Day Headlines in Travel News: 2024-12-18

  • Why Spain is the Best Destination to Take a Sabbatical Year? (Breaking Travel News 2024-12-18 17:04:36)
    Taking a sabbatical year means ditching the daily grind of work and job for a few days. You focus on your mental health, relax in scenic cities, and sip some pina colada on the sunny beaches.
  • VFS Global Partners with VinUniversity to Advance Sustainable ‘Dynapath’ Initiative (Breaking Travel News 2024-12-18 16:53:17)
    VFS Global, the world’s largest visa outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide, has joined hands with not-for-profit VinUniversity in Hanoi, Vietnam, to support its innovative Dynapath project and empower youth through skilling programmes, thereby enhancing employability in Vietnam.
  • ETIHAD AIRWAYS STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY COMMITMENT IN KENYA WITH MAJOR EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE (Breaking Travel News 2024-12-18 16:04:50)
    Etihad Airways today announced plans for a significant community development initiative in Nairobi, coinciding with the launch of its new Abu Dhabi-Nairobi service. The cornerstone of this initiative is the establishment of the Etihad Airways Community Development Centre, focusing on education and women’s empowerment through a strategic partnership with the Amahoro Coalition. The Center will support people from marginalised communities and forcibly displaced communities.
  • Car Accidents in Chicago Involving Tourists: A Look at Legal Challenges (Breaking Travel News 2024-12-18 15:42:50)
    Tourists visiting Chicago may be unfortunate if they get into a car accident. With nearly 200,000 crashes occurring in the city each year, visitors risk getting into fender benders, multi-vehicle pileups, and other incidents.
  • Santorini for Cruise Travelers: Practical Tips to Maximize Your Day on the Island (Breaking Travel News 2024-12-18 12:52:05)
    Santorini is considered one of the world’s top travel destinations, where everyone wants to go at least once in their life. The volcano, unforgettable sunsets, a fascinating history, premium wines, traditional food, picturesque cave houses: these are only some of the reasons that drive millions of travellers to the most famous cycladic island every year. Most of the cruises sailing in the Mediterranean will stop in Santorini where thousands of passengers (and you!) will create lasting memories in just a few hours.
  • It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas with Emirates (Breaking Travel News 2024-12-18 06:32:27)
    Emirates invites customers to experience a sleigh-full of Christmas cheer for the whole month of December, with traditional treats and festive fare available across international lounges and a host of delights served inflight. For more than a million customers expected to travel in December, Emirates’ heartfelt hospitality celebrates the most wonderful time of the year.
  • IHG reignites relationship with Berjaya Land Berhad with first hotel agreement in Japan (Breaking Travel News 2024-12-18 06:30:23)
    IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan (IHG) today announces a management agreement with BHR Okinawa Management GK, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berjaya Land Berhad, which in turn a subsidiary of Berjaya Corporation Berhad – one of Malaysia’s largest conglomerates – to return the ANA Crowne Plaza brand to Okinawa.The 123-room ANA Crowne Plaza Resort Okinawa Uruma Hills will join the IHG system early in 2025 and undertake a thoughtful renovation to embed Crowne Plaza brand hallmarks throughout.
  • Kimpton expands presence in Mexico with signing of hotel and branded residences in Monterrey (Breaking Travel News 2024-12-18 06:27:04)
    Kimpton, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury and lifestyle portfolio, announces plans for a new boutique luxury hotel and branded residences in the bustling urban destination of Monterrey. As the brand’s sixth property planned for Mexico, Kimpton Monterrey will be located in the new-build mixed-use Torre Rise, set to be the tallest tower in Latin America. It is slated to open in 2026.
  • Hyatt Centric City Centre Kuala Lumpur Opens Its Doors (Breaking Travel News 2024-12-18 06:23:32)
    Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the opening of Hyatt Centric City Centre Kuala Lumpur, a hotel offering an inspiring stay that gives guests an insider’s look at the bustling Southeast Asian hub. The 312-room hotel opens its doors as a unique platform for discovering Malaysia’s cultural legacy through immersive spaces, curated experiences, and opportunities to connect with local communities in a deeper way.
