Latest headlines in Travel News

  • How can corporate travel leaders take advantage of artificial intelligence today? (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 08:04:47)
    Mark Cullen, Chief Commercial Officer with Amadeus Cytric, guides Breaking Travel News through the latest AI innovations and discusses what they mean for the corporate travel experience
  • Foundation model company StepFun and Alipay announce a system-level partnership (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 07:56:09)
    At the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), foundation model company StepFun and Alipay announced a system-level partnership, further expanding the capabilities of AI agents from conversations to complete complex tasks in everyday life.Under the partnership, users will be able to access AI-powered daily life services through Alipay’s Ah Bao by speaking to the AI agent on StepFun’s AI-native terminal or via its large model.
  • Sarai, Mirai’s AI assistant and conversational booking engine, now supports multi-room bookings (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 07:54:31)
    Mirai, a company specializing in technology to boost hotels’ direct sales, announces that Sarai, its AI assistant and conversational booking engine, now handles bookings for two or more rooms within a natural conversation (“I need two rooms for a family with children”), with no forms or intermediate steps. This feature is available across all channels where Sarai operates -webchat, WhatsApp, email, Instagram and phone, as well as ChatGPT (via Apps) and Claude (via MCP)- and is included at no extra cost for all Mirai booking engine clients.
  • Plans announced to bring The Ritz-Carlton Residences to The World Islands, Dubai (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 07:49:37)
    Dubai-born AVENEW Development announces plans for The Ritz-Carlton Residences Dubai, The World Islands, the latest addition to its growing portfolio of distinguished addresses and its second collaboration with Marriott International. The project reflects AVENEW’s founding principles of thoughtful design, distinctive location selection and timeless quality.
  • Virgin Voyages brings back True Crime Voyage for 2027 (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 07:45:41)
    Virgin Voyages has announced the return of its True Crime Voyage for 2027, following the sell-out success of its inaugural sailing in 2025.Created in partnership with iHeartMedia – America’s largest podcast publisher - the cruise will feature a new line-up of true crime podcasts including:Disgraceland - hosted by Jake Brennan, who explores the criminal stories behind some of music’s most famous names.Buried Bones - journalist Kate Winkler Dawson and forensic investigator Paul Holes revisit compelling historical crimes, using modern investigative techniques to uncover new perspectives on old mysteries.Wisecrack - a true crime series produced by Jodi Tovay about a comedian whose disturbing stage routine sparks an investigation into a real-life case.
  • Frasers Hospitality expands into historic Jiangnan with Fraser Residence Wuzhen (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 07:39:11)
    Frasers Hospitality, a business unit of Frasers Property, announced the soft opening of Fraser Residence Wuzhen. Located in the heart of the historic 1,300-year-old water town dating from the Tang Dynasty, the property marks Frasers Hospitality’s first entry into one of China’s renowned cultural and tourism destination.
  • Basra Airlines partners with Maureva to support the next phase of its growth. (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 07:36:11)
    Maureva, a trusted provider of airline revenue accounting and financial solutions, is pleased to announce that Basra Airlines, Iraq’s newest private airline, has selected EDGAR solution to manage its revenue accounting operations. As the airline expands its activities, the partnership will provide the financial expertise, operational discipline and scalable processes needed to support its continued growth.
  • Mews Gives Hotels Three New Ways to Capture Guest Revenue (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 07:17:07)
    Mews, a hospitality operating system used by 15,000 properties globally, today announced three new features designed to help hotels capture revenue: Recurring Payments, the expansion of Multicurrency to the US and Canada, and Accounts Receivable. The new releases are further ways that Mews’s one connected operating system can secure revenue and enhance cash flow for hotels before arrival, during the stay and after checkout.These feature releases combat real business problems and are the latest step in Mews’ broader strategy: an operating system built not just to run a hotel, but to act as its financial partner. They’re designed to help properties capture revenue, reduce manual work, and grow their business.
  • UK Named the World’s Most Well-Travelled Adventurers in Global David Attenborough Challenge (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 07:13:27)
    Nearly 20,000 people across five countries took part in a worldwide survey inspired by Sir David Attenborough’s extraordinary travels, revealing the UK’s enduring passion for exploration, wildlife and conservation.To celebrate Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday earlier in the year, adventure travel specialist Explore Worldwide invited people from around the globe to discover just how closely their own travels mirror those of Britain’s greatest natural historian.
