Latest headlines in Travel News

  • Emirates SkyCargo transports Orbitworks’ Altair-1 (Breaking Travel News 2026-08-13 13:37:25)
    Emirates SkyCargo has completed the transport of Altair-1, the UAE’s first commercial AI-enabled earth observation satellite. Part of Orbitworks’ Altair constellation, the movement of the satellite highilghts a landmark achievement in the UAE’s vision to become a global leader in space and advanced technologies. Altair-1 was flown on an Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777 freighter aircraft from Dubai (DWC) airport to Los Angeles (LAX) ahead of its scheduled launch in October 2026.
  • barq × Riyadh Air Ink Strategic Partnership to Support the Airlines Payment Technology Development (Breaking Travel News 2026-08-13 13:35:57)
    barq and Riyadh Air have signed a strategic agreement to develop a comprehensive payment technology solution for the airline. The long-term partnership will support Riyadh Air’s commercial operations through an integrated, secure, and scalable payments ecosystem.
  • Hej Gothenburg: Etihad Airways lands this December (Breaking Travel News 2026-08-13 13:32:54)
    Etihad Airways today announced a new seasonal service between Abu Dhabi and Gothenburg, starting 17 December 2026 and operating four times a week until 21 March 2027.The new service will create Gothenburg’s first direct air link to the Middle East and Asia, connecting Sweden’s west coast directly with Abu Dhabi and providing some of the fastest one-stop journeys to sought-after destinations across India and Asia through Etihad’s Abu Dhabi hub.
  • Etihad Guest launches frequent flyer partnership with STARLUX Airlines’ COSMILE (Breaking Travel News 2026-08-13 13:31:03)
    Etihad Guest, the award-winning loyalty programme of Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE, announces a frequent flyer partnership with Taiwan-based STARLUX Airlines’ COSMILE loyalty programme. The partnership marks the next stage in the airlines’ strategic relationship, building on the codeshare agreement signed in June 2025 and the launch of Etihad’s direct services to Taipei in September last year.From 4 August, Etihad Guest members can redeem Etihad Guest Miles for flights in Business and Economy cabins across STARLUX’s network, giving them expanded access to destinations across Asia, North America, and Europe; including onward connections to popular destinations such as Los Angeles, Phoenix and Seattle in the US and Okinawa, Kobe and Nagoya in Japan.
  • Blacklane and Hertha BSC team up on match-day arrivals (Breaking Travel News 2026-08-13 10:07:05)
    Blacklane, the global chauffeur service, has partnered with Berlin’s professional football club Hertha BSC to support the club’s junior football community and create a seamless match day experience for VIP guests.From the first Hertha BSC home game of the 2026–27 season on 15 August 2026, hospitality guests will be able to arrive and depart with Blacklane via a dedicated convenient drop-off and pick-up point at the stadium’s VIP entrance, embedded in the claim “Unsere Alte Dame fährt Blacklane.”
  • Virgin Atlantic and Women Over 50 Film Festival launch new season of dementia-friendly short films (Breaking Travel News 2026-08-13 10:05:09)
    Virgin Atlantic customers can now watch a new collection of dementia-friendly short films curated by Women Over 50 Film Festival (WOFFF), as the airline continues its partnership with the festival for a third year. The new collection marks the third year of the partnership and will be available throughout the year on Virgin Atlantic’s in-flight entertainment platform, Vera.The films have been selected to offer a calm, engaging and accessible viewing experience for passenger’s people living with dementia, who may find full-length films, complex plots or fast-paced editing harder to follow during a flight. The collection can also support families, friends and carers travelling together by offering a shared viewing experience that feels gentle, manageable and inclusive.
