From “keep travelling” to “travel solves problems”, winners at the World Travel Awards Asia, Oceania & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2026 share their messages for an industry built on people, experience and connection.

Meliá Serenity Cam Ranh Beach Resort opened its doors on 1st October 2026, introducing a new all-inclusive resort experience to Bai Dai Beach, a 10-kilometre stretch of coastline on Vietnam’s south-central coast between Cam Ranh and Nha Trang.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation is accelerating growth opportunities across its brand portfolio with new financing solutions, more efficient new-build prototypes and conversion-focused brands that give owners more ways to bring hotels to market. Hyatt has significant room to expand across more than 300 U.S. submarkets, representing meaningful market opportunity for owners. Hyatt also has substantial opportunity to deepen its brand presence in markets that already have a Hyatt hotel, with an average of four Hyatt hotels per market versus 14 among its largest competitors. Together, this represents meaningful white space for Hyatt and prospective owners to pursue disciplined, intentional growth.

As part of its strategic efforts to diversify tourism source markets and expand its international reach, the Ajman Department of Tourism, Culture and Media is conducting a promotional roadshow across Central Asia from 12 to 16 October, with dedicated events in Tashkent on 13 October and Almaty on 15 October. The roadshow aims to strengthen direct engagement with key travel and tourism partners, showcase Ajman’s diverse destination offering, and explore new opportunities for cooperation and strategic partnerships across two promising markets. The initiative also supports the Department’s wider efforts to broaden its international partner network and strengthen Ajman’s visibility among new visitor segments.

Southwest Airlines Co. has launched a first-of-its-kind U.S. airline plugin in ChatGPT, marking the first step in a phased AI-powered booking approach with OpenAI and Amazon Web Services (AWS) that allows travelers to discover and shop for Southwest flights in ChatGPT.

Signia Hilton Indianapolis today unveiled its signature culinary and beverage experiences ahead of the hotel’s highly anticipated opening this December. Designed as dynamic destinations in their own right, the property’s restaurants, bars and gathering spaces will introduce distinctive new venues where travelers and locals can connect with the creativity, culture and energy of Indianapolis.

Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur unveils its signature wellness philosophy ahead of its highly anticipated debut on 30 October 2026. Introducing Waldorf Astoria Spa, one of Malaysia’s most comprehensive luxury wellness destinations, the integrated wellness sanctuary spans more than 2,275 square metres across two floors, bringing together restorative spa rituals, personalised wellbeing programmes, advanced recovery technologies and AI-powered fitness experiences to support every stage of the wellness journey.

Fliggy, a leading online travel platform and wholly owned subsidiary of Alibaba Group has released travel booking data and trends for the 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day Holiday, highlighting record hotel demand, rising interest in immersive travel experiences, and growing adoption of AI-powered travel services among Chinese travelers.

The AITO Agents Panel is delighted to welcome two new travel agent representatives and one new tour operator representative, bringing fresh perspectives, new energy and a wealth of experience to the Panel. Stuart Swords (Swords Travel) and Kayleigh Hodgson (RB Collection) will represent AITO’s specialist travel agents, while Rachel Healey (LUSSO) will represent tour operators. All three were elected following a vote by their peers.

Accor, a world-leading hospitality group, and CITYVIEW Developments, a premier Dubai-based developer, announce the signing of Mövenpick Residences Dubai Motor City, marking a new milestone in their growing partnership and the continued evolution of Dubai’s branded residential sector. Scheduled for completion and opening in 2028, the development marks two major milestones: the world’s first standalone Mövenpick Residences and the first branded residential development in Dubai Motor City. The signing reflects the growing reach of branded living across a multitude of hospitality segments, bringing the service, standards and benefits of a globally recognised hospitality brand into one of Dubai’s established residential communities.

New research by golfclubs4cash has found that extreme weather could be putting golf getaways at risk, as 16,793 days of play have been lost across some of Europe’s most popular golf holiday destinations since 2016. golfclubs4cash’s analysis of the most popular golf getaways across Spain, Portugal, and Turkey comes amid a spike in demand for golf holidays amongst Brits, with 940,000 Google searches between January and June this year.

On the evening of October 6, after Djokovic won the first set of the men’s singles final, his opponent Alex de Minaur retired due to injury, giving Djokovic his seventh China Open title. During the tournament, the excitement of the China Open extended from the courts to the entire park. The “second venue” with big-screen viewing, a rich variety of officially licensed merchandise, and food and beverage outlets full of everyday bustle blended the passion of sports competition with the city’s relaxed atmosphere, creating a diverse holiday viewing experience.

TAAG Angola Airlines has reached another significant milestone in strengthening its presence and influence within the African aviation sector. During the 56th Annual General Assembly of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA), held on 10 October 2026 in Mauritius, the airline’s CEO, Miguel Carneiro, was elected Chairperson of AASA for the 2026/2027 term.

Launching in early 2027 following a £25 million transformation, Ardencote Manor will bring an extensive state-of-the-art spa resort to 83 acres of Warwickshire countryside, near Stratford-upon-Avon, and overlooking a picturesque 3-acre lake. With an expansive Spa Garden, four vitality pools, a gym, 68 bedrooms – including Hiddenwell’s renowned hot tub suites – three restaurants and three bars, the destination will be one of the largest spa resorts within the UK.

Mandarin Oriental honoured the groundbreaking of Mandarin Oriental, Miami and The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Miami, a significant milestone in the brand’s return to one of the world’s most dynamic luxury destinations. Held on Brickell Key, the ceremonial shovel-in-ground event brought together leadership from Mandarin Oriental, Swire Properties, project partners and invited guests to celebrate the next phase of a landmark destination set to redefine luxury hospitality, residential living and lifestyle experiences in Miami.

Anguilla will host the inaugural Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Sports Tourism Summit, Aug. 12-14, 2027, creating a new regional platform focused on harnessing the growing intersection of sports, tourism and economic development. The announcement was made during CTO’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Georgetown, Guyana, where Caribbean tourism leaders met under the theme “Tourism Futures: Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive.”

Jamaica is preparing to welcome travel and tourism leaders from across the region for the World Travel Awards Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony 2026. The ceremony is taking place at Princess Grand Jamaica on 11 October 2026, forming the flagship evening of World Travel Week Jamaica.

Set among the trees on the banks of the Zambezi, Tsowa River Spa is described by Paige Gehren, co-founder of Tsowa Safari Island, as “a place of energy and healing”. The launch comes as slow, restorative travel continues to grow, and as World Mental Health Day brings stress and burnout back into the headlines. Travel data shows how many people now go away simply to recover. In Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report, 56% of travellers named rest and recharging as their main reason for a leisure trip this year, and 57% of US respondents said they were interested in a quiet or silent retreat. The Global Wellness Summit’s 2026 forecast called nervous-system regulation “the next frontier” of wellness, alongside a growing backlash against […]

Norse Atlantic ASA has signed a landmark ACMI agreement with PIA, the largest and flag bearing airline of Pakistan, for two modern Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, accelerating PIA’s long-haul capacity between the UK and Pakistan to meet growing demand for direct, premium connectivity.

Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, the luxury hotel on the doorstep of ancient Khmer archaeological sites, will host a special four-hands dinner on Oct. 16, uniting the talents of the hotel’s Executive Sous Chef Dorn Doeurt and guest Chef Seng Sothea. The two chefs are both proudly rooted in the cultural heart of Siem Reap and are coming together to celebrate the rich gastronomic heritage of Cambodia through their exceptional craftsmanship and artistry.