bolster their labor forces with remote drivers who are based in the U.S. and licensed to drive in California. Representatives of AV companies are pushing back. Sarah Boot, an industry lobbyist, noted that California has already passed regulations that compel the companies to monitor each AV beginning in July and shouldn’t layer on a second system before the first is implemented.

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APRIL 9, 2026

Many small businesses and nonprofits are being hit with costly lawsuits under a wiretapping law—the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA)—written in the 1960s, long before the internet even existed. These lawsuits target businesses simply for using standard website tools that help companies understand customer needs, improve services, and remain competitive in a digital economy. Defending against these lawsuits can cost tens of thousands of dollars or more.

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APRIL 8, 2026

Hotel associations in three World Cup host cities—San Francisco, New York City, and Philadelphia—say they have not seen a surge in demand so far. In recent weeks, FIFA also canceled tens of thousands of reserved rooms in host cities. Last year, FIFA forecasted a $30.5 billion economic boost to the U.S. But just two months out, it’s still unclear if foreign visitors will come in the numbers necessary to drive the promised economic boost.

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