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THE WEEKLY COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER OF ASSOCIATIONS, CVBs AND HOTELS V O L U M E 4 4 , I S S U E 1 5
APRIL 6, 2026
Aviation Issues Will Influence Next Election, U.S. Travel Says By Todd McElwee
Don Welsh, President & CEO of Destinations International, spoke to attendees during the association’s 2026 CEO Summit from March 30 to April 1 in Newport Beach, California. See photos on page 9
Salt Lake Council Considers Hotel for Parcel Near Popular Park Most Residents Oppose Project
By Jordan Bradley The Salt Lake City Council held a public hearing on March 24 regarding the rezoning of a 0.83-acre plot of land to allow for a proposed hotel project. The commercial plot sits next to a popular local park, the Sugar House Park, and the question of how best to utilize the parcel has been unanswered for years. A local hotel developer is seeking to change that.
Magnus Hotel Management is seeking to build the Sugar House Hotel, a 145-guest-room, seven-story hotel with a rooftop restaurant and other amenities on the plot of land, according to council documents. The hotel would also have retail spaces, a rooftop restaurant, meeting spaces, a publicly available paid parking garage, and a lobby cafe. In order to do that, the city council would need to rezone the property from mixed-use 3 to mixed-use 8
Paramedics Respond to Pepper Spray Incident at Charlotte Hotel By Jordan Bradley Guests of a Le Méridien hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina, were evaluated by paramedics after someone pepper-sprayed floor of the lodging establishment in the early hours of March 30. According to local news outlet WBTV, first responders, including firefighters, were called to the Marriott-branded hotel around 2:30 a.m. for reports of respiratory distress. A Charlotte fire battalion chief told the outlet
that nine people received medical attention but none required hospitalization. Pepper spray, a widely used nonlethal defense tool, is primarily made of oleoresin capsicum, an extract derived from hot or spicy peppers—like cayenne peppers—that induces inflammation in the eyes, nose and throat. When exposed to pepper spray, a person experiences watering eyes, a dry cough or wheezing, shortness of breath, throat burning, Please turn to page 4
(MU8). If the city council approves that rezoning, the hotel would be about twice the height of the parcel’s current maximum heigh allowance, according to local news outlet KSL. Magnus Hotel Management CEO John Potter addressed the city council and city planners at a February 17 meeting, detailing the development. If the rezoning moved forward, the proposed hotel would offer 25%
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Page 3 Page 4 Events Industry Council Soliciting Insights for Study Page 5 Identity of a Destination: Indy and Hoops Page 6 Kireem Swinton Tapped to Lead Visit Baltimore Page 7 Arabian Horse Association’s Taryl O’Shea Aims to Unite an Industry
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A new survey, released by the U.S. Travel Association on April 1 and conducted by Morning Consult, found that 75% of Americans say they are likely to consider a candidate’s record on aviation security when casting their vote in the next election. The sentiment is bipartisan, with virtually no significant differences across Democratic, Republican or Independent respondents. In addition, 69% of American voters support funding TSA officers and air traffic controllers independent of federal budget disputes. “These findings send a powerful signal: voters are paying attention and they’ll remember in November at the polls,” said Geoff Freeman, President & CEO, U.S. Travel Association. “How leaders support TSA officers and protect our aviation system isn’t abstract—it’s something voters are factoring directly into their decisions.” U.S. Travel said the findings illustrate the personal nature of this Please turn to page 6
Destinations International Announces New “30 Under 30” Class and Rising Industry Professionals Class By Jonathan Trager Destinations International (DI) on April 1 announced its “30 Under 30” and “Rising Industry Professionals” classes for 2026, noting the organization is “committed to supporting the professional development of the next generation of industry leaders from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.” Individuals selected each year gain industry educa-
tion, networking, and mentorship opportunities. The 30 Under 30 program is open to staff of DI member organizations, while the Rising Industry Professionals is open to staff of DI partner organizations. Find the complete list of 2026 honorees and more information about the 30 Under 30 Program here and the Rising Industry Professionals here. “The 30 Under 30 and Rising Industry ProfessionPlease turn to page 8