I recently had the chance to spend five nights in the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, a unique luxury resort in the Maldives, thanks to a pile of Hilton hotel points I’d been saving up. To get to the resort, which is located on two private islands, you have to take a seaplane from the Maldives’ …
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Diamond Princess cruise ship has 67 passengers who have tested positive for coronavirus onboard, Japan’s Health Minister announced
An additional 67 passengers aboard the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship have contracted the coronavirus, bringing the total number of people onboard who have tested positive up to 286, CNN reported. The first round of disembarkment is set to begin on February 21, two days after the original set date. Around 400 American passengers as …
Americans on the coronavirus-struck Diamond Princess cruise ship will be flown back to US to face another two-week quarantine
The US State Department will fly Americans who have been quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan back to the US, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Americans, who have already faced a two-week quarantine for the coronavirus, will face another 14-day quarantine at Air Forces bases in California when they return. The …
Delta says it will spend $1 billion to be carbon neutral, the latest airline announcing a radical shift to make flying less destructive
Delta Air Lines is committing $1 billion to be carbon neutral by 2030. Aviation emissions account for 2% of the world’s total CO2 emissions from fossil fuels, with 98% of Delta’s emissions coming from its aircraft. With demand for air travel only growing, the emissions will inevitably rise and airlines are becoming the target of …
Europe just had its 1st death from the coronavirus after a Chinese tourist died in France
The first death from the coronavirus outside of Asia has been recorded. France’s health minister confirmed on Saturday that a Chinese tourist had died of the virus in France, noting the first fatality from the virus in Europe. The unidentified man arrived in France on January 16 and was quarantined in hospital on January 25, …
Hong Kong’s Disneyland is letting the government use some of its land to quarantine people and stop the coronavirus spreading
Hong Kong’s Disneyland is letting the city use its sites to quarantine people as the government tries to stop the deadly coronavirus from spreading. The government wants to build quarantine units on a vacant site that the resort had planned on using for an expansion. Lawmakers had previously proposed using its hotels to house people …
I’m getting married in Kauai — thanks to credit card sign-up bonuses, I’m able to cover my family’s flights with points
My fiancé and I are getting married in Kauai, and we’re saving on travel costs by booking flights on points. We transferred Ultimate Rewards points from the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card to Southwest to book our round-trip tickets. I also signed up for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance …
Facebook Australia’s ex-head of operations is selling his San Francisco home that sits on a beloved off-beaten path in the city. Take a look inside the $4 million house.
A four-story home on San Francisco’s Macondray Lane is for sale for $4 million. Its owner is Facebook Australia’s former head of operations, Paul Borrud, who left the company in 2012 but remained in Sydney. Macondray Lane is one of the most romanticized parts of the city, having been fictionalized in Armistead Maupin’s book series …
Delta CEO: Passengers should ask permission before reclining their seats on planes
The head of Delta Air Lines said in an interview with CNBC that passengers should ask before they recline their seat. CEO Ed Bastian believes that although passengers have the right to recline, proper etiquette is to ask first. Bastian’s comments came following a viral video showing an angry passenger berating his flight mate for …
The coronavirus has infected more than 1,700 healthcare workers in China, killing 6 of them
Chinese officials said that 1,716 healthcare workers in China have been infected by the coronavirus. Six of them are dead. “Health workers are the glue that holds the health system and outbreak response together,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, adding that “we need to know more ” about how they are getting sick. Wuhan, …
Wyndham, the world’s largest hotel brand, has temporarily closed 70% of its hotels in China in response to the coronavirus outbreak
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has temporarily closed approximately 70% of its 1,500 hotels in China in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Wyndham joins other major hotel brands, including Hilton and Best Western, that have shuttered hotels in China. Follow coverage of the coronavirus on Business Insider here. Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories. Wyndham …
Inside the high-stakes process companies like UPS use to ship 150 million Valentine’s Day roses from Colombia to your local florist before they wilt
Americans will spend an estimated $2 billion on roses this Valentine’s Day. The overwhelming majority of those blooms come from Colombia, particularly the temperate highlands outside of Bogotá and Medellín. Business Insider traveled to Colombia to learn why roses are grown there and how the floral industry is shaping the country. Visit Business Insider’s homepage …
Southwest’s premium business card is offering a record-high welcome bonus of up to 100,000 points, but it won’t last long
If you fly Southwest and you’re a freelancer or small-business owner, this increased sign-up bonus is worth a look. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card is offering up to 100,000 Southwest points: 70,000 points after you spend $5,000 in the first three months, and another 30,000 points after you spend $25,000 in the …
I’m a former professional matchmaker who found love while traveling solo — here’s why it prepared me for a strong long-term relationship
