MARCH 23, 2026

It’s been 39 days since the partial government shutdown began due to disagreements in Congress over DHS funding. TSA officers are going without pay, and many have quit altogether. As a result, travelers have been facing long lines at airports and missing flights. And it seems there’s no relief in sight: Congress will be out on break for the first two weeks of April. To assist with airport security, the Trump Administration has ordered ICE agents to 14 airports across the nation.

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MARCH 20, 2026

According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association, labor shortages remain a major pain point for American hoteliers. Staffing hotels and maintaining service levels will only grow more important during upcoming mega events such as the FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. AHLA believes those events can live up to the hype, provided the U.S. government is thoughtful about maximizing international demand.

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MARCH 19, 2026

An unprecedented March heat wave that smashed nearly two dozen records for daily high temperatures hasn’t boded well for ski resorts in Northern California. Several have already declared an early end to the season. The hot weather also doesn’t bode well for California’s snowpack. A large, slow-melting snowpack helps fill reservoirs, mitigate fire danger, and keep California out of a drought.

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MARCH 18, 2026

Chicago’s already sky-high hotel tax will climb to 19%—the highest in the nation—to help market the city to convention organizers and tourists. The tax is expected to generate more than $50 million a year to sell Chicago and double a marketing budget that pales in comparison to other cities, including Las Vegas, Orlando, Los Angeles, San Diego, and New York City. Revenue would be used to market the city, bankroll incentives, and cover bid fees.

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MARCH 12, 2026

Silicon Valley billionaires are proposing a multi-million-dollar fund to ramp up a political machine to represent the uber rich and the tech elite. The fund would give the tech billionaire class a means of countering the interests of labor unions, progressive groups, and other groups that currently influence politics in the Golden State. Organizers of the effort are reportedly seeking $100 million this year in the hopes of reaching between $500 million and $1 billion in the next few years.

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MARCH 11, 2026

FIFA has slashed more than $100 million from its operating budget for this summer's World Cup. Cuts to the operating ​budget include areas of safety, logistics, security, and accessibility. The U.S. Congress previously allocated $625 million from the federal ​government to help venues ​with security ⁠costs; however, those funds have not yet been distributed due to a partial government shutdown that is impacting ​the Department of Homeland Security.

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MARCH 5, 2026

For more than two decades, Oregon state law has required most of the proceeds of transient lodging taxes go toward attracting more tourists, while cities have argued for more flexibility. But the Oregon Legislature has landed on the side of local governments, passing a bill to reduce the share of transient lodging tax that must be used for tourism promotion or tourism-related facilities from 70% to 50% and let cities and counties use up to half the proceeds for services.

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FEBRUARY 22, 2026

On Saturday, Eight of the nine Democrats vying for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s seat made their pitch at the California Democratic Party convention in San Francisco. No candidate at the convention expected to earn the party’s endorsement, which requires the support of 60% of the 3,500 delegates. Rep. Eric Swalwell led the delegates with 24%, with former state Controller Betty Yee and former state Attorney General Xavier Becerra coming in a surprising second and third.

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FEBRUARY 22, 2026

On Sunday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) walked back its decision to suspend the TSA’s PreCheck program, after initially sparking confusion for travelers when it said it was temporarily halting the popular service. Earlier in the day, DHS said that PreCheck, along with the Global Entry program, would shut down at 6 a.m. ET amid a partial government shutdown affecting only DHS. U.S. Travel applauded the decision to keep PreCheck operational and avoid a crisis.

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FEBRUARY 20, 2026

Last week, the Sierra Nevada mountains were hit by one of the biggest storms in decades, with some areas seeing more than 10 feet of new snow. UC Berkeley's Central Sierra Snow Laboratory tallied 111 inches of snowfall during the course of the week, making for the snowiest five-day stretch in over 40 years. Sugar Bowl Ski Resort reported a weekly total of 111 inches, while the storm brought 124 inches of snow to the upper mountain at Palisades Tahoe.

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FEBRUARY 18, 2026

The National Park Service has announced that visitors to Yosemite will not need reservations to access the park in 2026. The decision to eliminate the timed reservation system comes after a comprehensive evaluation of traffic patterns, parking availability, and visitor use during the 2025 season. The park will utilize real-time traffic monitoring, parking management, and extra staffing at key intersections to keep traffic flowing through the park.

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FEBRUARY 17, 2026

Travel Technology Association is urging policymakers to evaluate how state “price surveillance” bills could raise operating costs for travel companies and prices for travelers. Nearly 20 states, including California, have introduced such proposals, creating legal uncertainty due to the broad, conflicting state-level rules. Companies operating across multiple states could face incompatible compliance obligations, making it harder to innovate and serve travelers effectively.

