Day Headlines in Travel News: 2025-11-01

  • Abu Dhabi Shines Bright at 2025 World Travel Awards Middle East (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-01 11:43:32)
    Abu Dhabi celebrated a wave of major victories at the World Travel Awards (WTA) Middle East Winners Reception 2025, held recently in Dubai, affirming its position as a leading global tourism and business hub. The capital showcased its world-class attractions, luxury hospitality, and strategic appeal by securing top regional accolades.
  • WTM London 2025 unveils Technology Summit agenda with focus on AI, data and airlines (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-01 06:40:37)
    WTM London, the world’s most influential travel event, organised by RX, is framing this year’s Technology Summit around the critical role that technology can play supporting sellers and suppliers during the current period of disruption and emerging new challenges.
  • WTM London welcomes new tourism minister as ties with UK government strengthen (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-01 06:38:00)
    Stephanie Peacock, recently named as the new minister in charge of tourism, will-be on-site at Excel London for the opening day of this year’s World Travel Market (WTM) London, the world’s most influential travel and tourism event.
  • ATM 2026 to explore new frontiers of ultra-luxury travel, driven by technology (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-01 06:35:58)
    Advanced technology, cultural authenticity and hyper-personalisation are coming together to create experiences that transcend traditional definitions of luxury. Once synonymous with comfort and exclusivity, today’s ultra-luxury offers transformation through access and meaningful experiences, blending technology, privacy and sustainability.
  • Etihad And Ethiopian Launch Frequent Flyer Partnership Strengthening Joint Venture (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-01 06:33:14)
    As part of the landmark Joint Venture agreement between Etihad Airways and Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Guest and ShebaMiles have launched a frequent flyer partnership, allowing members of either carrier to earn and redeem miles across the networks in their respective loyalty programme. The partnership has launched following Etihad’s inaugural flight to Addis Ababa on 8 October.Etihad Guest members and ShebaMiles members can both now earn miles when travelling across either airline’s extensive global networks, unlocking greater travel opportunities for passengers of both airlines. Etihad Guest Miles can be redeemed on flights, worldwide hotel stays and holidays, or a huge variety of products from the Etihad Guest Reward Shop. ShebaMiles members can redeem their earned miles across a range of ShebaMiles programme benefits.
  • Qatar Airways Awarded ‘Best Airline in the World’ at Business Traveller Awards 2025 (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-01 06:29:58)
    Qatar Airways has been named the ‘Best Airline in the World’ at the prestigious Business Traveller Awards 2025, reaffirming its position as a global leader in aviation. This recognition highlights the airline’s continued pursuit of excellence, innovation, and world-class service
  • AviLease and Riyadh Air signs landmark first lease for Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-01 06:26:12)
    AviLease, the global aircraft lessor headquartered in Saudi Arabia and Riyadh Air the new national carrier for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has signed its first aircraft lease. The agreement covers one Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and positions AviLease as the inaugural lessor to partner with the Kingdom’s newest airline. Delivery is scheduled in Q4 2025, marking a key milestone as Riyadh Air moves closer to its commercial launch.The Boeing 787-9 is among the most advanced and fuel-efficient widebody aircraft in service.  The lease Underscores AviLease’s commitment to expanding its portfolio of latest-generation aircraft, while supporting Riyadh Air’s strategy to introduce a technologically advanced, fuel-efficient fleet that contributes to the Kingdom’s ambition to develop a world-class aviation ecosystem.
  • Autograph Collection Hotels Debuts in the Maldives with The Halcyon Private Isles (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-01 06:24:58)
    Autograph Collection Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, announces the opening of The Halcyon Private Isles Maldives, Autograph Collection. Inspired by the myth of Alcyone, the resort’s name evokes the “halcyon days” – a time of peace, golden light, and unhurried discovery. The Halcyon Private Isles Maldives, Autograph Collection invites guests to step into a modern-day retreat that honors the elegance of the past while embracing the individuality of the present.
  • Travel Tech Takes the Spotlight at World Travel Market 2025 (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-01 06:22:02)
    From November 4th to November 6th, World Travel Market (WTM) will bring together nearly 4,150 exhibitors from around the world and more than 46,000 attendees at the Excel in London. Additionally, the event will host 109 activities, including 79 conferences, focused on topics such as Sustainability, Technology, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion (DEAI), and Geo-economics, among others.
  • The Great House at Rosewood Luang Prabang Redefines French-Lao Gastronomy (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-01 06:19:59)
    The Great House at Rosewood Luang Prabang is embarking on a significant culinary transformation, unveiling a new menu that bridges the history of French gastronomy with the essence of Lao culture. The new vision is an homage to a chapter of history reimagined by designer Bill Bensley: the lavish Franco-Lao banquets that French diplomat August Pavie might have hosted during his 19th century tenure in Luang Prabang, the very spirit that inspired the restaurant’s decor.
  • Why UK Holiday-Makers Are Shunning AI for Real Travel Agents (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-01 06:18:13)
    AI threatens industry takeover for many, but not travel, as new research uncovers that travel agents remain the most popular holiday booking method amongst UK holiday-makers, and are 14 times more popular than the use of AI. The study of over 2000 people, commissioned by Brightsun Travel, has revealed that around one in two Brits booked their last holiday through a trusty travel agent, and only 3% turned to AI, despite its rise in popularity as a search assistance tool.
  • Opening May 1st 2026, Zannier Bendor brings a new chapter for the storied private Île de Bendor (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-01 06:14:20)
    Zannier Bendor, one of Europe’s most highly anticipated openings, is set to debut on the private French island of Île de Bendor in spring 2026, after five years of transformation. With bookings now live, Zannier Hotels has appointed Emmanuel Blanchemanche as General Manager and renowned chef Lionel Levy as Executive Chef, as the project unveils expansive dining and wellbeing programming in a combined effort of Société Paul Ricard and Zannier Hotels to restore the isle’s legacy as a convivial gathering place steeped in old-world glamour. The Ricard family, guardians of Paul Ricard’s vision, joins forces with the excellence of Zannier Hotels to write this new chapter.
  • Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy-Les Roches at Future Hospitality Summit World Dubai (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-01 06:11:26)
    With the UAE hospitality market projected to grow at approximately 6.9% annually until 2028 (from around USD 7.1 billion in 2023 to USD 10 billion in 2028, report by Alpen Capital titled GCC Hospitality Industry - UAE Hospitality Market Forecast), the demand for well-trained professionals is rising sharply. In this backdrop, the panel discussion on “Rebuilding the Workforce: Attracting and Retaining Talent in Hospitality” at the Future Hospitality Summit World was highly relevant as Prof Scott Richardson, Academic Dean, Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy-Les Roches, shared industry insight to tackle one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: attracting and retaining the next generation of talent.