Latest headlines in Travel News

  • Robust aviation infrastructure and data-led decisions central to post-conflict connectivity (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-16 13:59:40)
    The Middle East’s travel and tourism community must prioritise aviation infrastructure and data-informed decision-making in preparation for a swift post-conflict rebound, according to ministers and industry experts speaking at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026. The 33rd edition of ATM is being hosted at Dubai World Trade Centre until Thursday 17 September.Abdul Wahab Teffaha, Secretary General, Arab Air Carriers’ Organization (AACO), Schubert Lou, CEO, Trip.com, H.E. Laura El Khazen Lahoud, Minister of Tourism, Lebanon, and H.E. Nicola Amanda Bernstein, Minister for Tourism and Culture, Republic of Seychelles, met on ATM 2026’s Global Stage to discuss post-conflict connectivity and explore ways to future-proof operations. The session was moderated by Thomas Shambler, Head of Business, ITP Media Group.
  • Etihad to elevate premium ground experience with new generation of global lounges (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-16 12:20:40)
    Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has unveiled the next generation of its global lounge experience, beginning with a transformed London Heathrow Lounge in summer 2027 and marking the start of a wider expansion of Etihad lounges around the world.The Heathrow lounge will be the first to introduce Etihad’s new Beyond Borders design language to the ground experience, beginning a new design cycle that will increasingly connect the airline’s lounges and aircraft through a recognisable Etihad look and feel.
  • FORMULA 1® PORTUGUESE GRAND PRIX now has a confirmed date: 18-20 June 2027 (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-16 12:19:31)
    Portugal will return to the FIA Formula 1® World Championship calendar in 2027, with the FORMULA 1® PORTUGUESE GRAND PRIX taking place at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, in Portimão, from 18 to 20 June 2027. The confirmation follows the official publication of the 2027 season calendar, released this Wednesday by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile - FIA.The race marks the return of the pinnacle of world motorsport to the country and follows the agreement signed between Formula 1® and the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in December 2025, which also secures the staging of the race in 2028.
  • Emirates Skywards doubles the Miles on Emirates and flydubai flights (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-16 12:13:32)
    Emirates Skywards, the award-winning loyalty programme of Emirates (www.Emirates.com) and flydubai, is giving members more reasons to plan their next getaway, with the chance to earn double Skywards Miles on eligible Emirates and flydubai flights across their global networks. From 15 to 30 September 2026, members must register for the offer (https://apo-opa.co/3Twl99S)and book an eligible Emirates or flydubai flight for travel until 30 November 2026 and then earn 100% bonus Skywards Miles on top of the Miles they would normally earn.The offer spans the extensive networks of both airlines and is available across all eligible cabins including Emirates’ increasingly popular Premium Economy experience, as well as Economy Class, Business Class and First Class. On flydubai, members can earn double Miles when travelling in Economy Class or Business Class.
  • Air Canada extends service to Guatemala from Montréal and Toronto (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-16 12:09:20)
    Air Canada has extended its Montréal-Guatemala City service through summer 2027 and confirmed its Toronto-Guatemala City route as a year-round service, offering UK travellers convenient one-stop connections to Guatemala through either Canadian hub. During the winter season, the extended and expanded service is particularly well timed for passengers connecting via London Heathrow, with a connection time of just over two hours* through Montréal, along with additional options from Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin.
  • ALEX WARREN JOINS STAR-STUDDED ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX LINE-UP (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-16 12:06:21)
    GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter Alex Warren has been announced as part of the star-studded Yasalam presented by e& entertainment programme of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, organised by Ethara Live.Beyond the racing, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix week transforms Yas Island into a destination-wide celebration, with a packed programme of live music, dining and entertainment complementing the action at Yas Marina Circuit. For international visitors, the weekend also provides a gateway to discover more of Abu Dhabi, from its cultural landmarks and beaches to world-class attractions and experiences.
  • Valencian Paella: A Legend Reinterpreted Around The World (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-16 11:03:58)
    Great songs have cover versions. Classic films are reinterpreted time and again. And dishes that achieve legendary status cross borders, inspire and evolve. This is the idea behind the new World Paella Day 2026 campaign: “When something becomes a legend, it is reinterpreted around the world”.The campaign, led by the Visit Valencia Foundation with the support of València City Council, Turisme Comunitat Valenciana and the València Provincial Council, puts Valencian paella at the heart of the story as an international icon of the region’s gastronomy. Born in Valencia, it has travelled the world and inspired countless interpretations across five continents.
  • Jayasom Opens Flagship Wellness Resort at AMAALA (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-16 11:02:44)
    Jayasom, the global purveyor of wellness wisdom, has officially opened its highly anticipated flagship property, Jayasom Wellness Resort, AMAALA, on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. The luxury integrative wellness sanctuary is committed to supporting guests to live well and age well through deeply personalised programmes. True to the meaning of its name - derived from ‘Jay’, meaning heart, and ‘Asom’, meaning place - Jayasom embodies “a place for the heart,” a sanctuary created to help guests feel deeply connected to themselves, their surroundings, and the pristine environment of Triple Bay. The opening supports the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030, contributing to the Kingdom’s focus on preventative health and long-term wellbeing.
  • Maison Sport partners with Heidi to launch the first API integration of real-time ski lesson booking (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-16 11:00:02)
    Maison Sport, Europe’s leading booking platform for private ski and snowboarding lessons, has completed its first API integration with external travel partner Heidi, the UK’s second largest ski holiday company.The integration embeds Maison Sport’s booking technology directly into the Heidi platform, giving customers real-time access to instructor availability across Maison Sport’s resort network.
