Latest headlines in Travel News

  • Travel’s next battleground: checkout (Breaking Travel News 2026-06-18 12:04:02)
    Travelers increasingly expect the same payment flexibility when booking a trip as they do when shopping online, whether that’s paying in installments, using local payment methods, or combining loyalty points with cash. In fact, 60% of travelers are likely to abandon a booking if their preferred payment method isn’t available.Yet many travel payment systems weren’t built for that level of complexity.This is what John Lunn, CEO of Gr4vy and former PayPal executive, explores in his latest piece on why traditional payment service providers are struggling to keep up with modern travel commerce.
  • Delta Advances Fleet Efficiency with VCT Finlets Across 737NG Fleet (Breaking Travel News 2026-06-18 12:03:45)
    VCT today announced that Delta Air Lines will install a finlet modification package from Vortex Control Technologies (VCT) across its Boeing 737-800 and 737-900ER fleet, bringing the enhancement to 240 aircraft once installation has been completed. The decision follows a comprehensive technical collaboration and in-service evaluation between the two companies, including analysis of flight test data, operational trends and engineering review of aerodynamic performance.
  • Half of UK Families Can’t Afford a Summer Holiday This Year, New Survey Reveals (Breaking Travel News 2026-06-18 11:47:55)
    As the school summer holidays approach, new research from Park Christmas Savings shows families across the UK are bracing for six weeks of financial strain — with food costs, days out and childcare all piling pressure onto already-stretched household budgets.With the school gates set to close for summer in the coming weeks, a major new survey of UK by Park Christmas Savings has laid bare the financial reality facing families this year.
  • Emirates SkyCargo partners with Dogs 4 Wildlife to combat poaching (Breaking Travel News 2026-06-18 11:43:18)
    Emirates SkyCargo has partnered with Dogs 4 Wildlife, a UK-based charity that protects endangered wildlife in Africa through the deployment of specialist conservation dogs.The first phase of the partnership will see Emirates SkyCargo transport dogs from the UK to Southern Africa, where they will work alongside wildlife park rangers to track poachers and strengthen conservation efforts.The first two dogs, Vega and Kuda, both Belgian Malinois, are specialist human scent tracking dogs trained by Dogs 4 Wildlife for conservation operations. Selected for their exceptional drive, determination, and natural tracking abilities, Vega and Kuda will help form a new conservation K9 unit supporting wildlife protection efforts in Zimbabwe.
  • Otherwander Soho selects Apaleo to power fully digital pod hotel concept (Breaking Travel News 2026-06-18 10:58:42)
    Otherwander Soho, the newly opened 566-pod hotel in central London, has selected Apaleo, the API-first property management platform, to power its fully digitised guest journey and highly streamlined operating model.Opened on 1 June 2026 at 92 Dean Street in the heart of Soho, Otherwander Soho has built its technology ecosystem around interoperability, automation and real-time data flow. Rather than placing the property management system (PMS) at the centre of operations, the hotel has adopted a middleware-led architecture in which systems connect through open APIs and data moves across the business in real time.
  • Barceló Roma opens its doors following a comprehensive renovation (Breaking Travel News 2026-06-18 10:51:42)
    Barceló Hotel Group announces the opening of Barceló Roma, a new city hotel in the Italian capital and the result of a €41 million investment. Following a complete refurbishment, the hotel pays tribute to 20th century Roman Rationalist architecture and will set a new benchmark for contemporary hospitality in one of Europe’s most visited destinations.Perfectly situated near Rome’s historic centre and Vatican City, Barceló Roma is a dynamic destination where business, culture and modern city life come together. Its 352 rooms blend sophisticated design, comfort and high-quality finishes, offering something for all types of guests.
