Latest headlines in Travel News

  • ‘Wellness in the Wild’ with Great Plains, A Collection of Restorative Safari Experiences (Breaking Travel News 2026-10-02 09:43:53)
    Great Plains, the iconic eco-tourism company founded by National Geographic Explorers at Large & award-winning filmmakers, Dereck and Beverly Joubert, is inviting travellers to experience safari as a journey for the mind, body and soul with ‘Wellness in the Wild’ – a collection of restorative experiences across its camps in Kenya, Botswana and Zimbabwe.As travellers increasingly look beyond traditional spa-led wellness towards experiences that encourage better sleep, movement, nourishing food, time outdoors and meaningful connection with nature, Great Plains offers a distinctly African interpretation of holistic wellbeing.
  • DoubleTree by Hilton Singapore Robertson Quay Opens, Marking Brand’s Singapore Debut (Breaking Travel News 2026-10-02 09:31:45)
    Hilton has officially opened DoubleTree by Hilton Singapore Robertson Quay, marking the brand’s debut in Singapore and introducing its signature warmth, comfortable hospitality and thoughtful touches to one of the city’s most established riverside neighbourhoods.Set along the Singapore River in the lively Robertson Quay precinct, the 344-room hotel pairs the energy of city life with the ease of quayside living, offering a well-connected base for business and leisuretravellers. From the moment they arrive, guests are welcomed with the brand’s beloved warm DoubleTree chocolate chip cookie, a symbol of DoubleTree by Hilton’s longstanding commitment to care. That spirit continues throughout the stay, from warm service and thoughtfully designed spaces to familiar comforts that help guests feel relaxed, well looked after and at ease.
  • Minor Hotels Accelerates Colbert Collection Growth with Dubai Islands Signing (Breaking Travel News 2026-10-02 08:56:23)
    Minor Hotels has announced the signing of Ampersand Beach House as part of Colbert Collection, an 111-key boutique lifestyle hotel that will mark the first purpose-built Colbert Collection property and the brand’s debut on Dubai Islands.Scheduled to open in late 2029, the beachfront development brings Ampersand from London to Dubai. The Ampersand Hotel has been operational in London for over ten years, demonstrating excellence and earning the affection of its guests, and now brings that success to Dubai with the refined edge of coastal, barefoot luxury at Ampersand Beach House.
  • This Pink October, MGallery redefines hospitality with care at its heart (Breaking Travel News 2026-10-02 08:44:18)
    This Pink October, MGallery Collection is inviting guests to see travel not as a pause from looking after their health, but as an opportunity to make space for it. Through Move & Care, the luxury boutique hotel brand is bringing together two pillars across its global network: Move, with movement, sport and wellness experiences for guests; and Care, focused on breast-health awareness, prevention and support, building on MGallery Collection’s always-on Committed To Her pillar. In Asia, two MGallery Collection properties in Vietnam and one in Thailand participate in this innovative 2026 Pink October campaign.
  • Two Formula 1 weekends, one Southeast Asian journey with Malaysia Airlines (Breaking Travel News 2026-10-02 08:40:43)
    Malaysia Airlines is inviting UK motorsport fans to experience two back-to-back Formula 1 weekends in a single Southeast Asian journey this October. Formula 1 will return to Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit for the first time since 2017 for the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia from 2 – 4 October, followed one week later by the Singapore Grand Prix from 9 – 11 October. With services from London Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur and onward connections to Singapore, Malaysia Airlines enables travellers to combine both race weekends while discovering more of Malaysia between events.
  • airBaltic Marks 31 Years of Connecting the Baltics to the World (Breaking Travel News 2026-10-02 08:35:32)
    On 1 October 1995, the Latvian airline airBaltic operated its first commercial flight, from Riga to Stockholm. The airline began operations with a 33-seat Saab 340 aircraft and a network of just four routes. Thirty-one years later, airBaltic operates a network of more than 70 destinations across Europe and beyond and has carried more than 70 million passengers since its establishment.The change in scale is reflected not only in the number of destinations served, but also in the range of connections available from the Baltic region. Routes that today connect Riga with major European cities have been developed over many years, while connections between the Baltic capitals have become an established part of the regional network.
