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As the holiday season winds down, I hope you’ve had time to reconnect with the people who matter most and are already looking ahead to the adventures 2026 has in store. This first Smart Travel edition of the year opens with fresh momentum, packed with timely updates across destinations, hotels, airlines and beyond.
Thinking about a new European setting for your next meeting or incentive? Poland may be ready for its close-up. Is Chicago a key hub for your attendees? American Airlines has news worth noting. And if you missed CNN’s New Year’s Eve broadcast, one sun-soaked destination stole the show, so I’m here to press rewind.
As always, Smart Travel is here to bring you the latest updates shaping the way we move, meet and plan.
Kraków Strengthens Its Standing as a Leading European MICE Destination
Kraków wrapped up 2025 with a growing presence in the European meetings and events market, reinforcing its reputation as #TheHostCity through a year defined by growth, sustainability and high-profile partnerships. A major highlight: The city climbed 19 places in the GDS Index, earning recognition as one of the world’s fastest-improving destinations for sustainable development.
According to the latest Meetings Industry in Kraków report, the city hosted 4,647 business events in 2024, a 6.4% year-over-year increase, while overall event participation surged more than 35%, driven largely by a sharp rise in international meetings. Corporate and incentive programs dominated the mix, accounting for nearly 58% of all events, with hotels emerging as the leading hosts for business gatherings.
Kraków Convention Bureau played an active role in supporting 65 events and responding to 165 planner inquiries, including major conferences connected to Poland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Kraków also boosted its global visibility through trade shows like IMEX Frankfurt, IMEX Las Vegas and IBTM Barcelona, hosting hundreds of B2B meetings and welcoming planners from the U.S., Japan, Finland and across Europe on site visits and fam trips.
Looking ahead, initiatives such as Kraków Network 2.0 and the new “Otwarta Bracka” industry forums signal a continued focus on collaboration, premium offerings and responsible growth, positioning Kraków for an even stronger presence on the international MICE stage.
American Adds 100 Daily Departures from Chicago
American Airlines is adding to its Chicago expansion with the launch of 100 daily departures from O’Hare International Airport (ORD) this spring. The boost, bringing total peak-day operations to more than 500 flights, marks a 30% jump from last year and restores American’s presence at O’Hare to prepandemic levels just in time for spring break travel.
The new schedule includes expanded service to more than 75 destinations, doubling flights from ORD to popular markets like Las Vegas, Panama City, Sarasota, Savannah and San Francisco. It also includes longer summer seasonal service to Paris and Dublin and improved connectivity to smaller cities such as Bloomington, Flint and Cedar Rapids.
Read More: Headlines vs. Reality: Chicago
“We’re committed to rebuilding our Chicago hub to be stronger and more compelling for our customers,” said Steve Johnson, American’s vice chair and chief strategy officer. “Strategic investments at O’Hare in 2025 set the stage for a record-breaking 2026, reflecting our unwavering commitment to our customers, team members and the Chicagoland communities we serve.”
The airline’s recent ORD investments include new gates, enhanced premium offerings and improvements to baggage handling and on-time performance. Enrollment in American’s AAdvantage loyalty program has surged 20% in Chicago—twice the systemwide growth rate.
The move solidifies American as the fastest-growing legacy hub carrier in the country and positions O’Hare as the airline’s third-largest hub overall.
Visit Lauderdale Debuts Global Campaign: “Never Lose Your Splash”
Visit Lauderdale kicked off the new year with a bold new global brand campaign, “Never Lose Your Splash,” celebrating the spirit and communities that define Greater Fort Lauderdale. Launched during CNN’s New Year’s Eve broadcast, the campaign showcases the destination’s carefree energy, diverse neighborhoods and expansive waterways, using storytelling and immersive visuals to inspire both first-time and returning visitors.
Read More: Florida: An Intersection of Meetings and Coastal Contact
“‘Never Lose Your Splash’ is about celebrating the spirit that makes Greater Fort Lauderdale feel different the moment you arrive,” said Stacy Ritter, president and CEO of Visit Lauderdale. “It’s a place where people feel free to be themselves, connect through our waterways and rediscover the joy of travel in unexpected ways.”
The campaign builds on strong momentum for the region, including new hotel openings, enhanced airlift and the expanded Broward County Convention Center.
Federal Appeals Court Blocks Hawaiʻi’s Cruise Ship Tourist Tax
A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked Hawaiʻi from enforcing the cruise‑ship portion of its new climate‑related tourist tax—just hours before it was scheduled to take effect at the start of 2026, CBS News reports. The law, signed in May 2025, had included an 11% levy on cruise passengers’ prorated fare while docked in Hawaiian ports, with counties allowed to add up to 3% more, all part of a broader effort to fund climate resilience efforts such as shoreline protection and wildfire mitigation.
Cruise Lines International Association challenged the tax in court, arguing it violates constitutional protections and would drive up travel costs. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted an injunction pending appeal, halting enforcement of the cruise tax while the legal process unfolds.
Hawaiʻi officials have said they remain confident the law will be upheld on the merits, but the ruling underscores the complex legal and policy debates around new tourism‑related levies in the state.
The court order currently affects only the cruise ship tax; other portions of Hawaiʻi’s expanded tourist tax, such as increases on hotel and vacation rental stays, are not addressed in this ruling.
Blackstone to Acquire Australia’s Iconic Hamilton Island Resort
Blackstone is set to acquire Hamilton Island, a landmark resort destination in the heart of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The deal, announced Dec. 23, 2025, underscores Blackstone’s investment in luxury hospitality across Asia Pacific and globally. The 2,800-acre property spans two islands, includes five hotels (including the luxury qualia), more than 20 restaurants and bars, a full-service marina and an 18-hole championship golf course on neighboring Dent Island.
Chris Heady, chairman of Asia Pacific and head of real estate Asia for Blackstone, noted the firm’s commitment to “the long-term success of Hamilton Island, its people and its local businesses and community.” The acquisition builds on Blackstone’s portfolio, which includes Crown Resorts in Australia and a growing hospitality footprint across Japan, India and the Maldives.
The Oatley family, which has owned the island for more than two decades, called the sale a continuation of founder Bob Oatley’s legacy of transforming Hamilton Island into “one of Australia’s most loved and visited destinations.”
