Need to Know: Marriott, Schrager partner on Waikiki Edition hotel

Waikiki Edition sets October opening

A new hotel brand, by Marriott Hotels International and hip lodging innovator Ian Schrager, plans to open its first hotel, the Waikiki Edition, in Hawaii in October, with Istanbul set to open later this year. But don’t think of this collaboration as a chain; each hotel will be individual and original, its creators say. The 353-room Waikiki Edition, within walking distance of the beach, will include a restaurant by celebrity chef Masaharu Morimoto; a constructed private beach with sand from nearby islands; and “Surf and Bikini Boot Camp,” a fitness and weight-loss program. Introductory rates, which must be booked by Sept. 5 for stays through Feb. 28, start at $195 per night. Info: (888) 236-2427, https://www.editionhotels.com.

— Mary Forgione

Trip Friends app

TripAdvisor, the user-review travel website that has shown us the genius of crowd-sourcing, has added a new source of information: Trip Friends. Yep. Your friends will now be giving you tips on what to see, where to eat and where to stay. You say they do so already? Perhaps, but now they can do it through Facebook with help from its “Cities I’ve Visited” app. Here’s how it works: Let’s say you’re going to Washington, D.C. If you’re a Facebook user, you’ll see a list of friends who have used “Cities I’ve Visited,” which allows people to tell the world all the places they’ve been. If you have 15 friends who have been to the city or know it well, you can message each one privately or post a request to a group. What are their favorite restaurants? Hotels? Sights? You’ll get accumulated wisdom from a visitor’s perspective as well as from people who live there. Info: https://www.tripadvisor.com.

— Catharine Hamm

Flexible spending

The airline industry’s drive to monetize services, many of which used to be free of charge, opened another front when American Airlines began offering an optional “Boarding and Flexibility Package” that charges $9 and up for the right to board earlier, stand by for an earlier flight on the day of departure and pay $75 instead of $150 for change fees. The package price varies by flight. “We don’t see it as just another set of fees,” spokesman Tim Smith said. “It allows people to tailor their purchases and buy things that have value to them.” In February, American eliminated stand-by rights for everyone except premium customers, such as high-mileage fliers and those in first and business class. So with the new package, folks in the cheap seats get to buy back a right that they just lost. (Everyone still pays $50 to get a confirmed same-day seat, Smith said.) Info: https://www.aa.com.

—Jane Engle

It’s in the bag

Tennis, anyone? Head’s new Youtek Prestige Pro Tennis Racquet ($199.95) pairs with the company’s roomy Tour Team Travel Wheeled Tennis Bag ($74.95) for whatever tour you’re on. The racquet uses a wide string pattern to more evenly distribute impact and maximize steadiness. The 32-by-14.5-by-17-inch bag has a thickly padded racquet compartment, huge zippered main section, and protective hard bottom. Dual padded straps and an extension handle aid wheeling and hoisting. Info: (800) 334-4580, https://www.midwestsports.com.

— Judi Dash