Latest headlines in Travel News

  • Shaza Hotels Sets Ambitious 2027 Growth Agenda Across Turkey, Central Asia and North Africa at ATM (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-15 14:08:52)
    Shaza Hotels is setting its sights on a new phase of international growth, with Turkey, Central Asia and North Africa identified as priority markets for expansion from 2027, as the luxury hospitality group looks beyond its established GCC base towards destinations offering strong potential for culturally relevant, family-focused hospitality.Unveiling its strategic expansion plans during Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, Shaza Hotels said its next phase of development will be driven not simply by adding hotels, but by identifying markets where its distinctive hospitality philosophy can respond to evolving traveller expectations.
  • HOLIDAY EXTRAS SAYS “WE TOLD YOU SO”, AS EU QUIETLY LETS NINE COUNTRIES SHELVE EES INDEFINITELY (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-15 14:06:37)
    Nobody at the European Commission wants to say the words “EES has failed”. So Holiday Extras will say them, and add a fairly simple follow up question: if nine countries covering most of Europe’s tourism have just been quietly told they can keep delaying it with no deadline in sight, why not just turn the whole thing off?
  • flydubai accelerates network growth with more than 125 destinations (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-15 13:54:47)
    flydubai continues to strengthen its network and add capacity as it responds to resilient travel demand.The airline has restored operations to 85% of its network, demonstrating the agility of its business model and its ability to progressively adapt to a changing operating environment. This flexibility has enabled flydubai to grow to more than 125 destinations across its network in 56 countries. flydubai has also added capacity in key markets, built on the confidence in the long-term fundamentals of travel demand.
  • flydubai marks 100-aircraft fleet milestone, announces new cabin retrofit programme (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-15 13:46:58)
    flydubai has announced the next phase of its growth strategy, expanding its fleet beyond 100 aircraft and launching a new cabin retrofit programme in September.The airline will take delivery of 11 additional aircraft in 2026, including seven Boeing 737-9 MAX and four Boeing 737-8 MAX, marking a significant step in its ongoing expansion.
  • Zeal Connect Launches Zeal CRM during the Arabian Travel Market (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-15 13:44:18)
    Zeal Connect today launched Zeal CRM, an AI-first CRM built for travel. It completes a platform that carries a booking from first enquiry to final resolution flights, hotels, packages, corporate travel or groups and arrives days before Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, where Zeal CRM and Zeal Desk will be shown together for the first time.
  • Amadeus delivers new hotel capabilities for leisure travel sellers (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-15 13:42:55)
    The capabilities provide the infrastructure sellers need to run modern direct hotel contracting programs at scale while expanding the hotel options available through Amadeus’ net-rate merchant program
  • Embracing diversity while delivering joined-up experiences is key to Gulf nations’ business success (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-15 13:41:44)
    Gulf nations must showcase the differences in their offerings while presenting a united front to international visitors, according to regional business events leaders speaking on day two of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026. The 33rd edition of ATM is being hosted at Dubai World Trade Centre until Thursday 17 September.
  • Unifocus unveils new AI platform Unifocus Claira (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-15 13:20:20)
    This unified data foundation powers advanced AI capabilities designed to accelerate decision-making, improve operational performance, and drive business growth
  • TAT Celebrates the Success of the Amazing Thailand Ambassador Campaign (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-15 10:01:41)
    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) celebrates the success of the “Amazing Thailand Ambassador” project, which generated more than 448 million impressions across media and digital channels. The initiative reflects TAT’s efforts to evolve how Thailand is communicated as a destination in response to today’s changing traveller behaviours and digital landscape, using contemporary stories, content, and perspectives to connect audiences with Thailand’s unique charm. As part of the initiative, LISA, as the Amazing Thailand Ambassador, helped showcase Thailand’s stories and perspectives to travellers through the “Feel All the feelings” campaign, sparking widespread conversation and inspiring people to experience and discover Thailand for themselves.
  • Jamaica to Host World Travel Week as Minister Bartlett Advances Global Tourism Resilience Agenda (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-15 09:54:15)
    Jamaica will host World Travel Week, a major gathering of global tourism stakeholders, from October 10–15 at Princess Resorts in Negril. Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett made the announcement at the World Travel Awards in Dubai on Sunday, calling it “a statement that Jamaica is ready, willing, and able to lead the global conversation on the future of travel.”
  • CHTA PUTS WORKFORCE AT CENTER OF AI TRANSFORMATION WITH NEW CARIBBEAN HOSPITALITY GUIDE (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-15 09:49:17)
    As businesses navigate evolving workforce needs, artificial intelligence (AI) presents new opportunities to strengthen productivity, develop talent and support operations. Realizing that potential, however, requires businesses to prepare their people to use AI effectively and responsibly. The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is helping the region’s hospitality and tourism businesses do just that with the release of the AI Workforce Transformation Guide for Caribbean Hospitality: Practical Strategies for People Management, Learning and Leadership – the third edition of its AI Guidebook Series.
