As Media Partner of FHS Africa, Breaking Travel News sat down with a number of key delegates to hear their perspective on the market and where it is heading next. In this interview, we speak to Rose Diaz, Global Director, Commercial & Real Estate Capital Markets at Maison 71, the Abu Dhabi-headquartered global real estate and commercial advisory firm, to discuss investor sentiment, hospitality-led development, and the long-term opportunity across Africa.

Premier Inn Middle East is introducing dog-friendly stays at selected hotels in Dubai, making it easier for guests to travel, relocate, or simply enjoy a staycation without leaving their beloved dog at home. Dog-friendly stays are bookable from today for stays from 6 April at Premier Inn Dubai Al Jaddaf and Premier Inn Dubai Silicon Oasis.

World-renowned luxury hospitality brand, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, announces the debut of six new experiences in its much anticipated “Special Happens…” series spanning its global portfolio. Further advancing the brand’s commitment to Make Special Happen for all guests, the offerings highlight Fairmont’s signature service and sense of celebration. The collection showcases new ‘must try’ experiences which are anchored in four categories:  “After Dark”; “In the Wild”; “Around the Table”; and “In the Spotlight.”.

Pixie Honeymoons (PixieHoneymoons.com), a division of Pixie Vacations, today announced its continued recognition as one of the best Sandals travel agencies in the United States, earning Sandals Resorts’ Chairman’s Royal Club Platinum Elite status and Executive Preferred Agency designation — the two highest credentials Sandals awards to travel partners. These distinctions place Pixie Honeymoons among an elite group of agencies trusted to deliver exceptional Sandals honeymoon and couples vacation experiences across all 17 Sandals resort properties in the Caribbean.

For 153 years, Holland America Line has perfected the art of leisurely travel, inviting guests to connect to the world and each other. This April, the brand celebrates with a monthlong Anniversary Sale featuring fare discounts, onboard credits, reduced deposits, and free fares for kids. Running from April 2–30, 2026, the Anniversary Sale includes departures from April 2026 through spring 2027, with cruises ranging from four to 69 days. The promotion features up to 30% off cruise-only fares, onboard credits up to $400 per stateroom, 50% reduced deposits, and free third and fourth kids when traveling in the same stateroom—making it the perfect time to book a cruise vacation.

In a city that is continually transforming, a collection of storied buildings has been thoughtfully reborn for a new generation. Welcome to Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Cartagena – where history, modernity and the promise of what’s next blend seamlessly in an atmosphere of timeless elegance and elevated hospitality.

Domaine des Etangs, Auberge Collection, reopens today following its annual winter closure. This reopening heralds a new chapter for the property, marked by the arrival of General Manager Damien Bastiat and Executive Chef Valentin Bouilleveaux. The pair have worked thoughtfully behind the scenes seeking to honour the estate’s enduring ethos while shaping a renewed vision – one that celebrates and preserves the singular beauty of this unspoilt corner of southwest France.

Mandarin Oriental The Landmark, Hong Kong will reopen on 1 June 2026, marking the highly anticipated return of one of the city’s most loved hotels. Located in the heart of Central within the prestigious LANDMARK complex, currently being reimagined as part of Tomorrow’s CENTRAL, the hotel returns with a renewed arrival experience, refreshed rooms and suites, and expanded culinary and wellness offerings, marking a new era for this celebrated Asian property.

The Chedi Hegra announces the appointment of Mark Wouters as General Manager, bringing a highly experienced international hotelier to one of the region’s most culturally significant and anticipated destinations. Set within Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Chedi Hegra represents a unique intersection of heritage and contemporary hospitality. Mark’s appointment reflects the brand’s commitment to delivering a considered, culturally grounded guest experience in one of the Kingdom’s most extraordinary settings.

Chedi Hospitality, a leader in luxury lifestyle and design-led hospitality, has announced a strategic partnership with JIH Global Investments LLC to enter the Maldives. The collaboration will see the development of a boutique hotel alongside a limited collection of branded residences, marking a significant step in the brand’s continued expansion into some of the world’s most sought-after destinations. The Maldives has been crowned the World’s Leading Destination at the World Travel Awards for an unprecedented six consecutive years (2020–2025). This streak is a historic first in the travel industry, as the Maldives has successfully defended the title against global competitors every year since first winning it in 2020

Siena Restaurant Dubai opens Tuesday, April 7, 2026 in DIFC at Gate Village 7. The project brings together Mehdi Abdelhedi, founder of Siena in Paris, and Rizwan Kassim, CEO of Paris Society, who joins as a partner for its Dubai chapter. “In a time that calls for a more considered pace, the opening of Siena is approached with intention, rooted in the simple value of bringing people together. Hospitality, often most affected during periods of uncertainty, continues to offer connection, familiarity, and shared moments. Dubai demonstrates strength and stability as a global hub, bringing together cultures and perspectives from around the world. In partnership with Mehdi, introducing Siena to the city is a deliberate step, building on a […]

The Maldives is set to step onto the global stage as a new hub for the creator economy with the launch of the World Creator Summit 2026 and the World Creator Awards 2026, powered by Creatoll.

