Keady - see ig investigating controller training dropouts Sent from the all new AOL app for Android ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: "U.S. Travel SmartBrief" <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Cc: Sent: Mon, Feb 9, 2026 at 10:19 Subject: D.C. plans year-long celebration for 250th birthday of US U.S. Travel SmartBrief#yiv5463222096 a:not:hover{color:#0a3fb6!important;}#yiv5463222096 a:not:visited{color:#1261f5;}#yiv5463222096 a:not:visited:hover{color:#0a3fb6!important;}#yiv5463222096 .yiv5463222096preheader{font-size:1px!important;display:none;line-height:0;max-height:0;max-width:0;opacity:0;overflow:hidden;}#yiv5463222096 .yiv5463222096name-100 a{color:#1261f5;}#yiv5463222096 .yiv5463222096name-100 ul{display:table;padding-left:30px!important;}@media print{#yiv5463222096 #yiv5463222096master{padding:0!important;width:100%!important;}}#yiv5463222096 .yiv5463222096letter_only{background:#0079c1;display:block;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;margin-bottom:15px;}#yiv5463222096 body{width:100%;}#yiv5463222096 body{}#yiv5463222096 body{}#yiv5463222096 body{border-collapse:collapse;}@media only screen and (max-width:650px) | | | Climate change threatens R.I.'s only ski resort | Carnival Miracle ship to join Pride in Baltimore in 2027 | MGM Resorts sees stabilization after 2025 revenue drop | | Created for [email protected] | Web Version |
| | | | | | | | February 9, 2026 | | Connect with U.S. Travel Association | | Connect with U.S. Travel Association | | | | | | | | | | | | | News for the U.S. travel industry | SIGN UP ⋅ SHARE | | | | | | | | | TOP STORY | | | | | | | D.C. plans year-long celebration for 250th birthday of US | Washington, D.C., will host year-long celebrations for America's 250th birthday, featuring museum exhibitions, citywide festivals and major events on the National Mall. Key hotels like The Watergate Hotel, Conrad Washington, DC, and The St. Regis Washington, D.C., offer unique experiences, from luxury yacht charters to themed accommodations. The peak period for festivities is late June to early July, with significant programming and fireworks displays. | Full Story: Forbes (tiered subscription model) (2/6) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | INDUSTRY UPDATE | | | | | | | Climate change threatens R.I.'s only ski resort | The Yawgoo Valley Ski Area in Rhode Island faces an existential threat from climate change, with warmer temperatures and reduced snowfall threatening its operations. Yawgoo, the state's only remaining ski resort, has kept only one of its six trails open in recent winters, and snow tubing has been closed. CEO Tracy Hartman highlights the resort's importance to the local community, offering affordable skiing and snowboarding opportunities. | Full Story: The Washington Post (2/6) | | | | | | | | | | Carnival Miracle ship to join Pride in Baltimore in 2027 | Carnival Cruise Line will add a second ship, Carnival Miracle, to its Baltimore lineup for the first time in the 2027-28 season. The Miracle will join Carnival Pride, expanding the brand's presence in the city and marking a milestone in Carnival's two-decade relationship with Baltimore. The Miracle is scheduled to arrive in Baltimore in November 2027 after a 15-day transatlantic journey. | Full Story: WBAL-TV (Baltimore) (2/5) | | | | | | | | | | MGM Resorts sees stabilization after 2025 revenue drop | | | | | | Bellagio Las Vegas (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | | MGM Resorts sees stabilization after 2025 revenue drop | MGM Resorts has reported a decline in revenue from the Las Vegas Strip for 2025, citing weaker leisure travel and a decrease in Canadian visitors. However, recent occupancy rates indicate stabilization, and MGM is optimistic about growth in 2026, driven by a strong events calendar, completed renovations and ongoing investments in luxury properties and technology. | Full Story: Skift (tiered subscription model) (2/5) | | | | | | | | | | L.A. announces community engagement plans for World Cup | The Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee has rolled out a comprehensive community engagement strategy, including a 39-day Fan Experience Guide, soccer clinics, community days and a mobile bus tour. These initiatives are designed to unite local communities, showcase the city's diversity, and ensure both Angelenos and international visitors can participate in the World Cup festivities. | Full Story: TravelAge West (2/5) | | | | | | | | | | Pa. tourism hotline features regional accents | The Pennsylvania Tourism Office has introduced a winter tourism campaign featuring a snow day hotline voiced by actors using regional accents from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. The hotline, running through Feb. 23, aims to engage locals and tourists by providing recommendations for state attractions in a humorous and relatable way. | Full Story: WHYY-TV/WHYY-FM (Philadelphia) (2/3) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | TRAVEL TRENDS | | | | | | | Deloitte sees steady but cautious travel demand in 2026 | Deloitte's 2026 Travel Outlook anticipates that overall travel demand will remain steady, but notes that economic uncertainty and heightened financial caution could dampen both leisure and business travel momentum. Americans