Hilton pursues another degree with the launch of Undergraduate by Hilton
Hilton pursues another degree with the launch of Undergraduate by Hilton
https://hotelsmag.com/news/hilton-pursues-another-degree-with-the-launch-of-undergraduate-by-hilton/
Hilton has announced the launch of Undergraduate by Hilton, a new upper-midscale hotel brand designed to serve a broader range of college and university markets. The brand builds on the success of Graduate by Hilton and supports both new-build and conversion development. The first property is anticipated to open in 2027, with long-term expansion potential of 400 to 500 hotels.
Undergraduate by Hilton targets travelers visiting college towns, including students, families, alumni, sports fans, business travelers, and conference attendees. The brand offers a flexible, cost-efficient development model intended to unlock opportunities in campus-driven markets where demand is consistent year-round.
“We saw a clear opportunity to bring the energy, design, and experiences people love about campus communities to more university towns with this new brand,” said Chris Nassetta, president and CEO of Hilton. Undergraduate by Hilton unveils an exciting new era of college-town hospitality, expanding how we show up for campus-connected travelers — offering more stay options while supporting disciplined, long-term growth across our portfolio. Undergraduate reflects the ongoing momentum of our Lifestyle portfolio, which is one of the most dynamic areas of expansion for our company as we plan to grow to offer 700 Lifestyle hotels globally by 2028, with 60 opening this year alone.”
Room rendering of Undergraduate by Hilton.
Each property is designed with social public spaces built as off-campus hangouts, library-inspired lounge areas, guest rooms described as “creative classrooms” with dedicated study corners and adaptable layouts, and a barista-led all-day market offering grab-and-go retail and curated essentials. Properties may also feature a cocktail program developed by Authentic Hospitality, the group behind New York City venues Ray’s and Pebble Bar, with menus that “playfully elevate campus classics.”
“With Undergraduate by Hilton, we’re broadening the stay experiences we offer, pairing community-led experiences with the scale of Hilton’s global platform to expand choice and deliver long-term value for owners,” said Chris Silcock, president of global brands and commercial services at Hilton.
Undergraduate joins Hilton’s Lifestyle portfolio alongside Graduate by Hilton, which has nearly 60 hotels in various stages of development in markets including Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Manhattan, Kan.; Syracuse, N.Y.; Savannah, Ga.; Laramie, Wyo.; Flagstaff, Ariz., and Boulder, Colo. Other active Lifestyle brands include Outset Collection by Hilton, Curio Collection by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Canopy by Hilton, Motto by Hilton, and Tempo by Hilton, which has more than 70 hotels in development with openings this year in Nashville, Tenn., Savannah, Ga., and Washington, D.C.
Undergraduate by Hilton properties are part of Hilton Honors, giving more than 250 million members additional opportunities to earn and redeem Points.
Southwest Revises Seat Policy for Plus-Size Passengers
Hairem/Shutterstock
https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/southwest-backtracks-on-policy-for-plus-size-passengers
And other travel news you may have missed.
This week in travel, we have several stories that may have flown under your radar. Among them: At Sydney’s famous Vivid Sydney festival, drones fell out of the sky into the harbor during a light show; a United flight to Spain returned to Newark due to security concerns; Southwest updated its policy for plus-size travelers again; and Milan restored a bull mosaic after a ritual to bring luck wore out its testicles. Dive into these and more as we examine the latest in travel news.
Dive into these and more as we examine the latest in travel news.
PHOTO: AFRICANPIX/ISTOCK
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Drones Fall From Sky During Sydney Light Show
The annual lights festival in Australia, Vivid Sydney, saw a dramatic moment when 83 drones dropped from the sky into Darling Harbor, and six fell on a boardwalk. The drones experienced a technical malfunction during the drone show last Monday, prompting organizers to cancel all other scheduled performances.
Videos of the incident circulated widely on social media. No injuries were reported, thanks to an exclusion zone designed for safety. Destination New South Wales apologized to spectators for the disappointment and inconvenience. Firework displays will take place instead of drone shows for the remainder of the festival. The event ends on June 13.
PHOTO: PCRUCIATTI/SHUTTERSTOCK
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Milan Restores Bull Mosaic Ruined by Tourists
In Milan, a historic shopping arcade features a bull mosaic on the floor, where tourists perform a “spinning ritual” on the bull’s testicles for luck. All the twirling with heels left a crater on the mosaic, so the city restored it last week.
The mosaic is located in the 19th-century Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. It is believed that spinning on it guarantees a return to the city and good fortune. The restoration cost the city $35,000, and this is the second refurbishment in 10 years (the last was in 2017). Restorer Gianluca Galli was seen on the floor working on the art as curious onlookers peeked behind the construction site.
After it was unveiled, people complained that the testicles are no longer visible and that the renovation has castrated the bull.