Olivia Balsinger is a writer, traveler, and former professional matchmaker. She spent years solo traveling around the world, and it taught her a lot about how to be in a relationship. Traveling tested Balsinger’s sense of adventure, bravery, self-confidence, and, most significantly, self-love — attributes that are all extremely important to develop before jumping into …
The 7 biggest yacht debuts at this weekend’s Miami Yacht Show
The 32nd annual Miami Yacht Show, the city’s premier yachting event, is being held February 13 to February 17. Over 32,000 attendees are expected to view over 400 boats on display over the course of the five-day show. Over 15 yachts are making their debut, the biggest of which include amenities like a helipad and …
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Greece’s national airline is undergoing a massive brand overhaul to be more Greek with the help of a world-class design firm
Aegean Airlines unveiled a completely new brand identity during the debut of its newest aircraft. The airline’s newly-delivered Airbus A320neo will feature the newest branding and products that Aegean has to offer, with everything from a new livery to interior cabin product. The overhaul is aimed at better connecting the airline with its Greek roots …
Top White House official suggests China is not being ‘honest’ and has ‘motives’ in the coronavirus fight, as Beijing faces suspicion over how it records infections
President Donald Trump’s top economic advisor said China isn’t being open with the US about the coronavirus, suggesting China is not being “honest with us.” Larry Kudlow told reporters on Thursday the US is “a little disappointed in the lack of transparency coming from the Chinese” and “I don’t know what their motives are,” according …
Banyan Tree Samui in Thailand is a romantic resort that seems tailor-made for honeymoons and couples getaways — every room comes with a private pool for cheaper than you’re likely to find in places like Bali or the Maldives
Banyan Tree Ko Samui is an all-villa resort where every accommodation has a separate living room, bedroom, spa bathroom, and private pool, with at least 1,399 square feet. Standard Deluxe Villas start at $405 in low season and go up from there depending on if you choose a partial or full ocean view, or upgrade …
The largest electric coach bus in the US is this 45-foot long double decker that can seat 77 and go 230 miles on a single charge
BYD has created a fully electric 45-foot double-decker coach bus and is now introducing it to the US market. The bus has a maximum range of 230 miles and can seat 77 people. Its creator also claims it can be used for public transit. Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories. BYD has created a …
The best boutique hotels in New York City
There are hundreds of great hotels in New York City ranging from no-frills, cheap accommodations to ultra-indulgent luxury suites. Then there are boutique hotels, which are luxe without being overly fancy, and are led by design and personality, rather than a one-size-fits-all corporate model. Amenities and decor are thoughtful and well-curated and favored by travelers …
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Review: The new United business card has some standout benefits — and a welcome bonus of 100,000 miles
United launched a new co-branded business credit card with Chase in January. Until April 2, the United Business Card is offering a welcome bonus of 100,000 miles after you spend $10,000 in the first three months. Among its unique benefits are a $100 annual travel credit and 5,000 anniversary bonus miles. See Business Insider’s list …
A cruise ship was stranded at sea for 2 weeks after 5 ports rejected it over coronavirus fears — but no one was actually infected
The Westerdam cruise ship has finally docked after being stuck at sea for 13 days, in Cambodia. Five different ports turned it away after fearing that passengers were infected with the Wuhan coronavirus. Twenty passengers were tested and cleared of the virus, allowing people to finally go home. Passengers were asked to fill out health …
Target’s new premium luggage line is the latest sign that private-label brands are a secret weapon for the retail giant (TGT)
Target rolled out a new luggage brand called Open Story. Open Story offers luggage products with a price range of $19.99 to $179.99. Target’s new launch is the latest indication that the retailer is sticking with its longtime strategy of providing shoppers with private labels. Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories. Target fully wheeled …
I took 3 Delta flights in one day after finally getting elite status to see if it’s really worth having — here’s what I discovered
Elite status is the endgame for most frequent flyers as it offers high-end perks such as free first-class upgrades. I recently attained elite status on Delta Air Lines in the lowest level of its program and took a trip to see if I’d get upgraded despite my low seniority. To my surprise, I was upgraded …
American Airlines and Alaska just announced a new partnership, which will create new travel options for just about anyone on the West Coast (AAL, ALK)
American Airlines and Alaska Airlines are expanding a partnership agreement, creating a “West Coast international alliance.” The airlines will expand a codeshare agreement to allow Alaska passengers to connect onto American Airlines international flights from West Coast gateways, and the airlines will expand reciprocal frequent flyer benefits. Alaska will also apply to join the Oneworld …
Airbnb’s cofounder made an incredibly compelling pitch for startups to join Y Combinator: ‘We were 13 weeks away from walking away from it all’
Airbnb’s cofounder Nathan Blecharczyk was asked at an event if there was a time when they almost shut down the business. In 2008, the startup couldn’t raise a dollar of venture capital. It had two customers, including Airbnb chief executive officer Brian Chesky. The cofounders made a pact that if they came out of startup …
The number of coronavirus cases in China’s Hubei province dramatically jumped by 15,000 overnight. Here’s why.
China’s Hubei province recorded a huge spike in the number of Wuhan coronavirus cases on Thursday, announcing almost 15,000 new cases and 242 additional deaths in just 24 hours. It is the largest single-day increase since the outbreak began. It came as the province — where the outbreak began — changed its methods of diagnosis. …