✈ Top Stories of the Week, Earn a $40 Referral Bonus & More Daily News From TPG ✈

Also: Cheapest places to travel for the holidays

October 22, 2023 View in browser

Top stories of the week by Cameron Sperance, Senior Hotels Reporter It was another wild week of travel news, TPG readers! If you missed any of it, have no fear: I'm here to help you catch up. On the hotel front, Marriott and MGM Resorts acknowledged their planned upcoming partnership is delayed until early next year — not exactly a surprise given MGM's recent cybersecurity attack and the scale of the planned loyalty and branding integration between the two companies. Things also got heated in the acquisition space, with Choice Hotels announcing a hostile takeover bid of rival Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Also, Hyatt opened a new adults-only all-inclusive resort in Tulum, Mexico, and we checked in to 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. The major airline news of the week was Delta Air Lines walking back some of those highly criticized changes to its SkyMiles program and the thresholds to earn status. There's still an increase, but at least Diamond status can be earned for less than 30,000 Medallion Qualification Dollars. I guess we'll take that as a win. Catch up on more of our top stories of the week below: 10 years later: What's next for Amex's Centurion Lounge network? 13 things to do on the last day of your cruise Get up to 30% more value from your rewards with these transfer bonuses That's all from me for today. I'll catch y'all tomorrow! Cameron Posts in this newsletter contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page. Photo Credit: THE POINTS GUY.

Today's top stories Earn an increased $40 bonus by joining or referring a friend to Rakuten for online shopping Here's how both new and existing Rakuten members can earn an increased referral bonus of $40. Read more Cheapest places to travel for the holidays It's not easy to find cheap airfare for the holidays. Here are places you might want to consider visiting for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's to get the best deals. Read more Amtrak simplifies its fare structure Amtrak is rolling out a simplified fare structure later this fall that reduces the number of available fare categories. Read more How much value does Marriott Bonvoy status provide when you book directly? You'll usually only get elite status benefits and earnings when you book directly with Marriott. Here's how to decide when it's worth booking directly. Read more Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card review: Quality perks for a reasonable fee A full review of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card, including the welcome offer, benefits, and how to earn and use points on the card. Read more

The latest 1. The Bionic Bar: Discover Royal Caribbean's cruise ship robot bartenders 2. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card review: Premium perks for Hilton loyalists 3. Sorrento's pizza: Royal Caribbean's all-day cruise ship pizzeria 4. The best restaurants at Disney World in 2023 5. Qatar Airways to install Starlink's blazing-fast inflight Wi-Fi — for free 6. Star Alliance member Avianca rebrands, focuses on expansion and improved reliability 7. What it's like staying at Raffles Boston, a North American first for the glitzy brand 8. Southwest sale extended through Sunday: One-way flights for $29 9. Quick Points: Maximize Priority Pass benefits by labeling your cards 10. Alaska Airlines unveils a new longest route connecting New York City with Anchorage

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