Ugandan Children’s Choir Delights Passengers at Manchester Airport During UK and Ireland Tour

The New Life Choir from Uganda is touring the UK and Ireland on behalf of the charity Abaana, which is raising funds to support Ugandan children in escaping poverty The group of 20 primary school children performed for passengers while they waited for a connecting flight at Manchester Airport and were treated to breakfast and… Read the full press release

Royal Caribbean Partners with Inter Miami CF as Official Jersey Sponsor for 2024 Season

The World’s Largest Cruise Line Debuts as the Club’s Front-of-Jersey Partner in the Upcoming 2024 Campaign (IN SHORT) Royal Caribbean International has become the Official Jersey Partner of Inter Miami CF, one of the Major League Soccer (MLS) teams. Starting from the 2024 season, Royal Caribbean’s logo will feature prominently on Inter Miami’s jerseys. The partnership… Read the full press release

Hyatt Unveils Robust Growth Plans in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East for 2024 and Beyond

AluaSoul Costa Adeje and Palace de Muro, a Destination by Hyatt property, slated to open in Spain this year, further strengthen Hyatt’s rapidly growing lifestyle brand presence in region. (IN SHORT) Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced its ambitious growth strategy for 2024 and beyond in the Europe, Africa, and Middle East (EAME) region, reflecting a record… Read the full press release

Hyatt Announces Upcoming Opening of Hyatt Centric Querétaro in Historic Mexico

Hyatt Centric Querétaro will mark the second Hyatt Centric property in Mexico (IN SHORT) Hyatt Hotels Corporation, in partnership with Inmobiliaria Canels and GACO&BA, is set to introduce the Hyatt Centric lifestyle brand to Querétaro, Mexico, a city known for its rich colonial heritage and UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. Slated to open in 2025,… Read the full press release

Blue Islands Considers Direct Flights Between Jersey, Luxembourg, and Guernsey Based on Business Community Feedback

(IN SHORT) Blue Islands is actively engaging with the Channel Islands business community to gauge interest and demand for direct flights between Jersey and Luxembourg, with potential connections to and from Guernsey. Following a recent trial of a direct service to the Isle of Man, the airline is currently evaluating the trial’s results and gathering… Read the full press release

DAKOSY and Fraport Establish Joint Venture ‘allivate’ for Air Cargo Digitalization

Anchoring digital infrastructure Developing and operating cargo community systems Faster market launch of new air cargo applications (IN SHORT) Software provider DAKOSY and airport operator Fraport have formed a joint venture named allivate GmbH, with each holding a 50 percent stake. The primary focus of this partnership is to enhance the digitalization of air cargo… Read the full press release

Ryanair Announces New Routes and Expansion Plans at Tirana Airport

(IN SHORT) Ryanair Group CEO Michael O’Leary and Tirana Airport Operations Director Piervittorio Farabbi unveiled plans for Tirana International Airport’s development and the introduction of new Ryanair routes at a joint press conference. The airline is set to launch several new destinations this summer, including Bari, Birmingham, Bristol, Marseille, Vienna, and Budapest, in addition to… Read the full press release

Aer Lingus Offers Exclusive Pay Day Deals on Flights to Europe and North America

(IN SHORT) Aer Lingus has introduced a special pay day offer allowing travelers to enjoy discounts on return flights. Until midnight on January 30, 2024, passengers can avail of €20 off return flights from Ireland to destinations in the UK and Europe, with additional savings of €100 off return flights to North America and €200… Read the full press release

UN Tourism Invites Applications for 2024 Best Tourism Villages Initiative Promoting Rural Prosperity

(IN SHORT) UN Tourism, formerly known as the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), has initiated the call for applications for the 2024 edition of its “Best Tourism Villages” program. This initiative aims to recognize rural destinations where tourism is harnessed as a tool for sustainable growth, cultural preservation, and economic development. Member states are encouraged to… Read the full press release

RwandAir Commits to Safety Leadership Charter by Joining IATA’s Safety Initiative

(IN SHORT) RwandAir, one of Africa’s prominent airlines, has officially joined the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Safety Leadership Charter, becoming the second African airline to do so after Ethiopian Airlines. The IATA Safety Leadership Charter focuses on strengthening organizational safety culture, aligning with IATA’s Collaborative Aviation Safety Improvement Program (CASIP) under the “Focus Africa”… Read the full press release

