Day Headlines in Travel News: 2025-04-04

  • MANDARIN ORIENTAL EXPANDS ITS PARISIAN PRESENCE WITH THE ICONIC HÔTEL LUTETIA ON THE LEFT BANK (Breaking Travel News 2025-04-04 14:00:36)
    Today marks a significant milestone as Mandarin Oriental officially assumes management of the legendary Hôtel Lutetia, unveiling its new identity as Mandarin Oriental Lutetia, Paris. As the only Palace hotel on the Left Bank, this celebrated landmark now joins Mandarin Oriental, further enhancing the Group’s presence in the French capital with an exceptional hospitality experience on both sides of the Seine.The inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of Laurent Kleitman, Group Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental, and other members of the Group’s senior leadership team, as well as the Akirov family as owners of the hotel and Jean Pierre Trevisan, Managing Director of Mandarin Oriental Lutetia, Paris.
  • Lufthansa deploys state-of-the-art A350 long-haul aircraft from Frankfurt (Breaking Travel News 2025-04-04 06:05:23)
    Lufthansa passengers can now fly from Frankfurt to a number of international destinations with the Airbus A350-900. Four of these state-of-the-art and efficient aircraft have been deployed from Frankfurt since the start of the summer flight schedule. Two more will be added in May and July. The aircraft have been in service on routes to Seoul and Shanghai since March 30. Denver will follow from May 1 and Seattle from July 1.
  • IHG Hotels & Resorts brings Vignette Collection’s one-of-a-kind stays to Japan (Breaking Travel News 2025-04-04 06:01:11)
    IHG Hotels & Resorts officially debuts its collection brand in Japan, with the rebrand of RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka, the first hotel in Japan to be part of IHG’s Vignette Collection. Building upon its legacy as one of the city’s most well-known and historical hotels, RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka, Vignette Collection offers a renewed guest experience for today’s thoughtful venturer, offering one-of-a-kind stays in a destination to remember.
  • Radisson Individuals brand debuts in Kazakhstan with the opening of Sadu Hotel Almaty (Breaking Travel News 2025-04-04 05:58:54)
    Radisson Hotel Group proudly expands its presence in Kazakhstan with the opening of Sadu Hotel Almaty, a member of Radisson Individuals, marking the debut of the Radisson Individuals brand in the country. This exciting addition strengthens the Group’s footprint in Central Asia, bringing a unique blend of personalized hospitality and contemporary comfort to Almaty, Kazakhstan’s most vibrant and cosmopolitan city.
  • Radisson Hotel Group is driving resurgence in European tourism with flagship hotels (Breaking Travel News 2025-04-04 05:56:10)
    Radisson Hotel Group followed up on a historical 2024 – its strongest ever year in signings and openings – with the successful (re)opening of Radisson Collection Hotel, Berlin and a flying start to 2025. With a plan to add over 37,000 rooms to its portfolio through signings, expansion is continuing across key markets in Europe – where it is strengthening its presence to drive tourism – as well Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
  • IATA Ground Handling Conference 2025 to Focus on People (Breaking Travel News 2025-04-04 05:53:53)
    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the 37th IATA Ground Handling Conference (IGHC) will focus on the need to modernize operations, invest in workforce development, and strengthen coordination and collaboration to improve performance.
  • SAS unveils largest-ever summer expansion (Breaking Travel News 2025-04-04 05:50:25)
    Scandinavian Airlines is set to enhance connectivity across Scandinavia and beyond with the launch of its summer 2025 traffic program, further establishing Copenhagen Airport as its global hub. The extensive expansion brings the total to 278 routes for the season, strengthening SAS’ role in connecting Northern Europe to the world and providing travelers with more efficient and convenient travel options.
