Visa, a global leader in digital payments and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen Singapore’s appeal as a preferred travel destination and to unlock new growth opportunities. The collaboration will focus on three key pillars – driving discovery of Singapore’s tourism products, especially its dining and night-time experiences; deriving insights to identify high-value tourism opportunities; and developing co-branded marketing campaigns to build brand preference for both Visa and Singapore.

In an increasingly competitive world of luxury hospitality, the ability to evolve while remaining true to a distinctive identity has never been more important. For Cheval Collection, a brand synonymous with exceptional serviced apartments and considered luxury living, the unveiling of its new brand identity marks a defining moment in its journey. Representing its most significant brand evolution in more than 16 years, the relaunch reflects a business with growing international ambitions, a strengthening focus on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and a clear vision for the future of luxury accommodation. In this exclusive Q&A, Breaking Travel News speaks with Nick Pilbeam, Chief Commercial Officer of Cheval Collection, to […]

Meliá Pattaya Hotel is introducing a new chapter in its culinary offering with the transformation of DEN restaurant into a modern premium izakaya specialising in Japanese grilling and sharing plates. The new concept will be launched with an exclusive four-course dinner paired with premium sake selections on Friday, October 30, 2026. Steeped in Japan’s traditional izakaya culture, DEN takes inspiration from the country’s informal pubs where people gather over drinks and small dishes designed for sharing, offering premium Japanese grilling and beverages amid an atmosphere that pays homage to Tokyo after dark.

Four years after launching operations in Mexico, Arajet continues to strengthen its presence in this important market, achieving historic performance to date. This is reflected in the growth of total air passenger traffic between the two countries, which, according to data from the Dominican Republic’s Civil Aviation Board (JAC), is projected to exceed 398,000 passengers by the end of 2026. This significant increase in passenger traffic represents 423% growth compared to the 76,049 passengers transported in 2022, the year the Dominican flag carrier began operations in Mexico.

Amadeus and NVIDIA have been collaborating to explore how accelerated computing and travel-specific AI could support faster, more scalable and more efficient flight search. Building on this work, the companies have now signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen their collaboration and accelerate further exploration. As AI assistants increasingly search on behalf of travelers, they are changing both the volume and complexity of demand placed on travel technology.

Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, has helped transport two rescued brown bears from Russia to their new home at Wild Ireland, a wildlife sanctuary in County Donegal reinforcing its commitment to animal welfare and supporting wildlife conservation efforts.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, today launched the only nonstop service between Luxembourg and Abu Dhabi, becoming the first airline from the Middle East to fly to Luxembourg. The route operates four times a week on the Etihad A321LR, with strong demand since bookings opened in January 2026. Etihad’s inaugural flight, EY51 from Abu Dhabi, was welcomed at Luxembourg Airport with a water cannon salute.

Emirates will deploy its latest-generation Airbus A350 to Mauritius from 1 November 2026, replacing the Boeing 777 currently operating the airline’s daily EK709/710 service between Dubai and Mauritius.

Emirates is commemorating 35 years of serving Hong Kong, building on a remarkable journey that took flight in July 1991. What began with Emirates’ first landing in Hong Kong has evolved into a longstanding relationship with the city, connecting generations of travellers with Dubai and destinations around the world, with its Fly Better promise at the heart of every journey.

Emirates Skywards, the award-winning loyalty programme of Emirates and flydubai, is bringing back its popular ‘Mile-A-Minute’ offer, rewarding members with one Skywards Mile for every minute spent in Dubai, up to 7,200 bonus Miles. As Dubai welcomes its winter season of festivals, events and outdoor experiences, the limited-time offer adds an extra reward for international visitors enjoying a holiday or stopover in the city. First introduced in 2021, the popular initiative returns with an opportunity for members to earn bonus Miles on top of those earned on eligible Emirates and flydubai flight tickets.

Air Canada’s mobile app has been named Best Airline App at the 2026 World Aviation Festival in Lisbon, winning the Battle of the Airline Apps. A panel of industry judges compared three airline finalists and rated Air Canada’s app the best. The judges highlighted the app’s ability to bring together the full travel journey in a single experience, helping customers move seamlessly from booking to arrival with personalised, contextual information throughout their trip.

