Day Headlines in Travel News: 2025-05-08

  • AlUla Strengthens Global Reach with Five New Destination Management Companies’ Partnerships (Breaking Travel News 2025-05-08 17:27:50)
    Strategic alliances with AlFares International DMC, Athaar Arabia, UTA, CTTC, and Talia Tourism set to unlock a world of curated travel packages and broaden service availability – benefitting not just UK but global visitors. The five new partners bring AlUla’s total DMC network to 13, solidifying its position as a premier destination for authentic immersive experiences
  • Major progress at Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport (Breaking Travel News 2025-05-08 15:05:18)
    Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport is progressing well and has seen contracts awarded and tenders prepared for the major transport hub, according to a senior aviation official
  • Quito shows commitment to ecotourism (Breaking Travel News 2025-05-08 14:58:11)
    Ecuador’s capital city has over 60,000 hectares of protected land dedicated to the conservation of the spectacled bear, the last of its lineage in South America, which plays a crucial role in the health of its forests
  • Cool fares, hot deals - Finnair launches new UK sale (Breaking Travel News 2025-05-08 14:56:47)
    Finland’s flag carrier Finnair, has launched its latest summer sale, offering customers top-flight deals across its European and Asian network.The new sale, which includes 19 of the airline’s popular destinations for travel from the UK, is one of the airline’s biggest in recent years.From the airline’s extensive Nordic network to Finnair’s firm favourites in the Far East, customers can bag a break to remember during this limited-time campaign.
  • MyrtleBeach.com Launches “Sandy,” a Groundbreaking AI-Powered Travel Assistant (Breaking Travel News 2025-05-08 12:34:43)
    MyrtleBeach.com, the leading online destination for planning vacations along South Carolina’s Grand Strand, today announced the launch of Sandy, a new AI-powered travel assistant that is transforming how visitors discover and design their perfect Myrtle Beach getaway.
  • Frontier Airlines Launches Unlimited Companion Travel Benefit for Its Most Frequent Flyers (Breaking Travel News 2025-05-08 10:52:29)
    Your summer vacation deserves a plus one! Today, ultra-low fare carrier Frontier Airlines (Nasdaq: ULCC) launched its free*, unlimited companion travel benefit for FRONTIER MilesSM Elite Platinum and Diamond Status members. The airline is setting a new standard for companion travel with unparalleled flexibility, giving qualifying members the freedom to choose any friend or family member they wish to accompany them for free* on any Frontier flight.
  • Kerten Hospitality and Azure Announce The House Residence Azure Zanzibar (Breaking Travel News 2025-05-08 10:42:35)
    Kerten Hospitality, a global lifestyle hospitality operator, and Azure United Properties have unveiled their newest project: The House Residence Azure Zanzibar—a luxury, all-villa resort and residential community on the pristine Michamvi Peninsula. The announcement was made during Arabian Travel Market in Dubai in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Mudrick Ramadhan Soragha, Minister of Tourism of Zanzibar, underscoring the government’s support for high-impact, sustainable tourism and lifestyle developments. Nestled on the pristine bay of Zanzibar, The House Residence is a unique entry point into one of the world’s most culturally rich and ecologically vibrant destinations
  • Adrian Gardiner: The Man Who Brought a Landscape Back to Life (Breaking Travel News 2025-05-08 10:36:49)
    Two hundred years ago, elephants thundered across the plains of South Africa’s Eastern Cape, their presence shaping both land and legend. But by 1989, this once-vibrant wilderness had become a shadow of its former self—hunted out, overgrazed, drought-stricken. To many, it was a lost cause. To Adrian Gardiner, it was an opportunity.This is the story of the man who changed a landscape—and in doing so, helped reshape the very narrative of conservation and tourism in Africa.
  • Cirium Names World’s Most On-Time Airlines and Airports for April 2025 (Breaking Travel News 2025-05-08 10:30:14)
    Cirium, the aviation analytics leader, today released its April 2025 On-Time Performance (OTP) report, spotlighting the global airlines and airports setting the gold standard in operational punctuality. With over 3 million flights analyzed monthly using rigorous data validation, Cirium’s OTP rankings remain the aviation industry’s most trusted benchmark for performance excellence.
  • Wego and Tourism Authority of Thailand Launch Campaign to Inspire Middle East Travel to Thailand (Breaking Travel News 2025-05-08 10:16:13)
    Wego, the number 1 travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has partnered with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to spark fresh interest in one of the region’s favorite Asian destinations Thailand.
  • Eden Bleu Hotel, Seychelles, Will Make Its Debut Appearance at IMEX Frankfurt 2025 (Breaking Travel News 2025-05-08 09:23:06)
    The multi-award-winning Eden Bleu Hotel is proud to announce its debut participation at IMEX Frankfurt 2025, one of the world’s notable exhibitions for the meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) industry. Taking place from May 20–22, 2025, the event will mark a significant milestone for Eden Bleu Hotel as it steps onto the international stage to represent the Seychelles – a rising destination in the global events market.
