Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was named the busiest airport in the world for the second consecutive year, with the number of passengers transported over the course of 2023 closely approaching pre-pandemic numbers measured four years prior.

In a report released by international flight data provider OAG earlier this month, Hartsfield-Jackson once again placed first on the company’s list of the world’s ten busiest global airports, making this the airport’s third time topping the company’s annual end-of-year ranking over the past five years.

According to the report, the Atlanta airport managed enough flights in 2023 to accommodate more than 61 million passengers, a metric that increased by about 12% since the year before.

Meanwhile, Hartsfield-Jackson was shy of its 2019 flight capacity performance by just 3%, suggesting that the airport has almost witnessed a complete recovery from the loss of travel incited by the pandemic in 2020.

John Grant, chief analyst at OAG, said in a statement discussing the report’s findings that resolving widespread supply chain issues is necessary to restore airline and airport activity all over the country to pre-pandemic levels.

“Domestic travel in the U.S. remains competitive,” Grant said. “Navigating ongoing supply chain challenges successfully will be key for airlines and airports in the U.S. looking to attract more passengers and get capacity levels back to where they were in 2019.”

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport was the only other airport in America to make OAG’s top five, dropping two spots from the ranking in 2022 to land in fifth place this year. Denver International, Los Angeles International and Chicago O’Hare International round out the list’s top ten, ranking sixth, eighth and ninth, respectively.

Atlanta also made three appearances on OAG’s list of the busiest domestic routes in America this year, with the city’s connection to Orlando falling less than 100,000 total airline seats short of the list’s highest-ranking route, Hololulu, Hawaii, to Kahului Airport, the primary airport on Maui, Hawaii’s second-largest island. Routes from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale, Florida and New York’s LaGuardia Airport placed seventh and ninth in the ranking.

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Conditions were mostly nice this year for travelers flying ahead of and on Christmas, but some naughty disruptions again plagued those flying with Southwest Airlines.

For millions of people traveling over the holiday, this year was much better than last. Christmas morning put a bow on a relatively smooth weekend.

By midday Monday, only 138 flights within, into or out of the U.S. had been canceled and 1,366 were delayed, according to the tracking website FlightAware.

For this holiday season, U.S. airlines prepared for massive waves of travelers by hiring thousands of pilots, flight attendants and other workers — in an effort to avoid the delays and cancellations that marred travel in 2022, culminating with the Southwest Airlines debacle that stranded more than 2 million people.

Still, Southwest experienced hiccups again over the weekend that the airline was looking to clear by Monday. Just 2% of the airline’s flights were canceled Monday, though 12% were delayed, which is 524 flights total, according to FlightAware.

On Saturday and Sunday, Southwest canceled 426 flights and delayed 2,689 flights, FlightAware data showed.

A Southwest spokesperson blamed the issues on dense fog in Chicago on Saturday and Sunday that prevented planes from landing and said some additional cancellations may be necessary Monday ahead of what was expected to be a full recovery on Tuesday.

Auto club AAA predicted that between Saturday and New Year’s Day, 115 million people in the U.S. would travel at least 50 miles (80 kilometers) from home by air or car. That’s up 2% from last year.

More than 2.6 million people were screened by the Transportation Security Administration on Thursday, according to TSA records. Data from the weekend is yet to be released.

Over Thanksgiving, a record number of people traveled through U.S. airports, topping pre-COVID numbers in 2019 with a single-day record of 2.9 million people screened by TSA on Sunday, Nov. 26.

Compared with the holiday season last year, more mild weather has helped keep air travel schedules on time.

But on the ground, road conditions were dangerous in parts of the country on Christmas Day, thanks to accumulating snow and ice in the Midwest and Great Plains. Most of Nebraska and South Dakota were facing blizzard conditions, and parts of eastern North and South Dakota were facing ice storms, according to the National Weather Service.

The busiest days on the road were predicted to be Saturday, Dec. 23, and next Thursday, Dec. 28, according to transportation data provider INRIX.

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Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport expects to service millions of travelers over the next two weeks as the 2023-24 holiday season approaches an end.

In a press release dated Dec. 13, the world’s busiest airport estimates more than 3.3 million passengers will fly into or out of Atlanta between Dec. 22 and Jan. 2, making the final weeks of the year the most hectic Hartsfield-Jackson has seen since the Thanksgiving travel period almost four weeks ago.

