Day Headlines in Travel News: 2025-08-20

  • Vail Resorts Announces 2025/26 Winter Opening Dates (Breaking Travel News 2025-08-20 15:44:55)
    Vail Resorts today announced target winter opening dates for the 2025/26 ski and ride season for resorts located in the North American Rocky Mountains and West, as well as Europe—plus a sneak peek at what’s in the mix for guests this season. Guests get access to all of these resorts and more with the Epic Pass, available now at the lowest price of the Fall until September 1. Now is the time to mark your calendars, get the trip out of the group chat with new “Epic Friend Tickets,” and unlock your adventure with five easy steps.
  • Make the most of the last of the warm weather with mini-staycation, The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa (Breaking Travel News 2025-08-20 15:40:32)
    As the Summer season draws to a close and thoughts return to self-care during the colder months, or for those wishing to make the most of the last of the warm weather with mini-staycation, The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, Bath’s leading luxury hotel, has launched a Crescent Spa Day Escape, now available to book
  • Summer Updates from the Luxury Childcare Association (LCA) (Breaking Travel News 2025-08-20 15:37:45)
    This summer, the Luxury Childcare Association (LCA) - the industry’s leading hotel membership and accreditation platform - has welcomed three new properties that demonstrate a clear commitment to raising childcare standards in luxury hospitality. Parga Beach Resort, Elix, Mar-Bella Collection, and Gstaad Palace have each earned the LCA plaque, recognising their dedication to family-friendly experiences, from well-designed kids’ clubs to thoughtful activities for young people.
  • Where Viking Ships Once Sailed:  Dolce by Wyndham Arrives in Aalborg (Breaking Travel News 2025-08-20 15:35:48)
    Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has opened the newly remodeled Comwell Hvide Hus Aalborg, Dolce by Wyndham, a 16-story icon overlooking the lush, historic Kildeparken.Just steps from the city’s lively center, the hotel is perfectly placed for experiencing the best of Denmark’s north—think browsing twinkling Christmas markets, exploring cutting-edge architecture, and sampling Nordic flavors at their finest. It’s no wonder Aalborg ranks among the 20 happiest cities on the planet.First opened in 1969 and taken over by Comwell Hotels in 2014, the hotel has been a go-to spot for weddings, celebrations, and big nights out for decades. Now, under the stylish Dolce by Wyndham brand, it’s ready for its next chapter, joining sister properties in Aarhus, Copenhagen and Odense—each known for standout locations, destination-worthy dining, and exceptional event spaces.
  • TOURISE Advisory Board: The Leaders Rewriting the Rules of Tourism (Breaking Travel News 2025-08-20 13:48:11)
    When TOURISE unveiled its cross-sector Advisory Board earlier this month, the headlines focused on the ambition of the platform: a new global stage for tourism, hosted in Riyadh this November, that promises to bring together voices far beyond the sector’s traditional boundaries. But who exactly sits on this 14-member board? What do they each bring to the table? And how will their expertise shape the “rewriting of the rules” that TOURISE is promising? BTN has gone behind the announcement to profile the individuals handpicked to advise this bold new initiative.
  • BTN Launches Landmark Study on the Future of Customer Experience in Aviation (Breaking Travel News 2025-08-20 09:25:50)
    Breaking Travel News (BTN), in partnership with customer experience transformation specialists Raven, has announced a major new study into the future of customer experience (CX) in the aviation sector.
  • UAE Africa Tourism Investment Summit Set for FHS World 2025 in Dubai (Breaking Travel News 2025-08-20 09:06:31)
    The Ministry of Economy and Tourism announced that it will host the UAE Africa Tourism Investment Summit on October 27, 2025, in Dubai, as part of the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS World 2025) - one of the leading global platforms for the hospitality, tourism, and investment sectors. The Summit aims to enhance economic and tourism partnerships between the UAE and African nations, boosting mutual investments across key priority sectors, particularly tourism, hospitality, and related services.
  • Atlantis Dubai names Dean Walsh executive Director of sales (Breaking Travel News 2025-08-20 07:24:16)
    Atlantis Dubai is pleased to announce the promotion of Dean Walsh as Executive Director of Sales. In his new role, Dean will lead the global leisure market growth for both Atlantis, The Palm and Atlantis The Royal.
  • New AI Powerhouse Emerges for Hotels: Meet Agentic Hospitality (Breaking Travel News 2025-08-20 06:27:37)
    Yesterday marked the official launch of Agentic Hospitality, a transformative new force that is redefining hotel distribution with its infrastructure-level AI deployment, empowering hotels and resorts to reclaim the guest journey––that was long dominated by Online Travel Agencies (OTAs)––and drive visibility and direct bookings. In collaboration with Google for Startups Cloud Program, Agentic Hospitality is tackling the evolving digital landscape head-on and enabling hotels to become discoverable and competitive on the increasingly dominant AI-native surfaces that are rapidly reshaping how consumers search and book travel.“Structured markup using Agentic Hospitality’s Schema Adapter and AgentSite is a game-changer,” said Seliece Womble, Director of Marketing, The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa. “By making our content machine readable and AI ready, we’ve been able to secure direct visibility in channels once dominated by intermediaries. From 2019 to 2025 (piloted under Brewer Digital and going to market today as Agentic Hospitality), our direct website bookings grew 91%—a recovery and growth story that proves structured data is no longer optional, it’s the backbone of hospitality distribution.”
  • Air Canada to Gradually Resume Service after Reaching a Mediated Settlement (Breaking Travel News 2025-08-20 06:24:52)
    Air Canada gradually restarted its operations yesterday after reaching a mediated agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) through a process overseen by a mutually agreed-to mediator, William Kaplan. Mediation discussions were begun on the basis that the union commit to have the airline’s 10,000 flight attendants immediately return to work, allowing the airline to resume the operations of Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, which have been grounded since August 16.
