Do not think that this lawsuit only matters to Marriott. Competitors are keeping a close eye on the case, knowing they could be next. The industry has a big decision to make about how it charges amenity fees, if at all.

With a rich history and a bright future, Guam is stepping up its efforts to appeal to a new generation of travelers by celebrating the past and embracing the way consumers travel now. A first-of-its-kind travel industry summit this August should help foster innovation too.

Sure enough, more travel companies are starting to inch toward direct booking. Southwest has always been a leader in this area among the big U.S. carriers, and this move will help it do more business with corporate travelers.

Once again — and this time it's the issue of pricing transparency in alternative lodging — European regulators are out in front of their counterparts in other parts of the world, including those in the United States. Travelers shouldn't have to be detectives in trying to figure out what their lodging tab will be.

Travelers indeed shop all over the place when they are doing trip-planning. But to downplay Google's dominant role, as an exec did Tuesday, when travel brands are spending billions of dollars annually with the search engine-turned-travel-product operator, is disingenuous.

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It's no secret New York's airports need an overhaul. Port Authority is bringing in the operator of one of the world's best-regarded airports to do it — but structural challenges in the U.S. remain.

To reduce plastic waste, airports have to work with airlines, concessionaires, travelers, designers, local governments, and other parties. That's a lot of people to educate and much behavior to influence.

The hotel industry is just waking up to the problem of plastic waste, but this is a two-way street. Hotels rely on this convenient, affordable material just as much as travelers do. The real struggle is turning newfound global awareness and municipal legislation into swift action.

Airlines have a love-hate relationship with plastics, especially when it comes to food and beverage. Plastics pose a serious environmental threat, but at the same time they're lightweight and thereby help reduce carbon emissions. Can carriers tackle both of these problems at once?

United is taking more chances than the typical risk-averse airline. That should help it boost revenue. But will it all be too complicated for the airline's operational teams?

Tourism pledges are commonly thought of as a way to improve visitor behavior. But done right, they can also potentially help attract a desirable kind of traveler: one who cares about the environment as much as locals.