Belfast City Airport Raises £17,774 for AWARE NI in Two-Year Charity Partnership

(IN SHORT) Belfast City Airport has announced the successful culmination of its two-year partnership with AWARE NI, Northern Ireland’s dedicated charity for individuals dealing with depression and bipolar disorder. During this partnership, Belfast City Airport employees actively engaged in various fundraising activities, including coffee mornings, bake sales, and participating in the Belfast City Marathon, with… Read the full press release

Gerald R. Ford International Airport Announces Fifth Cohort of FLITE Grant Recipients Advancing Air Travel Innovation

Over $200,000 in Grant Funds Awarded to Companies Revolutionizing the Aviation Industry (IN SHORT) The Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Seamless Ventures, Southwest Airlines, and the West Michigan Aviation Academy, has unveiled the fifth cohort of companies set to receive over $200,000 in total grant… Read the full press release

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s 43rd Annual Clam Chowder Cook-Off Invites Chefs to Compete

(IN SHORT) The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is calling on both professional and amateur chefs to participate in the 43rd annual Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook-Off, a popular fundraiser for the City of Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department. The event spans two days, with amateur chefs competing on February 24, and professional chefs on… Read the full press release

Marriott Expands Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy Brand Globally with New Developments

Just one year after announcing its intention to expand presence in premium and luxury apartment-style accommodations, Marriott has opened its first property in Puerto Rico and signed agreements in the United States, Italy, and Saudi Arabia (IN SHORT) Marriott International is expanding its Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy brand, with development agreements signed in the United… Read the full press release

IHG’s voco Brand Partners with Kleindienst Group’s ‘voco Monaco Dubai’ for an Unrivaled Entertainment Destination

(IN SHORT) The Kleindienst Group’s flagship project, ‘The Heart of Europe,’ has joined forces with IHG Hotels & Resorts to operate the ‘Côte d’Azur Monaco Hotel’ at The Heart of Europe in Dubai under the globally acclaimed voco brand, now known as ‘voco Monaco Dubai.’ Starting in Q1 2024, the French Riviera-inspired 198-room hotel will… Read the full press release

Qantas Unveils Engaging New Safety Video Featuring Global Destinations

(IN SHORT) Qantas is set to launch an innovative onboard safety video in 2024, replacing the previous Qantas Centenary-themed video that has been in use since 2020. This new video takes passengers on a captivating journey through key safety information using footage from unique destinations across the globe. The video features Qantas pilots, cabin crew,… Read the full press release

Brussels Meeting Unites Aircraft Manufacturers to Advance Electric, Hybrid, and Hydrogen Air Transport

(IN SHORT) Aircraft manufacturers, both new technology startups and established OEMs, convened in Brussels for a significant Industry Affairs and Environment and Social Group meeting organized by ERA (European Regions Airline Association). The meeting aimed to foster collaboration and accelerate the adoption of electric, hybrid electric, and hydrogen aircraft in regional air transport. Participants included… Read the full press release

ITB BookAwards 2024 Recognizes Outstanding Travel and Tourism Publications

(IN SHORT) The ITB BookAwards 2024, held in conjunction with ITB Berlin from March 5 to 7, 2024, celebrated excellence in travel and tourism publications. Notable awards include the Lifetime Award presented to French author Sylvain Tesson, while two publisher awards were bestowed upon Verlag Coppenrath and oekom publisher Jacob Radloff. Additionally, special honors went… Read the full press release

Emirates Expands Premium Economy Service between Melbourne and Dubai

Emirates now offers two Premium Economy services from Melbourne, alongside two from Sydney, placing Australia at the forefront of the airline’s multi-billion dollar aircraft retrofit programme (IN SHORT) Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has announced the introduction of an additional Premium Economy service on its Melbourne to Dubai route, starting from February 1, 2024…. Read the full press release

Emirates to Increase Frequency on Dubai-Rio de Janeiro Route to Meet Growing Demand

Airline deploys additional daily service to Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires to meet travel demand and improve connectivity to its network Emirates to boost capacity on busy route with five weekly flights via EK247 and EK248 (IN SHORT) Emirates Airlines has announced plans to introduce a fifth weekly flight on its Dubai – Rio… Read the full press release