  • Top Five Reasons Savvy Travelers Are Choosing Peru Beyond the Peak Season (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 07:11:21)
    Alpaca Expeditions, Peru’s 100% Indigenous-owned and operated travel specialist, invites travelers to rethink the best time to visit Peru. While many travelers plan their journeys during the traditional peak season, Peru’s quieter months offer a unique opportunity to experience the country at a different pace, with fewer crowds, greater flexibility, deeper connections with locals and the chance to marvel at the breathtaking landscapes of the Andes and lush tropical forest.
  • Thailand announces updated visa measures and prepares to launch new THIM travel app (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 07:09:53)
    Thailand is introducing a series of updated visa measures designed to simplify entry arrangements while strengthening security and making the system easier for international travellers to understand. The revised measures have been approved by the Thai Cabinet and will come into effect 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette, with current entry requirements remaining in place until then.
  • Greek Maritime Golf Event returns on September 4-6, at Costa Navarino (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 07:02:53)
    Greek Maritime Golf Event, the top golf event for the maritime community, returns for its 12th year, on September 4-6, 2026, at Costa Navarino, in Messinia. This year, the tournament will be held exclusively at The Dunes Course, the course named “Greece’s Best Golf Course 2025” at the World Golf Awards 2025.
  • 2026 Hainan Island Carnival Sends a Global Summer Invitation (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 06:59:28)
    As midsummer arrives in the Northern Hemisphere, Hainan, China, welcomes its annual island-wide carnival. The 2026 (27th) Hainan Island Carnival will be held from now to August 18, extending a vibrant summer invitation to guests from around the world.
  • Escape Europe’s busiest hot spots this summer: Five reasons to Swap Lake Como for South Lake Tahoe (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 06:54:38)
    With around three-quarters of UK overseas holidays taken in Europe, South Lake Tahoe is inviting British travellers to look beyond the continent’s best-known alpine lakes and discover California’s spectacular mountain escape instead and here is 5 reasons why:
  • Off on holiday with Eurowings: New onboard experiences for children and families (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 06:53:37)
    Just in time for the start of the summer holiday season, Eurowings is expanding its range of in-flight services for children and families. From exciting facts for young aviation enthusiasts to a fluffy travel companion – when flying with the value airline, the holiday experience begins not just after landing, but whilst still in the air.
  • DESTINATION WEDDINGS DRIVE GROUP BOOKING DEMAND, REVEALS HYATT (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 06:48:57)
    The rise of the ‘wed-cation’, a trend that merges a destination wedding with a holiday, is a growing priority for couples, according to new research commissioned by Hyatt¹, providing major opportunities for hotels, travel agents and event planners.
  • Amari Unveils “Ari Service” to Deepen Guest Connections with Every Destination (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 06:45:55)
    Amari, the upper-upscale hotel brand under ONYX Hospitality Group, invites travellers to discover stays that go beyond the beauty of a destination, creating meaningful moments that become lasting memories through authentic local experiences, genuine connections with people and culture, and the warmth of Thai hospitality.
  • Revealed: the European holiday hotspots where families will get more for their money (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 06:41:33)
    Portugal’s top destination has emerged as the cheapest of 22 European holiday hotspots surveyed for the latest Post Office Travel Money Family Holiday Report.  Published in the week that schools break up for the summer holidays, the annual report, produced in partnership with leading travel and leisure operator TUI, found that meals, drinks and other tourist items are likely to cost least in the Algarve.  Sunny Beach, Bulgaria was a close runner-up, while six Spanish resort areas feature among the best value top 101.
  • City Express by Marriott Debuts in Canada with City Express by Marriott Port Hope (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-20 06:34:09)
    City Express by Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of 30 extraordinary hotel brands, today announced the opening of City Express by Marriott Port Hope, marking the brand’s highly anticipated debut in the Canada region.Located along Highway 401, one of Canada’s busiest transportation corridors, the hotel serves as a convenient gateway to destinations across Ontario, connecting travelers to Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa, Prince Edward County, the Kawarthas, and the Niagara Region.
  • Oman’s quarterly hotel revenues rise 8.4% to OMR85.4 million (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-19 12:11:38)
    Quarterly hotel revenues in Oman rose 8.4% year-on-year to OMR85.4 million in Q1 2026, says leading real estate advisory and hospitality sector property consultant, Cavendish Maxwell.The sustained revenue growth – achieved despite a softer hospitality sector performance during the quarter – was primarily driven by room revenues, which climbed 13% to OMR53.2 million, the company said.Revenue performance was strongest at the start of the year, increasing almost 27% in January and nearly 9% in February compared to January and February last year. March revenues declined 21% against March 2025.