  • Travel Trends Summit V3 : 40+ Travel Leaders Tackle What’s Beyond AI (Breaking Travel News 2026-08-13 09:42:41)
    Travel Trends has officially released the full agenda for Travel Trends Summit V3 sponsored by TourRadar, revealing an ambitious two-day program that brings together more than 40 of the travel industry’s leading founders, executives, investors, marketers, and innovators to explore one central question: What’s Beyond AI?Taking place October 28-29, 2026, the virtual event moves beyond the hype surrounding AI to examine the practical technologies, leadership strategies, and business models reshaping the global travel industry. Now in its third year, the Summit has doubled attendance year over year since launching in 2024, with previous editions attracting more than 2,000 participants from 50+ countries.
  • Middle East hospitality embraces resilience and experience-led growth as industry prepares for ATM (Breaking Travel News 2026-08-13 09:38:50)
    As hospitality leaders respond to changing guest expectations and a rapidly evolving market, Arabian Travel Market’s (ATM) 2026 will explore how businesses are adapting through personalised experiences, innovation and long-term investment.Taking place from 14-17 September 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre under the theme ‘Travel 2040: Driving New Frontiers Through Innovation and Technology,’ ATM will bring together hospitality leaders to explore how hotels are responding to changing consumer behaviour while building resilience across one of the industry’s most dynamic regions.
  • Survey by ITB Berlin highlights new developments in perceived safety for queer travellers worldwide (Breaking Travel News 2026-08-13 08:07:03)
    Second joint survey by ITB Berlin, A3M Global Monitoring and Diversity Tourism analyses global trends: Canada, the Netherlands, Spain and Austria are among positive-rated destinations, whereas perceptions of the situation in the US have changed significantly.
  • DUBAI MARRIOTT HARBOUR HOTEL & SUITES CELEBRATES 17 YEARS IN THE HEART OF DUBAI MARINA (Breaking Travel News 2026-08-13 07:06:01)
    Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites is celebrating 17 years in the heart of Dubai Marina with a hotel-wide anniversary celebrations running from September 1-30. . Bringing together residents, regulars and visitors who have been part of the hotel’s journey, the celebration features anniversary pricing, a signature birthday offer inspired by the hotel’s opening date and, until 30th September, an exclusive seven-course tasting menu at Prime52 steakhouse, 17 Years Above Dubai.
  • AWC Expands “AWC Riverside Journey” with THB 2.9 Billion New Luxury Destination (Breaking Travel News 2026-08-13 07:02:25)
    Asset World Corp Public Company Limited (AWC), Thailand’s leading integrated lifestyle real estate group, is adding a new luxury hospitality destination to strengthen its presence along the Chao Phraya River through the “AWC Riverside Journey,” connecting destinations and experiences across one of Bangkok’s most important cultural and tourism landscapes. From historic neighborhoods and iconic landmarks to contemporary lifestyle and cultural experiences, the journey reflects the distinctive character of the Chao Phraya while creating new reasons for residents and visitors to experience Bangkok through the river.
  • Discover Canada’s Autumn Towns, Harvest Festivals and Food Trails (Breaking Travel News 2026-08-13 06:58:18)
    As summer fades and Canada’s landscapes transform into a spectacular palette of red, orange and gold, autumn offers an invitation to explore the country at a slower pace. From charming towns steeped in history and local traditions to colourful harvest festivals and scenic food trails, communities across Canada come alive with seasonal experiences. Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best ways to experience Canada this autumn.
  • HARD ROCK HOTEL CANCUN AND HARD ROCK HOTEL VALLARTA ANNOUNCE AN UNPRECEDENTED TRANSFORMATION (Breaking Travel News 2026-08-13 06:54:55)
    Hard Rock Hotels has announced an unprecedented transformation of two of its most prominent beachfront properties in Mexico: Hard Rock Hotel Cancun and Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta. Both resorts will pause operations this summer to undergo extensive physical and experiential upgrades before their grand reopenings in late December 2026 to capture the peak winter season.
