Nightmare Flight Over the Atlantic as Rat Stowaway Scurries Through Cabin

Sharon Waldron/Unsplash

https://www.fodors.com/news/news/nightmare-flight-over-the-atlantic-as-rat-stowaway-scurries-through-cabin

 Apeksha Bhateja

The carrier offered compensation to passengers.

Passengers got a creeping surprise on a flight to the Caribbean when a rat was discovered crawling on board. On a KLM flight from Amsterdam to Aruba, a rodent was seen scurrying on a curtain rail and jumping across overhead storage units. The flight landed safely, but the return was canceled, and the airline offered overnight accommodations and compensation to impacted travelers.

There were more than 250 passengers on board the flight from the Dutch capital. It was scheduled to return to Amsterdam with a stopover in Bonaire. Passengers waiting to reach both destinations were stranded due to this unusual situation.

A spokesperson from the Dutch carrier told The Independent that it was an exceptional incident and that their priority was the safety of their passengers. “That is why we cancelled the flight from Aruba via Bonaire to Amsterdam on December 10th, so that the aircraft could be thoroughly cleaned before being put back into service.”

The airline did not offer an explanation for how the rodent got on the aircraft. However, they confirmed that the rat was discovered while the plane was flying over the ocean and could not land. The pilot continued to the destination, after which the plane was grounded.

The airline offered affected passengers overnight accommodations and made new arrangements to get them to their destinations. “Very unfortunate for the passengers who had to experience this,” a spokesperson told Dutch outlet RTL. The spokesperson added that passengers remained calm and the crew kept an eye on the uninvited guest. “The animal also didn’t come near the food,” they said.

Although rare, there have been other instances of unwanted passengers flying without tickets. In September, a flight in India was delayed by three hours when the crew and passengers spotted a rat on the aircraft. Last year, a flight from Oslo, Norway, to Malaga, Spain, was diverted to Denmark after a mouse jumped out of a meal. In 2024, a rodent was seen inside a light fixture on a flight from Texas to Los Angeles, to the horror and amusement of passengers.

Rats are not just a sanitation risk but are also dangerous on board because they can cut through wires and damage equipment, causing short circuits or system failures. The protocol is to ground the plane until it has been inspected to ensure nothing has been damaged. Extermination is also carried out to prevent further problems.

Related: There’s a Place Where Rats and Humans Live in Harmony

Like many global cities, Amsterdam has a growing rat problem. In the United States, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York are the most rat-infested cities. In fact, New York hired a rat czar in 2023 to manage the city’s population of 3 million rodents. But the problem may not be easy to handle if the temperature keeps rising. A study has found that climate change is making rat infestations worse.

Trump Extends Travel Ban to 20 More Countries, Including Antigua, Dominica, and Tanzania

Ake Ngiamsanguan/iStock

https://www.fodors.com/news/news/white-house-expands-u-s-travel-ban-adding-20-countries-to-entry-restrictions

 Scott Laird 

The White House has expanded the U.S. travel ban to include 20 additional countries, imposing full and partial entry suspensions with limited exemptions starting January 1.

Citizens of more countries will be prohibited from entering the United States from January 1, the Trump Administration said in an executive order signed by the President Tuesday.

The executive order adds new countries to a “full suspension” list, including Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and the Palestinian Authority. A “partial suspension” was issued for Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The executive order partially lifts some restrictions implemented earlier this year on Turkmenistan.

The executive order exempts current visa holders already in the United States, lawful U.S. permanent residents who are nationals of the affected countries, certain non-immigrant visa categories, dual nationals who hold citizenship in a country not subject to the restrictions, athletes, such as those traveling for the Olympics, World Cup, or other major sporting events determined by the secretary of state, and members of the countries’ diplomatic corps.

The new policy also adds bans for immediate family members of countries on the list who had previously been exempted. It also ends Afghan Special Immigrant visas, which were enacted during the Afghanistan War to offer resettlement to Afghan nationals who provided assistance to U.S. military and government operations whose lives were subsequently in danger because of that fact. The Afghan Special Immigrant visa required exhaustive vetting, sometimes taking up to two years to process before an application could be approved.

In a lengthy preamble, the executive order describes the conditions in many of the countries that were cause for national security concerns, such as local governments not being in full control of the country, poor recordkeeping of births and criminal records, widespread document fraud by government officials, and other items that have proved a hindrance to US consular officials attempting to vet visa applications. The administration also expressed concerns about countries that offer citizenship by investment (CBI) without a residency requirement, which it says would ease a path for persons considered a national security threat to easily acquire citizenship in a second country to circumvent the State Department’s normal vetting processes.

Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica, two Caribbean nations popular with outbound U.S. travelers, were two countries on the list that the State Department identified as offering CBI without residency requirements. Another nation on the list, the South Pacific island nation of Tonga, has a history of passport sale schemes dating back to the 1980s, is reportedly considering a new CBI initiative in the country’s parliament, but the State Department instead cited a high overstay rate on existing visas as rationale for restricting the country’s nationals from being approved for new US visas.

In fact, a high overstay rate on existing visas was cited as a factor for the majority of the countries on the list. The executive order also noted that the governments of Laos, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and The Gambia have historically refused to accept back their citizens that the U.S. has legally deported.