PHOTO: COURTESY UNITED AIRLINES
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United Flight to Spain Returned After Someone Named a Bluetooth Device "Bomb"
An eight-hour United flight from Newark to Mallorca, Spain, had to turn around midway “to address a potential security concern,” the airline told NPR. Several passengers revealed that a teenager’s Bluetooth device was named “BOMB,” prompting the crew to return the flight to its origin.
Audio from the flight recorded a conversation in which one person asks why the flight was returned, and another responds, “There’s a security detail out there, someone had a Bluetooth speaker, and they named it a certain four-letter word,” adding that the aircraft has to be inspected.
All passengers deboarded the plane and, after the inspection, reboarded. The flight arrived in Spain nine hours later than scheduled.
PHOTO: NATE HOVEE/SHUTTERSTOCK
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Southwest Backtracks on Policy for Plus-Size Passengers
Southwest, a preferred airline for plus-size travelers, reversed its friendly policies earlier this year. Now, after months of backlash, it is revising them again. Plus-size travelers can get an extra seat at the airport at no additional cost if there’s availability.
“On flights where adjacent seats are available, our agents at the airport are empowered to provide an additional seat at no extra cost to Customers who require one,” the airline said in a statement. If the space is not available, they will be booked on another flight.
Since January, Southwest has required plus-size travelers to book two seats before flying and made refunds more restrictive for the second seat. The refund policy has not been updated since its last change, but at least gate agents will be able to help customers at the airport if needed.
The airline still strongly recommends that plus-size travelers book two seats to ensure availability.
PHOTO: PIO3/SHUTTERSTOCK
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Japan Will Fine Tourists for Littering at Famous Shibuya Crossing
Tourist behavior has resulted in a new policy in Japan: those found littering in Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing will be fined $13. Food shops that don’t have bins are also being fined by the authorities.
Japan has become a popular tourist destination, with a record-breaking 42.7 million visitors in 2025. However, tourism has brought problems for the country’s residents. There is an increasing number of tourists who are drinking and littering in Tokyo. To discourage this behavior, 50 officials are now deployed to impose on-the-spot fines.
Trash bins are not easily accessible in the country due to past terror attacks, but authorities said this is not a reason to litter.
Airlines Should Give Their Best Passengers the Cheapest Seats
Karsten Winegeart/Unsplash
https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/airlines-should-give-their-best-passengers-the-cheapest-seats
A modest proposal for the airline industry.
About a dozen years ago, trapped in the middle seat of basic economy, I sat next to a young woman on a flight from San Francisco to Los Angeles. She spent 15 minutes perusing the in-flight entertainment on the touchscreen seatback. Then she suddenly stopped for other, more urgent matters–she had an itch. She plunged her right hand down her pants and ferociously scratched her crotch. The hand emerged. Her crusty talons lingered momentarily and then resumed clawing. Whatever caused the itch never seemed to abate as she scratched on and off until we landed.
Though this behavior was vile enough to place her on my personal top-five list of worst passengers I’ve encountered, what shot her to number one was this: she never decided on what to watch. That right hand, coated with a repulsive mixture of jock itch and groin sweat, continuously pressed on the seatback screen. Scroll. Scratch. Scroll. Scratch.
I think about that Grand Guignol every time I read another plane-passenger horror story, whether they be violent melees, shouting matches, or repulsive displays. But lately, I’ve started to wonder if there’s anything that can actually be done about it. Shame hasn’t worked, nor has the threat of arrest, or banishment–we still constantly read about incidents, often recorded and blasted on social media. But the approaches thus far to in-flight incidents are all reduced to sticks. What we need is a carrot–and I think I’ve come up with one.
Introducing: Polite Class.
Polite Class is a separate cabin on an airline, located behind business and ahead of premium economy. But here’s the catch: Polite Class seats cost less than basic economy. However, passengers must sign a contract, agreeing to several rules of conduct. Failure to meet any of these conditions will result in an immediate financial charge equaling the difference between Polite Class and business class, as well as permanent banishment from Polite Class. Abide by the rules, and passengers get a cheap ride.
The rules are simple and designed to ensure that there is no wiggle room–there is no gray area in this black and white law. Etiquette must be draconian.
PHOTO: AI-GENERATED ILLUSTRATION CREATED BY CHATGPT/OPENAI
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No Feet Allowed
Feet have long been a flashpoint for travelers–especially bare feet touching or infringing on the spaces of others. The only way to prevent this is to ensure everyone wears shoes–no flipflops, no sandals. Only shoes. Clogs and Crocs are similarly banned, not because they are ugly, but because they’re too easy to slip off. Shoes must reach the ankles, socks the calf. Inspections will be held during boarding. Those arriving with incorrect footwear will be given cardboard boots secured on the leg with zip-ties.
PHOTO: AI-GENERATED ILLUSTRATION CREATED BY CHATGPT/OPENAI
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Only Silence Is Permitted
Noise is relative, which makes it hard to legislate. A whisper in a library could provoke outrage, but the same hushed tones disappear on a plane. Aircraft cabins sit at roughly 75 to 85 decibels—loud enough that normal speech is often drowned out, forcing people to raise their voices. Thus, a decibel-based rule would be impossible to enforce. So, instead, Polite Class abides by one noise rule: none. No noise is allowed–neither from electronics nor orifices. If you want to communicate something, jot it down. Naturally, this has certain implications for children in Polite Class–but Polite Class permits children, so long as they are silent.
PHOTO: AI-GENERATED ILLUSTRATION CREATED BY CHATGPT/OPENAI
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Never Touch the Seatback
The seatback is not a handle–it is not to be used to lift oneself from one’s seat or to maintain balance in the aisle. The seatback belongs to the passenger whose head touches it. Therefore, no one else may touch the seatback under any circumstances. Should a passenger need to grab onto something, they will be provided two aluminum trekking poles with rubber tips–TSA approved, naturally–which they will have to keep with them for the duration of the flight. Further, no one may touch the in-flight entertainment; passengers must use an airline-provided disposable stylus. This also creates a more sanitary environment. Sanitary is polite.
PHOTO: AI-GENERATED ILLUSTRATION CREATED BY CHATGPT/OPENAI
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No Food
Food is a perennial source of conflict on planes. Durian has been banned for its olfactory rudeness; others fret over allergic reactions to myriad foodstuffs. Both scent and sensitivity are intensely individual, making regulation impossible. Therefore, all food is banned from Polite Class. Drinks are also verboten, as caffeine, sugar, and alcohol may contribute to antisocial behavior. Water, however, is permitted. Those requiring sustenance will be provided with ice chips.
PHOTO: AI-GENERATED ILLUSTRATION CREATED BY CHATGPT/OPENAI
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Seats Have Responsibilities
Conflict can arise from any seat position; therefore, each seat–Window, Middle, Aisle–is assigned a fixed role.
Window controls the shade, but may not impose their preferences upon the row. A single vote must be taken between the three seats, conducted silently. The result is final. If the shade is down, it remains down the entire flight; if it is up, it remains up.
Middle is entitled to both armrests, and sensors prevent infringement.
Aisle controls egress, but does not control lavatory rights. These are strictly regulated. One bathroom break is permitted every two hours, in which Aisle must rise and Middle must comply. Anyone who declines must hold it until the next interval. Those who must go more frequently due to medication, illness, anxiety, over-hydration, poor planning, or the unfortunate reality of possessing a human body must reserve Aisle. Emergencies from Middle and Window will not be tolerated.
PHOTO: AI-GENERATED ILLUSTRATION CREATED BY CHATGPT/OPENAI
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Everyone Must Sit up Straight
Reclining leads to recrimination. So, no seats recline–but that’s not all. Slouching often compresses the knees into the seat in front, potentially pushing on that person’s seat, causing discomfort. All must sit upright, at 90-degree angles. Crossing one’s legs might infringe on the space of a neighboring seat or protrude into the aisle, prohibiting movement of the flight attendant–this cannot be allowed. Spreading wide ones’ legs as though a conquering army invading a sovereign nation is likewise outlawed. The solution: Just as seatbelts keep laps fastened, legbelts will keep the legs securely in place.
PHOTO: AI-GENERATED ILLUSTRATION CREATED BY CHATGPT/OPENAI
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Overhead Bins Are Assigned
Passengers are limited to one overhead bin space suitable for one small suitcase; they may also carry one small personal item or computer bag to place under the seat. The dimensions are fixed, and the overhead is assigned. If the item does not fit into its assigned space, it is not gate checked–this coddles the passenger who flagrantly disregards the rules. The bag is removed, and its contents are distributed among the flight crew.
PHOTO: AI-GENERATED ILLUSTRATION CREATED BY CHATGPT/OPENAI
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Hands Remain Visible at All Times
Hands too often touch places where they ought not, as I’ve already recounted. Therefore, they must remain visible at all times. To ensure this, they are permitted only in specific positions: on designated armrests, on the in-flight entertainment stylus, holding a cup of water or ice chips, or atop the outer thigh connected to the body that also supplies the hand. All other placements are prohibited. Meaning, reading is not permitted, nor is phone usage. This has the added bonus of ensuring that no objectionable video or literary content can be observed by a neighbor. Sensors and lasers will guarantee hand compliance, and no more than three seconds may elapse between the movement from one permitted position to another.
Polite Class may not be for everyone. But it provides relief for anyone who’s ever been seated next to a dementedly disgusting stranger. It ensures perfect, rules-based order, and it removes all possible friction. All you have to do is give up a little freedom. And after my experience, I can attest that’s not too much to ask for a polite flight.
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