  • Qatar Airways Showcases Innovation, Onboard Connectivity, and Next-Generation Travel at ATM (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-16 10:54:53)
    Qatar Airways marked its participation at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with a showcase of its latest advancements in premium travel and digital innovations. Visitors of Qatar Airways’ immersive pavilion were offered a closer look at how the airline is evolving the customer experience across every stage of their journey.Through a series of interactive screens highlighting the emerging technologies shaping travellers’ experiences, ATM attendees discovered and engaged with the airline’s digital and loyalty experiences, including ‘Q Search’, ‘Infinite Awards’, as well Qatar Airways’ first-ever digital destination, ‘QVerse Island’ in Fortnite.
  • MANDARIN ORIENTAL, BANGKOK WELCOMES PAUL JONES AS GENERAL MANAGER (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-16 10:50:41)
    Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Jones as General Manager, marking a return to the hotel where he first joined Mandarin Oriental more than two decades ago.Jones previously served as Hotel Manager at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok from 2005 to 2008. His appointment comes as the legendary hotel celebrates its 150th anniversary, a milestone in the history of one of the world’s most celebrated hotels.
  • HMH strengthens sustainable hotel operations as UAE hotels turn to technology and circular solutions (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-16 10:48:54)
    Hospitality Management Holding (HMH) is expanding the use of technology and circular-economy practices across its managed hotel portfolio as the hospitality sector increasingly looks to reduce resource consumption while improving long-term operational efficiency.Across HMH-managed hotels, initiatives targeting food waste, water consumption, single-use plastics, and end-of-life materials show how sustainability is moving beyond corporate commitments and becoming part of everyday hotel operations.
  • Apaleo and IDeaS announce expanded integration with advanced revenue controls (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-16 10:20:38)
    Apaleo, the open, API-first hospitality platform, and IDeaS, a SAS company and the world’s leading provider of AI-powered hospitality revenue management software, today announced the availability of an enhanced integration designed to simplify hotel operations and strengthen revenue performance and improve profitability.
  • Emirates enters winter season with strong booking momentum (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-16 10:14:54)
    Emirates has closed the summer season ahead of expectations and enters winter with strong booking momentum across a broadening range of markets, as the airline continues to invest in its fleet and industry-leading products, in its global network, and in offering customers greater booking flexibility and comprehensive travel cover.Between July and August, Emirates carried more than 8.6 million passengers, maintaining healthy seat load factors across its network. The airline is currently operating at around 93% of its pre-disruption capacity, with demand continuing to build as the winter travel season approaches.
  • Arabian Adventures invests AED 8 million in the future of desert tourism at The Fort – Lisaili (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-16 10:11:41)
    Arabian Adventures, part of the Emirates Group, has announced an AED 8 million expansion of The Fort – Lisaili, unveiling the destination’s new concept and design vision at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) Dubai 2026.The investment reflects growing demand for experience-led tourism among both international visitors and UAE residents and supports Dubai’s continued development as a world-class destination for leisure, entertainment, and outdoor experiences.
  • Regulator cuts regulatory burden to accelerate airspace modernisation (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-16 10:07:18)
    The UK Civil Aviation Authority has updated its Airspace Change Process to reflect Government changes outlined in the Air Navigation Directions and Air Navigation Guidance, which come into effect on 1 October 2026.
  • Samson Sky Secures $80 Million Investment for Production of the Switchblade Flying Car (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-16 09:45:42)
    Samson Sky, makers of the Switchblade Flying Car announced they have secured an investment of $80 million from Dubai-based Matin Group. According to Sam Bousfield, CEO and Founder of Samson Sky and designer of the Switchblade, these funds will be used to establish Samson Sky s first 180,000 square foot Switchblade production facility, to be located in the U.S.Samson Sky announced they have signed a Joint Investment Agreement with the Matin Group, and the two companies have begun setting up the Joint Venture to accelerate into commercial production, with $20M still remaining to be raised for full production funding.
  • Middle East tourism set for strong growth as ATM Travel Trends Report forecasts 57% rise in spend (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-16 09:43:33)
    International visitor spending in the Middle East is forecast to increase by US$116 billion, or 57%, between 2025 and 2030, according to the newly unveiled ATM Travel Trends Report 2026, produced by Arabian Travel Market in association with Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company.Dave Goodger, Managing Director EMEA, Tourism Economics, presented the findings during ATM Annual Trends Report: Middle East Momentum & Market Shifts on the Global Stage at ATM 2026, taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre until Thursday 17 September.
  • Start in Colombo: Let Amari Open the Door to Sri Lanka (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-16 08:15:55)
    Sri Lanka is a destination that rewards curiosity. In a single journey, travellers can experience the energy and character of Colombo, journey by train through the island’s lush central highlands, follow the Indian Ocean coastline towards the historic streets of Galle, and venture into the wild in search of elephants, exotic birdlife and the elusive Sri Lankan leopard.At Amari Colombo, that journey begins in the heart of the capital. Ideally positioned for discovering Colombo and travelling onwards across the island, the upper-upscale hotel combines Amari’s renowned Thai-inspired hospitality with the character, culture and warmth of its Sri Lankan setting.
  • AWC and Meliá Hotels International Scale Strategic Partnership (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-16 08:11:00)
    Thailand’s leading integrated lifestyle real estate group, and Meliá Hotels International (MHI), one of Europe’s leading hospitality companies, announced the expansion of their long-standing strategic partnership to develop luxury and lifestyle hotels and resorts across Thailand’s most iconic destinations.As part of AWC’s long-term development pipeline in Thailand through 2036, AWC and Meliá Hotels International will expand their collaboration to grow the portfolio to more than 3,000 keys across key destinations under multiple luxury and lifestyle brands, including Meliá Hotels & Resorts, ME by Meliá, Paradisus by Meliá, INNSiDE by Meliá, and Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts.