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by Guest Author Last updated: 3:55 PM ET, Fri December 19, 2025 The Mexican Caribbean Tourism Board strengthened its position among global travel destinations at the 2025 United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) Annual Conference & Marketplace, held December 1–5 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. The sold-out event brought together more than 800 leading tour operators, suppliers and industry professionals for four days of immersive sessions focused on collaboration, new strategies and expanding trade partnerships across North America and beyond. Courage served as the 2025 conference theme, shaping conversations around industry leadership and innovation.…
In just about a week, iRobot, Luminar, and Rad Power Bikes all filed for bankruptcy. They’re very different companies — selling Roombas, lidar, and e-bikes, respectively — but as Sean O’Kane, Rebecca Bellan, and I discussed on the episode of the Equity podcast, they faced some similar challenges, including tariff pressures, major deals that fell through, and a failure to establish themselves beyond the products that first made them successful. You can read an edited preview of our conversation below, with Sean providing an overview of each filing, Rebecca weighing in on whether she has a Roomba, and me speculating…
Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) is introducing the first five of 10 voyages in the new A&K x Crystal Cruises’ portfolio in 2027.“The overwhelming demand for our 2026 pilot voyage demonstrated something extraordinary,” said Fernando Delgado, A&K Travel Group’s (AKTG) chief product officer. “Guests instantly connected with the combination of A&K’s deep cultural expertise and Crystal’s unparalleled onboard atmosphere.” “That success gave us the momentum to expand into 2027 with even more departures, more destinations, and more opportunities for travelers to experience cultural exploration with both brands at their very best,” he added.Each voyage begins with a stay at luxury hotels;…
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility, your hub for all things “future of transportation.” To get this in your inbox, sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! The year in transportation started with a couple of bankruptcies — Canoo and Nikola — and now it’s ending with two more. Rad Power Bikes is coming to an end — or at least a bankruptcy. The electric bike company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, weeks after it warned employees that it could shut down without new funding. A spokesperson told TechCrunch the company will continue to operate while the bankruptcy…
Melanin Bee curves her spine like a stretching cat as she lets out a maniacal, forced laugh.The quick-fire pattern of manufactured giggles —“oh, hoo hoo hoo, eeh, ha ha ha”— soon ripples into genuine laughter, and she giddily kicks her feet.She’s practicing what she calls Laughasté, a hilarious yoga routine she created that is a descendant of “laughter clubs” that emerged in India in the 1990s. It feels awkward at first, but you fake it till you make it, she said.“It’s about allowing yourself to be OK with being awkward,” said Bee, a Los Angeles comedian and speaker. “Then you’re…
The future may be electric, but that future is being postponed. The European Commission, citing the need for flexibility, has softened its ambitious plan to ban the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035. Instead of requiring 100% of new cars to be zero-emission vehicles by that date, the revised plan would allow 10% of new car sales to be hybrids or other vehicles as long as manufacturers purchase carbon offsets to compensate. This change is part of a broader ‘Automotive Package‘ designed to help the European car industry become both clean and competitive. If the European Parliament approves this shift,…
LONDON (AP) — Thousands of people cheered and danced around Stonehenge as the sun rose over the prehistoric stone circle on Sunday, the winter solstice.The crowds, many dressed as druids and pagans, had gathered before dawn, waiting patiently in the dark and cold field in southwest England. Some sang and beat drums, while others took time to reflect among the huge stone pillars.Many make the pilgrimage to the stone circle every summer and winter and consider it a spiritual experience. The ancient monument, erected between 5,000 and 3,500 years ago, was built to align with the movement of the sun…
Leading global tour operator TTC Tour Brands has announced the return of its successful Tour Week familiarization program for travel advisors.After two previous sold-out editions and continued demand from travel advisors, TTC Tours is once again inviting advisors to join a dozen FAM trips around the world. These trips highlight top experiences from Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, Costsaver and Contiki blending immersive travel, expert-led training and sales empowerment to help advisors sharpen product expertise and sell travel with confidence. In 2025 alone, the program attracted over 1,000 applications from North American travel advisors and garnered international recognition for its innovation in…
Waymo suspended its robotaxi service in San Francisco on Saturday evening after a massive blackout appeared to leave many of its vehicles stalled on city streets. Numerous photos and videos posted to social media captured Waymo robotaxis stalled at roads and intersections as human drivers either passed them by or were stuck behind them. Waymo said on Saturday that it had temporarily suspended service in the city due to the blackout. Spokesperson Suzanne Philion provided a similar statement to TechCrunch on Sunday morning. “We have temporarily suspended our ride-hailing services in the San Francisco Bay Area due to the widespread…
Years ago, when venture capitalist Jon Medved took an interest in backing various health tech startups, he had no idea that one day, he would need them to improve his own quality of life. Israel tight-knit startup community received a blow in October when Medved, one of its most famous VCs, announced he was retiring immediately. He was forced to step down from the firm he founded, OurCrowd, after he was diagnosed with the debilitating disease of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS,) also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. “This has come rather sudden,” he told TechCrunch in an audibly hoarse voice…