Day Headlines in Travel News: 2025-10-23

  • BTN interviews Ruben Vanhees, Founder of SplitStay (Breaking Travel News 2025-10-23 09:04:59)
    BTN interviews Ruben Vanhees, Founder of SplitStay, the platform was inspired by his own travel experiences and aims to make accommodation more affordable, social, and sustainable. SplitStay connects travelers heading to the same destination so they can safely share hotel rooms or apartments, using verified profiles, secure payments, and compatibility filters. It helps reduce costs, fosters real human connection, and supports hotels in maximizing occupancy. Positioned as “BlaBlaCar meets Booking.com,” SplitStay redefines modern travel by turning accommodation into a shared, community-driven experience that’s both cost-efficient and environmentally conscious.
  • Deltatur Named Portugal’s Leading Tour Operator 2025 (Breaking Travel News 2025-10-23 08:13:29)
    Deltatur, one of Portugal’s most respected travel companies, has been honored as Portugal’s Leading Tour Operator 2025 at the World Travel Awards European Gala Ceremony, held last evening at the prestigious Forte Village Resort in Sardinia. The accolade celebrates Deltatur’s excellence in creating immersive, seamless, and memorable travel experiences across Portugal.
  • Resort & SPA Le Dune Named Italy’s Leading Beach Resort 2025 (Breaking Travel News 2025-10-23 08:06:56)
    Resort & SPA Le Dune, a stunning coastal retreat in Italy, has been honored as Italy’s Leading Beach Resort 2025 at the World Travel Awards European Gala Ceremony, held last evening at the luxurious Forte Village Resort in Sardinia. The award recognizes the resort’s exceptional combination of beachfront beauty, luxurious accommodations, and world-class hospitality.
  • Olive Villa Rentals Named Greece’s Leading Holiday Villa Rental Company 2025 (Breaking Travel News 2025-10-23 07:58:54)
    Olive Villa Rentals, a premier provider of luxury holiday accommodations in Greece, has been honored as Greece’s Leading Holiday Villa Rental Company 2025 at the World Travel Awards European Gala Ceremony, held last evening at the prestigious Forte Village Resort in Sardinia. The accolade celebrates the company’s dedication to offering unforgettable stays, personalized service, and exceptional villa experiences across Greece.
  • NH Lyon Airport Named France’s Leading Airport Hotel 2025 (Breaking Travel News 2025-10-23 07:49:52)
    The NH Lyon Airport Hotel, strategically located near Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport, has been honored as France’s Leading Airport Hotel 2025 at the World Travel Awards European Gala Ceremony, held last evening at the elegant Forte Village Resort in Sardinia. The award recognizes the hotel’s excellence in hospitality, convenience, and service for both business and leisure travelers.For travelers seeking convenience without compromising on comfort, the NH Lyon Airport Hotel offers a seamless blend of modern amenities and strategic location. Situated directly opposite Terminal 1 of Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport, this upscale hotel is a haven for business travelers, transit passengers, and tourists alike.
  • Olta Travel Cyprus Named Cyprus’s Leading Destination Management Company 2025 (Breaking Travel News 2025-10-23 07:35:51)
    Olta Travel Cyprus, a premier travel services provider on the island, has been honored as Cyprus’s Leading Destination Management Company 2025 at the World Travel Awards European Gala Ceremony, held last evening at the Forte Village Resort in Sardinia. The accolade recognizes Olta Travel’s exceptional expertise in delivering tailored tourism solutions, seamless travel experiences, and innovative services across Cyprus.
  • Volotea Named Europe’s Leading Low-Cost Airline 2025 (Breaking Travel News 2025-10-23 07:23:17)
    Volotea, the fast-growing Spanish low-cost carrier, has been honored as Europe’s Leading Low-Cost Airline 2025 at the World Travel Awards European Gala Ceremony, held last evening at the Forte Village Resort in Sardinia. The award celebrates the airline’s commitment to affordable, reliable, and customer-focused air travel across Europe.Founded with the vision of connecting mid-sized cities across the continent, Volotea has carved a niche in providing convenient routes that combine efficiency with value. Its growing network spans dozens of European destinations, enabling travelers to explore hidden gems and popular cities alike without breaking the budget.
