Day Headlines in Travel News: 2025-11-12

  • Rua Al Madinah Holding Signs $165M Hospitality Deals to Boost Tourism (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-12 15:48:51)
    Rua Al Madinah Holding, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has announced the signing of two landmark hospitality agreements worth a combined USD 165 million during the inaugural TOURISE Global Tourism Forum in Riyadh. The deals, made with IHG Hotels & Resorts and Adeera Hospitality Management, mark a significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of Madinah’s tourism and hospitality landscape.
  • Pullman Hotels & Resorts unveils its global brand transformation at TOURISE (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-12 15:40:05)
    At the inaugural TOURISE Summit in Riyadh, Pullman Hotels & Resorts, part of Accor’s premium portfolio, unveiled a bold global brand transformation that redefines its vision for the future of travel and hospitality. The announcement took place before an international audience of tourism leaders and innovators, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s ambition to position itself at the forefront of global tourism innovation.
  • Red Sea Global announces the opening of AMAALA: The world’s new coastal lifestyle destination (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-12 15:28:21)
    With spectacular resorts, an exclusive yacht club, and world-leading marine life institute, RSG’s latest destination sets new global standards for holistic wellness and environmental stewardship
  • Seven Legends: A New Era of Ultra-Luxury Hospitality Unveiled at TOURISE Riyadh (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-12 14:38:27)
    During the prestigious TOURISE Global Tourism Forum in Riyadh, AMEK Group’s Founders and Co-CEOs officially unveiled Seven Legends, a groundbreaking ultra-luxury hospitality brand redefining the boundaries of exclusivity and experience.
  • LADERA UNVEILS TOTAL RENOVATION (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-12 13:42:18)
    The resort’s reimagining took inspiration from Ladera’s setting as the only resort within the island’s UNESCO World Heritage Site Piton Mountain range, and its unique vantage point immersed in the Pitons. From the room renovations, whose furniture was built on site by the resort’s artisans, to the staff’s new uniforms, which were designed in partnership with St. Lucian designers, to the spa treatments which use local plants and minerals – the very-Saint-Lucian ethos and identity of Ladera was preserved while being reinterpreted for a new era through the vision of the island’s current-day artists and artisans.“We have the most special setting on all of the island: The resort was built on a ridge and it feels like you can reach out and touch the Pitons in either direction,” says Property Manager Eustace Augustine, who helped to build the resort and has been working at Ladera for 41 years.
  • Tokyo, New York, Ancash and Paris take top honors at inaugural TOURISE Awards (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-12 12:29:11)
    The very first winners of the TOURISE Awards have been announced, recognizing the destinations redefining exploration, hospitality, and cultural connection for the modern traveler, setting new benchmarks for innovation and excellence to deliver truly unforgettable visitor experiences.
  • TAIBA showcases key projects and impact as sponsor at TOURISE global tourism forum Riyadh (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-12 12:23:43)
    Taiba Investments has officially announced its participation as a Sponsor of the TOURISE Global Tourism Forum, launching its inaugural edition in Riyadh from November 11 to 13, 2025, under the theme “Shaping the Future of Global Tourism”, organized and hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism.
  • HALO space unveils 10-year plan to launch near-space tourism from saudi arabia (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-12 12:19:28)
    HALO Space, a global pioneer in near-space tourism, has unveiled an ambitious 10-year roadmap to make commercial near-space flights a reality—beginning with the first-ever launches from Saudi Arabia. The announcement was made at the inaugural TOURISE Summit in Riyadh, a global platform redefining the future of tourism through innovation and cross-sector collaboration.
  • Abu Dhabi’s Variety of Cinematic Visages Captured in a ‘Making Of’ Video for ‘Now You See Me: Now Yo (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-12 12:10:37)
    With Lionsgate’s Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, the third installment of the globally beloved Now You See Me franchise, set to mesmerize audiences worldwide starting November 14, fans can go behind the scenes with an exclusive video showcasing the film’s action-packed shoot of the film’s climax in Abu Dhabi. The Making of Now You See Me: Now You Don’t in Abu Dhabi takes fans on a journey through the creation of some of the franchise’s most mind-bending illusions and heart-racing stunts across Yas Island and Saadiyat Island.
  • The Lake Como EDITION Debuts on Italy’s Most Iconic Shoreline (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-12 11:16:25)
    Lake Como, with its placid turquoise waters surrounded by towering, sharp-peaked mountains, has been one of the most dreamt-of destinations in the world for centuries. EDITION, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio, Omnam Investment Group (“Omnam”), and private investment firm Bain Capital boldly reimagine this storied locale with the opening of The Lake Como EDITION – marking a radical departure from traditional Lake Como hospitality.The property introduces elegant tastemakers and global travelers to a new vision of lakeside luxury that pairs culinary excellence with a groundbreaking wellness spa offering cutting-edge longevity and rejuvenation treatments. The striking interior spaces, brought to life through a collaboration between EDITION, design firm Neri&Hu, and architects De.Tales reflect this bold new chapter in Lake Como’s legendary history
  • Etihad Airways Expands its Saudi Arabia Network with Launch of Flights to Medina (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-12 11:14:30)
    Etihad Airways has commenced flights from Abu Dhabi to Medina this week, further expanding the airline’s strong footprint in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and enhancing travel options for guests across religious, business and leisure segments.The resumed direct service connects Abu Dhabi with Medina, one of the most spiritually significant cities in the world and a key destination for visitors performing religious travel throughout the year. The route will support growing demand from pilgrims and travellers across the world seeking seamless connections to the Kingdom’s holy city.Medina becomes the latest addition to Etihad’s operations in the Kingdom, reinforcing the UAE’s national carrier as a major facilitator of travel to and from Saudi Arabia. With the launch of flights to Medina, Etihad will operate 93 flights per week to five cities across the Kingdom, flying four times per day to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, and three services per week to Al Qassim. This expansion is part of Etihad’s ambitious growth strategy, announcing 31 new destinations in a year.