The Friday before Christmas, Dec. 22, is anticipated to be Hartsfield-Jackson’s busiest day of the 12-day stretch, with an estimated 327,624 travelers forecasted to pass through the facility.

Hartsfield-Jackson has witnessed an uptick in travel in the weeks leading up to the Christmas and New Year holidays, seeing close to 100,000 passengers departing or arriving every day, according to the airport’s official X account, formerly known as Twitter.

In preparation for the surge in activity, the airport has wrapped up its Main Security Checkpoint construction project almost four months ahead of schedule, a $66 million endeavor that opens additional security lanes in the area for optimal service.

Still, airport staff recommends those flying out of Atlanta these next two weeks arrive at least two and a half hours before your departure time if boarding a domestic flight and three hours if flying internationally to account for potential parking and security delays.

Passengers driving to the airport are encouraged to check for parking lot status updates before leaving home and to prepare for traffic upon arrival. Hartsfield-Jackson is still short of roughly 3,000 parking spaces due to the South Economy lot being shuttered last October to break ground on a new parking deck.

Nationwide, AAA predicts that more than 115 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home between Dec. 23 and Jan. 1, either by plane, car or other methods of transportation. This represents a 2.2% increase in travelers compared to last year’s predictions and ranks as the second-highest estimate of holiday travelers recorded in the forecast’s 23-year history.

Atlanta also places among the top-10 domestic holiday travel destinations in the country in AAA’s study, joining Miami, Chicago, New York, and Las Vegas.

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10 can’t-miss places to visit in the winter

The holiday carols were onto something with joyful lyrics about dashing through the snow. Winter road trips can provide incredibly scenic vistas, offering a different perspective of a place seen during warmer seasons. Winter may not be the first choice for some road trippers, but for those willing to embrace adventure, winter travel offers stunning cold-weather views and, oftentimes, smaller crowds.

For those looking for trip inspiration to embrace the cold-weather months, CoPilot compiled 10 drivable U.S. locations that are ideal for winter visits. Many winter vacation lovers flock to partake in sports such as skiing and snowboarding, but plenty of other activities can offer a dose of winter’s special magic. Travelers can head to spots with the best opportunities to see the northern lights or head to an area perfect for trying snow fishing for the first time.

Drivers must take a few extra precautions before hitting wintry roads. It’s essential to pay attention to local road conditions and make sure tires are prepared to navigate snow and ice.

Read on for winter travel inspiration—and be glad you chose not to hibernate this winter!

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Lake Placid, New York

Lake Placid is a beautiful place to visit year-round, with the Adirondack Mountains in the background. The area comes alive in the winter, with many outdoor recreation opportunities for the snowy and icy months.

Mirror Lake’s toboggan chute is a favorite. It drops participants down an icy 30-foot-tall converted ski jump trestle onto a frozen Mirror Lake. The lake is also an excellent place for ice skating. Off the ice, visitors can choose from several trails to go backcountry skiing, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing.

Nickolay Khoroshkov // Shutterstock

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Two in 3 people east of the Mississippi River live within a day’s drive to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Once there, the majestic Smoky Mountains beckon. Part of what makes the Great Smoky Mountains National Park the most visited of all the national parks is its accessibility. Hiking, camping, and cross-country skiing are available, but people can also drive through the park on Highway 441 to take in its beauty.

After exploring the mountains, if you’re there in early winter, go for a different kind of adventure at the Dollywood theme park, where visitors can partake in daring coasters, rides for young kids, and even a replica of Dolly Parton’s childhood home.

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Saginaw Bay, Michigan

Michigan is one of the best states to try your hand at ice fishing. The state is home to 150 species of fish, many of which fishers can reach in the winter months by drilling a hole in an icy lake. Saginaw Bay is typically safe to ice fish from December through February.

Tag a scenic road trip onto an ice fishing adventure by driving Michigan’s River Road National Scenic Byway on M-65, which begins on the north side of Saginaw Bay. The scenic byway then goes north into the Huron-Manistee National Forest. There are many scenic overlooks along the way where travelers can view the beautiful vistas.

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Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Seventy-five miles from Washington D.C., and about 100 miles from Richmond, Virginia, Shenandoah National Park is a leisurely road trip to take in the state’s natural beauty. Roadtrippers can drive through the national park in about three hours on the public road called Skyline Drive. Beware—the road closes after a winter storm but is open throughout the winter otherwise.

