Emirates has welcomed its two millionth passenger at London Stansted Airport, marking a significant milestone for the airline’s third London gateway since first launching services in 2018. To mark the occasion, one lucky customer on EK66, Jeanne Fostel, received an upgrade to Business Class and an Emirates Skywards Gold membership, providing access to a range of premium travel benefits including complimentary lounge access, additional baggage allowance, complimentary seat selection and bonus Skywards Miles. Eleven additional passengers on the same flight were also upgraded to Emirates Skywards Silver membership, unlocking benefits including complimentary Business Class Lounge access in Dubai, extra baggage allowance and bonus Skywards […]

The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) has launched the first three of its new Specialty Certifications, expanding its professional development offering with focused, on-demand education in incentive travel psychology, risk management and wellness.

Mercure Hotels & Resorts, renowned for its authentic and locally inspired hospitality, announces the opening of Mercure Oradea, a new hotel located in the western part of the city, with convenient access to the historic city centre, Oradea Arena and the city’s main business hubs. Since its founding in 1973, Mercure has invited guests not just to stay, but to belong. Rooted in local discovery and shaped by the spirit of its surroundings, the brand creates experiences that connect people to culture, community and place. With more than 1,000 hotels across 65+ countries, Mercure is global in reach and local at heart, creating where hotels each address reflects its destination through design, gastronomy, rituals and human connection.

From free date changes to industry-first comprehensive travel insurance, Emirates continues to give customers greater flexibility and more choice, as well as the ability to tailor their travel plans for more peace of mind, from booking to the moment they arrive at their destination.

Walk Japan has just launched its newest self-guided itinerary, the Self-Guided Salt Road Wayfarer – a six-day, five-night journey traversing the historic Salt Road, an ancient trading route that once connected the Sea of Japan with the castle town of Matsumoto.

Fliggy, a leading online travel services platform and a wholly owned subsidiary of Alibaba Group, today announced the latest generation of its agentic AI travel assistant designed for personalized and direct task implementation, further upgrading its consumer-facing AI capabilities.

The companies shaping the future of global business aviation are choosing MEBAA Show 2026, underlining the event’s position as the Middle East’s leading business aviation exhibition and reinforcing the region’s growing importance within the global aviation industry. Taking place from 8–10 December 2026 at DWC, Dubai Airshow Site, the 11th edition of MEBAA Show will bring together aircraft manufacturers, operators, charter companies, FBOs, MRO providers and technology innovators from more than 100 countries. Their collective presence not only reflects more than the strength of the event itself, it also demonstrates the industry’s confidence in the UAE as one of the world’s most dynamic and resilient business aviation markets.

IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hospitality companies, has signed a franchise agreement with Morina Development & Investment Co. LLC to introduce Cantonal Hotel Riyadh Noted Collection by IHG to the Kingdom. The signing marks the first Noted Collection hotel in the Middle East and a significant milestone for IHG’s premium collection brand, bringing a distinctive conversion-led proposition to one of the company’s most dynamic growth markets.

TUI is showcasing how travel agents can help customers maximise their holiday experience by combining a stay in Croatia with excursions to Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, all from a single hotel base. Located just off the coast of Dubrovnik, TUI BLUE Kalamota Island offers customers the opportunity to experience three countries during one holiday, without the need for additional flights, hotel changes or lengthy travel days. The adults only, all inclusive property sits on a car-free island in the Adriatic and provides a convenient base from which customers can explore the wider Balkans region through TUI Musement’s range of experiences and excursions.

Saudia, the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has been ranked the world’s most on-time airline for arrivals in July 2026, according to the latest monthly report from Cirium, the global aviation analytics provider. The airline recorded an on-time arrival rate of 87.24% after operating 16,406 flights during the month. The ranking comes during the peak summer travel season, making it particularly significant as airlines worldwide manage higher flight volumes and increased operational complexity. Despite these demands, Saudia maintained the highest level of operational reliability among airlines globally.