  • The Nash Casino Partners with UrVenue to Power Its Sports Entertainment Complex Bookings (Breaking Travel News 2025-04-04 05:49:58)
    UrVenue, the leading commerce and booking technology provider for hospitality and gaming, has announced its strategic partnership with The Nash Casino, New Hampshire’s largest charitable gaming venue, to provide online event booking at the DraftKings Lounge, a two-story retail sportsbook and entertainment complex, Stadium Social Sports Bar & Grill and Topgolf Swing Suite golf simulator bays. Just in time for the biggest sports betting month of the year, The Nash is leveraging UrVenue’s innovative venue management system technology to offer seamless booking of its sports entertainment areas, featuring a 60-foot-wide and 22-foot-tall video wall, the largest single-wall-mounted video screen in New Hampshire.
  • Choose Chicago Announces Kristen Reynolds as New President & CEO (Breaking Travel News 2025-04-04 05:47:51)
    Choose Chicago announced today that Kristen Reynolds, a highly respected leader in the travel and tourism industry, will serve as the organization’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective May 5.  Reynolds joins Choose Chicago after an impactful tenure as President and CEO of Discover Long Island, where she spearheaded transformative growth in the region’s visitor economy.
  • Hyatt and GFI Hospitality Announce Restoration of Hotel Seville Nomad (Breaking Travel News 2025-04-04 05:47:31)
    Allen Gross, Chairman of GFI Hospitality, announc­­­es today the transition of the former James NoMad Hotel to Hotel Seville NoMad, joining The Unbound Collection by Hyatt.  Following the transition and an upcoming property refresh, Hotel Seville NoMad will introduce an elevated guest experience in the heart of New York’s vibrant NoMad district along with a new lobby bar and amenities inspired by the historic building’s vibrant past. Under Hyatt management, the hotel’s restoration to its early 20th century grandeur arrives in tandem with an overarching revitalization of the historic NoMad neighborhood, delivering a new epicenter for world-class dining, shopping and artistic experiences in New York.
  • LG LAUNCHES COMMERCIAL ROBOTIC VACUUM CLEANER FOR HOTELS (Breaking Travel News 2025-04-04 05:47:29)
    LG Electronics USA has introduced a commercial-grade autonomous vacuum cleaning device, developed in collaboration with the Marriott Design Lab, which advances hospitality industry innovation. The LG Robotic Vacuum Cleaner is available now to the hospitality industry following implementation pilots at Marriott International properties.
  • Embrace AI as a Catalyst for Innovation and Resilience – Bartlett (Breaking Travel News 2025-04-04 05:46:33)
    Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has again emphasised the importance of harnessing emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), to drive innovation and resilience within the tourism sector. Speaking yesterday (April 2) at the George Washington University School of Business on the theme: Tourism Unleashed: AI, People, and the Future of Global Resilience, the tourism minister highlighted Jamaica’s strides in tourism innovation and the critical role of AI in shaping the sector’s future.
  • ATM on track for record attendance as visitor registrations double year-on-year (Breaking Travel News 2025-04-04 05:45:32)
    With three weeks remaining until Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the event is on course to attract a record number of high value visitors, with registrations up 104% compared to the same time last year, reinforcing its position as an essential platform for travel trade professionals around the world.
  • Finnair reclaims title of leading European airline to Japan by flights (Breaking Travel News 2025-04-04 05:43:10)
    Finnair, Finland’s flag carrier and oneworld alliance member, has reclaimed the title of leading European airline to Japan this summer, as it underscores its commitment to Asia.The Nordic airline, known for connecting Europe and the Far East, has taken off with its new summer schedule, which now offers customers 25 weekly flights between its home hub, Helsinki, and Japan - more than any other European carrier.
  • Stay22 launches its new Map button to boost direct bookings (Breaking Travel News 2025-04-04 05:40:51)
    Stay22 has taken one step further in its efforts to enhance the booking process through its software. The travel tech company based in Montreal (Canada) has introduced a new button to its map, which makes bookings for accommodations, events and other travel experiences faster and simpler.