Latest headlines in Travel News

  • Diamonds Resorts makes Maldives bookings easier for GCC travellers with seaplane-inclusive escapes (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-24 21:00:08)
    As GCC travellers look for greater flexibility, value and reassurance when booking long-haul holidays, Diamonds Resorts is responding with two timely Maldives offers designed to make the journey feel more seamless from the outset. At Diamonds Athuruga Maldives and Diamonds Thudufushi Maldives, the group is promoting a “GCC Exclusive Maldives Escape – Seaplane Included” package that combines complimentary seaplane transfers, high-speed Wi-Fi, daily activities, curated island and marine experiences, and free cancellation up to seven days before arrival for stays of seven nights or more.
  • Diamonds Resorts invites GCC travellers to book a Maldives seaplane escape at Athuruga and Thudufush (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-24 20:31:30)
    Diamonds Resorts is targeting Gulf travellers with a twin Maldives campaign built around Diamonds Athuruga Maldives and Diamonds Thudufushi Maldives. Both resorts are promoting a “GCC Exclusive Maldives Escape – Seaplane Included” offer for stays of seven nights or more, bundling complimentary seaplane transfers, Wi-Fi, daily recreational activities, and a programme of family-friendly and marine experiences into a longer-stay package.
  • Independent accommodations accelerate AI use in a more demanding 2026 market (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-24 16:08:39)
    As Independent Accommodation Day takes place today, 24 March, industry data suggests independent accommodation providers are increasingly turning to practical AI tools to improve efficiency and stay competitive in a more demanding market.The shift comes as PwC’s latest hotels forecast says the UK hotel sector enters 2026 with “a sense of resilience and renewed confidence,” supported by strong international demand, event-led travel and a steady recovery in domestic leisure. PwC forecasts 1.5% RevPAR growth and 1.2% occupancy growth across the UK regions in 2026. But, it also points to ongoing cost pressure, tighter margins and softer rate growth, increasing the need for operators to find new efficiencies.
  • Marriott International and Sun Group Strengthen Strategic Relationship with the Signing of 10 Hotels (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-24 12:34:53)
    Marriott International, Inc. signed a multi-property agreement with Sun Group, Vietnam’s leading integrated destination and resort developer, to bring 10 new hotels and resorts, spanning eight of Marriott’s extraordinary brands and comprising almost 4,500 keys across Phu Quoc and Vung Tau. This agreement is set to mark the debut of two brands in Vietnam – W Hotels, the luxury lifestyle offering, and stylish and playful Moxy Hotels. These new properties are scheduled to open between 2027 and 2030, as integral elements of Sun Group’s game-changing developments.Marriott International were voted the World’s Leading Hotel Brand and Sun Group received the award for Asia’s Leading Integrated Tourism Group 2025 at the 2025 World Travel Awards.
  • United to Add 250+ Planes in Next Two Years – Most by Any Airline (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-24 12:31:42)
    United Airlines today announced the next phase of its long-term plan to win brand loyal customers and further differentiate itself from competitors.The airline expects to take delivery of more than 250 new aircraft by April 2028 – the most by any airline in a two-year period – to further modernize its fleet, add new aircraft variants, create a new experience for transcontinental travelers and introduce new onboard products for every customer, reinforcing United’s position as a leading premium airline.
  • The valuation blind spot (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-24 12:30:17)
    As IHIF EMEA 2026 convenes under the theme Returns Redefined, Value Reimagined, a new briefing published by Valpas exposes a structural gap in how hotel assets are valued: every physical condition risk in a hotel — structural integrity, fire safety, water quality, HVAC performance — has a standardised inspection, a certification requirement, and a recognised impact on transaction value. Every risk except one.Bed bug infestation risk has historically sat in facilities budgets as an unpredictable operational cost: invisible in due diligence, unquantifiable in underwriting, absent from ESG reporting. The briefing — titled The Valuation Blind Spot — maps the regulatory, technological, and market forces that are converging to close this gap, and examines what the evidence from Paris and other early-adopting markets reveals about how quickly the shift is occurring.