  • AMAWATERWAYS LAUNCHES 2027 BROCHURE WITH LIMITED-TIME SEPTEMBER INCENTIVES FOR TRAVEL AGENTS (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-15 09:47:37)
    AmaWaterways has launched its new 2027 Journeys That Move You brochure, showcasing its Exotic programmes, latest itineraries including City Escapes and upcoming ship launches including AmaMaya on the Mekong, AmaRudi on the Danube and AmaNubia on the Nile.
  • Etihad unveils next evolution of guest experience and new A330neo cabins (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-15 09:43:44)
    Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has launched its Beyond Borders product and experience, bringing its ambition to life through the next evolution of the Etihad guest journey.Making its world debut at Arabian Travel Market, Etihad’s new Airbus A330 cabin provides a major showcase of Beyond Borders, with all-new First, Business and Economy interiors and a signature design language that will progressively extend across the airline’s growing fleet and premium spaces. Alongside the A330, Etihad is showcasing how the Beyond Borders look and feel will extend to the A321LR across First, Business and Economy, creating greater consistency across the Etihad journey.
  • Hilton signs 10 Spark by Hilton hotels as UK growth gathers pace (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-15 09:40:16)
    Hilton has announced a significant expansion to its value-focused brand Spark by Hilton with the signing of 10 hotels across the UK, boosting the brand’s footprint across England and Wales. The additions will bring 672 Hilton rooms to Cardiff, Coventry, Derby, Doncaster, Hull, Peterborough, Runcorn, Sunderland, Wakefield and Washington, with the hotels expected to open between late 2026 and 2028.Paul Blackmore, vice president, development, UK & Ireland, Hilton, said: “These signings underline the strength of demand for Spark by Hilton we are seeing from owners across the UK. With nearly 700 rooms in the pipeline, including the brand’s first hotel in Wales, Spark continues to gain momentum as owners recognise the strength of its value proposition and its ability to meet the needs of today’s travellers.”
  • MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL AND ÖZAK GYO SIGN AGREEMENT TO OPEN A RITZ-CARLTON RESORT (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-15 09:33:44)
    Marriott International, Inc. today announced it has signed an agreement with Özak GYO to introduce its first luxury, all-inclusive resort in the Europe, Middle East & Africa region.  Situated in Kemer within the Antalya region, The Ritz-Carlton, Kemer, All- Inclusive is set to deliver legendary service and an elegant aesthetic, along with an immersive resort experience in one of Türkiye’s most coveted coastal destinations.
  • PRICETRAVEL HOLDING expands international distribution of MANGIA’S HOTELS & RESORTS (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-15 09:31:22)
    PriceTravel Holding, one of Latin America’s leading travel distribution companies, has signed a new direct connectivity agreement with Mangia’s Hotels & Resorts, connecting 12 properties across Sicily and Sardinia with its international distribution network and expanding the Italian hotel group’s access to leisure demand across Latin America and other international source markets.The partnership gives Mangia’s access to PriceTravel Holding’s network of more than 16,000 affiliated travel agencies and 28,000 active travel agents, while its wholesale business reaches more than 180 source markets. The agreement forms part of Mangia’s broader strategy to strengthen the international distribution of its portfolio and connect its Sicilian and Sardinian properties with new travel trade partners worldwide.
  • Technology, talent and customer focus key to future competitiveness of travel sector (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-15 09:05:15)
    Technology, talent and an unwavering focus on the customer will be critical to maintaining competitiveness as the travel industry enters its next phase of growth, according to senior industry leaders at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026.
  • AMAALA Yacht Club opens, putting the Red Sea on the global yachting map (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-15 09:02:36)
    Red Sea Global (RSG), the regenerative tourism developer, has announced that AMAALA Yacht Club has officially begun operations, marking a major milestone in establishing the Saudi Red Sea as a new global destination for luxury yachting, sailing and marine tourism.
  • VIVA Cruises launches new coach transfers for winter sailings (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-15 08:58:23)
    River cruise operator VIVA Cruises has launched dedicated coach departures for its three-night ‘Advent on the Rhine’ and four-night ‘City Hopping Netherlands’ sailings.The departures - on November 14 for ‘City Hopping Netherlands’ and December 14, 2026, for ‘Advent on the Rhine’ - are on an executive-class coach departing from London, with an additional pickup stop in Maidstone, Kent, before heading to the Eurotunnel and on to Düsseldorf to board VIVA MOMENTS.
  • Virgin Voyages’ biggest-ever UK ship tour sends agent confidence soaring (Breaking Travel News 2026-09-15 08:54:39)
    Virgin Voyages has completed its biggest UK and Ireland trade activation to date, welcoming more than 1,200 First Mates (travel agents) onboard Valiant Lady this summer.The ‘Valiant Lady UK Summer Tour 2026’ took place throughout August, calling at Dublin, Glasgow, Liverpool, Belfast, Edinburgh and Portsmouth (twice). It marked the highest number of ports and ship visits Virgin Voyages has included in a single UK and Ireland trade initiative.