Visitors to Shenandoah National Park can also enjoy stargazing, especially near the park’s Big Meadows area. Park rangers recommend bringing a red light flashlight, chairs, and extra blankets to make the most out of evening stargazing.

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Panhandle National Forest, Idaho

There’s a scenic view everywhere you turn in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. The forest is full of mountain and lake vistas and wildlife, including elk and grizzly bears. Several state and forest highways allow visitors to take it all in from the comfort of their vehicles. One of these roads is the Forest Highway 50, a paved road that meanders along the St. Joe River.

At night, the forest provides skies dark enough to view the northern lights. Check the forecast and stake out a spot at Priest Lake to see the aurora borealis dance across the lake. Idaho’s Panhandle Forest is about 100 miles from Spokane, Washington. Drivers from Portland, Oregon, or Seattle, Washington, have a little further to go but can stop in Washington’s Yakima Valley for an overnight stop in Washington wine country.

Margaret.Wiktor // Shutterstock

Arches National Park, Utah

Most images of Arches National Park are from the busy summer months, but winter is a delightful time to visit. The summer crowds have waned, and if you’re lucky, the park’s famed red rock formations may be blanketed in snow, which makes for a beautiful contrasting landscape.

Hiking trails will likely be slippery, but park rangers keep the roads plowed for any planned scenic drives. Camping is available through the winter, but many visitors prefer to stay in hotels to avoid the low overnight temperatures. A side quest to Moab’s Main Street, with its rows of locally-owned restaurants, art galleries, and boutiques, is a great way to finish this outdoor adventure.

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Killington, Vermont

For serious skiers and snowboarders, Killington, Vermont, is a favorite, and it’s just a few hours’ drive from several New England metropolitan areas. For hikers looking for a wintry wonderland, the Long Trail and some of the Appalachian Trail run through Killington. Hikers love visiting Thundering Brook Falls, which connects to the Appalachian Trail and is accessible for a half-mile day hike.

Visitors can make the drive to Killington more scenic by taking Highway 100 in Vermont. This scenic road includes local shops that may be worth the stop, such as the Vermont Country Store in Weston and the Green Mountain Sugar House in Ludlow for maple treats.

Darlene Wagner Butler // Shutterstock

Mammoth Lakes, California

The small town of Mammoth Lakes is your jumping-off point to a great outdoor adventure. Just 4 square miles, Mammoth Lakes is in the Inyo National Forest and on the eastern slope of the famous Sierra Nevada mountains. Just about every winter sport is offered here, from skiing to sledding and snowmobiling.

For a less active outdoor experience, Mammoth Lakes has several areas ideal for a winter picnic, including the grassy fields of Shady Rest Park. Mammoth Lakes, a day’s drive from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento, is a less crowded alternative to Lake Tahoe.

Danica Chang // Shutterstock

Lake Dillon, Colorado

Colorado is ski central, with well-known winter sports towns like Vail, Breckenridge, and Aspen. But if you’re looking for something more laid back, consider a trip on Interstate 70 to Lake Dillon, also known as Dillon Reservoir. The vistas by this human-made lake are spectacular, with views of the Tenmile and Gore Mountain ranges at every turn.

When the lake freezes during the winter, outdoor adventurers can try their hand at snowkiting. Snowkiting is similar to windsurfing, but the kite pulls the person across the frozen lake (ice skates are optional). Breckenridge and Vail are a short drive away if you want more of the typical ski town action.

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Fairbanks, Alaska

If you’re ready to ante up your winter vacation, Alaska is the place to do it. Visitors can use Fairbanks as a home base for outdoor adventures in the Alaskan countryside. Alaska’s “Aurora Season” is from late August to late April—and due to solar activity, the winter months in Alaska with higher chances of an active aurora are October or March.

Consider a day trip to Chena Hot Springs, which includes an indoor pool and an adult-only lake for wading outdoors. Some visitors claim the naturally warm mineral water can heal certain conditions like arthritis and muscle pains.

A road trip to Fairbanks is not for the faint of heart—from Seattle, the over 2,000-mile drive will likely take more than 38 hours via the Alaska Highway. However, there are countless sights to see along the way. Depending on the chosen route, travelers can take side trips to some of Canada’s breathtaking wilderness parks, such as Garibaldi Park and Tsilos Provincial Park, both in British Columbia.

Story editing by Carren Jao. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Photo selection by Ania Antecka.