  • Hilton Announces Entry to a New Territory with the Opening of Delfins Beach Resort Bonaire (Breaking Travel News 2024-12-18 06:19:40)
    Hilton has announced its entry to Bonaire, a Caribbean Island in the Leeward Antilles and territory of the Netherlands, with the debut of Delfins Beach Resort Bonaire, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. The opening underscores Hilton’s accelerated growth in the Caribbean, where the company has more than 45 open hotels and approximately 35 additional hotels in various stages of development. Hilton’s Caribbean growth plays an integral role in its broader expansion strategy across the Caribbean and Latin America. Currently, Hilton welcomes guests at more than 270 hotels across more than 30 countries and territories in the region, and consistently seeks opportunities to introduce its brands in new markets. Earlier this month, Hilton arrived in Paraguay with Palmaroga Hotel Asuncion, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, its first hotel in the country.
  • Waldorf Astoria Xiamen’s Chinese Restaurant HOKKLO Awarded Michelin One Star (Breaking Travel News 2024-12-18 06:15:51)
    Waldorf Astoria Xiamen’s Chinese restaurant HOKKLO has been awarded a prestigious one Michelin star in the 2025 Fujian Michelin Guide, adding another culinary gem to the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts portfolio.
  • Princess Cruises Introduces 24/7 Dine Line to Expand Reservations Access & Enhance Cruise Experience (Breaking Travel News 2024-12-18 06:13:30)
    Princess Cruises has launched the Dine Line (1-833-805-DINE), a new 24/7 service designed to make access to dining reservations aboard the Love Boat more convenient than ever.Available around the clock, the Dine Line lets guests make or adjust dining reservations for traditional, specialty, and experiential options across the entire Princess fleet, including 360: An Extraordinary Experience aboard Discovery Princess and Enchanted Princess; as well as Love by Britto and Spellbound by Magic Castle available on Sun Princess and Star Princess. Whether dining as a couple or coordinating for groups of 8 to 50, the Dine Line accommodates every need.
  • Disney Vacation Club Welcomes First Guests to the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas (Breaking Travel News 2024-12-18 06:08:56)
    The new Island Tower addition at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows is now open. Located on the scenic shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon at Walt Disney World Resort, the new tower is inspired by the vibrant spirit and rich cultures of the Polynesian Islands. The waterfront retreat adds 268 rooms to the resort, offering a unique variety of accommodations for Disney Vacation Club members and guests.
  • Short-term rentals dominate NYE travel, despite rising prices across Europe (Breaking Travel News 2024-12-18 06:04:00)
    The Data Appeal Company – Almawave Group has analyzed price trends for hotels and short-term rentals in over 25 European capitals and destinations, providing valuable insights into the shifting dynamics of travel preferences as we approach New Year’s Eve 2024. Utilizing D/AI Destinations, their proprietary data analysis platform, the study compared rates published on major OTAs for December 31, 2024, with those of the previous year.Short-term rentals outpace hotelsApartments and private homes continue to dominate the holiday accommodation market, even during New Year’s celebrations. The sharp rise in short-term rental prices across most European cities compared to last year reflects their growing appeal among travelers seeking unique and flexible lodging options. However, this popularity comes at a cost.
  • Visito surpasses 2 million guest interactions as hotels embrace conversational AI platform (Breaking Travel News 2024-12-18 06:02:37)
    Visito, a leading conversational AI platform for independent hotels, today announced that its comprehensive guest communication platform has facilitated over two million interactions in 2024.The company’s AI-powered messaging tools enable independent hotels to boost guest engagement and provide real-time assistance with minimal human intervention. Launched with the mission to streamline guest communication, the platform helps hoteliers manage high message volumes, automate repetitive responses, and overcome language barriers.
  • Servantrip expands into the Italian market through strategic partnership with WayPlans (Breaking Travel News 2024-12-18 06:00:58)
    Servantrip, the world’s leading B2B platform for activities and transfers, is thrilled to announce its expansion into the Italian market. Through a strategic partnership with WayPlans, a B2B platform for travel agencies, Servantrip continues its mission to enhance global connectivity and streamline travel experiences.This partnership grants WayPlans access to Servantrip’s extensive global portfolio of over 750,000 activities and transfers, providing their clients with unparalleled travel options. Additionally, Servantrip’s supplier partners will benefit from incremental, hard-to-reach, real-time bookings through WayPlans’ vast network of 2,600+ points of sale, further solidifying Servantrip’s footprint in the region.