Category Archives: Business

PATA Issues Mid-Year Asia Pacific Tourism Forecasts Highlighting 801 Million Visitors by 2027

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(IN SHORT) PATA’s Mid-Year Update to its Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2025–2027 refines its March outlook, modelling three recovery scenarios for 39 destinations amid geopolitical tensions, economic volatility and community pushback against mass tourism. Key takeaways include a projected rise from 692 million to 801 million international arrivals by 2027 under the “medium” scenario; China,… Read the full news article

PATA Welcomes Aseer Region Development Authority to Champion Sustainable Tourism in Saudi Arabia

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(IN SHORT) PATA has welcomed the Aseer Region Development Authority as its latest member, strengthening ties in Saudi Arabia’s southwest. PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid and ASDA CEO Eng. Hashem Al Dabbagh emphasized Aseer’s potential as a model for sustainable, community-focused tourism. The region—known for its cool mountains, rich heritage and varied landscapes—will benefit from… Read the full news article

Hong Kong Airport Kicks Off Major Career Expo with 3,000-Plus Opportunities in Aviation and Logistics

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(IN SHORT) The HKIA Career Expo 2025, co-hosted by Airport Authority Hong Kong and the Labour Department, opens on 27 June at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Featuring over 3,000 vacancies from nearly 40 aviation-related companies, the three-day event spans inflight services, ground operations, aircraft maintenance, logistics, security, catering and more. Officiated by… Read the full news article

Travelport+ Integrates EVA Air NDC Content for Enhanced Agency Booking and Servicing

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(IN SHORT) Travelport has added EVA Air’s NDC content to its Travelport+ platform, allowing travel agencies in select markets to shop and service personalized fares and ancillaries within the GDS. The integration supports end-to-end NDC workflows—booking, modifications, and cancellations—enhancing efficiency and traveler experience. EVA Air’s digital planning lead, Eric Chiu, highlighted the partnership’s role in… Read the full news article

ANA Expands NDC Partnership with Trip.com to Offer Full Fare Access Beyond Japan

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(IN SHORT) All Nippon Airways has broadened its NDC-powered ticket distribution with Trip.com from Japan to eleven additional markets—Australia, Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines—effective June 24, 2025. Customers booking ANA flights on Trip.com in these regions will be able to purchase the same fare classes and… Read the full news article

From Apprentice to Manager Stagecoach Celebrates Female Engineering Talent Across Its UK Network

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(IN SHORT) In celebration of National Women in Engineering Day, Stagecoach highlights its 74 women engineers, including 10 apprentices driving innovation across its UK operations. Apprentice Nancy Halpin emphasizes the reward of hands-on problem-solving, while Assistant Engineering Manager Charlotte Nicholls recounts her ascent from apprentice to leadership over eight years. Asset Management Director Tony Cockcroft… Read the full news article

Spirit Airlines Renames Fare Bundles to Spirit First, Premium Economy, and Value for Greater Clarity

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(IN SHORT) On June 24, 2025, Spirit Airlines announced new names for its fare bundles to enhance clarity and simplify booking choices. The carrier’s premium offerings are now Spirit First (formerly Go Big) and Premium Economy (formerly Go Comfy), while its budget-focused option is Value (formerly Go). Spirit First includes Big Front Seat®, complimentary baggage,… Read the full news article

Qatar Airways Debuts AI-Driven Converix In-Flight Entertainment on 777-9 Jets at Paris Air Show

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(IN SHORT) During the 55th International Paris Air Show, Qatar Airways, recently named World’s Best Airline 2025 by Skytrax for a record ninth time, revealed its new in-flight entertainment system on Boeing 777-9 jets. Developed in partnership with Panasonic Avionics’ Converix platform, the IFE harnesses AI to deliver a single, integrated interface for entertainment, cabin… Read the full news article

Quarter Century of SkyTeam Alliance Growth Highlights Customer Innovations and Environmental Leadership

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(IN SHORT) SkyTeam marked its 25th anniversary on 22 June 2025, celebrating the evolution from four founding airlines to a global network of 18 members serving 945 destinations in 145 countries. The alliance’s 235 million loyalty members benefit from unified perks—co-located lounges, SkyPriority, interline transfers, and mileage redemptions. Over the past quarter-century, SkyTeam has introduced… Read the full news article

Early Start for Cathay’s Hong Kong Route Boosts Christchurch Summer Connectivity

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(IN SHORT) Cathay Pacific will kick off its seasonal Hong Kong–Christchurch route on 3 November 2025—one month earlier than in previous years—with three weekly flights rising to four during peak months. The schedule extension, following Cathay’s Skytrax #3 global ranking, increases both passenger and cargo capacity, benefiting South Island tourism and perishable exports. Christchurch Airport… Read the full news article

