(IN SHORT) In a groundbreaking move towards sustainability, Belfast City Airport has teamed up with Weev, a leading Irish electric vehicle infrastructure company, to introduce electric vehicle (EV) charging points in its Short Stay Car Park. This initiative marks the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, showcasing the airport’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Marriott International, in collaboration with Jing Daily, has released a groundbreaking report titled “Luxury Explored: Chinese Luxury Travelers’ Evolving Desires,” offering profound insights into the changing landscape of luxury travel in China. Bart Buiring, Managing Director of Luxury for Greater China at Marriott International, emphasized the importance of understanding these evolving desires to… Read the full news article
Annual ceremony honors Marriott associates for exemplary achievements and outstanding service to communities, guests and each other (IN SHORT) Marriott International recently celebrated the achievements of its finest associates from around the globe at the annual J. Willard Marriott Awards of Excellence ceremony. Established in 1987, the awards recognize individuals and properties exemplifying outstanding service,… Read the full news article
ANA Holiday Inn Resort Karuizawa will be the tenth hotel under the Holiday Inn brand family in Japan The project is IHG’s first agreement with Kajima in Japan and is the first step in a broader strategic partnership The new hotel will offer a full range of activities and amenities for families (IN SHORT) IHG Hotels & Resorts… Read the full news article
Summer programming will come to life through seasonal menus, music, decor and bespoke guest experiences across IHG properties in the Americas (IN SHORT) IHG Hotels & Resorts introduces “Summer Soiree,” a vibrant seasonal series spanning its luxury and lifestyle properties in the Americas from June 1 to September 2. Designed to capture the essence of… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) The ‘Flying beyond sight, destination inclusion’ initiative, a collaboration between the Italian Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (UICI) and Swissport, is poised to launch at Rome Fiumicino Airport during the summer of 2024. This groundbreaking project aims to integrate visually impaired individuals into airport ground handling roles, a first-of-its-kind endeavor in… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Budapest Airport has launched a significant development program, with over 130 billion HUF invested in airport improvements over the past five years. With passenger traffic steadily increasing, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, Budapest Airport aims to enhance its infrastructure and services to accommodate future growth. Major construction works, including the expansion of parking facilities, sewage… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Limited (CALC) announces the successful delivery of the first of three Airbus A320CEO aircraft to South African Airways (SAA) as part of the carrier’s 90th-year celebrations. The aircraft, previously part of Pacific Airlines’ fleet, underscores CALC’s commitment to broadening its footprint in Africa and signifies a globalized business… Read the full news article
Over 260 villages from more than 60 countries representing the five regions of the world have put themselves forward for the 2024 edition of Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism 2024. This marks the highest volume of applications ever received in the past four editions. (IN SHORT) A record-breaking 260 villages from over 60 countries… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is gearing up for its Annual Summit 2024 in Macao, China, from May 15-17, 2024. The event, themed ‘Reimagining Tourism,’ aims to foster discussions on transforming the Asia Pacific tourism industry to be more resilient and sustainable. With esteemed speakers from various sectors including tourism, government, and… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) The 2024 Africa Travel Indaba convened discussions on how airlift can drive economic development, tourism growth, and regional integration in Africa. Industry leaders including Ms. Mpumi Mpofu, CEO of Airports Company South Africa, and representatives from airlines such as CemAir and Kenya Airways participated in panel discussions addressing the challenges and opportunities surrounding… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air have announced strategic leadership promotions, underscoring their commitment to safety, reliability, and customer experience. Shane Jones, a 20-year industry veteran, has been promoted to senior vice president of fleet, revenue products, and real estate at Alaska Airlines, tasked with overseeing critical investments and strategic partnerships to enhance guest… Read the full news article
Following extensive renovation, the five-star hotel opens in Zimbabwe in an iconic 109-year-old property located in the charming city center of Harare (IN SHORT) Hyatt Hotels Corporation celebrates the grand opening of its first Hyatt-branded hotel in Zimbabwe, the Hyatt Regency Harare The Meikles, marking a significant milestone in the country’s hospitality industry. Located in… Read the full news article
Cape Town’s legendary V&A Waterfront property captures the spirit of South Africa through elegant design and authentic cuisine as it reopens its doors, unveiling a new era of hospitality (IN SHORT) After undergoing nine months of renovations, Cape Grace, A Fairmont Managed Hotel, reopens its doors with a spectacular design transformation inspired by South Africa’s… Read the full news article