Virgin Voyages has announced a new trade incentive, offering £10 per booking on select European sailings. From now through to May 28, First Mates (agents) will earn £10 per booking, double the standard £5 reward ‘Loot’. The incentive applies to 12 Virgin Voyages cruises onboard Scarlet Lady and Valliant Lady, departing in May and June, 2026.

Locanda La Raia, the biodynamic winery and boutique hotel in Piedmont, Italy, has officially reopened, welcoming guests back for a new season in the rolling hills of Gavi, in Lower Piedmont. Set within the biodynamic 200-hectare estate of La Raia, where vineyards, woods, lakes, gardens and farmland form a singular ecosystem, the reopening marks a new chapter for the estate’s hospitality offering with the expansion of Borgo de La Raia: an ancient rural hamlet carefully restored in 2024 into a space for hospitality, and now further developed with the addition of two new apartments, Ape Regina and La Villa, introducing a more residential style of stay.

World Travel Awards (WTA) has announced that the paradise nation of the Maldives will host its Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2026, with travel industry leaders from across the region gathering for a prestigious VIP reception on 27 September 2026 to coincide with World Tourism Day. The ceremony heralds the return of the Indian Ocean leg of the World Travel Awards Grand Tour, an annual series of red carpet events hosted in each continent. The decision reflects the strength of the travel and tourism sector in the Maldives and its leadership in the luxury, sustainability and experiential travel domains.

Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has introduced Google’s Find Hub share item location feature to support the recovery of lost or delayed baggage, offering guests an additional, optional way to assist the airline’s teams during the baggage tracking process. Through this feature, guests using a compatible tracker tag or Bluetooth accessory can generate a secure, temporary link and share the location of their baggage directly with Saudia when reporting a delayed or missing bag by attaching the shared link to the guest’s baggage claim record. The shared link provides time-limited access to location information, helping ground teams identify and recover baggage more efficiently. Location sharing can be stopped at any […]

So after incredible scenes yesterday, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is now fully set, and with 48 nations heading to the United States, Canada and Mexico, this is not only football’s biggest stage, it is also one of the biggest tourism showcases on the planet. For some teams, the story is pure football pedigree. For others, it is also about destination power, visitor scale, global recognition and the chance to turn tournament visibility into future demand. France remains the world’s most visited destination on the latest comparable figures, with 102 million international tourists in 2024, ahead of Spain on 93.8 million and the United States on 72.4 million, while Turkey, Mexico, Germany and Japan all arrive with huge tourism weight of their […]

Tribute Portfolio, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, today announced the opening of Varel Singapore, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in one of Singapore’s most vibrant, character-rich neighbourhoods. Located at the kaleidoscopic crossroads of Selegie Road and Mount Sophia, the 128-room hotel further expands Tribute Portfolio’s footprint in Singapore, celebrating individuality, local character, and a uniquely personal approach to hospitality. Rising on the former site of Selegie Centre, the newly-built boutique hotel marks a thoughtful transformation for the location, introducing an urban oasis within a neighbourhood undergoing a quiet revitalisation. Set within a heritage-rich precinct that […]

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Emerald Cruises & Tours have launched a new trade incentive, offering travel agents the chance to win a sight-seeing helicopter tour. Running until April 9, 2026, the prize will see one lucky agent awarded a helicopter tour over London, to coincide with the arrival of the 228-guest Scenic Eclipse II into the capital on July 31, 2026. It will be the first time the ultra-luxury Scenic discovery yacht enters UK waters.

Regenerative travel is shaping the future of tourism, and at Las Torres Patagonia more than 30 years of family-led stewardship have shaped every aspect of this estancia experience in Chilean Patagonia. From inviting guests to share the heritage and traditions of Baqueano cowboy culture and sample their multifaceted zero-waste mixology program, to their long-term conservation, volunteer, community partnership and NGO-led initiatives. Importantly, Las Torres Patagonia also celebrates the people who have brought these endeavours to life.