  • Saint John Hotel Villas & Spa Named Greece’s Leading Conference Hotel 2025 (Breaking Travel News 2025-10-23 07:14:18)
    The luxurious Saint John Hotel Villas & Spa, perched along the stunning coastline of Mykonos , has been honored as Greece’s Leading Conference Hotel 2025 at the World Travel Awards European Gala Ceremony, held last evening at the prestigious Forte Village Resort in Sardinia. The award recognizes the hotel’s exceptional blend of business facilities, world-class hospitality, and scenic surroundings, positioning it as a premier choice for conferences and corporate events in Greece.Nestled amidst lush landscapes with sweeping views of the Cretan Sea, Saint John Hotel Villas & Spa seamlessly combines luxury with functionality. Its state-of-the-art conference spaces are equipped with advanced audiovisual technology, flexible meeting rooms, and dedicated support staff, ensuring that every corporate event — from intimate board meetings to large-scale conferences — runs smoothly and efficiently.
  • Garner Hotel Istanbul – Airport Arnavutköy now open (Breaking Travel News 2025-10-23 06:00:47)
    IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), has opened its first Garner hotel in Türkiye - Garner Hotel Istanbul – Airport Arnavutköy. Just 14 kilometers from Istanbul Airport, the 56-room hotel is all about making travel easy and comfortable.Nestled in the lively Arnavutköy district, guests staying at the hotel are close to local cafés, restaurants, and shops, whilst having easy access to the airport via subway, bus or taxi. Designed for both business and leisure travellers, Garner Hotel Istanbul – Airport Arnavutköy offers convenience without compromising on comfort so guests can get ready for the next adventure.
  • IHG Hotels & Resorts announces first Low Carbon Pioneer hotel in Asia (Breaking Travel News 2025-10-23 05:57:23)
    IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) has announced a milestone in its sustainability journey, with Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay becoming the first IHG hotel in Asia to join IHG’s Low Carbon Pioneer hotel programme. IHG’s Low Carbon Pioneers is a growing global community of IHG properties that are energy efficient, have no fossil fuels combusted on-site* and are backed by renewable energy.
  • Waldorf Astoria Arrives in Finland: A New Chapter in Iconic Luxury (Breaking Travel News 2025-10-23 05:49:14)
    Waldorf Astoria makes its Nordic debut, unveiling a new era of luxury in the heart of Helsinki. Owned by M&L Group and operated by Hilton under the Waldorf Astoria brand, the landmark property spans four beautifully preserved historic buildings, designed by Finnish architects Evert Lagerspetz and Armas Siitonen. Waldorf Astoria Helsinki features 116 elegantly appointed rooms, including 32 suites, inviting guests to experience timeless elegance, Nordic sophistication, and the kind of personalised service that has defined the brand for over a century.
  • Hilton Garden Inn Partners with Celebrity Chef Alex Guarnaschelli (Breaking Travel News 2025-10-23 05:46:09)
    Hilton Garden Inn announces a new strategic collaboration with celebrity chef, cookbook author, and television personality Alex Guarnaschelli, bringing a limited-time menu to the brand’s Garden Grille & Bar locations across the United States.
  • Hilton Expands Resorts Portfolio with New Signing in Croatia Under Flagship Brand (Breaking Travel News 2025-10-23 05:43:10)
    Hilton has announced the signing of Hilton Lopud Beach Resort & Spa, following a management agreement with Anker Grupa d.o.o. The resort, located on the picturesque Lopud Island near Dubrovnik, will offer guests a blend of comfort and natural beauty when it opens in 2027 following an extensive renovation of the property and grounds.The resort is set in a prime seafront location surrounded by palm trees and Mediterranean greenery, offering guests an inspiring homebase that combines Hilton’s signature hospitality with a unique local experience. Hilton Lopud Beach Resort & Spa will feature 111 modern and comfortable rooms and suites, each with a balcony or terrace, and seven spacious apartments in a separate building, each with their own terraces.