  • Top UK university teams win Dida’s ‘Future of Travel Innovation’ Challenge at the Shangri-La, London (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-12 11:12:24)
    Dida, a global AI-first travel technology group, has announced the winners of its inaugural Future of Travel Innovation Challenge, held at the iconic Shangri-La Hotel in The Shard, London in partnership with Headstart Global. The competition brought together the brightest student innovators from leading UK universities to reimagine the future of global travel through technology, creativity, and sustainability.The nine finalist teams pitched their groundbreaking ideas live to a panel of judges from Dida’s global executive leadership and innovation partners.
  • SKYDECK CHICAGO LAUNCHES 10TH ANNUAL LOVE ON THE LEDGE CONTEST (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-12 08:55:26)
    Skydeck Chicago, the iconic observation deck on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower, is celebrating a decade of romance in the sky with the 10th annual Love on The Ledge contest. The beloved Valentine’s Day social media contest invites deserving couples to tie the knot or renew their vows 1,353 ft. above the city in an intimate ceremony on The Ledge, creating the feeling of floating above Chicago’s skyline.
  • SITA, AMADEUS AND AACO COLLABORATE TO DRIVE GREATER TRANSPARENCY ON EMISSIONS IN AIR TRAVEL (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-12 08:26:21)
    AACO, SITA, and Amadeus have come together to explore how data and technology can bring greater accuracy and transparency to aviation’s sustainability efforts. The initiative represents a concrete step toward helping airlines and passengers make informed decisions based on the environmental impact of air travel, and building the trust needed to support meaningful climate action.Conscious of the criticality of the challenge, two of aviation’s leading technology providers are working together. The collaboration pairs SITA Eco Mission, which draws on real aircraft performance and operational data to deliver accurate emissions and fuel-burn calculations, with Amadeus Travel Impact Suite, which aggregates carbon emissions calculations from multiple recognized sources and standards. Together, they provide the ecosystem with detailed emissions information so that travelers can make more informed decisions. Their shared goal is to demonstrate how accurate data can support decision-making on sustainable travel and facilitate climate action, such as carbon offsetting.
  • China’s leading online travel platform, Alibaba-owned Fliggy, prepares for ‘omni-intelligent travel (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-12 08:24:25)
    Chinese online travel platform Fliggy – the travel division of Alibaba Group – is leading the way as the first Chinese online travel player to adopt a multi-agent approach to building AI-powered products in order to prepare for the shift from ‘online travel agencies’ to ‘omni-intelligent travel agents’.To deliver this vision for customers everywhere, Fliggy has consistently launched new AI-powered products throughout the year, in both consumer-facing and B2B scenarios — with all products powered by multiple collaborating AI agents.
  • Jet Lag No More: Expert Tips for Beating Travel Fatigue (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-12 08:20:57)
    Learn how to reduce jet lag and travel fatigue with simple tips. Discover how to prepare before your flight, stay comfortable during travel, and adjust quickly after arrival.
  • Japan Ski Experience: Crowned the World’s Best Ski Travel Agent to Japan 2025 (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-12 08:12:51)
    For those who dream of powder-perfect slopes, soothing hot springs, and a travel experience that feels both effortless and deeply personal, Japan Ski Experience has become synonymous with this type of excellence. This year, the company claimed the coveted title of World’s Best Ski Travel Agent to Japan 2025 at the World Ski Awards—an accolade that cements its position as the leading specialist for ski holidays in the Land of the Rising Sun.
  • 15 Years. Millions of Memories. Countless Records. (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-12 06:57:21)
    Fifteen years and countless memories later, Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi continues to redefine entertainment. Since opening in 2010, the park has welcomed over 13 million guests and 6.8 million thrill-seekers, earning more than 65 global awards, proving that the thrill only gets better with time.For further information, please view the attached infographic featuring 15 unmissable facts about the award-winning theme park that first landed on Yas Island.
  • CELEBRITY CRUISES IS OFFERING MORE WAYS TO EXPLORE THE CARIBBEAN, ASIA AND SOUTH AMERICA (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-12 06:52:01)
    Guests can discover something new in every corner of the world, as Celebrity Cruises unveils its 2027 and 2028 itineraries in the Caribbean, Asia and South America. Sailings across these three continents will take guests on spectacular voyages to 131 destinations across 42 countries, while unique ports and overnight stays offer unforgettable experiences. Celebrity’s newest ship, Celebrity Xcel, returns to the Caribbean for a third season, once again offering guests an immersive connection to the region—both ashore and aboard—through The Bazaar, a one-of-a-kind destination experience. Meanwhile, Celebrity Solstice will embark on its second season in Asia, following its modernization, delivering fresh onboard offerings and unforgettable adventures on land.
  • Avianca Announces Leadership Transition (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-12 06:50:15)
    Avianca announced its succession plan for the airline. Frederico Pedreira will step down from his role as Chief Executive Officer, effective February 28th, 2026, after five years with the company. To further strengthen the airline’s leadership structure and ensure a smooth transition, Avianca’s Board of Directors has approved the creation of a President position, to be filled by Gabriel Oliva concurrently with his COO role, effective immediately. Frederico will remain as CEO until February 28th to ensure full continuity and alignment across the organization.