continue to prioritize travel, yet are expected to cut back on trip frequency, trip length and discretionary spending. The report also highlights that younger generations, particularly Gen Z and millennials, are driving changes in travel planning and booking, helping to sustain demand even as financial concerns rise. | Full Story: Hotel Management online (2/6) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Featured Content | | | Sponsored Content from Kellogg Insight | | | | | | Approachable. Curious. Straightforward. | | | | | | Approachable. Curious. Straightforward. | What happens when a rebrand meets backlash? How can you tell if your ads truly paying off? Kellogg Insight's marketing research helps answer these questions and more with advice and insights from one of the world's leading business schools. Learn more » | | | | | | | | | | | | | | WORKFORCE | | | | | | | DOT inspector general to investigate high ATC trainee failure rates | The Transportation Department Inspector General will investigate the high failure rate among air traffic control trainees, which exceeded 30% in 2024. The failure rate is worsening a staffing shortage at airports. Despite efforts to hire 2,500 controllers last year, a government shutdown led to significant dropout from the training program. | Full Story: Simple Flying (2/5) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | POLITICAL & REGULATORY LANDSCAPE | | | | | | | TSA's ConfirmID sees strong compliance in initial days | | | | | | (Bloomberg/Getty Images) | | TSA's ConfirmID sees strong compliance in initial days | The Transportation Security Administration reports that the ConfirmID program has been a "huge success" in its first days, with "negligible operational impact." ConfirmID, which launched Feb. 1, allows travelers to verify their identity for a $45 fee if they lack Real ID or other acceptable identification. Early data show that 95% to 99% of travelers are presenting Real ID or other forms of identification. | Full Story: TravelPulse (2/6) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | U.S. Travel News | | | | | | | Stay ahead of the policy issues shaping travel's future | Join U.S. Travel for an exclusive member-only webinar on February 19 from 1:00–2:00 PM ET. Our Government Relations team will break down the latest federal developments and policy priorities—and what they mean today and in the months ahead. This webinar is available exclusively to U.S. Travel members. Register here. | | | | | | | | | | LEARN MORE ABOUT U.S. Travel Association: | | About Us | Join U.S. Travel | U.S. Travel Events | Insights and Trends | Advocacy | Contact | Newsroom | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ICYMI: The most popular stories from our last issue | | | | | | | | | | Super Bowl LX spreads hotel demand across Bay Area cities | | | | | CoStar Group (2/4) | | | | | | | | | | | IndyCar race in Washington, D.C., may draw 200K spectators | | | | | Axios (2/3) | | | | | | | | | | | Report details ongoing staffing shortages in US hotels | | | | | Lodging (2/4) | | | | | | | | | | | Alaskan Dream Cruises ends 15-year run of small-ship trips | | | | | Juneau Independent (2/5) | | | | | | | | | | | Colo. sees growth in Canadian tourism | | | | | TravelPulse (2/4) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | EDITOR'S NOTE | | | | | | | Share your industry news with U.S. Travel SmartBrief | If you come across a timely, bylined and published industry news article, we'd love to consider featuring it in U.S. Travel SmartBrief. Please note, we do not accept press releases. Feel free to email us your suggestions. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | About U.S. Travel Association | | | | | | U.S. Travel is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the U.S. travel industry—a key contributor to America’s economic success. Our unique mission is to increase travel to and within the United States. We pursue this mission by establishing travel as essential and responsible, advancing seamless and secure travel, shaping solutions to operational challenges and building a strong business. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Disclaimer | | | | | | Product announcements appearing in SmartBrief are paid advertisements and do not reflect actual U.S. Travel endorsements. The news reported in SmartBrief does not necessarily reflect the official position of U.S. Travel. | | | | | | | | | | | Got this from a friend? Subscribe now and stay in the loop! | | | Sign Up | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | None of us can be held responsible for the wrongs of our ancestors. But if today we choose not to do the right and necessary thing, that burden we own. | | Nikole Hannah-Jones, journalist, MacArthur fellow, recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary February is Black History Month | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Follow SmartBrief | | | | | | | Contact Us: Feedback | Advertise | | Sign Up | Update Profile | Advertise with SmartBrief | | Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy | | | | Copyright © 2026 SmartBrief. All Rights Reserved. A division of Future US LLC. | | Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036. | | | | |
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