The restrictions on all countries apply to citizens of those countries—whether they currently reside in that country or not—wishing to visit the United States temporarily or to live and work and instructs consular officials not to issue new visas for work, study, or exchange, and to limit the validity of other visa types, such as those for work transfers, or air and sea crews.

The International Refugee Assistance Project, an advocacy organization that provides legal aid to refugees, decried the executive order, particularly pointing out that the administration had chosen to include an indefinite pause on all immigration applications and petitions for citizens of these countries, including a previously offered exemption of immediate family members of US citizens.

More than 35 countries—mostly in the Middle East or Africa—have blanket restrictions on entry to the United States. This represents nearly 20% of the countries in the world.

Marriott’s City Express brand hits 100 North America deals

https://hotelsmag.com/news/city-express-marriott-us-canada-2/?

by Denis Stackeusky

Marriott International has reached 100 signed agreements for City Express by Marriott properties across the U.S. and Canada, marking a growth milestone for the company’s midscale segment in the region. The announcement reflects continued expansion of the brand following its introduction to these markets just over a year ago.

According to the company, six City Express by Marriott hotels opened in 2025, with four additional properties expected to open before the end of the year. The 100 signed agreements include both new developments and conversions and are part of Marriott’s broader strategy to scale regional brands with potential for global reach.

“City Express by Marriott continues to demonstrate incredible momentum in the U.S. and Canada, with this milestone occurring just over a year after we introduced the midscale brand to the region,” said Noah Silverman, Global Development Officer, U.S. and Canada. “Reaching 100 signings for City Express by Marriott reflects the strong appetite for midscale in the market, and we’re thrilled to offer owners a new opportunity to join the Marriott Bonvoy ecosystem while providing guests with more ways to travel with us.”

City Express by Marriott originated in the Caribbean and Latin America region and has continued to expand beyond those markets. In addition to growth in the U.S. and Canada, Marriott recently announced signed agreements to introduce the brand in the Asia Pacific excluding China region, with two planned properties in Osaka, Japan.

The brand is positioned within Marriott’s midscale portfolio and is designed to serve travelers seeking efficient and reliable accommodations. Properties typically include modern guestrooms, complimentary breakfast, high-speed internet and amenities intended for both business and leisure stays. Marriott notes that the brand’s design and operating model supports conversion opportunities and shorter timelines for owners bringing properties into the portfolio.

Recent signings in the U.S. and Canada reflect a focus on well-connected markets and established travel corridors. Among the newly announced projects is City Express by Marriott Kissimmee, a 197-room hotel located near Orlando and positioned to serve a major leisure destination. City Express by Marriott Dulles is planned as a 90-key property near Dulles Airport and within driving distance of Washington D.C. The hotel is expected to undergo a full renovation prior to joining the brand.

Additional projects include City Express by Marriott Amarillo, a 73-room hotel serving the Texas Panhandle market, and City Express by Marriott Sandusky, which is expected to feature 50 guestrooms and proximity to Lake Erie and nearby attractions. In Nevada, City Express by Marriott Carson City is planned as an 86-room hotel located in the state capital.

Marriott stated that City Express by Marriott is intended to attract new guests to the company’s portfolio and loyalty platform, Marriott Bonvoy, while offering owners a midscale option aligned with the company’s regional growth objectives. As signings continue across North America and other regions, City Express by Marriott remains a key component of Marriott International’s development strategy in the midscale segment.

Starwood’s 1 Hotel brand heads to Cabo

The 124-key hotel will open by early 2029 feeling organic, timeless, and deeply connected to the land and culture, according to Sternlicht.

https://www.hotelinvestmenttoday.com/Development/Brands/Starwoods-1-Hotel-brand-heads-to-Cabo?

By Jeffrey Weinstein

MIAMI BEACH – In partnership with Grupo Questro and Grupo MRP, Starwood Hotels has announced the development of the 1 Hotel Cabo in Los Cabos, Mexico.

Grupo Questro has been instrumental in shaping Los Cabos into one of Mexico’s most desirable destinations. Grupo MRP, one of Mexico’s leading alternative asset managers, brings more than two decades of experience in large-scale mixed-use developments across the country.

Located adjacent to the existing 1 Homes Cabo, construction for 1 Hotel Cabo is anticipated to begin following the conceptual design phase, with an estimated opening in late 2028 or early 2029. The hotel will offer homeowners access to hotel amenities, including the spa, restaurants, and a private beach club.

The project is envisioned with approximately 124 guest rooms and suites and a series of beachside infinity pools. Local cuisine, handcrafted cocktails, a rooftop bar and lounge, and wellness rituals inspired by desert and the sea will highlight the guest experience.

1 Hotel Cabo architecture will be led by Agustín Caso and Miguel De la Torre, a team celebrated for environmentally attuned modern architecture across Mexico. Interior design will be led by Huber in close collaboration with the 1 Hotels in-house brand design team.

“1 Hotel Cabo will capture the spirit of Baja in a way that feels organic, timeless, and deeply connected to the land and culture,” said Barry Sternlicht, founder of 1 Hotels and chairman of Starwood Hotels.

Enrique Villanueva, development director at Grupo MRP, added, “Our vision is to merge sustainable, fun luxury with the Baja landscape, creating a place that feels both rooted in the earth and fluid in its connection to the water.”

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