  • Virgin Voyages offers up to $400 onboard spending money on select 2027 sailings (Breaking Travel News 2026-10-02 07:05:38)
    Virgin Voyages has launched a new limited-time offer giving Sailors (guests) up to $400 in onboard credit on select 2027 Mediterranean, Alaska and Transatlantic voyages.The offer applies to 58 sailings departing between May and October 2027, with Sailor Loot (onboard credit) varying by cabin category. The onboard spending money can be put towards experiences including Shore Things (shore excursions), spa treatments, speciality drinks and retail purchases.
  • The Michelin Guide Expands to Phu Quoc, Vietnam (Breaking Travel News 2026-10-02 07:04:36)
    The MICHELIN Guide announces its expansion to Phu Quoc, the fourth Vietnamese destination, with the Vietnam 2027 restaurant selection to be revealed in mid-2027.
  • Nobu Announces Nobu Hotel and Restaurant San Juan (Breaking Travel News 2026-10-02 07:01:50)
    Nobu is pleased to announce Nobu Hotel and Restaurant San Juan, the brand’s first venture into Puerto Rico. The intimate luxury hotel will bring Nobu’s distinctive approach to hospitality to one of the Caribbean’s most recognized historic destinations.
  • FUSION BRINGS SIGNATURE WELLNESS CONCEPT TO ASIA’S ‘NEW RETREAT CAPITAL’ OF DA LAT, VIETNAM (Breaking Travel News 2026-10-02 06:56:55)
    Fusion Hotel Group has signed a long-term hotel management agreement with Han Spaces to develop Fusion Resort Tuyen Lam Lake Da Lat, a new wellness-led resort overlooking Tuyen Lam Lake in Da Lat, recently named by Travel + Leisure as Asia’s “New Retreat Capital.”Set across 11 acres at the foot of a lush hillside, surrounded by pine forest and overlooking Tuyen Lam Lake, the resort will comprise 15 villas and a 90-room hotel. Facilities will include all-day dining and specialty restaurants and bars, meeting and event spaces, a kids’ club, swimming pool, yoga and fitness center, and Fusion’s signature Maia Spa featuring 14 treatment rooms.
  • Top Middle East leaders - Jerry Inzerillo Diriyah Company (Breaking Travel News 2026-10-02 06:53:57)
    Few tourism executives are asked to develop a destination that carries both a multibillion-dollar investment mandate and the foundational story of a nation. Jerry Inzerillo has held that responsibility since becoming group chief executive of Diriyah Company, leading a project valued at $63 billion around the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif.Inzerillo arrived with more than 50 years of experience across hotels, resorts, entertainment and travel standards. His career has included senior leadership at Kerzner International, IMG Artists and Forbes Travel Guide. Those roles exposed him to resort creation, luxury service, cultural programming and the mechanisms through which destinations earn international recognition.
  • Top Middle East leaders - Hamed El Chiaty Travco Group (Breaking Travel News 2026-10-02 06:51:48)
    Hamed El Chiaty’s career began with a deceptively simple proposition: a travel company should control enough of the visitor journey to deliver consistent service. Since founding Travco Travel Company of Egypt in 1979, he has pursued that idea across almost every layer of tourism.The result is one of the region’s most extensive privately built travel groups. Forbes Middle East reported that Travco’s hospitality portfolio encompassed 75 hotels and resorts and 28 cruise ships across Egypt, Tunisia, Zanzibar, the UAE, the Maldives, Morocco and Greece in 2026. The wider group also operates across destination management, transportation, aviation, real estate, engineering, security and retail.
  • Top Middle East leaders - Ayad Ali Al Balushi OMRAN Group (Breaking Travel News 2026-10-02 06:49:03)
    Oman has no shortage of tourism potential. Mountains, coastlines, deserts, historic towns and a strong cultural identity give it a distinctive proposition within the Gulf. The challenge is turning those assets into investable, well-connected destinations without eroding the qualities that make them valuable.Ayad Ali Al Balushi became chief executive of OMRAN Group in February 2026. As the government’s executive arm for tourism development, OMRAN builds, owns and partners across hotels, destinations and visitor infrastructure. It is expected to create commercial returns while supporting national goals around employment, regional development and economic diversification.