  • Adaaran Resorts Announces its 2025/2026 Maldivian Festive Season Merriments (Breaking Travel News 2025-08-20 05:47:53)
    This Christmas, Adaaran Resorts invites guests to swap winter chills for sandy thrills and create sun-soaked memories across five of the Maldives’ most iconic island escapes. Adaaran’s five renowned properties announce festive line-ups overflowing with island flair, signature events, and a touch of tropical magic - crafted uniquely for couples, families and groups of friends.
  • Virgin Atlantic appoints Dave Hodges as Vice President, Americas (Breaking Travel News 2025-08-20 05:31:53)
    Virgin Atlantic is delighted to announce the appointment of Dave Hodges as its new Vice President, Americas, effective October 1, 2025.Dave has been at Virgin Atlantic for 12 years, with roles ranging from government affairs, cabin crew operations, and as Country Manager for India, Virgin Atlantic’s third largest market behind the UK and the US. He currently serves as the Head of Heathrow, where he oversees the airline’s operation and presence at its home hub airport.
  • Governor Chris Sununu Named New President and CEO of Airlines for America (Breaking Travel News 2025-08-20 05:30:43)
    Airlines for America (A4A) today announced that former New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu will become the association’s President and CEO beginning September 9, assuming the role from Nick Calio after his 15 years of service.
  • Amtrak’s new Mardi Gras Service Now Boarding for Coastal Mississippi (Breaking Travel News 2025-08-20 05:28:52)
    Coastal Mississippi Tourism, the Destination Marketing Organization for Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, is officially welcoming travelers aboard the new Amtrak Mardi Gras Service. The first trains departed New Orleans and Mobile this morning bound for stops in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula, with twice-daily round-trip service.
  • DEAL HOLDINGS LAUNCHES FAB GROUP (Breaking Travel News 2025-08-20 05:22:53)
    FAB Group, a lifestyle and culinary venture created by UAE-based investment and development company, DEAL Holdings, launches today with the aim of leading innovation in hospitality, dining and brand development across the MENA region.Through the combination of a forward-thinking approach and exceptional local insight, FAB Group will launch popular boutique brands featuring Michelin-star talent from the UK and Europe across the region, while also creating immersive culinary and lifestyle experiences, elevating MENA’s position on the global hospitality map.
  • JAL Group Announces FY2025 Winter Schedule on International and Domestic Network (Breaking Travel News 2025-08-20 05:20:41)
    The JAL Group today announced the Winter schedule for international and domestic routes for fiscal year 2025.International Flights● To increase capacity in response to strong inbound demand during the winter season, the Narita–Melbourne route will increase from three flights per week to daily service(*1), and the Narita–Shanghai (Pudong) route will be resumed(*2) between October 26 and March 28.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Launches “Playful Getaways” Joint Campaign with McDonald’s China (Breaking Travel News 2025-08-20 05:20:07)
    As urban life continues to accelerate, new travel trends such as weekend escape and micro-cation are gaining popularity among younger generations as a way to recharge and lift their spirits. Responding to this trend, Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s award-winning travel platform, has launched the “Playful Getaways with Marriott Bonvoy” campaign in collaboration with McDonald’s China, running now through January 30, 2026. The campaign spans 14 cities and features McDonald’s-themed hotel rooms, dual-branded sightseeing buses in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, as well as a fun-filled “Scratch & Win” game. These imaginative experiences invite young travelers to rediscover their cities and explore nearby destinations in a fresh, immersive, and relaxing way.
  • The Ritz-Carlton Brings Its Legendary Service to the Heart of Kenya’s Masai Mara (Breaking Travel News 2025-08-20 05:18:26)
    In the heart of Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, where golden savannah stretches to the horizon and the Sand River winds through acacia trees, The Ritz-Carlton’s intimate treetop retreat offers a rare invitation to connect deeply with nature and culture. From the moment guests arrive, traditional Maasai rituals greet them, including a symbolic blessing and fresh scent of leleshwa leaves. Days unfold with private guided safaris in open-air luxury Land Cruisers, revealing the drama of wildebeest river crossings and opportunities for observing lions, leopards, buffalo, rhinoceros, elephants, and more than 500 bird species in their natural habitat. Guests may explore the Kenya-Tanzania Border Stone or rise with the sun for hot air balloon flights over the plains, culminating in champagne breakfasts beneath the vast African sky. As dusk falls, the call of a Maasai warrior’s ceremonial horn signals the transition to night, welcoming an evening filled with rich stories and serene moments under a canopy of stars.
  • W Sydney Goes The Extra Mile As The Official Hotel Partner Of The 2025 TCS Sydney Marathon (Breaking Travel News 2025-08-20 05:15:03)
    W Sydney is proud to announce its partnership with the 2025 TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS, taking place on Sunday, 31st of August. As the event’s official hotel partner, W Sydney is bringing its signature energy and style to support both runners and spectators during the inaugural marathon weekend, which marks Sydney’s debut as the newest member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors
  • Qatar Airways Launches Travel Packages for the 2026 Qatar TotalEnergies Women’s Open (Breaking Travel News 2025-08-20 05:14:37)
    Qatar Airways, in partnership with Qatar Airways Holidays, has launched the much-anticipated travel packages for the Qatar TotalEnergies Women’s Open 2026 and the Qatar ExxonMobil Men’s Open 2026. Taking place next year from 8-14 February and 16-21 February respectively, the tournaments will bring world-class tennis action to the heart of Doha.