The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) today announced that works have commenced on Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi (House of the Arts), a landmark institution on Saadiyat Island that will become one of the region’s most technically advanced performing arts venues upon opening in 2030. Representing a major investment in cultural infrastructure, the institution reflects Abu Dhabi’s vision to create world-class platforms for artistic excellence, international collaboration and cultural exchange.

The luxury cruise and the railway revival promised that the journey could matter as much as the destination. A new wave of curated driving journeys goes a step further, trading the view from the deck for the freedom of the road. HunterMoss makes the case with its 2027 calendar, led by a first route from the Basque Country to Bordeaux.

In a major step toward industry-wide decarbonisation, the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (WSHA) today announced the successful completion of a pioneering feasibility study on collective renewable energy purchasing for the global hospitality industry.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has expressed concern over proposals to increase Barcelona’s tourist tax on short-stay cruise passengers, warning that the measure could weaken the city’s competitiveness and have unintended consequences for the local economy.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today announced that its Hotel Sustainability Basics programme will transition to an independent third-party certification scheme, aligned with new European Union requirements for environmental claims and designed to meet the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Accreditation Framework. The move strengthens Hotel Sustainability Basics as a globally recognised framework for hotel sustainability, providing independent verification, greater transparency, and a credible pathway for hotels to demonstrate their sustainability performance in line with evolving regulatory and market expectations.

New research by the car rental comparison and booking website DiscoverCars.com found that Portugal, Spain and Austria are among the most affordable places for a family camping trip in Europe this summer. To find the best budget-friendly getaway, DiscoverCars.com analysed 2-4 popular family campsites in each country in the survey to find the average lowest campsite cost for a week-long stay between 27th July-2nd August. They then combined this cost with car rental rates in the local area for the same time frame, finding a total average cost for a week-long trip.

As weddings evolve into immersive, destination-led experiences, Saint Lucia stands out as one of the Caribbean’s most enchanting places to begin forever. At The Landings Resort & Spa, couples are invited to celebrate love in a setting where beautiful beaches and golden sunsets create a naturally romantic stage for unforgettable moments. With direct flights available from the UK, reaching the island is as effortless as the experience itself. Set on the golden sands of Rodney Bay in the north of Saint Lucia, The Landings Resort & Spa boasts one of the island’s most enviable addresses and at the heart of the resort is its iconic private marina –  a defining feature that creates an elegant yacht-club atmosphere within the resort.

AmaWaterways today unveiled the first details and renderings of AmaRudi, its highly anticipated second double-width river ship scheduled to debut on the Danube River in spring 2027. Building on the groundbreaking design of AmaMagna, which redefined expectations for river cruising when it launched in 2019, AmaRudi will stand alongside its sister ship as the largest river cruise ship in Europe. Designed to accommodate just 196 guests in 98 staterooms and suites, the new vessel will offer an extraordinary amount of personal space, multiple dining venues, expansive wellness amenities and thoughtfully designed public spaces inspired by the destinations along the Danube River.

Lifemiles, Avianca’s loyalty program, received the “Up and Coming Program Award,” recognizing it as the Breakout Loyalty Program of the Year, at the 2026 Freddie Awards. Considered one of the industry’s most prestigious honors, the award is determined by customer votes and recognizes programs that deliver exceptional value to their members through compelling promotions, accessible pricing and continuous innovation across the loyalty experience.

Jamaica invites UK cricket fans to turn this summer’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) into an unforgettable holiday experience, combining world-class T20 cricket with adventure and everything the island has to offer. Kingston is gearing up for an unforgettable week of cricket as the CPL returns from 11–18 August, marking the Jamaica Kingsmen make their home debut at Sabina Park, Jamaica’s iconic cricket ground. CPL matchdays here are far more than sport alone. Fans can expect a high-energy atmosphere where international cricket meets a passionate home crowd, set against the backdrop of Kingston and sweeping views of the Blue Mountains.