Minor Hotels Appoints Vijay Krishnan-Vazhvelil as VP of Operations to Drive Expansion in India’s Luxury Hospitality Market

(IN SHORT) Minor Hotels has named Vijay Krishnan-Vazhvelil as Vice President – Operations, India, effective from December 21, 2023. In this newly created role, Krishnan-Vazhvelil will play a vital part in Minor Hotels’ expansion efforts in India, particularly in launching the group’s first Anantara property in Jaipur and fostering growth across the country. With over… Read the full press release

Marriott and Delonix Group Collaborate to Expand Tribute Portfolio Brand in China

Collaboration includes opportunity to affiliate over 100 full service Delonix hotels with Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio (IN SHORT) Marriott International and Delonix Group have announced a strategic cooperation agreement aimed at expanding Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio brand in mainland China. Delonix Group, a prominent hospitality company in China, currently manages ten hotel brands with over 1,400 hotels… Read the full press release

Moxy Hotels and Sanctuary Partner for Cosmic Travel Experiences in 2024

Playful hotel brand and popular horoscope platform come together in unprecedented partnership during year of astrological transition (IN SHORT) In an exciting collaboration, Moxy Hotels and Sanctuary, a leading digital astrology platform, have announced a yearlong partnership to offer travelers a unique cosmic journey. This partnership will provide travelers with astro-adventure guides, personalized travel recommendations,… Read the full press release

Marriott International Achieves Record Year of Signings and Strong Net Rooms Growth

Net rooms grew 4.7% to over 1.597 million; company development pipeline ended 2023 at a record 573,000 rooms, an increase of 15 percent from the previous year (IN SHORT) In an announcement at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), Marriott International revealed a record-breaking year for global signings, with a 52% increase in organic room… Read the full press release

IHG’s Garner Brand to Debut in Japan with Three Conversion Hotels in Osaka

IHG launched Garner in August 2023 and expects this new brand to reach an estate of over 500 hotels over the next 10 years and 1,000 hotels over the next 20 years. This is the first time an LOI for the Garner brand has been signed outside of North America Three hotels in Osaka would refurbish… Read the full press release

Waldorf Astoria Opens Luxurious Property in Doha’s West Bay, Blending Heritage and Modern Luxury

(IN SHORT) Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts has announced the grand opening of Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay, a luxurious property that pays homage to the brand’s rich heritage while offering modern luxury experiences. The hotel, located conveniently close to the city center and key attractions, features 283 rooms, 50 luxury apartments, and a distinct… Read the full press release

oneworld Alliance Unveils First Branded Airport Lounge in Seoul

(IN SHORT) The oneworld® Alliance has introduced its inaugural fully branded dedicated airport lounge in Seoul, located in Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport. This marks a significant milestone as oneworld celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2024. Collaborating with Swissport and ASPIRE Airport Lounges, the spacious oneworld lounge spans 555 square meters and can accommodate… Read the full press release

Ryanair Partners with Enilive for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Supply in Italy

(IN SHORT) Ryanair, Europe’s leading airline, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Enilive, a subsidiary of Eni, for the long-term supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at select Ryanair airports in Italy. This collaboration is a significant step toward Ryanair’s decarbonization strategy, aiming to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050. The agreement allows… Read the full press release

AirAsia X Resumes Direct Flights Between Kuala Lumpur and Xi’An, Strengthening Malaysia-China Ties

(IN SHORT) AirAsia X (AAX) has announced the resumption of its service between Kuala Lumpur and Xi’An, China, starting from April 4, 2024. This move reestablishes the connection between Malaysia and Xi’An, a city rich in Chinese heritage and history. AAX’s commitment to expanding its presence in China is reflected in this resumption, making it… Read the full press release

Celebrate Lunar New Year with airasia Superapp’s Prosperous Deals and Prizes

(IN SHORT) airasia Superapp is ushering in the Lunar New Year with a grand sale, offering exciting deals on flights, hotels, car rides, and more from January 22 to February 4, 2024. Users can enjoy three times (3x) airasia points on every transaction and have a chance to win a grand prize of HUAWEI Mate50…. Read the full press release