Two major honours at the 2026 World Cruise Awards put CruiseHub in the spotlight. But behind the trophies lies a more compelling story: a cruise specialist seeking to combine competitive fares, personal service and the reassurance of having an experienced human adviser on hand whenever the journey demands it. There is something wonderfully seductive about planning a cruise. Perhaps it is the thought of waking to a different horizon each morning, the promise of exploring far-flung coastlines without repeatedly packing a suitcase, or the simple pleasure of watching the world drift by from the deck of a ship. Yet before the champagne is poured and the gangway crossed, there is the business of choosing the right vessel, the right cabin, the […]

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has announced that Century Cruises’ new river ship, Century Star, will be available to tour at the RiverView 2027 conference. The ship will feature as part of the new ‘Lite’ programme in Vienna on March 6, when agents will be welcomed onboard for informal visits. Delegates will have the opportunity to explore the ship, meet the onboard team, and enjoy drinks and light refreshments.

The region’s finest culinary and mixology talent is heading to Barbados. The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) today announced the teams competing in Taste of the Caribbean 2026, taking place Nov. 16-19 at Wyndham Sam Lord’s Castle All-Inclusive Resort, where an expanded slate of competitions will raise the bar for the Caribbean’s chefs and bartenders. This year’s competition brings together 15 teams from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Bonaire, Curaçao, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

For the 12th year running, Visit Qatar is set to participate in World Travel Market (WTM) London 2026, taking place from 3–5 November 2026 at ExCeL London, where it will showcase Qatar’s expanding tourism offering to international travel trade professionals, buyers and media.

London’s Elephant & Castle is getting a new food and drink destination this November, and there’s plenty to tempt locals through the doors. The Elephant Exchange Food Hall, the latest opening from hospitality group Blend Family, will welcome its first visitors on Thursday 12 November, with a week of special offers to celebrate. Families can enjoy Kids Eat Free throughout the first week, including the weekend, while anyone looking to escape the home office can take advantage of bottomless tea and coffee throughout launch week. Whether it’s a family meal, a catch-up with friends, or a change of scenery for the working day, the new food hall invites the local community to come in and give it a try.

Explore Worldwide has launched its hotly anticipated annual 2026 Black Friday sale, offering travellers 20 percent off more than 1,500 selected departures worldwide for travel throughout 2027. Running from Thursday 19 November until Tuesday 1 December 2026, the sale applies to selected departures travelling between 1 March and 31 December 2027, giving customers the chance to save on adventures across Explore Worldwide’s extensive programme.

YTL Hotels has announced the acquisition of a lifestyle hotel at 181 South Bridge Road in Singapore, which will be rebranded as Hotel Stripes Singapore Chinatown, Autograph Collection, by YTL Hotels and a private fund managed by BlackRock. The 304-room, 16-story property will be repositioned as an upper-upscale hotel within Marriott International’s Autograph Collection, marking the Hotel Stripes brand’s debut in Singapore.

Connecting investors with the next generation of event industry businesses, IBTM Ignite, which combines investment-ready support, live pitching and structured introductions, will return to IBTM World for 2026. Delivered in partnership with growth consultancy and M&A specialist allpoints, Ignite creates a route from early potential to real commercial opportunity. To date, Ignite has helped participating businesses secure £3.5 million in investment, demonstrating the programme’s role in turning promising ideas into sustainable growth. We speak to two of this year’s exciting start-ups taking part in the programme – Gianluca Sordano, CEO & Co-Founder at Always Friday, and Shelby Crisan, Founder at KNO Events, to discuss what IBTM […]

African Bush Camps, a luxury safari operator with bespoke itineraries across Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, has long pioneered family safari travel by making authentic African safaris accessible, educational and inspiring for guests of all ages. While many safaris impose strict age restrictions that exclude children, African Bush Camps believes exceptional safaris should be experienced together as a family, with special Experiences designed to be shared across generations.