  • Top Middle East leaders - Stephan Schupbach Chedi Hospitality (Breaking Travel News 2026-10-02 06:46:57)
    The Chedi name has long been associated with quiet design, generous space and a sense of place. Stephan Schupbach took the helm in 2025 with a mandate to turn that reputation into a stronger development platform and a more coherent global hospitality company.Schupbach became chief executive in March 2025 and was elevated to president and group chief executive in December. He brought nearly 40 years of luxury hospitality experience across Europe, the United States, the Middle East and Asia, including senior roles with Dogus Tourism Group and Jumeirah.
  • Top Middle East leaders - Alison Grinnell Marjan (Breaking Travel News 2026-10-02 06:43:16)
    Few hospitality executives have a project as consequential as Wynn Al Marjan Island. The integrated resort is expected to reshape Ras Al Khaimah’s visitor profile, room rates, infrastructure and international awareness. Alison Grinnell has played a central role in the partnership behind it while building the wider organisation that must manage its impact.Grinnell became group chief operating officer of Marjan in October 2025 and chief executive of Marjan Hospitality in May 2026. The appointments followed the combination of Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding, bringing land development, hotel ownership, asset management and lifestyle businesses into a more integrated platform.
  • Top Middle East leaders - Mahmood Al Hameli Abu Dhabi Aviation Group (Breaking Travel News 2026-10-02 06:41:17)
    Abu Dhabi Aviation Group operates in parts of the aviation industry that most passengers rarely see. Helicopter and fixed-wing operations, maintenance, repair and overhaul, defence support, training and specialist services form an industrial platform behind transport, energy and national capability. Mahmood Al Hameli became group chief executive in March 2026.Al Hameli brought more than 25 years of leadership experience across public and private organisations in Abu Dhabi. Before taking the group role, he served as chief executive of Global Aerospace Logistics and led its transformation following acquisition by ADQ and Abu Dhabi Aviation. The programme stabilised the business, strengthened leadership and produced its strongest operational and financial performance in 2024.
  • Top Middle East leaders - Mahir Abdulkarim Julfar Dubai World Trade Centre (Breaking Travel News 2026-10-02 06:38:06)
    An exhibition venue creates value far beyond its halls. Delegates fill hotels, use airlines and taxis, dine in restaurants and form commercial relationships that can last for years. Mahir Abdulkarim Julfar’s career at Dubai World Trade Centre has been built around making that economic chain work.Julfar joined DWTC in 2005 and is now executive vice president. His responsibilities cover key commercial and operational functions, including venue management and hospitality services. He has therefore experienced Dubai’s events economy through its rise from a strong regional platform to one of the world’s most active business-event hubs.
  • Top Middle East leaders - Marloes Knippenberg Kerten Hospitality (Breaking Travel News 2026-10-02 06:36:45)
    Marloes Knippenberg argues that a hotel should create value beyond its rooms. Since becoming chief executive of Kerten Hospitality in 2015, she has built the company around mixed-use destinations where accommodation, residences, food, work and community programming are planned together.Knippenberg first joined the wider Kerten organisation in 2005. Her long tenure gave her an investor’s understanding of real estate as well as an operator’s view of guest experience. Under her leadership, Kerten Hospitality developed brands including The House Hotel, Cloud 7 and a collection of living, working and dining concepts.
  • Top Middle East leaders - Tim Cordon Radisson Hotel Group (Breaking Travel News 2026-10-02 06:34:33)
    Tim Cordon understands Radisson Hotel Group from the property level upward. He began his career with the company in 2006 as general manager of Radisson Blu Hotel Manchester Airport, then the group’s largest UK hotel. His performance there led to progressively wider operational roles.Cordon was appointed chief operating officer for the Middle East and Africa in 2022. In 2024, his remit expanded to include Southeast Asia and the Pacific, creating a region of enormous geographic, cultural and economic variety.
  • Top Middle East leaders - Basmah Al-Mayman UN Tourism (Breaking Travel News 2026-10-02 06:31:19)
    Tourism is delivered locally, but many of its most important challenges are regional. Air connectivity, visas, statistics, investment, skills and crisis communication all improve when governments cooperate. Basmah Al Mayman has spent much of her career building the relationships that make such cooperation possible.Al Mayman became UN Tourism’s regional director for the Middle East in 2018. She supervises work with 13 member states, one special observer country and 51 affiliate members. Her appointment made her the first GCC national to lead at the organisation and the first woman to head the Middle East region.