This story originally appeared on CoPilot and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

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ORLANDO, FL.- The saying goes, ‘It never rains in southern California’, but it does snow in central Florida. On Saturday night the snow fell over Hollywood Boulevard during the premiere of Jollywood Nights, the global entertainment company’s ode to the coming Christmas holiday, that takes place at Disney Hollywood Studios park.

On the 100th anniversary of Disney as a company and 52nd for Disney World as a destination for fans from all around the world, Jollywood Nights allows the Christmas holiday to take a lead position in November. It’s bigger than decorations being put up around the parks, there are plenty of attractions that will be exclusive to J0llywood Nights.

Popular characters from Pixar’s movie franchise, “The Incredibles”, are going to be made available during Holidays A La Mode at Pixar Plaza. There visitors can take pictures with Edna Mode and Frozone.

At Mickey and Friends Holiday Greetings, which takes place at Animation Courtyard, there are holiday photo opportunities with classic characters such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy and Pluto.

There were a number of shows taking place at two of the theaters at Disney Hollywood Studios; Theater of the Stars and Hyperion Theater. “What’s This?: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along” and “Disney Holidays in Hollywood” were scheduled throughout the night with a “Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam!” capping the night just after midnight.

Christmas, still more than 45 days away, was in the air Saturday, Nov. 11. During a gathering of guests during a Jollywood Nights party a man in all black made his way around a room playing the saxophone. He transitioned from “This Christmas” to “All I Want for Christmas”. Disney cast members like Ms. Mary, “Mary with a y,” she said to this reporter when asked her name, were dressed for a party, complete with gowns and boas.

Back on Hollywood Blvd. couples were lining up in the middle of the street to take photos under mistletoe.

And the snow fell.

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Atlanta’s airport was recently named the second-best in the country for domestic connectivity.

In a September report from the OAG Megahubs Index, which compares the number of possible domestic and international flight connections to the number of destinations served by each of the 100 largest airports in the world, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport received the second-highest domestic connectivity index of the 25 American airports ranked, only falling behind O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.

Rounding out the top five airports for domestic connections are Denver International, Dallas/Fort Worth International and Charlotte Douglas International, coming in third, fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Six airports in North America landed on OAG’s Top-20 list for international connectivity, five of which are based in the United States.

Atlanta’s airport ranked 14th for global connectivity, once again bested by O’Hare International and New York’s John F. Kennedy International, which placed second.

The study also compares this year’s rankings to results from four years ago. Hartsfield-Jackson dropped six places on the international leaderboard since 2019, having previously joined O’Hare in OAG’s list of the Top-10 airports for global connectivity. Contrarily, Hartsfield-Jackson’s ranking for domestic connectivity remained unchanged, along with the other two airports that rounded out the list’s Top 3.

The report also listed each airport’s most dominant carrier, or the airline responsible for each airport’s largest share of departing and arriving flights. Atlanta-based Delta Airlines was cited as the most widely represented airline inside Hartsfield-Jackson, with roughly 75% of scheduled flights belonging to the carrier.

Delta was also listed as the most prominent airline across three additional American airports on OAG’s ranking of the 50 most globally connected megahubs: John F. Kennedy International, Los Angeles International and Boston Logan International.

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Delta Air Lines is rethinking changes it already announced to its loyalty program, with the airline’s CEO saying it went too far trying to address a surge in the ranks of elite frequent flyers.

Delta said two weeks ago that starting in early 2025 it would base elite status purely on spending, instead of also counting flights, and limit airport club access for holders of Delta credit cards.

“No question we probably went too far in doing that,” CEO Ed Bastian told the Atlanta Rotary Club. “I think we moved too fast, and we are looking at it now.”

Bastian promised “modifications” that the airline will announce “sometime over the next few weeks.” He didn’t give details.

Bastian made the comments Monday, and a recording was released Wednesday.

The changes were roundly criticized on social media, with some Delta frequent flyers vowing to take their business elsewhere. Alaska Airlines and JetBlue Airways jumped in, pitching offers to woo unhappy Delta customers by matching their loyalty status in those carriers’ programs.

“We have received a lot of feedback,” Bastian acknowledged. After the CEO said Delta would reconsider some of the changes, the Rotary crowd burst into applause.

The number of Delta customers with top-tier Diamond status has doubled since the pandemic began, Bastian said. That has led to a crush of demand for premium seats, upgrades, and access to its airport Sky Clubs and complaints that the clubs have gotten too crowded.

Bastian said the Atlanta-based airline needs to be sure it can provide top-tier frequent flyers with the service they expect.