  • IDeaS Sees Rapid Adoption of Commercial Strategy Solutions (Breaking Travel News 2026-06-18 10:43:42)
    IDeaS, a SAS company and the world’s leading provider of AI-powered hospitality revenue management software, today announced significant momentum in the adoption of its broader commercial strategy solutions, highlighting a growing industry shift toward connected decision-making that extends well beyond traditional revenue management.The announcement comes as hotel organizations face increasing pressure to navigate market volatility, staffing constraints, evolving traveler demand patterns, and growing expectations for data-driven decision-making across commercial functions. As teams are increasingly tasked with connecting revenue, marketing, sales and operational strategies, hoteliers are investing in technologies that provide a more unified view of business performance and market opportunities.
  • Game, Set and Summer: Perfect your Tennis at Pine Cliffs Resort (Breaking Travel News 2026-06-18 10:38:23)
    As the height of the tennis season approaches, with global anticipation building ahead of Wimbledon (29 June – 12 July), Pine Cliffs, a Luxury Collection Resort in the Algarve, invites guests to enjoy the thrill of the game first-hand at its Annabel Croft Tennis and Padel Academy. Reflecting demand for experience-led luxury holidays, the academy offers world-class coaching and exceptional facilities for all abilities, from beginners to seasoned players.Combining the timeless appeal of tennis with the rising popularity of padel, one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, it is the perfect setting to refine skills, stay active and enjoy the Algarve’s stunning coastal surroundings.
  • Check in. Drive out - City Lodge Hotels partners with Avis and Budget to transform travel (Breaking Travel News 2026-06-18 10:36:43)
    At a time when rising costs and the demand for flexibility are reshaping how South Africans travel, City Lodge Hotels, Avis, and Budget have responded with a new partnership deal.Guests checking into easy online at www.citylodgehotels.com can now also enjoy 15% off Avis car rental and 10% off Budget car rental. From quick business trips to family getaways, travel plans just became even more affordable. Together, these brands are committed to simplifying the travel journey from end to end and delivering meaningful value to both business and leisure travellers. (Terms and conditions apply.)
  • GoNexus Group Launches Sports & Live Events Vertical via Strategic Partnership With TicketNetwork (Breaking Travel News 2026-06-18 10:33:21)
    GoNexus Group, a leading experiences and mobility travel group, has announced a strategic partnership with TicketNetwork, a live-event ticketing technology and marketplace distribution company, to launch a new Sports & Live Events vertical within NexusCube, its B2B travel marketplace.The agreement represents a significant milestone in GoNexus Group’s evolution, expanding its portfolio beyond traditional travel products and reinforcing its strategy to diversify revenue streams and strengthen its omnichannel growth model across international markets.
  • WHY SOME OF AFRICA’S MOST PROMISING ROUTES STILL HAVE NO FLIGHTS (Breaking Travel News 2026-06-18 10:30:13)
    Two of Sub-Saharan Africa’s strongest unserved routes still have no direct flight: Johannesburg to Mumbai, and Brussels to Cape Town. Both appear in the Airbus Exploring the Horizons study among high-demand corridors where passengers continue to route through a third city because no carrier has yet launched a service.Some of the continent’s connectivity gaps have narrowed over the past year. Qantas added Perth to Johannesburg, Edelweiss introduced its A350 service to Windhoek, Air Congo announced a Brussels link to Kinshasa, and Ethiopian secured approval to serve Mauritius. If those routes can move from proposal to operation, why do others with similarly strong demand remain unserved?That question sat at the centre of a discussion at AviaDev Africa 2026 in Gaborone, the continent’s main route development forum, where airlines, airports and tourism bodies meet to build new air links. It was chaired by Natalia Rosa, Project Lead at the Southern Africa Tourism Alliance (SATA).
  • New data reveals rise in HR professionals using business travel to attract and retain talent (Breaking Travel News 2026-06-18 10:24:46)
    New data from Business Travel Show Europe, 24-25 June 2026, Excel London, reveals a marked increase in corporates using business travel as a benefit to attract and retain talent - from 18.57% to 20.17% in the last 12 months. Of those, 5.88% are including a remit to take bleisure trips among their employee benefits offering and 1.68% allow workcations.While over half - 52.1% - don’t use business travel as a talent carrot, this is considerably lower than last year’s 57.14%.
