Day Headlines in Travel News: 2025-11-13

  • World Golf Awards announces best in golf 2025 (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-13 15:43:36)
    World Golf Awards – the leading authority that recognises and rewards excellence in golf tourism – has unveiled the winners of its 2025 programme.Portugal enjoyed a strong showing, with the sun-blessed nation named ‘World’s Best Golf Destination’, and its Atlantic archipelago of Madeira claiming ‘World’s Best Emerging Golf Destination’.Sir Nick Faldo was voted ‘Golf Designer of the Year’. The six-time major champion continues to expand his global design portfolio through Faldo Design, with current projects including Vietnam, Brazil, Pakistan and Madeira.
  • Uniworld Boutique River Cruises to feature on new Channel 4 show (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-13 13:18:23)
    Uniworld Boutique River Cruises will appear in the inaugural episode of a new series on Channel 4 that explores some of the world’s most luxurious travel experiences, from cruising and island escapes, to superyachts and grand hotels
  • Finnair flies high with new Nordic routes and super 2026 schedule (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-13 13:18:19)
    Finnair has unveiled an expanded 2026 network, as it continues to increase its European offering in response to demand.The new bumper schedule, which will strengthen Finnair’s European network, includes 12 new routes for summer 2026.Routes to Alta, Catania, Florence, Kos and Valencia were announced earlier this year, and Finnair is now adding flights to Kuressaare in Estonia, Luxembourg, Stavanger in Norway, Thessaloniki in Greece, Tirana in Albania, Turin in Italy and Umeå in Sweden.
  • DerbySoft Partners with CTM to Deliver Smarter Hotel Connectivity for Business Travelers (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-13 13:17:23)
    DerbySoft, a global leader in high-performance connectivity and distribution solutions for the travel industry, partnered with Corporate Travel Management (CTM) earlier this year to power real-time hotel connectivity within CTM’s Sleep Space platform, enhancing the corporate hotel booking and post-booking experience.At the center of this collaboration is the integration of CTM’s Sleep Space hotel commerce platform with DerbySoft’s Business Travel Solutions, delivering live access to rates, availability, and content from major global hotel brands. This connection significantly improves data quality, personalization, and booking efficiency for CTM clients and hotel partners alike.
  • Marriott International Named One of the Top 2025 World’s Best Workplaces (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-13 13:15:14)
    Today, Marriott International, Inc. announced it has been named one of the top five World’s Best Workplaces by Great Place To Work® and Fortune magazine.“We are honored to once again be named one of the world’s best workplaces. This recognition reflects Marriott’s longstanding commitment to excellence and our people-first culture that continues to be our north star across the company and around the world,” said Anthony Capuano, President and CEO of Marriott International. “This year’s recognition is a testament to the incredible talent and dedication of our global teams and a powerful affirmation of the core values we’ve upheld for nearly a century. I am proud of our associates’ dedication to creating authentic and memorable experiences for our members and guests and being a force for good in our communities.”
  • Group Travel Company WeRoad Launches New Ski Portfolio (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-13 12:51:54)
    If you’ve ever dreamed of hitting the slopes but can’t find anyone to go with, you’re not alone. A survey of 15,000 people aged 24–30 * shows that 41% of respondents say their biggest barrier to outdoor adventures is “not having family or friends to go with”, and more than four in ten adults would love to go skiing but feel they don’t know where to start.
  • Shaza Hotels Signs Four New Saudi Projects at TOURISE 2025 (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-13 12:39:48)
    Under the patronage of the Ministry of Tourism Saudi Arabia (MoT) and TOURISE 2025, Shaza Hotels has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for four new projects – Shaza Riyadh Stables Resort, Mysk Residences in Riyadh and Mysk Al Haramain Hotels - 3 & 4 in Makkah – during the inaugural TOURISE 2025 summit, held from 11 to 13 November 2025 in Riyadh.
  • Arsenale opens pre-reservations for ‘Dream of the Desert,’ Luxury train in Saudi Arabia (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-13 10:19:48)
    Arsenale S.p.A, Italy’s leading company in the development of high-end hospitality experiences by rail, announces the official opening of pre-reservations for Dream of the Desert, the first ultra-luxury train “Made in Italy” that will operate in Saudi Arabia starting at the end of 2026.
  • L’Occitane en Provence unveils new global hospitality partnerships (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-13 09:55:44)
    As autumn unfolds, L’Occitane en Provence Hospitality is embracing a season of renewal, unveiling new global collaborations that bring the brand’s signature blend of sustainability, luxury, and sensorial experience to life. From the Mediterranean glamour of Monte Carlo to the energy of Miami and the cultural elegance of Central Europe, each initiative reflects the Maison’s commitment to crafting meaningful connections through beauty and well-being.
  • Qatar Airways Expands Services in Saudi Arabia with New Hail Route (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-13 07:45:22)
    Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, has announced another expansion of the airline’s service in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during his panel discussion, “Tourism Rising: A New Era of Influence and Impact”, at the TOURISE Summit 2025 in Riyadh.From 5 January 2026, Qatar Airways will launch three weekly flights to Hail (HAS), making it the 13th Saudi city to be served by the airline. The World’s Best Airline, as voted by Skytrax in 2025 for the ninth time, will also increase flights to Jeddah (JED) and Riyadh (RUH) from six to seven daily flights.