New Zealand Prime Minister and Airport Chair Sign Deal in Shanghai to Strengthen Trade and Tourism Connectivity

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(IN SHORT) Christchurch Airport and Shanghai Airport Authority have signed an MOU in Shanghai—witnessed by Board Chair Sarah Ottrey and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon—to strengthen strategic ties, enhance direct air connectivity, and support growing trade and tourism between China and New Zealand’s South Island. Ottrey’s participation in the New Zealand Trade Mission highlights her dual… Read the full news article

From Luanda to Zanzibar: Hilton Unveils Major Expansion with 160 Hotels Planned in Africa

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(IN SHORT) At the 2025 Future Hospitality Summit Africa, Hilton announced plans to grow from 63 to over 160 hotels across Africa, including more than 100 in development. Key debuts span Angola (three properties), Benin (Hilton Cotonou), Madagascar (two Antananarivo hotels), Ghana (Hampton Accra Airport; Hilton Accra Cantonments later this year), Nigeria (Curio Abuja, Lagos… Read the full news article

TUI Unveils New Blue and Suneo Resorts in Egypt and Tunisia as Part of Expansive African Rollout

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(IN SHORT) TUI Group announced the addition of two new hotels to its African portfolio: TUI Blue Samaya in Marsa Alam, Egypt, featuring 143 rooms and an aqua park, and TUI Suneo Palm Beach Skanes in Tunisia with 294 rooms and extensive gardens. The company has over 20 more African properties in development, including a… Read the full news article

Emerging Eastern European Destinations Lead Growth in Amadeus & UN Tourism’s Travel Insights 2025

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(IN SHORT) Travel Insights 2025: Focus on Europe, co-published by Amadeus and UN Tourism, reveals that emerging markets in Central and Eastern Europe—led by Azerbaijan’s 26 percent year-on-year growth in air bookings—are gaining traction among international travelers. While traditional leaders like Spain, the U.K., Italy, France, and Germany continue to dominate (accounting for 71 percent… Read the full news article

Amadeus Integrates AI Chatbot into Demand360 and Automates RFP Responses in MeetingBroker

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(IN SHORT) Amadeus, in partnership with Microsoft and leveraging OpenAI’s Azure platform, is rolling out two AI-driven enhancements to its Hospitality products. The first embeds Amadeus Advisor Chat into Demand360, granting hotel teams instant, tailored insights based on data from 44,000 hotels and 35 million short-term rentals. Advisor Chat users have already reclaimed significant analyst… Read the full news article

Airbus Adopts Lufthansa’s SAF-Backed Corporate Fare to Offset Business-Flight Emissions

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(IN SHORT) Starting 1 June, Airbus has adopted Lufthansa Group’s “Sustainable Corporate Value Fare” for all domestic German flights taken by its employees, enabling partial CO₂ offsetting via Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The fare, which can cover up to 30 percent of calculated emissions, complements Lufthansa’s broader suite of tailored corporate green travel solutions, including… Read the full news article

MMPRC Delegation Highlights Maldives’ Investment-Ready Appeal in New York

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(IN SHORT) At the New York Tourism forum on 16 June 2025, MMPRC and the Maldives’ UN Mission presented the archipelago as a prime destination for strategic industry partnerships. The delegation—led by Abdulla Ghiyas Riyaz and Ibrahim Shiuree and attended by Special Envoy Dr Mohammed Waheed Hassan—used the platform to highlight the Maldives’ economic progress… Read the full news article

Marriott Unveils Plans for 50+ New African Hotels and Entry into Five New Countries

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(IN SHORT) Marriott International plans to bolster its African presence with 50+ new hotels (9,000+ rooms) by 2027, entering five new markets: Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Mauritania. The expansion emphasizes select-service brands—Protea Hotels by Marriott and Four Points by Sheraton—alongside conversions constituting over 30% of the pipeline. North… Read the full news article

IHG Doubles Down on Osaka Expansion with Ten Hotels and Seven Brands During World Expo

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(IN SHORT) To coincide with World Expo Osaka Kansai, IHG Hotels & Resorts has expanded its Osaka portfolio to ten hotels and 3,249 rooms—surpassing its Tokyo presence—and now spans seven brands from luxury (Vignette Collection at the former RIHGA Royal Hotel) to midscale (three Garner Hotels). This growth builds on a presence dating back to… Read the full news article

Experience Africa 2025 Sets the Agenda for Africa’s Tourism Future

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ATTA® Events announces focused speaker line-up and event programme for its flagship B2B tourism event in London   LONDON, UK, 2025-Jun-18 — /Travel PR News/ — The African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA®) has officially revealed the speaker line-up for Experience Africa 2025 — the UK’s only trade show dedicated exclusively to showcasing the continent’s… Read the full news article

