Cuba's tourist arrivals dropped 55.8% in early 2026, hotel occupancy hit 21.5%, and international chains are pulling out en masse. The technology story nobody's telling is what happens when an entire country's hospitality infrastructure loses its payment systems, its booking channels, and its skilled workforce simultaneously.
Meliá's pullback from nearly half its Cuban portfolio isn't really about Cuba. It's about what happens when geopolitics, energy collapse, and sanctions converge on properties where occupancy already cratered to 34%... and what that playbook looks like when it shows up closer to home.
Marriott Bonvoy is rolling out its biggest experiential loyalty play ever with 600+ World Cup ticket packages starting at 75,000 points. Meanwhile, FIFA just canceled tens of thousands of reserved room nights across host cities, and some properties are reporting 95% cancellation rates on World Cup blocks.
IHG's new UK debit card with Revolut requires customers to open an entirely new bank account just to earn hotel points. The loyalty play generated over a billion dollars last year, but the friction built into this product tells you everything about who this card is actually designed for.
