Jamaica is preparing to welcome travel and tourism leaders from across the region for the World Travel Awards Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony 2026. The ceremony is taking place at Princess Grand Jamaica on 11 October 2026, forming the flagship evening of World Travel Week Jamaica.

Set among the trees on the banks of the Zambezi, Tsowa River Spa is described by Paige Gehren, co-founder of Tsowa Safari Island, as “a place of energy and healing”. The launch comes as slow, restorative travel continues to grow, and as World Mental Health Day brings stress and burnout back into the headlines. Travel data shows how many people now go away simply to recover. In Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report, 56% of travellers named rest and recharging as their main reason for a leisure trip this year, and 57% of US respondents said they were interested in a quiet or silent retreat. The Global Wellness Summit’s 2026 forecast called nervous-system regulation “the next frontier” of wellness, alongside a growing backlash against […]

Norse Atlantic ASA has signed a landmark ACMI agreement with PIA, the largest and flag bearing airline of Pakistan, for two modern Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, accelerating PIA’s long-haul capacity between the UK and Pakistan to meet growing demand for direct, premium connectivity.

Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, the luxury hotel on the doorstep of ancient Khmer archaeological sites, will host a special four-hands dinner on Oct. 16, uniting the talents of the hotel’s Executive Sous Chef Dorn Doeurt and guest Chef Seng Sothea. The two chefs are both proudly rooted in the cultural heart of Siem Reap and are coming together to celebrate the rich gastronomic heritage of Cambodia through their exceptional craftsmanship and artistry.

Icelandair, the flag carrier of Iceland, is adding two destinations to its route network next summer: nonstop service to St. Louis in the American Midwest and Madrid, the capital of Spain, which returns to the network. Flights to St. Louis will operate three to four times a week from May 14 through October 24, 2027, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The inaugural flight takes off just weeks before a milestone birthday: on June 3, 2027, Icelandair turns 90 years. What began in 1937 as Flugfélag Akureyrar, a one-plane seaplane operation on Iceland’s north coast, has grown into Iceland’s flag carrier, connecting North America and Europe for more than 75 years. St. Louis travelers aren’t just getting a new route – […]

On 25 September, THE HOTEL HIGASHIYAMA KYOTO TOKYU, A Pan Pacific Hotel, which is managed by TOKYU HOTELS & RESORTS CO., LTD. (THR), became the first THR property to obtain certification from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), an international non-profit organisation that establishes and manages sustainability standards worldwide. This is a third-party certification based on the GSTC Standards for sustainable tourism.

Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) is strengthening its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and engineering capabilities across the maintenance and supply chain operations through seven strategic partnerships with leading global aviation, engineering, technology and logistics companies. These partnerships will enhance fleet reliability, strengthen operational resilience and create a stronger foundation for long-term MRO growth.

International recognition may first bring a hotel to travellers’ attention, but earning that recognition year after year carries greater significance, particularly for those who value quality and consistency in every stay. ONYX Hospitality Group, a management company specialising in hotels, resorts, serviced apartments and residences across Asia-Pacific, announces that Oriental Residence Bangkok, a hotel under its management, has been awarded One MICHELIN Key for 2026, marking its third consecutive year of recognition since 2024. The achievement reflects the hotel’s commitment to maintaining high standards and consistently delivering an exceptional stay experience.

A new modular hospitality concept launched in Mexico is aiming to change the way hotels and accommodation operators approach expansion, allowing new units to be developed and operational in three to five months, compared with the one to two years that an equivalent conventional project can typically require in destinations such as the Riviera Maya. SIAN has launched its first hospitality unit, SIAN Yáax, in Isla Mujeres, using an off-site manufacturing model in which the majority of construction takes place in a controlled factory environment before the structure is transported and assembled at its final destination.

Etihad Airways will operate a daily service to Damascus from 14 November 2026, increasing the route from four to seven weekly flights. Since its inaugural flight in June, the route has been warmly received by guests in both the UAE and Syria, and has quickly established itself as an important link between the two countries for families, business travellers and guests continuing across Etihad’s network. The move to a daily schedule offers each of them considerably greater choice in when they travel.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and Nigerian carrier Ibom Air have signed an interline agreement that will carry guests travelling with Etihad beyond Lagos and Accra to five Nigerian cities on a single ticket, from the day Etihad’s own services to the two cities begin in March 2027.

