Coronavirus Travel News

Sabre is a bellwether for the global travel industry as a major processor of transactions for airlines and hotels. The picture isn't pretty. But the company looks capable of weathering a delayed resumption in travel.

Will it be hotels or alternative accommodations that bounce back first? Booking Holdings officials said they see a shift toward alternative accommodations when travelers are booking stays at least two months in advance. But this trend won't necessarily stick over the long term.

Spirit Airlines executives suspect their airline is well-positioned to win in a recovery. They're probably right, since low-cost options often thrive during a recession. But Spirit has to withstand the crisis first.

Hopeful signs are emerging for Hyatt in the second half of 2020, but it has to differentiate itself from competitors looking to pounce on those same limited opportunities.

JetBlue is taking a cautious approach toward a rebound. Executives said indications do not suggest the industry will see a quick recovery.

Airlines may lag hotels in their recovery timeline, but both industries need more coronavirus testing and treatments to have a shot at returning to peak performance levels.

Economic downturns can lead to opportunity and heavy deal volume in the hotel industry, but coronavirus puts a major question mark on what a property is worth under the travel industry's uncertain future.

We wouldn't be surprised if Extended Stay America's first quarter and upcoming second quarter operating results together were among the very best of the battered public U.S. hotel companies. Going long on long-stay has never been such a safe business model as it is now during the coronavirus pandemic.

Going by InterContinental Hotels Group's first quarter earnings update, there's good news coming out of the U.S. and China. But how Europe, the Middle East, and Africa respond to coronavirus over the next quarter will be critical to keeping that optimism alive.

Ongoing government coronavirus relief efforts like the $2 trillion CARES Act and banks unwilling to take over hotels should keep most of the world's hotel supply intact through a very turbulent 2020.