  • JW MARRIOTT CRETE RESORT & SPA, CRETE’S MOST TALKED ABOUT LUXURY RESORT, REOPENS THIS SPRING (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-24 12:26:14)
    As Crete continues to emerge as one of the Mediterranean’s most compelling luxury destinations, JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa, the luxury seafront resort which launched in 2025, will reopen for the summer season on April 15, welcoming guests to a serene coastal retreat where architecture, nature and understated hospitality come together above the island’s dramatic shoreline near Chania.
  • Virgin Voyages to stage first full fleet meet-up at sea in 2027 (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-24 12:23:10)
    Virgin Voyages will bring together all four of its kid-free ships at sea for the first time in February 2027, in what the line says will be the largest coordinated fleet gathering in cruise history.The event, named ‘Sisters at Sea’, will take place on February 16, 2027, when Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady and Brilliant Lady meet at a fixed point in the Caribbean, approximately 44 miles north of Nuevitas, Cuba.More than 15,000 passengers and crew are expected to be onboard across the four vessels.
  • Madeira Strengthens UK Connectivity for Summer 2026 (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-24 08:42:26)
    Madeira is set to strengthen connectivity from the UK for the summer season*, with increased frequency on both London and some regional routes.London will remain a key getaway to Madeira, with a consistent schedule of 31 weekly flights operating across the capital’s airports throughout the summer season, up from an average of 28 weekly flights last summer. The Bournemouth service, which launched last summer, returns for the summer season, and Bristol will benefit from increased frequency, rising from four to five flights per week, offering improved flexibility for travellers from the South West.
  • Protect Group targets $10 Billion USD in protected bookings (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-24 08:40:21)
    Protect Group, a leading provider of reservation and ticket protection solutions, today announced an ambitious goal to protect over $10 billion USD in bookings across airlines, OTAs, events, sports, and hospitality brands by the end of 2026. This represents a 25% increase compared to the previous period, when the company safeguarded over $8 billion USD in bookings.
  • OKUPA BRINGS A NEW GENERATION OF URBAN HOSPITALITY TO THE GREEK CAPITAL (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-24 08:36:21)
    One year after opening in the heart of Athens’ vibrant Psiri district, Okupa enters a new chapter, following a first year shaped by local recognition and word-of-mouth cultfollowing among the city’s creative community. A new and next-generation expression of Athenian hospitality, Okupa was conceived for the modern traveller looking for an alternative to conventional boutique hospitality. Created not for a specific demographic but for those with a shared sensibility, Okupa reflects a more fluid, contemporary way of experiencing Athens — one where design, gastronomy, culture, music and people coexist within a single urban setting.
  • Luxury Group by Marriott International Unveils “Art of Arrival,” (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-24 08:29:31)
    In celebration of this year’s Hong Kong Art Month, Luxury Group by Marriott International unveils “Art of Arrival,” a new artist residency program that invites emerging Chinese artist Chen Zuo to present a journey across place and perspective. Through an immersive residency, a commissioned piece, and an international exhibition circuit, “Art of Arrival” transforms arrival into a creative journey – inviting guests and audiences to experience the intersection of place, imagination, and design.
  • CHTA AND TRIPTEASE TO HOST SECOND ANNUAL DIRECT BOOKING SUMMIT CARIBBEAN IN ANTIGUA & BARBUDA (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-24 08:26:37)
    As Caribbean hoteliers face mounting distribution costs and intensifying competition for direct guest relationships, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and Triptease are bringing proven, revenue-focused solutions to the region. Now in its second year, the Direct Booking Summit (DBS) Caribbean edition returns on Thursday, May 15, 2026, at Sandals Grande Antigua — immediately following the 2026 Caribbean Travel Marketplace.