As temperatures climb on what is set to be one of the hottest days of the year so far, award-winning Lapland specialist Canterbury Travel is inviting families to pause and picture something altogether different, the crisp crunch of fresh snow underfoot, frosted trees glistening in the Arctic light and the unmistakable magic of Christmas drawing closer. With just 183 sleeps until the big day, now is the perfect time to start counting down to the festive season. The milestone comes as demand for Lapland holidays continues to grow, with more than half of Canterbury Travel’s 2026 Lapland programme already booked and many departures nearing sell-out.

Accenture’s latest Consumer Pulse Research, featured in the report “Talk to My AI Agent,” offers insights into consumer readiness for AI agents and implications for brand value. This media alert focuses on the travel sample (2,999 respondents). KEY FINDINGS: A shift is underway in travel, and it is not just about AI-powered trip planning. Travelers are increasingly willing to let AI agents influence, negotiate and even make booking decisions on their behalf, potentially reshaping how loyalty, discovery and brand preference work in the industry.

The UK’s latest consumer spending figures show expenditure on travel has dropped (-5.8% year-on-year) for ​a third month in a row – a sign of caution in today’s unpredictable economy and global order. But what we’re seeing at Thomas Cook is that it’s largely a case of adaptation, rather than the public cutting back on or forgoing holidays.

Swiss-Belhotel International has announced the opening of Swiss-Belhotel Nizwa, Oman, strengthening its growing footprint across the GCC and reinforcing its commitment to bringing internationally recognised hospitality experiences to key tourism destinations throughout the Middle East. The opening represents the successful culmination of a strategic partnership between Swiss-Belhotel International and Bawareq Nizwa International For Investment SAOC, bringing a globally recognised hospitality brand to a destination that continues to attract growing numbers of domestic and international visitors.

United Airlines and DIRECTV are teaming up to enable passengers to watch live streaming TV on Starlink-enabled, United seatback screens through July 20, which will allow soccer fans to catch all the action from the summer’s biggest sports tournament through the last match on as many as 150 Starlink-enabled aircraft thanks to the world’s fastest, most reliable inflight Wi-Fi service. Through DIRECTV and BBC, United customers on these aircraft have free access to more than a dozen live TV channels, including FOX, Fox Sports 1, Apple F1, ABC, ESPN, TNT, CNN, CBS, NBC, TBS and BBC News, offering live soccer, sports, news, weather, business and entertainment.

Luxury river cruise line Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is riding a wave of record demand from UK travellers, with bookings for 2026 up 32% year-on-year and 2027 bookings already 63% ahead of the same point last year. The growth comes as Uniworld launches a host of new experiences, ships and itineraries for 2026 and 2027, including a brand-new generation of Super Ships, a new series of luxury cruise-and-tour holidays, and an inaugural programme of immersive, land-based journeys around the world in partnership with sister brand, Luxury Gold.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will host a series of pilot recruitment sessions across Europe and Türkiye this summer, inviting experienced First Officers and Captains to join the fastest-growing airline in the world. The informal, drop-in sessions will take place between June and August 2026 across seven cities in Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom and Türkiye. They are open to experienced First Officers and Captains, and form part of a wider recruitment drive as Etihad expands its fleet and network through to 2030

The Latin way of cheering that takes over the streets of the United States, Canada and Mexico arrives in Brazil in 2027 With Brazilians and other Latin Americans turning World Cup host cities into a celebration, Brazil prepares to experience this same energy one year from now at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027

The cruise industry is now open for business, as registration is officially open for the FCCA Cruise Conference and Trade Show, the only official cruise conference taking place in the Caribbean and Latin America, as well as the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s (FCCA) keynote and only open registration event allowing any attendee to target about 100 high-level cruise executives during an agenda featuring workshops, networking functions, one-on-one meetings, and more.

DoubleTree by Hilton Wrocław hosted the Wrocław Tourism Office in recognising the city’s top gastronomic destinations, as announced by Michelin Guide Poland for 2026. The Michelin Guide Poland Press Conference brought together nominees, Michelin-recognised chefs, and local authorities to celebrate Wrocław’s top gastronomic destinations.