British holidaymakers may be watching their spending, but their appetite for travel shows little sign of slowing. Research published in October by ABTA found that value for money was the main reason almost half (48%) of package holidaymakers chose to book a package, up from 43% the previous year. Travel agency SuperEscapes is showing what travellers can get for their money this winter, with long-haul getaways starting from £799pp for eight nights in Thailand, including return flights.

There is a particular kind of winter that belongs to Cortina d’Ampezzo.  It begins with the first light catching the pale limestone peaks of the Dolomites and ends, hours later, with the jagged silhouettes dissolving into the dusk. Between the two, there is skiing, certainly, but there are also centuries of history hidden in the mountains, long lunches at high altitude, snowshoe trails through silent forests and the peculiar pleasure of finding oneself beneath an enormous winter sky.  This is Cortina at its most captivating; not simply a ski resort, but an Alpine town with an unusually sophisticated sense of place.

Marking a new era for Solomon Islands on the international tourism stage, Tourism Solomons is poised to launch a global brand refresh drawing on the destination’s authenticity, adventure, culture and conservation through a distinctive new identity: Hapi Isles – Real, Rare, Raw. Announcing the initiative, which references a nickname bestowed upon the destination in the 1960s, Tourism Solomons CEO, Andrew Nihopara said the underlying ethos of the new campaign was to build a clear understanding of what makes Solomon Islands distinct from anywhere else on the planet.

Viking® announced that it has taken delivery of the Viking Haki, the company’s newest Viking Longship®. The 190-guest Viking Haki joins Viking’s award-winning fleet of state-of-the-art sister ships and will sail the company’s popular itineraries on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. “Our river voyages offer an ideal way to explore Europe, bringing guests closer to the history, culture and traditions of the destinations they visit,” said Leah Talactac, President and Chief Executive Officer of Viking. “We are pleased to welcome the elegant Viking Haki to our fleet and to offer even more guests the opportunity to discover these remarkable destinations in Viking comfort.”

London Stansted is set to gain a new daily link to Cyprus after Cyprus Airways announced plans to launch flights to Larnaca next spring. The Larnaca-based airline will begin operating the year-round service on 23 April 2027, offering daily flights between Stansted and the popular Mediterranean destination.

Virgin Voyages’ UK sales team has spent a day volunteering at Reuben’s Retreat, helping with essential maintenance and upkeep at the charity’s Glossop premises. The visit forms part of Virgin Voyages’ ongoing partnership with Reuben’s Retreat, which began in 2025. The charity supports families who have suffered the loss of a child or are caring for children with complex, life-limiting medical conditions

Contiki has unveiled GO WANDER, the biggest transformation in its more than 64-year history and the opening of a bold new chapter for the youth travel pioneer. With announcements spanning an expanded product offering and a new appealing pricing structure, GO WANDER is the first stage in a multi-year transformation focused on a single-minded purpose – getting more young people exploring the world.

IDeaS, a SAS company and the world’s leading provider of AI-powered hospitality revenue management software, today announced that Optix, its advanced business intelligence and performance insights solution, has been selected as one of the referenced business intelligence solutions available for Accor hotels globally. The selection marks another important milestone in the strategic relationship between Accor and IDeaS as the two organizations continue working together to strengthen data-driven commercial decision-making across Accor’s hotel network.

AI-and tech-powered hospitality operator Bob W has signed a lease for a new 95-unit aparthotel in Gżira, marking its entry into Malta as it continues to expand across Southern Europe. The purpose-built property, to be developed by Ciantar Developments, will operate as Bob W Malta Central and is expected to open in Q3 2028.

Our Habitas Ras Abrouq announces the opening of HUMO, a new restaurant celebrating the flavours and culinary traditions of the Middle East through fire-led cooking and shared dining. Situated along the Arabian Gulf at the edge of the UNESCO-protected Al Reem Biosphere Reserve, just over an hour from Doha, the restaurant is surrounded by Qatar’s striking limestone dunes, tranquil waters and expansive desert landscape. Bringing together regional ingredients, bold flavours and the tradition of coming together over food, HUMO introduces a relaxed dining experience rooted in Arabic hospitality.

Holiday excitement can quickly turn into frustration when travellers find their eyes glued to flight departure boards, as delays disrupt their plans. New research from Confused.com travel insurance experts has unveiled the most punctual airlines.

The Anguilla Tourist Board sponsored the opening general session at Virtuoso On Tour Latin America for the first time, presenting the island’s luxury travel experiences to more than 300 travel professionals. The presentation, delivered during the Oct. 27-29 event, supported the tourist board’s push to diversify Anguilla’s source markets and elevate its visibility among luxury travel advisors in Latin America.

Europcar Mobility Group UK has welcomed the government’s announcement in last weeks Budget to cut the cost of electric vehicle charging at local lower-powered charge points.  It is, however, disappointed that VAT on public charging hasn’t been reduced.

Informa Markets today announced that The Festival of Connoisseurs (TFOC) will make its debut in Hong Kong from 4 to 6 November 2026 at AsiaWorld-Expo, as the first international flagship exhibition supported by Government funding. As announced in this year’s Policy Address and the Budget, the Government has earmarked HK$100 million to attract large-scale international exhibitions with new elements to Hong Kong, with a view to developing Hong Kong into the first-choice platform for showcasing Mainland and international brands.

From chorizo-filled brioche buns to Spain’s famed caramelised custard dessert, Meliá Chiang Mai’s new La Vida Dulce Afternoon Tea is a tribute to the sweeter side of life, accompanied by sweeping views of the city and famed Doi Suthep Temple on the mountaintop to the west. Meaning “the sweet life” in Spanish, La Vida Dulce Afternoon Tea for two references Meliá’s Spanish origins and is served daily at the hotel’s signature Mai Restaurant & Bar on the 21st floor until January 31, 2027.

Uber announced hat it has formally submitted its application for a Ride-hailing Service Licence to the Hong Kong Transport Department.

OCBC has become the first bank in Singapore to enable customers to earn rewards and redeem vouchers when making overseas QR payments with Alipay+ Travel Treat on the OCBC app. The launch of the in-app travel hub builds on OCBC’s partnership with Alipay+, Ant International’s unified wallet gateway, for cross-border payments since 2023. The latest enhancement broadens the partnership beyond payments to encompass travel perks.

This festive season, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru invites guests to trade traditional winter rituals for barefoot celebrations, welcoming Christmas and the New Year with The Secret Underwater Garden. Taking place from 22nd December 2026 to 7th January 2027, the programme celebrates life above and beneath the surface, bringing together festive gastronomy, Maldivian cultural heritage, meaningful marine conservation, ocean adventures and restorative wellbeing.

Virtuoso, the leading global network renowned for luxury and experiential travel, is uniquely positioned to identify the trends influencing how, where and why people will venture in the year ahead. The Virtuoso Luxe Report: United Kingdom & Ireland once again taps the collective knowledge of the network’s esteemed travel agency members and their teams of professional travel advisors to reveal what’s next for the region’s savviest globetrotters. Japan unseats Greece as the most requested international destination, and Thailand makes its top five debut, giving Asia a stronger foothold among established European favourites.

Japan continues to attract British travellers seeking alternatives to Europe’s crowded ski slopes and Hoshino Resorts is spotlighting some of the country’s most rewarding winter destinations for the 2026/27 ski season – from the legendary powder snow of Hokkaido to the lesser-known mountains of Tohoku, where the new KAI Zao has recently opened. Unlike many ski holidays centred solely around the slopes, a winter trip to Japan can combine mountain adventure with hot spring bathing, regional gastronomy, ancient traditions and cultural discovery.