  • “DREAM MILES PASS” Phase 3 Launch (Breaking Travel News 2025-10-23 05:39:21)
    Japan Airlines (JAL) has launched the third phase of the “DREAM MILES PASS” project,  supporting those who pursue their dreams inspired by Shohei Ohtani. For the first time, applications are accepted not only from individuals but also from teams and groups, expanding the support to those who pursue their dreams together.
  • Geysers, Graceland and the Golden Gate - Distant Journeys Launches Tours to the USA for 2026 (Breaking Travel News 2025-10-23 05:38:48)
    Escorted touring specialist Distant Journeys has launched its first ever US programme for 2026. From California’s golden coast to the musical Deep South, and the wild beauty of America’s national parks, a choice of three very different tours are on offer.Whether you want to travel by horse-drawn wagon to a country-style feast on a working ranch in Montana or spend an evening celebrating country music at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, each trip is packed full of memorable experiences.
  • Viking Celebrates 100 Ships Around the World (Breaking Travel News 2025-10-23 05:36:15)
    Viking® has announced the naming of its nine newest river ships—including the company’s 100th ship—during a simultaneous ceremony in Basel, Switzerland. Of the nine new river ships, the Viking Annar, the Viking Dagur, the Viking Eldir and the Viking Honir will sail Viking’s most popular itineraries along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. The Viking Nerthus, the Viking Gyda and the Viking Tonle sail the Seine, Douro and Mekong rivers, respectively. The two other new ships named today—the Viking Thoth and the Viking Amun—sail the Nile River. The ceremony also marked a major milestone—Viking now has more than 100 ships across its award-winning river, ocean and expedition fleet, more than any other cruise line. This achievement reflects the company’s history of industry-leading innovations.
  • San Francisco Travel Launches First-Ever ‘Martini Trail’ Featuring 23 Perfected Martinis (Breaking Travel News 2025-10-23 05:33:20)
    The San Francisco Travel Association today unveiled The San Francisco Martini Trail, a curated journey highlighting 23 standout martinis and local establishments in the City by the Bay.Few drinks are more debated—or celebrated—than the martini. Its exact birthplace may be disputed, but San Francisco played a defining role in shaping its rise to global fame. Conceived in the Bay Area during the Gold Rush and refined in the city’s pioneering saloon scene, the martini’s simplicity captures San Francisco’s spirit: refined yet unpretentious, endlessly reinvented, and impossible to forget.
  • Introducing Perfect Piste, the Ski-Focused AI-Agent & Tool Redefining How Luxury Skiers Travel (Breaking Travel News 2025-10-23 05:29:44)
    Announced today, Perfect Piste is a first of its kind luxury AI ski travel platform that aims to make booking the perfect ski holiday effortless. The trailblazing tool allows skiers to find and book the best luxury ski experience for their ski preferences, and to get up-to-date advice in real time in the lead up to their trip. Booking a ski trip can be a daunting task, with hundreds of destinations, resorts and slopes to choose from, not to mention booking lessons, arranging childcare, sorting equipment and managing logistics. Built by skiers, for skiers, Perfect Piste blends curated and exclusive recommendations with intelligent technology to cut through the noise and focus on what matters most: snow-sure resorts, seamless planning and unforgettable alpine experiences hyper-personalised to the skier. The Perfect Piste team believe that luxury is finite, and as such the platform will launch with an initial cap of 9,000 consumers and 1,000 agent users, ensuring it can connect all users to high quality information, unbeatable ski experience and handpicked properties.
  • World Travel Awards Europe 2025 winners unveiled at star-studded Sardinia ceremony (Breaking Travel News 2025-10-23 05:27:19)
    The finest travel brands from across Europe have been honoured at the World Travel Awards in Sardinia, Italy. The industry elite gathered at Forte Village Resort on the idyllic Mediterranean island for the WTA Europe Gala Ceremony 2025 to discover who among them had been crowned the best of the best.The red-carpet evening marked the fourth leg of the WTA’s Grand Tour 2025 – a global search for the finest travel and tourism organisations.