Starting with the 2027 summer flight schedule, the Lufthansa Group is significantly expanding its services to Japan due to a strong increase in demand. Lufthansa is resuming its direct Frankfurt to Nagoya service as well as adding an additional daily flight to Tokyo-Narita to its Tokyo service. SWISS is also expanding their capacity and offering more flights. As a result, the airlines of the Lufthansa Group will fly to Japan up to x50 times per week in Summer 2027, positioning itself as the leading European airline group in this market.

Qatar Airways will expand its global network to more than 170 destinations during the 2026-2027 winter season, reflecting the airline’s network growth and reinforcing its position as a leader in global connectivity. The winter schedule will see Qatar Airways operate more than 186 weekly flights across Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East, providing passengers with greater choice and seamless experiences through its award-winning hub at Hamad International Airport.

British Airways has unveiled the next stage of its Heathrow lounge transformation, with this announcement marking the first phase of a wider programme that will see every lounge at Heathrow redesigned over the coming years. One of the airline’s largest-ever lounge investments, the programme includes a new lounge at Heathrow Terminal 5 C Gates, a complete redevelopment of the Terminal 5 Arrivals lounge and, in collaboration with American Airlines, a new First check-in experience at Heathrow Terminal 3.

British Airways has unveiled new cabins arriving on its retrofitted A380s, marking a major milestone in one of the most extensive cabin refurbishment programmes ever undertaken by an airline. From nose to tail, customers will experience a transformed A380 aircraft, featuring redesigned interiors, new seats in every cabin and upgrades to the onboard experience, all designed to deliver greater comfort and a more premium end-to-end journey at 35,000ft. The first completed A380 is expected to enter service in the coming months, marking the start of a fleet-wide transformation and forming part of the airline’s wider investment in the customer experience.

Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier, today announced the opening of ticket sales for its three-times-weekly service between Riyadh and Jakarta, marking a key addition to its growing Asian network and its 16th destination on sale, with more destinations set to be announced in the coming days and weeks. Commencing November 16, 2026, the route expands Riyadh Air’s footprint across Asia and creates a strategic connection between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the world’s most populous island and Southeast Asia’s largest economy, supporting the airline’s mission to connect major global hubs through Riyadh.

Tapping into the rise of the modern global nomad, Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new digitally native global airline, has announced that Sfeer Members across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UK (with additional key international markets soon to be announced) could win a unique Golden Ticket, unlocking a year of seamless travel to see the world as they work or play, alongside exclusive first-look access to its premium guest experience.

Riyadh Air shared the first images of its maiden indigo-colored Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner as it emerged from Boeing’s paint facility in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. Inspired by spring desert blooms and Arabic calligraphy, the striking indigo-and-lavender design complements Riyadh Air’s pearlescent white livery. It is anticipated that every tenth aircraft in the Riyadh Air fleet will feature the indigo livery, creating a distinctive marker of the airline’s growth. The aircraft will be delivered in the near future and will soon be visible at one of the 15 global airports served by the airline.

Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has called for the creation of a Caribbean Tourism Resilience Fund, proposing a new regional financing model designed to protect destinations, tourism workers and small businesses from hurricanes and other economic shocks. Speaking during the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Guyana, Bartlett urged governments and industry leaders to invest in resilience before disaster strikes. But turning the proposal into reality will require agreement on funding, governance and accountability.

Arajet continues to reach new milestones in Dominican commercial aviation. In September 2026, the country’s flag carrier transported 158,407 passengers, excluding connecting passengers, ranking as the second-largest airline by passenger traffic to and from the Dominican Republic, behind only JetBlue. According to statistics from the Dominican Republic’s Civil Aviation Board (JAC), Arajet recorded 62% growth compared to September 2025, when it transported 97,797 passengers. This result is even more significant considering that, according to the airline’s internal data, total passenger traffic during September, including connecting passengers, reached 180,841.