  • Anantara Concorso Roma Announces Dates for Inaugural Event To Take Place 16-19 April 2026 (Breaking Travel News 2025-05-08 08:21:38)
    The inaugural Anantara Concorso Roma will now take place between 16 and 19 April 2026. The date is announced following the launch event’s postponement last month, out of respect for the passing of Pope Francis and the related events taking place in Rome.Planning is already well underway for the Anantara Concorso Roma 2026, with dates confirmed and venues being finalised. The event will take place in Rome in the springtime and will celebrate la dolce vita and all things Italian, including hospitality, cuisine and style.
  • The Booking Trends Shaping 2025 | From the Leading Hotels of the World (Breaking Travel News 2025-05-08 07:18:01)
    “Following another standout year in 2024, LHW is poised for continued success and revenue growth in 2025. We’ve just surpassed 4 years of continuous monthly YoY revenue growth, a testament to the strength of our brand and the enduring appeal of independent luxury hospitality. Despite ongoing economic and geopolitical headwinds, our intrepid luxury travellers continue to seek new destinations, and we are currently experiencing a 15% year-over-year increase in revenue, signalling sustained demand across our portfolio,” said Shannon Knapp, President and CEO of The Leading Hotels of the World.
  • YOUR PASSION, OUR GRATITUDE: SANDALS® RESORTS CELEBRATES GLOBAL TRAVEL ADVISOR DAY (Breaking Travel News 2025-05-08 07:09:31)
    In celebration of the passion, dedication and meaningful impact of the travel advisor community, Sandals Resorts–the Caribbean’s leading all-inclusive brand–proudly partners with the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) as the global sponsor of Global Travel Advisor Day 2025. This year’s celebration features a lineup of dynamic events, exclusive programming, and unmissable incentives to honor the true champions of Caribbean travel.
  • Emirates perfectly paired inflight dishes with Moët & Chandon Champagne (Breaking Travel News 2025-05-08 05:54:59)
    Emirates’ Business Class customers can now enjoy another elevation of the inflight experience, as 18 new dishes paired with exclusive Champagnes debut onboard, across most medium to long haul flights globally. Customers can check their menu in advance of flying, to see which dish has been expertly paired with an exclusive Champagne. The new dishes are marked with a crown icon, indicating that they are part of the pairing menu.
  • Summer in Orlando Shines with an All-New Theme Park & Unforgettable Experiences (Breaking Travel News 2025-05-08 05:45:29)
    Recently named the No. 1 travel destination for 2025 by AAA, Orlando continues to deliver unforgettable summer vacations for every traveler.“This summer marks one of the most exciting seasons in Orlando’s history, with the first new theme park in 25 years opening in May, and a wave of new experiences and sporting events that continue to give travelers new reasons to choose Orlando,” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando. “Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a regular to our destination, this summer Orlando delivers new unbelievably real vacation opportunities for all types of travelers.”
  • Royal Air Maroc and The New Terminal One Announce Strategic Partnership (Breaking Travel News 2025-05-08 05:43:07)
    Royal Air Maroc, Morocco’s national carrier, is set to begin operations at The New Terminal One at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport in 2026, marking an exciting new chapter in the airline’s U.S. growth strategy. The long-term partnership between Royal Air Maroc and the New Terminal One aligns with the carrier’s ambitious strategy to strengthen transatlantic ties between Africa and the Americas, while elevating the passenger experience at one of the airline’s most important international gateways.
  • Plusgrade and Atlantis Dubai Partner to Enhance Guest Experiences (Breaking Travel News 2025-05-08 05:40:51)
    Plusgrade, a global leader in ancillary revenue solutions for the travel industry, is thrilled to announce its partnership with Atlantis Dubai’s two premier luxury resorts: Atlantis, The Palm and Atlantis The Royal. This collaboration introduces an innovative solution that enhances the guest experience by offering seamless access to premium room upgrades, stay extensions, and exclusive experiences, unlocking new revenue opportunities through an intelligent, fully automated, and white-labeled platform.
  • Riyadh Air Partners with Loyalty Juggernaut to Launch a Next-Generation Digital Loyalty Program (Breaking Travel News 2025-05-08 05:38:44)
    Riyadh Air, the new national carrier of Saudi Arabia, and Loyalty Juggernaut, Inc. (LJI), an innovation leader in loyalty technology, announced today a strategic partnership to power Riyadh Air’s next-generation digital loyalty program, during the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, UAE.
  • Opening This Week – The Royal Yacht Britannia’s New Exhibition and Retail Experience (Breaking Travel News 2025-05-08 05:36:00)
    2025 marks the next chapter in The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust’s legacy with the opening of a brand-new, world-class visitor centre with exhibition and retail experience this week.Situated on the second floor of Ocean Terminal in Edinburgh’s Port of Leith, the newly developed visitor experience has been designed to enhance the sense of arrival for around 350,000 annual visitors to Queen Elizabeth II’s former Royal Yacht.