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NEW ORLEANS, La. — Stella Chase, the daughter of the late Dooky Chase’s co-owner Leah Chase, sat down in front of a microphone and began telling her family’s story. The inspiration for the lead character in The Princess and The Frog, Princess Tiana, Disney’s first Black princess, Leah Chase left a dining and hospitality legacy that continues to feed people from all over the world year after year. In New Orleans, a city of restaurants if there ever was one, Dooky Chase’s story is always worth telling.

As Stella Chase spoke of her grandparents and parents she made numerous comparisons to the film. The inspiration for one of Disney’s most popular films and characters was born in that restaurant and fans continue to make reservations and stream through the doors in search of “Tiana’s Palace,” the fictional restaurant Tiana dreamed of owning during the film.

“Everyday we get someone coming in here to eat at Tiana’s restaurant,” Chase said. A gold pin on the collar of her sweater read, “Pray, work and do for others.”

“That was my mother’s motto, ‘Pray, work and do for others’,” she explained.

There have been many inspirations for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, a new nine-minute long attraction that is now only a year away. As the film gets closer to its 15th anniversary in 2024, Disney allowed local and national media, including The Atlanta Voice, to get an unprecedented peek into how the attraction went from idea to reality.

Disney Imagineering, the creative engine that designs and builds all of the Disney theme parks, spent a lot of time in New Orleans studying everything from how the city looks, to its history, to the smells and sounds of its streets and waterways.

“With this attraction we want to give guests a taste of all flavors of New Orleans,” Walt Disney Imagineering Executive Creative Director Ted Robledo said during a morning presentation. 

Here’s what we found out about what it took to create the company’s forthcoming major theme park attraction, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

The Artist

As Disney first American princess, Tiana holds a special place among the entertainment company’s legion of memorable characters. Part of the rollout for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which will take over for Splash Mountain at both Disney World and Disneyland, is the art that will represent not only the attraction, but the film going forward. 

Artist Sharika Mahdi, a native of New Orleans, was commissioned by Disney to paint several pieces depicting Princess Tiana. Of the four pieces, the most recent and final creation reflects strongly on the aspect of family. In the painting Tiana and her mother, Eudora, who was voiced by Oprah Winfrey for the film, sit on a couch beside a pillow adorned with an image of their late father and husband James. Both Eudora and James were entrepreneurial inspirations for Tiana, according to both Mahdi and Walt Disney Imagineering Executive Creative Producer Charita Carter.

“I wanted to create something that embodies the story of Tiana, and also embodies the story of Louisiana, the bayou and New Orleans,” said Mahdi, who grew up in shotgun houses in the city’s 7th and 9th Wards. She proudly referenced being born at Charity Hospital, a right of passage for Black New Orleans natives the way being born at Grady Hospital is for Atlantans. “I wanted the mother and daughter and father to be the centerpiece, and then I wanted to add those elements in an abstract sense that represents New Orleans, thus the story of Tiana and her dreams.”

Carter added that Tiana is more than just a Disney princess or a key character in a film or the main reason for a theme park attraction. Much more in fact.

“Tiana is an inspiration for everybody,” Carter told The Atlanta Voice during an interview inside Vue New Orleans, a 407-foot-high towering venue and attraction overlooking downtown New Orleans. “She had a couple of obstacles she had to overcome.”

Carter added, “It means everything. It is a privilege to be working on such a wonderful story. Everybody can be inspired by this story.”

Disney Senior Vice President Creative Development, Content, Products & Inclusive Strategies Carmen Smith said exploring New Orleans for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure has been a “One of a kind experience that we think our guests will enjoy. This whole story is about Tiana and her sense of community.”

Another of Mahdi’s images (left) for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure sits inside a room at Dooky Chase’s. In that piece Louis the alligator, which was voiced in the film by Michael-Leon Wooley, and a number of other new animated characters -there will be 17 in all, according to Disney Imagineering, play music while Princess Tiana and Prince Navine look on and smile. A community indeed.

The Music

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will incorporate both original songs from The Princess and The Frog and new original music. 

PJ Morton, a New Orleans native and Grammy Award-winning musician, stood up from where he was seated on stage at Preservation Hall and prepared himself for what he was about to see. Disney executives presented him with framed art depicting him playing alongside some of the new characters on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. “Oh man, this is very cool. Wow,” exclaimed Morton. 