Three-Way MOU Signed at Paris Air Show to Advance Zero-Emissions Dash 8 Regional Aircraft

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(IN SHORT) Conscious Aerospace, KLM, and Transavia have signed a three-party MOU at the Paris Air Show to co-develop a liquid-hydrogen fuel cell propulsion retrofit for the Dash 8-300 regional aircraft. The partnership—which includes knowledge-sharing on cabin and cargo layouts, route viability studies, and cost modeling—was formalized before Dutch civil-aviation officials. Conscious Aerospace CEO Erik… Read the full news article

Beijing Hosts PATA–Visa Training for Chinese Tourism SMEs on Digital Marketing and International Payments

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(IN SHORT) PATA and Visa are hosting their first SME capacity-building workshop in Beijing, equipping Chinese tourism businesses with digital-marketing strategies, visitor-friendly international payment solutions, and data insights on inbound travellers. This follows similar programmes across Southeast Asia and is supported by key local and regional partners. The training addresses China’s advanced mobile-payment landscape and… Read the full news article

New UN Tourism Partnerships in Croatia to Advance Research, Policy and Awards for Sustainability

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(IN SHORT) UN Tourism has signed memoranda with Croatia’s Ministry of Tourism and Sport and the University of Zagreb to establish a Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism and to inaugurate a Sustainable Tourism Awards. The Centre will generate applied research and policy guidance in governance, sustainability, knowledge exchange, multi-stakeholder collaboration, climate action, and tourism law,… Read the full news article

Booking Holdings Secures Long-Term Renewal with Etraveli to Enhance Flight-Booking Platform

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(IN SHORT) Booking Holdings has agreed to an eight-year extension of its partnership with Etraveli Group, originally established in 2019. This renewal will support Booking.com’s ambition to scale its global flights offering—now live in 57 countries—and aims to deliver improved ease of use, expanded choice, and better value for travelers and partners. Booking Holdings CEO… Read the full news article

Almost All Scots Say Tourism Is Crucial to Scotland’s Economy, YouGov Survey Finds

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(IN SHORT) VisitScotland’s 2025 resident survey shows that 95% of Scottish adults view tourism as one of the economy’s most important sectors, alongside energy and hospitality. Conducted by YouGov with 1,032 respondents in January, the survey found that 91% believe tourism brings national economic benefits and investment, while 72% see it as a job creator…. Read the full news article

Changi Airport Group and Meilan Airport Forge Two-Year Partnership to Expand Routes and Cargo

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(IN SHORT) Changi Airport Group and Haikou Meilan International Airport have signed a two-year MOU to intensify collaboration in airport operations, route and cargo expansion, staff training, and technological innovation. Meilan Airport—operational since 1999 and now serving 138 cities on 227 routes—will share best practices with CAG in terminal and airside management and develop talent… Read the full news article

Amadeus Strengthens Scandinavian Reach with Renewed Partnership with Arrive Agencies

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(IN SHORT) Amadeus has renewed its partnership with Arrive Agencies, ensuring continued access to a robust portfolio of travel technology solutions—including NDC airline content, the Productivity Tracker for analytics, the Outpayce B2B Wallet for payments, and the Amadeus Value Hotels platform—while celebrating their collaboration on Cytric Easy since September 2024. This extension reinforces Amadeus’s commitment… Read the full news article

Global Hospitality Veteran Susanne Hatje Named General Manager for Conservatorium Hotel Rebrand

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(IN SHORT) Susanne Hatje has been appointed General Manager of Amsterdam’s Conservatorium Hotel effective 2 June 2025, guiding its transition to Mandarin Oriental branding in Q1 2026. With more than 28 years in luxury hospitality and 18 years in senior Mandarin Oriental roles, she most recently led the opening of Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair, and previously… Read the full news article

Three-Way Aviation Alliance Begins Work to Make 90-Seat Electric Aircraft a Reality

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(IN SHORT) Elysian Aircraft, together with KLM and Transavia, has initiated a collaborative workshop series to accelerate the deployment of battery-electric aviation. Focusing on Elysian’s 90-seat E9X—capable of 800 km range—the partners will pool expertise in engineering, operations and commercial strategy to ensure viable electric services on regional routes. Transavia contributes real-world operational and maintenance… Read the full news article

DSV Opens 12,600 m² Energy-Neutral Warehouse at Brussels Airport for Healthcare Logistics

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(IN SHORT) DSV has launched a 12,600 m² energy-neutral warehouse at Brucargo Central in Brussels Airport, half of which is dedicated to temperature-controlled healthcare logistics. The new facility enhances DSV’s sustainable infrastructure and supports its strategic growth in Belgium, particularly in pharmaceuticals and life sciences. Key stakeholders—the company’s Natalie Segers, Brussels Airport CEO Arnaud Feist… Read the full news article