When Hamad Al Khater became group chief executive of Qatar Airways in December 2025, he inherited one of the world’s most internationally recognised airline brands. He also inherited an unusually interconnected business: a global carrier, Hamad International Airport, cargo, ground handling, catering, retail and tourism interests all organised around Doha’s role as a transfer hub. Al Khater arrived with direct experience of that operating system. Before taking the group role, he was chief operating officer of Hamad International Airport, where he worked on capacity, service quality and the complex coordination required at a fast-growing global gateway. Earlier in his career he held senior roles at QatarEnergy, giving him experience in a […]

There are airline leaders, airport leaders and destination leaders. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum has spent much of his career operating across all three categories at once. As chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group, chairman of Dubai Airports and chairman of flydubai, he sits at the junction where Dubai’s aviation capacity, network reach and visitor economy meet. That position was not created overnight. Sheikh Ahmed began his aviation career in 1985, the year Emirates launched. The assignment was audacious: build an international airline for a city that wanted to become a global trading and tourism hub, but did not yet possess the scale, connectivity or visitor infrastructure associated with one. Emirates grew by […]

Tunisia’s tourism recovery has brought back volume. Under Mohamed Mehdi Haloui, the next task is to improve the quality, spread and economic value of that demand. He became director general of the Tunisian National Tourist Office in April 2025, moving into the top role after serving as the organisation’s investment director and working directly on tourism development projects. As investment director, he encountered the central weakness in Tunisia’s recovery proposition: demand can return faster than ageing assets can be renewed. Financing hotel renovations is difficult when rates are low, seasons are short and operators carry legacy debt. Haloui’s experience evaluating projects gives him a realistic view of what marketing can and […]

Jordan possesses one of tourism’s most recognisable icons in Petra, yet recognition does not insulate a destination from regional perception. Ramzi Maaytah became director general of the Jordan Tourism Board in December 2025 at a time when events beyond the country’s borders were influencing bookings, air capacity and insurance decisions. Maaytah brought experience in international tourism, destination development and advisory work. Trained as an economist, with education connected to Arizona State University, he has worked across tourism strategy, investment and consulting. His background includes private-sector advisory work through Levant Consulting, giving him a view of the commercial barriers that can prevent a promising […]

Phillipa Harrison became chief executive of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority in September 2025, moving from a national tourism organisation to one of the world’s most closely watched emerging destinations. Her appointment placed an experienced international marketer in charge just as the emirate entered a major hotel and attraction cycle. Harrison spent eight years at Tourism Australia and served as managing director from 2019. Her tenure included bushfires, border closures and the long rebuilding of international aviation after the pandemic. She also brought earlier commercial and marketing experience from the travel sector, giving her an understanding of both destination promotion and the businesses expected to convert […]

Saudi hospitality is not only being built through new projects. It is also being consolidated into larger national platforms capable of owning, developing and operating assets at scale. Sultan bin Badr Al Otaibi stands at the centre of that process as chief executive of TAIBA. Al Otaibi began his career in finance before moving through hotel development, operations and partnerships. He became a vice president in 2014 and chief executive of Dur Hospitality in 2019. Following the combination of Dur and Taiba Investments, he took the leadership of the enlarged company in 2024.

Hossam El Shaer’s career is rooted in a family travel business founded in 1971. That heritage gave him an early view of tourism from the distribution side: how visitors choose destinations, what tour operators need and how external shocks affect demand. When he established SUNRISE Resorts and Cruises in 2002, he brought that market knowledge into hotel ownership and operations. By 2026, SUNRISE operated across 15 destinations in Egypt, Greece, Tanzania and Morocco. Its portfolio comprised 41 hotels and resorts with more than 13,000 rooms, as well as seven Nile cruise vessels. The scale reflects a strategy of controlling more of the visitor journey and using distribution intelligence to shape the product.

Adel El Fakir has experienced destination growth from both sides of the terminal. As chief executive of the Moroccan National Tourism Office, he was responsible for persuading travellers and airlines to choose Morocco. Since becoming director general of Airports of Morocco in June 2024, he has been responsible for what happens when that demand arrives. The career transition is strategically significant. Marketing can accelerate visitor numbers faster than infrastructure can absorb them. By moving a destination marketer into airport leadership, Morocco placed someone familiar with source markets, airline partnerships and visitor expectations in charge of a national network facing rapid growth.

The origin story of Pickalbatros Hotels and Resorts is unusually personal. Kamel Abou Aly has recounted how an unsatisfactory stay in Hurghada convinced him that Egypt’s growing Red Sea market needed better organised resorts. In 1992, he founded the company and began developing the Beach Albatros concept. Born in Port Said in 1954, Abou Aly spent part of his early career in Switzerland before returning to Egypt. His background included sport and ice hockey, experiences that helped shape his interest in recreation-led resorts and large-scale leisure facilities. Pickalbatros grew by understanding the practical requirements of family and package travel: extensive pools, entertainment, food choice, beach access and reliable service.

