2023: A YEAR IN REVIEW.

The year 2023 was eventful for the travel industry, with various significant stories making headlines. The cruise industry made a comeback after being heavily impacted by the pandemic, with Royal Caribbean Group, Carnival Corp., and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings all returning to profitability. Maui experienced devastating wildfires, leading to a crisis-level emergency for the island's tourism industry. American Airlines faced backlash for restricting content to NDC connections, leading to a complaint from ASTA. The issue of timely commission payments to travel advisors was highlighted, and Disney faced challenges, including a feud with Florida's governor and the closure of its Star Wars hotel. The industry also grappled with an advisor shortage and controversies surrounding resort fees. Wars in the Middle East and Europe, as well as the implosion of OceanGate's submersible, had significant impacts on travel. JetBlue faced setbacks with its Northeast Alliance partnership and its bid to acquire Spirit Airlines. Overall, 2023 was a turbulent year for the travel industry, but it also marked a significant step forward in recovery from the pandemic. [Extracted from the article]