Along with Morton, fellow New Orleans musician, Grammy Award-winner and Oscar nominee Terence Blachard are contributing musically to the new attraction. Similar to how New Orleans can have different sounds coming from every street corner, Zydeco music will find its way into the attraction along with what can be considered traditional New Orleans jazz. 

The Bayou

Hurricane Katrina, a Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that made landfall in August 2005, devastating the state of Louisiana and the region in a manner that remains unprecedented, shifted the Louisiana Bayou in a way that it will never look the same again. In many ways that is a good thing, according to bayou guides with Cajun Encounters Tour Company. 

The same way that there are routes that will never be entered again, there are now new byways through the bayou that didn’t always exist. What remains are the whiskey trees, plants, and wildlife that make the bayou a special place to find inspiration for songs, books, poems, and of course, a Disney film and a forthcoming attraction.

Disney Imagineers and animators took tours through the bayou to better understand what a bayou adventure would look, feel and smell like. For those not lucky enough to have traveled down the bayou by motor boat, the attraction will attempt to bring you into and through it.

“We like to say that the bayou is magic,” Carter said while describing their trips.

The History

New Orleans looks a certain way. You can’t properly capture the image of the city without knowing it’s history. The Historic New Orleans Collection, a local museum, research center and book publisher, assisted in giving Disney Imagineers a more clear picture of the city, both past and present. 

Almost a dozen Disney Imagineers have been in and out of the museum during the research period. What they saw are priceless relics that include paintings, statues, Madi Gras costumes, musical instruments including the cornet Louis Armstrong played as a youth while incarcerated at the Colored Waif’s Home in New Orleans.

“They have an understanding of how important it is to interpret the story of New Orleans through a broader network,” Daniel Hammer, The Historic New Orleans Collection president and CEO told The Atlanta Voice. 

Hammer acknowledged that there were materials that Disney Imagineers took home with them to study. There were no stones unturned. 

On the amount of historical research being done for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Hammer said, “I’ve been impressed with how they have immersed themselves in that.”

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(CNN) — More travelers passed through airports this Memorial Day weekend than in the same holiday period before the pandemic, according to Transportation Security Administration figures shared with CNN.

The figures TSA shared total 12.4 million people screened since Thursday. The busiest day was Friday when the agency screened 2.72 million travelers – levels not seen since before Covid.

Historical data for the past five days in 2019 posted to the TSA website show the agency screened 12.2 million people. This year’s figure is about 180,000 passengers higher.

Traveler figures were higher than last year, too, when air travel meltdowns marked the start of a miserable travel summer. Airlines canceled 699 flights, according to data from FlightAware, which is about a quarter of the cancellations over Memorial Day weekend 2022.

Travel planning and automotive organization AAA said in its forecast prior to Memorial Day that holiday travel volume is likely indicative of a very busy summer.

“This summer travel season could be one for the record books, especially at airports,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, in a statement.

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Nobu Hotel Atlanta, which opened in November 2022, is one of the city’s newest staycation destinations. The hotel has the unique advantage of not only being in the heart of tony Buckhead, but next door to GA-400 surrounded by a pair of major shopping destinations.

The 152-room hotel was designed by New York City-based architecture and design firm The Rockwell Group and blends in well with neighboring Phipps Plaza, Lenox Mall and the other skyscrapers at the intersection of Lenox and Peachtree roads.

Simon Property Group might be the most excited about the prospect of the hospitality arm of what looks to be a fully-functioning multipurpose tourist destination. Nobu Hotel Atlanta has spacious rooms (below) and easy access to shopping at Phipps Plaza, which is accessible via an elevator and parking garage. The access is a special feature of the hotel, according to sources attached to the project. The new LEGOLAND Discovery Center is also a short walk from the hotel.

“You can spend a weekend here [at Nobu Hotel Atlanta] and not even leave,” said Simon Property Group Senior Vice President, Development & Asset Intensification Patrick Peterman.

The hotel has the typical features, such as a rooftop swimming pool and a gym,/fitness center Life Time, on the premises, but also features a one-bedroom villa on the ninth floor. Of the hotel’s 26 custom-designed suites, the only of this kind includes a view of Kennesaw Mountain and Stone Mountain in the distance, and the entirety of Buckhead below. There is also an option of privatizing the rooftop pool which is adjacent to the suite.

Nobu restaurant, located on the ground level of the hotel, makes the combination hotel-restaurant an easy sell for both visitors and residents alike.

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