Azerai La Residence, Hue, the luxury heritage hotel in central Vietnam, has rolled out a stay package ahead of Hue Wonderverse Fest 2026, an upcoming cultural event expected to attract more than half a million visitors later this month. The three-day festival, held from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1, will blend music, art, interactive media and laser performances into an international-scale multi-sensory experience. Organisers envision it becoming an annual cultural event that promotes Hue’s heritage, creative economy and tourism.

Sun Valley Resort has been recognized as a DarkSky Certified Resort, becoming the first resort in the United States to receive the designation through the DarkSky Approved Lodging Program. The certification recognizes Sun Valley Resort’s commitment to preserving night skies through responsible lighting practices, environmental stewardship, and ongoing efforts to reduce light pollution in central Idaho’s high alpine environment. DarkSky International is the leading global nonprofit dedicated to combating light pollution and protecting the night environment. Through vetted and verified certifications, they recognize communities, parks, reserves and resorts that preserve pristine night skies through responsible outdoor lighting and public […]

flyadeal, the Saudia Group’s fast-growing low fare carrier, today announced Mumbai as its second gateway in India, opening bookings for non-stop flights between Riyadh and Mumbai beginning October 3, 2026. This builds on flyadeal’s recent entry into the Indian market as the airline inaugurated its service to Hyderabad on July 3, 2026.

Minor Hotels, a leading global hotel owner and operator, has announced Avani Kota Kinabalu, a 352-key premium lifestyle hotel set to open in Q1 2027. Forming part of The Logg Luyang integrated development by KTI Landmark, the property will introduce the Avani brand to Sabah and expand Minor Hotels’ presence in Malaysia.

Mandarin Oriental is delighted to unveil the latest chapter of its iconic Fan Campaign, featuring Grammy Award-winning pianist Yuja Wang and globally acclaimed DJ, producer and founder Charlotte de Witte. For more than 25 years, the Fan Campaign has celebrated exceptional individuals whose mastery, creativity and relentless pursuit of excellence embody the values that define Mandarin Oriental. At a time when the media landscape is constantly evolving, the campaign has remained an prevailing expression of the brand, demonstrating that authentic storytelling, legendary service and meaningful human connections continue to resonate.

NIHI Rote & Hospitality Academy, the newly opened luxury resort on Indonesia’s southernmost island, has announced the appointment of Puspa Anggareni as general manager. A seasoned hospitality leader with more than two decades of experience across Indonesia’s luxury hospitality industry, Anggareni will oversee all resort operations, drawing on her extensive operational expertise to elevate the guest experience, support the continued development of the team and further strengthen NIHI Rote’s people-first culture and pioneering Hospitality Academy.

Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s award-winning travel program, is excited to announce that its iconic “Marriott Bonvoy Charity Golf Day” will return to Thailand this November, with the biggest event to-date being expanded to two locations: Phuket and Bangkok.

The World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards has opened entries for its 2026 programme. Individuals and organisations across the globe that are accelerating change and making a significant contribution to sustainable travel and tourism are invited to enter.

A delegation of journalists from nine major overseas media outlets, including the United States, France, Türkiye, Spain, and the Republic of Korea, recently visited China’s Hainan Province for an in-depth tour across multiple cities including Haikou, Wanning, Lingshui, and Sanya. The mission was to investigate the region’s marine cultural tourism, ecological conservation efforts, and innovative consumer models, and to witness firsthand the renewed dynamism of Hainan’s “ocean economy.”

On the 12th August millions of people around the world will be spectators to the first solar eclipse visible across Europe in nearly three decades. And if the $1 billion tourism boost seen across America following the 2024 solar eclipse is anything to go by, Europe’s tourism is set to boom this summer. From dedicated eclipse chasers to curious tourists and locals, interest in the rare celestial event is soaring, with over a million Google searches for “solar eclipse 2026” recorded in the past month alone.