  • CHTA Selects Florida International University to Conduct Caribbean Tourism Demand Study (Breaking Travel News 2026-08-13 06:52:29)
    The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), the leading organization representing the interests of the Caribbean hospitality and tourism industry for more than 60 years, today announced that it has selected Florida International University (FIU) and the research team from its top-ranked Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management to undertake a Caribbean-wide Tourism Demand Study.The research will measure existing and potential demand by the tourism industry for goods and services across agriculture, manufacturing, entertainment and other sectors, quantify economic leakages, identify investment opportunities, and recommend strategies to strengthen linkages between tourism and local and regional economies.
  • Mews secures the first e-money license held by a hospitality operating system in the EEA (Breaking Travel News 2026-08-13 06:49:53)
    Mews Financial Services B.V., the regulated entity established by Mews Systems, has been granted an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license by De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB). The license is a foundational step in Mews’ ambition to make its operating system the home for financial services purpose-built for hospitality, where running the business and managing its money begin to come together in a single platform.
  • VIRTUOSO DATA SHOWS FALL IS THE NEW SUMMER, AS LUXURY TRAVELLERS ALTER SEASONALITY AND SPEND MORE (Breaking Travel News 2026-08-13 06:42:23)
    Virtuoso, the leading global network specialising in luxury and experiential travel, unveiled its latest travel trends at the 38th annual Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas, widely regarded as the “Fashion Week of Luxury Travel” for its influence in shaping what’s next in travel.Drawn from the network’s proprietary data and ongoing advisor and consumer surveys, the findings offer a clear view of what is driving the industry now and what to expect through the rest of the year and beyond. Toward the end of 2026, travellers are proving that timing is the ultimate luxury, choosing to travel later, linger longer and invest more to enjoy destinations at their best, without the crowds.
  • Autumn on the water: The most colourful river itineraries from A-ROSA (Breaking Travel News 2026-08-13 06:39:56)
    Castles wrapped in mist and cities without the crowds, Europe’s river cruise season is at its most cinematic in autumn and A-ROSA is inviting UK travellers to see it from the water.As the UK’s shoulder-season travellers look for travel experiences without the crowds, A-ROSA is highlighting its autumn Danube and Rhine cruises for those looking for culture and comfort in autumn.Guests enjoy all-inclusive river cruising with itineraries designed around city exploration and spacious cabins. Kids travel free* and the A-ROSA Kids Club runs alongside spa treatments and buffet-style dining, so a single sailing can work as easily for three generations travelling together as it does for a couple after a quiet week away.
  • TRYP by Wyndham Brings its Signature Style to The Hague, Netherlands (Breaking Travel News 2026-08-13 06:32:57)
    Set on the North Sea coast, where historic façades line the shoreline, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts announces the opening of TRYP by Wyndham, The Hague Scheveningen. The property draws on the legacy of traditional Dutch seaside hotels, reflecting its connection to the coast and its historic character. The hotel brings TRYP by Wyndham to The Hague, reimagining a long-standing property that balances heritage, location, and a vibrant, design-forward hospitality experience.
  • airBaltic Outlines Business Plan to Strengthen Long-Term Sustainability (Breaking Travel News 2026-08-13 06:29:09)
    The Latvian national airline airBaltic today outlines the key elements of its business plan following its approval by the company’s Supervisory Board. The plan is designed to strengthen airBaltic’s long-term competitiveness, establish a sustainable capital structure, support its future development and maintain reliable connectivity for Latvia and the wider region.
  • Hermitage Hotel & Resort: A Summer of Taste, Sport and Timeless Italian hospitality with Starhotels (Breaking Travel News 2026-08-13 06:26:56)
    Summer at Hermitage Hotel & Resort, Forte dei Marmi – Starhotels Collezione is an invitation to slow down and experience the authentic rhythm of one of Italy’s most celebrated seaside destinations. Nestled between the pine forest and the Tyrrhenian Sea, the elegant retreat, with its one hectare and a half of private gardens - unveils a seasonal programme that brings together exceptional hospitality, Tuscan flavours, outdoor living and the enduring appeal of Italian sport.