  • Relax, Reset, Ready to Fly: Virgin Atlantic reveals revamped Heathrow Clubhouse (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-24 08:22:16)
    Virgin Atlantic is delighted to unveil its refreshed Clubhouse at London Heathrow following the first phase of a redesign and refurbishment. Enhancing the experience on the ground for Upper Class customers the new space offers a new cinema area, work pods, a new Royal Box VIP area and a refreshed Gallery space bringing together elevated comfort, modern style and a sense of calm before you fly. For guests seeking a moment of wellbeing before take-off, two luxurious new pop-up wellness experiences have arrived in the Clubhouse. Three self-guided Somadomes offer immersive meditation designed to calm and reset, while a new partnership with Secret Spa introduces a curated menu of dreamy treatments. Together, they create the perfect opportunity to relax, refresh and feel ready to fly.
  • MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy Unveils ‘Best of Both Worlds’ Moments Series (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-24 08:20:44)
    MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy® today announced a new marquee Marriott Bonvoy MomentsTM series, “Best of Both Worlds,” that pairs iconic MGM Collection properties in Las Vegas with extraordinary Marriott Bonvoy hotels around the globe. These unique packages give travelers exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime dual-destination experiences combining entertainment and culinary excellence with best-in-class accommodations, while highlighting the best of the groundbreaking partnership between Marriott International and MGM Resorts.
  • Dusit Hotels and Resorts joins GSTC in support of sustainable hospitality worldwide (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-24 08:11:55)
    Dusit Hotels and Resorts, the hotel management arm of Dusit International, has joined the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, marking a significant step in the company’s ongoing efforts to embed responsible practices throughout its global operations.GSTC is a global non-profit organisation that brings together public and private sector stakeholders to advance sustainable tourism practices worldwide. By joining as a member, Dusit becomes part of a global network committed to knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and the promotion of responsible tourism principles across the industry.
  • 4th edition of the Istanbul Tourism Fair will take place on September 24-25 2026 (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-24 08:03:07)
    Organisers are pleased to announce the 4th edition of the Istanbul Tourism Fair, which will take place on September 24-25 2026, at the Yenikapı Eurasia Show and Art Center. This premier event will provide a dynamic platform for tourism professionals from Türkiye and around the world to explore new opportunities, foster collaborations, and discover the latest products and services shaping the industry.
  • Il Salviatino Appoints New General Manager, Joao Mendes de Almeida (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-24 07:59:02)
    Il Salviatino, situated within 12 hectares of centuries-old gardens with sweeping views of Florence’s iconic Duomo, is pleased to announce the appointment of new General Manager, Joao Mendes de Alemeida, and Director of Operations, Stephanie Loison. Having worked with some of the finest luxury hotels in Europe, the couple bring exceptional expertise and leadership to their new roles.
  • Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi Expands with 11 New Slides and Attractions (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-23 11:58:41)
    Miral, the leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences in Abu Dhabi, has announced that its latest expansion of Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi will open to guests on April 4, 2026.The expansion marks the next stage of the waterpark’s ‘Lost City’ theming expansion, building on Yas Waterworld’s story of ‘The Legend of The Lost Pearl’. The development will introduce eight new slides, two jumping platforms and a lounging pool.
  • airBaltic becomes first Starlink-connected airline to implement AirMall by InterLnkd (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-23 11:57:45)
    Latvian airline airBaltic has partnered with InterLnkd to integrate AirMall into its Skynet onboard Wi-Fi portal, becoming the first Starlink-connected airline to launch a global, dynamic inflight shopping mall experience for its passengers.AirMall by InterLnkd turns the carrier’s Wi-Fi portal into an airline-branded retail channel on passengers’ own devices, connecting travellers to 20,000+ brands in the air with zero onboard stock or crew involvement. The provider-agnostic solution offers tailored recommendations, loyalty integration, and flexible post-flight delivery options.