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FEBRUARY 16, 2026

This summer, approximately 1.3 million international visitors will descend on the U.S., Mexico, and Canada for the World Cup, staying an average of 12 days and spending close to $7.5 billion. FIFA and the World Trade Organization estimate that in the U.S. alone, where 78 of the 104 matches will be played, economic output will exceed $30 billion. The matches represent a massive opportunity, both for host cities and the surrounding destinations that can expect spillover.

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FEBRUARY 5, 2026

As Los Angeles prepares to host eight World Cup matches this summer, the Los Angeles Host Committee has announced community engagement plans designed to bring excitement to neighborhoods across the region and create opportunities for global soccer fans to come together and celebrate. The plans include FIFA Fan Festival at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Fan Zones across the region, a 39-day Fan Experience Guide, and more.

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JANUARY 27, 2026

Winter Storm Fern may be over, but airports across affected portions of the United States are still battling massive snow piles and ice that is melting slow due to low temperatures. 1,407 flights within, into, or out of the U.S. have been canceled today, while another 907 have been delayed. On Monday, 6,261 flights were canceled and 7,912 were delayed. The issues started on Sunday, as 11,599 flights were canceled and 5,866 were delayed.

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JANUARY 23, 2026

The Port of Los Angeles is making plans to build a bigger, smarter, and more sustainable future as the cruise industry flourishes. With more growth on the horizon, and the port expected to be featured in the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics, it’s time to improve infrastructure and expand. Plans are now underway to transform the port’s Outer Harbor into a new, state-of-the-art cruise center, which will allow the port to welcome more and bigger vessels.

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JANUARY 23, 2026

California Democrats are chasing power wherever they can find it. Longshot contenders are abandoning marquee races in favor of less competitive contests, while House members and their opponents are changing districts so often this cycle that it’s hard for even insiders to keep track of who’s running where. It’s a scramble for office—any office—set into overdrive by a confluence of forces in the run-up to the midterms.

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JANUARY 21, 2026

Solo trips are on the rise, with search interest peaking in July 2025 as more people plan travel on their own terms. About 76% of Gen Z and millennial travelers intended to take a solo trip in the same year. Short breaks lead the way, with 56% of solo travelers favoring quick weekend getaways instead of long-haul trips. The motivation to travel solo centers on autonomy. Many travelers want to see more places without waiting for others’ schedules.

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JANUARY 16, 2026

More than 1.5 million registrations were made in the first 24 hours of registration for the LA28 Ticket Draw—more than Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024, and Milan-Cortina 2026 combined. Those early registrations were made by fans from more than 150 countries around the world. With more than two years still to go until LA28, this was the earliest registration period to date. Registration for the draw is the first step for a chance to secure a time slot to purchase tickets in April.

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JANUARY 16, 2026

The stretch of Highway 1, which hugs the Pacific Ocean, reopened to the public earlier this month. The section of road has been affected by landslides since 2023 and was initially expected to reopen in March. The closure marked the longest to date, and resulted in an estimated $438 million in lost visitor spending. Following the reopening, Gov. Gavin Newsom said it would bring much-needed relief to small businesses and families in the region.

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JANUARY 15, 2026

Earlier this month, developers broke ground on the $21 million, 11,000-seat Long Beach Amphitheater, an outdoor venue near the iconic Queen Mary ship in downtown Long Beach. The push to develop the amphitheater has been underway since 2015. The effort aligns with the city’s role in the 2028 Olympics, which will have five venues in Long Beach. Backers say the venue will be the largest waterfront amphitheater on the West Coast.

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JANUARY 15, 2026

Visit California has announced that longtime President & CEO Caroline Beteta will retire from her role in September 2026, concluding three decades of transformative leadership building California’s tourism economy and global brand. Visit California’s Board of Directors has retained SearchWide Global to conduct a global search for Beteta’s successor. In the meantime, she will remain fully engaged in day-to-day operations.

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JANUARY 12, 2026

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved $37.6 million in funding to build an undersea fiber connection between Huntington Beach and Avalon on Catalina Island. The new submarine fiber line will provide reliable, redundant broadband and cellular connectivity for residents, visitors, businesses, and critical services, including emergency response, hospital operations, and basic telephone service.

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JANUARY 12, 2026

Governor Newsom’s $349 billion budget proposal projects a “modest shortfall” of $2.9 billion, down sharply from the $18 billion deficit projected by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office in November. The budget also projects $9 billion more in revenue than originally anticipated, banking on the AI-driven economy to last. But the projected deficit could balloon to $22 billion in fiscal year 2027-28, a problem the governor will address in an updated fiscal forecast in May.

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JANUARY 8, 2026

According to American Pet Products Association (APPA), 88% of pet owners have traveled with their dogs in the past year. As a result, an increased number of travelers are seeking pet-friendly experiences to share their travels with their dogs, rather than leaving them behind. BARK Air’s 2026 State of Pet Travel Report showed that 94% of travelers are willing to forgo traditional amenities, like a hotel bar, for a stay that properly welcomes their pet.

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