  • Brahman Hills Breaks Ground on One of Africa’s Most Ambitious Wellness Developments (Breaking Travel News 2026-06-18 10:06:09)
    Ground has officially been broken for the expansion of the Healing Earth™ Transformative Wellness Spa at Brahman Hills, bringing a sanctuary to life where wellness is not confined to a treatment room, but woven into the very landscape that surrounds it.
  • 2026 Hainan Cultural and Tourism Promotion Events Held in Hong Kong (Breaking Travel News 2026-06-18 10:04:45)
    On June 16, the 2026 Hainan Cultural and Tourism Promotion Events, under the theme of “Sunny Hainan · Heart’s Desire,” were held in Hong Kong. Leaders from Hong Kong’s cultural and tourism authorities, heads of industry associations, and representatives of key cultural and tourism enterprises from home and abroad gathered to explore new opportunities for cooperation and draw up a blueprint for the industry’s future.
  • Qatar Airways Strengthens Leadership for Next Phase of Growth (Breaking Travel News 2026-06-18 09:59:55)
    Qatar Airways Group has restored its network to 85 percent of pre-crisis levels and created two new executive roles to sharpen its operations and deepen its focus on customers.The milestone was reached with the launch of the airline’s summer 2026 schedule this week, which sees more than 140 daily departures from Doha to over 160 destinations worldwide. It delivers a target the Group set itself earlier this year, at the height of the regional disruption that grounded much of its network, to rebuild to 85 percent by mid-June.
  • QANTAS REIMAGINES LONG-HAUL TRAVEL AS PROJECT SUNRISE ONBOARD EXPERIENCE TAKES SHAPE (Breaking Travel News 2026-06-18 09:51:16)
    Qantas has today revealed the next evolution in the cabin design for Project Sunrise, which will launch with the world’s first non-stop services between Sydney and London from October 2027.The Qantas Airbus A350-1000ULR has been configured with just 238 seats, the lowest seat density of any A350 around the world, giving every customer more space on board. Every element has been designed to help customers arrive at their destination feeling their best, drawing on a decade of research with the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre and close collaboration with Caon Design Office and technology partners.
  • Waldorf Astoria London – Admiralty Arch Open For Reservations (Breaking Travel News 2026-06-18 09:14:26)
    Waldorf Astoria London – Admiralty Arch has opened reservations ahead of its highly anticipated debut, marking a defining milestone for Waldorf Astoria in the United Kingdom. Set within one of London’s most iconic Grade I listed monuments, the hotel will introduce overnight stays in Admiralty Arch for the first time in its history.
  • ITB Berlin 2027 launches new campaign: Travel & Tourism in Motion (Breaking Travel News 2026-06-18 09:12:34)
    The World’s Leading Travel Trade Show will take place in Berlin from 16 to 18 March 2027. With its new campaign it focuses on the developments shaping global tourism, i.e. changing travel habits, innovative mobility solutions and new technological, economic and social conditions. It shows how markets, destinations and business models are constantly evolving, creating new prospects for tomorrow’s world of travel.
  • Travel Trends Podcast Summit V3 Reveals First Speakers (Breaking Travel News 2026-06-18 08:54:42)
    The Travel Trends Podcast today announced that its Virtual Summit V3 has expanded capacity to 2,500 free registrations, driven by overwhelming support from partners across the global travel industry.Taking place October 28 & 29, 2026, the Travel Trends Podcast Virtual Summit V3 will bring together travel leaders, innovators, technology pioneers, destination marketers, advisors, operators, and hospitality professionals to explore the future of travel through this year’s theme: Beyond AI.
  • VERSA HOSPITALITY LAUNCHES VERSA KEYS (Breaking Travel News 2026-06-18 08:49:45)
    Maldivian-owned group Versa Hospitality today announces the launch of Versa Keys: a tiered loyalty programme designed to reward guests for their curiosity, loyalty and time spent across the group’s growing collection of destinations worldwide.