Hotel Indigo and Vignette Collection will launch in market this year as IHG’s growth continues A country portfolio of eight IHG brands increases choice for domestic and international guests (IN SHORT) IHG Hotels & Resorts is set to introduce two of its esteemed Luxury & Lifestyle brands, Hotel Indigo and Vignette Collection, to Vietnam this… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Minor Hotels, a prominent hotel owner and operator with a global portfolio, has named Lokesh Kumar as Vice President of Development for the Middle East. With over 23 years of strategic leadership experience, Lokesh brings a wealth of expertise in managing owner relationships and executing public-private partnerships to drive revenue and optimize costs…. Read the full news article
Everhome Suites Continues to Grow with its Third Opening and Over 60 Hotels in the Pipeline (IN SHORT) Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) has inaugurated the Everhome Suites in Nampa, Idaho, marking the brand’s third opening, with projections for more than 10 additional hotels within the next year. The Nampa property, boasting the brand’s… Read the full news article
The new and enriched program provides access to 270+ Accor and Ennismore hotels and resorts across 11 remarkable luxury and luxury lifestyle brands including Orient Express, Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel, SLS, Delano and more (IN SHORT) Accor introduces HERA, its new global loyalty and rewards program exclusively designed for travel advisors, offering a comprehensive digital experience… Read the full news article
HOTEL STRATFORD SAN FRANCISCO – HANDWRITTEN COLLECTION WILL OPEN ITS DOORS TO GUESTS THIS SUMMER (IN SHORT) San Francisco welcomes the inaugural U.S. location of Accor’s Handwritten Collection brand with Hotel Stratford, owned and operated by Frame Ventures. Situated in the vibrant Union Square, the European-style boutique hotel offers 94 elegantly refurbished rooms and introduces… Read the full news article
SIA and Scoot the first airlines operating out of Changi Airport to receive SAF produced in Neste’s refinery in Singapore Neste to deliver blended SAF directly to Changi Airport’s fuel hydrant system, reinforcing their end-to-end SAF supply chain capabilities in Singapore (IN SHORT) The Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group has signed an agreement with Neste to… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) SAS kicks off the summer season with an AI-generated campaign to welcome visitors to Copenhagen and Malmö, partnering with Swedish AI artist Stephanie Löwenstein. The campaign features bold images showcasing virtual SAS passengers across online channels, streets of Copenhagen and Malmö, and key airports in Scandinavia. With over 1800 flights to Malmö and… Read the full news article
The Best Airline in the Middle East’ has set a new benchmark in travel innovation by introducing the World’s First AI Digital Human Cabin Crew on the inaugural day of ATM Dubai 2024 From its Doha hub- Hamad International Airport – ‘World’s Best Airport’ as voted by Skytrax in 2024 – Qatar Airways flies to… Read the full news article
Rapid Rewards Members and Rapid Rewards Business Members can now pay for flights with a combination of cash and points; Members can also redeem Rapid Rewards points, or use a combination of cash and points, on hotel bookings. (IN SHORT) Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) unveiled Cash + Points, a new payment option allowing Rapid… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) Southwest Airlines, the official airline of Paul Quinn College, honored the graduating class of 2024 with special celebrations, including a barbeque cookout and surprises for faculty and staff. During the commencement ceremony, Southwest recognized graduating senior Curtis Ferguson, the first Paul Quinn student intern at Southwest to accept a full-time position at the… Read the full news article
RYANAIR’S LOW FARE FLIGHTS NOW AVAILABLE TO BOOK AS PART OF ON THE BEACH PACKAGE HOLIDAYS (IN SHORT) Ryanair, Europe’s leading airline, has announced the integration of its low fare flights into On the Beach holiday packages as part of their “Approved OTA” partnership. This collaboration allows On the Beach customers to book Ryanair flights seamlessly… Read the full news article
Two Hyatt-branded hotels set to debut in Madinah as Hyatt House Madinah KEC and Hyatt Centric Madinah KEC (IN SHORT) Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the signing of management agreements with Knowledge Economic City (KEC) for two new Hyatt-branded hotels in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. The properties, Hyatt House Madinah KEC and Hyatt Centric Madinah KEC,… Read the full news article
Blending natural beauty with contemporary Chinese aesthetics, the spiritual hideaway invites guests to enjoy elevated experiences. (IN SHORT) Hyatt Hotels Corporation has unveiled the Yada Xishan Hotel Yixing, its first Hyatt-branded property in Yixing and the latest addition to The Unbound Collection by Hyatt portfolio. Situated in the picturesque Yangxian Ecotourism Resort, this 102-room sanctuary… Read the full news article
Airline set for largest presence ever at global travel exhibition (IN SHORT) Emirates is set to make its largest appearance yet at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) with a sprawling 975-square-meter stand. Visitors can expect to see signature product displays including the popular Premium Economy seat, First Class private suite, Business Class seat, A380 Onboard… Read the full news article
A350-900 with 268 passengers on the way from Munich to Vancouver Further destinations in late summer: Shanghai and San Francisco From summer: Allegris flights can be booked for the winter timetable (IN SHORT) Lufthansa has inaugurated its Allegris service onboard the A350-900 aircraft, accommodating 268 passengers and 18 crew members on its maiden flight from… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) His Excellency Eng. Saeed Al Mawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information and Chairman of Oman Air, along with the airline’s Board of Directors, has announced the appointment of Con Korfiatis as the new Chief Executive Officer. With over three decades of experience in the aviation industry, including CEO roles across Asia-Pacific and… Read the full news article