Tarek M El Sayed’s portfolio is global, but its strategic centre remains Doha. As chief executive of Al Rayyan Tourism Investment Company, known as ARTIC, he oversees 30 hotels and resorts with more than 8,000 rooms, alongside approximately 1,830 residences and close to 100,000 square metres of commercial space. The assets span 14 cities, including Doha, Cairo, Rome, Istanbul, Berlin and Miami. This geographic spread gives ARTIC exposure to business travel, leisure, domestic demand and international gateway markets. It also requires El Sayed to manage different economic cycles, currencies, regulations and operating partners at the same time.

Maison 71 has appointed Jerell Atrio Francisco as Office Manager, adding experience in property administration, digital visibility and online fraud analysis to the team behind its real estate and hospitality advisory business. The Abu Dhabi-headquartered firm recently announced a dedicated hospitality division during FHS World, with a focus on hotel and resort acquisitions, sales and development partnerships across the GCC, Caribbean and Indian Ocean. Francisco’s appointment supports the day-to-day operations of the wider Maison 71 business.

Ennismore, the fastest-growing lifestyle hospitality company, together with LIMM and Società Rinascimento Valori, are delighted to announce the signing of Delano Puglia, marking the brand’s first property in Italy. Set to open in 2028, the resort will introduce Delano’s inimitable blend of effortless elegance and cultural energy to one of Italy’s most compelling coastal regions.

AmaWaterways has announced a culinary partnership with acclaimed British chef, Theo Randall, for an exclusive July sailing on board the luxury AmaWaterways AmaLea ship for the Romantic Danube itinerary. Sailing the Danube River through Germany, Austria and Hungary from the 17th – 24th July 2027, this partnership will see Theo host two intimate Chef’s Table luxury dining experiences on board the ship, designed to showcase the culinary depth of a scenic AmaWaterways cruise. Theo will carefully curate a bespoke menu which will reflect the local region with this signature flare. With locally sourced ingredients at the forefront of the experience, bringing guests closer to the authentic stories of the destinations they visit.

Transformative holistic wellness destination Chiva-Som Hua Hin has unveiled a calendar of complimentary experiences for the final quarter of 2026. From October to December, guests can embrace the grounding qualities of Earth, the final element of Thai Traditional Medicine (TTM), through movement classes, sound healing experiences and expert-led talks designed to enhance strength, stability and balance. Alongside the wellness program, seasonal celebrations including Loy Krathong, as well as the international festivals of Christmas and New Year, will offer opportunities to experience Thai culture and connect through shared traditions with exclusive offers.

Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort in Morocco has become the first club outside of Asia to join Asian Tour Destinations (ATD) – following an announcement today by the award-winning venue and the Asian Tour. The resort’s golf club played an important role in professional golf this summer when it hosted back-to-back events on the Asian Tour and Asian Development Tour (ADT), and today’s news further cements its relationship with the game at the highest level.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a global luxury brand part of Accor, has today announced reservations from November 2nd are now live, ahead of its much-anticipated opening. As Fairmont’s newest property, Fairmont New Orleans will be the brand’s 19th property in the USA. Located in New Orleans’ Central Business District, just steps from the French Quarter and Ceasars Superdome, the hotel’s opening marks the much-anticipated grand return of the iconic luxury brand to the Crescent City following two decades.

Tailor-made specialist Audley Travel has launched a trade booking incentive for the final quarter of the year to reward agents for their support – with the chance to win a £20,000 voucher towards a personal and bespoke Audley trip of their very own – double the prize offered in 2025.

In 2027, the United States marks 200 years since the beginning of its railroad era, providing travelers with a timely reason to experience the country from a different perspective: through the window of a train.  From crossing the Rocky Mountains and following the path of Route 66 to riding vintage trains through historic landscapes and sleeping inside restored railway carriages, Brand USA is highlighting unique and unforgettable ways to experience 200 years of American rail.

The Mykonos pool scene has developed a character of its own. More than a place for a morning swim, the best hotel pools now set the pace of the day, moving between leisurely lunches, sunset cocktails and evenings beneath the island sky. Across Myconian Collection, pools and bars are shaped by their location. Some overlook the rooftops of Mykonos Town, others follow the hillsides above Elia, while in Ornos and Agrari, the distance between pool and sea is reduced to a few steps.

Looking for the perfect way to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or milestone? Staying in a grand castle hotel that blends modern luxury with rich history could be the ultimate way to mark the occasion. This is why the global car rental and comparison site DiscoverCars.com have researched and put together this list of ten fairytale castle destinations across Europe. The cost for a two-night stay from 25th-27th September and car hire prices for the same time frame are included.