1. CORONAVIRUS FORCES CRUISE COMPANIES TO CANCEL UPCOMING TRIPS: The spread of the coronavirus has led many cruise companies to cancel upcoming voyages, while other players in the space work to justify continuing operations. Royal Caribbean has pulled two sailings to Shanghai, including one that was slated for Monday, while Costa Cruises has suspended plans for eight upcoming voyages. So far, Norwegian Cruise Lines and Viking Cruises are still operating, though they are monitoring developments. Travel + Leisure: “‘For travelers with upcoming cruises sailing to or from China, it’s best to contact your cruise line or travel advisor directly with any questions or concerns,’ Chris Gray Faust, the managing editor of Cruise Critic, told Travel + Leisure on Monday, adding that ‘All cruise lines that have canceled cruises are offering affected guests the option to receive a full refund.’"
2. GRAMMYS HIT A RECORD LOW IN VIEWERSHIP: Viewership for Sunday night’s Grammy Awards fell to a 12-year low, bringing in 18.7 million viewers who watched it live on television. But the dip over last year’s ratings is just five percent, a slight decline considering the fact that more television viewers are switching to streaming over live broadcasts. The New York Times: “Other awards shows have had sharp ratings decreases in recent years, but viewership for the Grammys, which is broadcast annually on CBS, has remained fairly constant. The audience for Sunday night was more than the 18.3 million viewers who tuned in for the Golden Globes ceremony this month, and it most likely ensures that the Grammys will finish as the second-most-watched awards program, behind the Academy Awards.”
3. ICONIC EL SAN JUAN JOINS FAIRMONT FOLLOWING TWO BIG RENOVATIONS: Despite its grand hand-carved cherry mahogany ceilings, cabaret stages, opulent crystal chandeliers, and other luxurious flourishes, Puerto Rico’s grand dame, the El San Juan, has just emerged from a pair of renovations that put $125 million of upgrades into the property. Giving it a further boost, the hotel has now become part of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. Robb Report: “‘You walk in and you see it—it’s already a Fairmont,’ says Andro Nodarse-León, a partner in León, Mayer & Co., a Miami-based private equity firm that purchased the hotel in 2015. ‘You have that sense that it’s an important place within the community and the city.’ The El San Juan Hotel has held that special place in the heart of Puerto Rico since its opening in 1958.”