World Cup Tax Hikes, Southwest Tries AI and United Tweaks Loyalty

The 2026 World Cup could deliver record hotel occupancy and big economic gains across host cities, but several (Toronto, Vancouver, and Kansas City, KS) are raising visitor taxes to help cover staging costs. Southwest is moving cautiously on AI—prioritizing safety, compliance, and reliability—yet sees promise in conversational tools that deliver “just-in-time” information and more intuitive service. United is signaling loyalty program changes that it says could double profits by decade’s end as it renegotiates with JPMorgan Chase, while also trimming next summer’s schedule (including fewer redeyes) amid softer seasonal demand.

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