  • Inside Emirates Flight Catering’s mission to serve 300,000 meals at the Dubai Airshow (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-13 07:39:59)
    When the Dubai Airshow opens its doors on 17 November, behind the incredible aircraft displays and billion-dollar deals will be an equally impressive operation: Emirates Flight Catering’s (EKFC) culinary mission to blend extraordinary scale with precision.EKFC, the official caterer for Dubai Airshow 2025, is preparing to serve over 300,000 meals to a diverse audience of aviation and aerospace executives, government ministers, military delegations, industry professionals, guests and visitors from over 98 countries.This feat requires building two complete central kitchens from scratch, deploying nearly 2,600 staff members, and catering to over 150 chalets, country pavilions and exhibition stands with cuisine as diverse as the global aviation and aerospace community itself.
  • Mantis Continues GCC Expansion in Saudi Arabia with Signing of Basiqat by Mantis (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-13 07:37:46)
    Yesteray at the TOURISE Global Summit 2025 in Riyadh, Mantis - Accor’s conservation-focused hospitality brand - announced the signing of Basiqat by Mantis, an eco-luxury resort in Al Uyaynah, 40 minutes from central Riyadh, developed by Design & Build in partnership with GIB Capital and the Tourism Development Fund (TDF).
  • Trump International Scotland recognised at World Golf Awards (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-13 07:30:37)
    Trump International Scotland has cemented its place among the world’s greatest golfing destinations after winning three headline honours at the 12th annual World Golf Awards. The New Course was named ‘World’s Best Golf Course 2025’ and ‘Europe’s Best New Golf Course 2025’, while Trump International Scotland was awarded ‘World’s Best Contribution to Golf Tourism Hospitality 2025’.
  • Small Luxury Hotels of the World debuts Call-to-Action Report inspiring action from boutique hotels (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-13 07:28:47)
    Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ (SLH), renowned for its independently minded portfolio of boutique properties, has launched a sustainability Call-to-Action (CTA) Report.Marking the 35th anniversary of the brand in 2025, SLH’s version of a CTA report looks at the past, present and future of small luxury hotels and sustainability. The report shares the inside track of the SLH journey to date, valuable insights learned along the way from its standout properties and impactful partnerships, and outlines commitments to come.The report, SLH’s largest call to action yet, is a continuation of an ethos that has always kept sustainable principles front of mind, championing small, independent and family-owned hotels since its inception. By nature of being anti-chain and anti-same, the luxury escapes in the portfolio have been operating in sustainable, mindful ways for decades, with hero hotels now exemplified in SLH’s Considerate Collection.
  • MotoGP Valencia Finale to Draw 150,000 Fans and Generate €35.9 Million in Tourism Impact (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-13 07:26:20)
    As the 2025 MotoGP Championship races toward its thrilling conclusion at the Gran Premio de la Comunitat Valenciana, Mabrian and The Data Appeal Company – Almawave Group have analysed the expected tourism impact of the final weekend of the championship, to be held at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Cheste, near Valencia (Spain). The analysis estimates a tourism-related economic impact of €35.9 million for Valencian Community region.
  • RLA GLOBAL 2025 MID-YEAR WELLNESS REAL ESTATE REPORT (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-13 07:23:09)
    Wellness hotels demonstrated remarkable stability amid economic pressures in January-June 2025, according to RLA Global’s 2025 Mid-Year Wellness Real Estate Report, published in partnership with P&L benchmarking firm HotStats that analyses the performance of over 12,000 properties worldwide. Several of the top 10 best-performing countries – identified in the report for the first time – had double-digit growth in wellness membership and spa treatments. Another new report section, the market spotlight, revealed interesting dynamics in leased-out wellness models in the UAE.
  • Dubai International Soars to World’s Busiest Airport as DXB Overtakes Atlanta (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-13 07:21:35)
    Dubai International Airport (DXB) has officially become the busiest airport in the world in 2025, overtaking Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) for the first time. The achievement marks a defining moment in global aviation and reflects Dubai’s long-term investment in innovation, connectivity, and passenger experience.Speaking at the TOURISE Summit in Riyadh, Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said the future of aviation is no longer defined solely by size or scale but by emotion and experience. “The future of travel isn’t just about moving people faster, it’s about how they feel along the way,” he noted. “From biometric boarding to frictionless terminals, we’re creating airports where speed, culture, and comfort converge.”
  • Sir Rocco Forte: Gulf Partnerships Powering New Era of Global Growth (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-13 07:19:36)
    British hotelier Sir Rocco Forte has credited the Gulf’s long-term investment vision and rapid decision-making culture as key drivers behind the global expansion of Rocco Forte Hotels, as UK businesses increasingly turn abroad for growth and capital.Forte described his company’s alliance with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) as “transformational,” strengthening the group’s balance sheet and elevating its international profile. “The PIF are very good people to work with. They take a long-term, strategic view. They saw potential in us not for short-term returns but for sustained global growth,” he said.
  • Fastjet and WorldTicket by GO7 forge strategic partnership to expand global distribution (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-13 07:17:09)
    Fastjet, the Zimbabwean multi-award-winning regional airline, and WorldTicket by GO7, a leading global airline distribution solutions provider, today announced a strategic partnership to enhance ticketing, connectivity, and international visibility across Southern Africa.Through this collaboration, fastjet’s flights are now available for booking via WorldTicket’s W2-365 platform, giving travel agents worldwide access to the airline’s domestic and regional services. The partnership enables fastjet to grow international sales and connectivity without the need for traditional BSP membership or complex GDS infrastructure.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Unlocks Longest Cyber Week Stay Window Ever (Breaking Travel News 2025-11-13 07:15:08)
    Marriott Bonvoy® is extending the holiday cheer this year with its most celebrated Cyber Week Sale yet. For the first time, members can stay from November 30, 2025, through February 22, 2026, the longest stay window in the sale’s history, and enjoy 25% off when booking through the Marriott Bonvoy App. That means more ski weekends, more beach escapes, more city retreats, and more time to share the joy of travel with family and friends.