Day Headlines in Travel News: 2026-02-26

  • Destinations queue up to host forthcoming WTTC Global Summits (Breaking Travel News 2026-02-26 11:41:52)
    The success of the WTTC 2025 Global Summit in Rome, Italy has created a surge in destinations competing to host future editions in the coming years. A record 15 destinations across four continents have formally expressed interest, signalling renewed confidence in the global Travel & Tourism sector.
  • Marriott International Announces Robust Growth Momentum Across Europe, Middle East & Africa in 2025 (Breaking Travel News 2026-02-26 11:37:02)
    Marriott International, Inc. announced an exceptional year of growth across Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) in 2025 with more than 230 organic signings representing over 31,000 rooms. Marriott also added 170 properties and nearly 24,000 rooms across EMEA last year, contributing to a 7.8% net rooms growth in the region.“2025 was another strong year for Marriott International in EMEA defined by strategic expansion and segment-wide momentum across the region,” said Satya Anand, President, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “We continued to grow our portfolio with purpose by expanding into new destinations, scaling our brands thoughtfully and offering even more diverse experiences for our guests and Marriott Bonvoy members. Our robust growth is a testament to the dedication of our teams and the trust of our owners, and we remain committed to shaping the future of travel in the region.”
  • reclaim Expands Luggage Management Network with addition of voco The Darwin (Breaking Travel News 2026-02-26 11:27:48)
    reclaim, the recently launched premium luggage management network, continues its US expansion adding service for voco The Darwin Atlanta Midtown hotel, an IHG branded property. Guests and travelers will now have a lighter travel experience between the hotel and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport with on-demand luggage handling. Additionally, by implementing reclaim’s luggage management platform the property will reduce baggage related bottlenecks and improve guest satisfaction.
  • WeRoad Launches Weekend Trips (Breaking Travel News 2026-02-26 09:25:15)
    Group travel is on the rise, but if the thought of crossing the globe with a group of strangers feels a little daunting, WeRoad’s new Weekend trips offer a gentler way to test the waters, allowing travellers to make the most of limited annual leave.
  • flydubai reports strong 2025 performance driven by record revenue and passenger growth (Breaking Travel News 2026-02-26 09:09:32)
    The Dubai-based carrier has delivered another strong financial performance for its financial year ending 31 December 2025, reporting a pre-tax profit of AED 2.2 billion (USD 591 million). Total revenue reached AED 13.6 billion (USD 3.7 billion), representing an increase of 6% compared to AED 12.8 billion (USD 3.5 billion) in 2024.
  • ITB Berlin and IPK International: Stable international travel, holidays dominate (Breaking Travel News 2026-02-26 08:52:33)
    Shortly before the start of ITB Berlin from 3 to 5 March 2026, the international travel industry is sending a clear signal: year-on-year, international trips worldwide rose by four per cent in 2025.The latest findings of the World Travel Monitor® by IPK International confirm the continuing upward trend of recent years, and that increases are back in single digits. The strong growth rates in international tourism are approaching pre-pandemic levels again.
  • Best Alpine Wellness Hotels Launches in the UK, Introducing a New Vision of Alpine Luxury (Breaking Travel News 2026-02-26 08:50:38)
    Best Alpine Wellness Hotels, a long-established collection of independent Alpine wellness hotels, is launching in the UK market, bringing a refined, nature-led approach to luxury travel across Austria.Founded in 1985, Best Alpine Wellness Hotels is a carefully curated cooperation of 16 family-run 4 and 5 superior hotels**, united by a shared philosophy of authentic wellness, Alpine nature and thoughtful hospitality. Each hotel is deeply rooted in its surroundings, offering restorative stays shaped by mountain landscapes, spa culture, seasonal cuisine and a slower, more considered pace of life.
  • OurAfrica.travel Announces New Partnership With Purpose (Breaking Travel News 2026-02-26 08:48:41)
    OurAfrica.Travel is Africa’s only digital trade show, and has, since its inception during the 2020 lockdown, been all about collaborations and partnerships in the spirit of Ubuntu – driven by a desire to support the greater good of the whole African tourism community in an affordable, inclusive way.
  • Capella Debuts in Kyoto, Japan (Breaking Travel News 2026-02-26 08:45:19)
    Capella Kyoto will open on 22 March 2026, just as Kyoto’s legendary cherry blossoms reach their fleeting peak. Set in the historic Miyagawa-cho kagai (geisha district), Capella Hotels and Resorts’ inaugural property in Japan is located steps from the Kenninji temple and the Kamo river where kabuki was born.
  • andBeyond Punakha River Lodge Announces 2026 Dates for their Wellness Masters in Residence (Breaking Travel News 2026-02-26 08:41:35)
    Set along the rice fields and riverbanks of western Bhutan, andBeyond Punakha River Lodge occupies a space where the land itself seems to exhale. The design, as well as the tempo, of this elegant lodge and its setting is intentional, inviting guests to inhabit the stillness between things. It is here, in this valley shaped by water, prayer and centuries of transformation, that a renewed and expanded wellness journey unfolds in 2026.
  • Oceania Cruises® Introduces the Oceania Club Ambassador Program (Breaking Travel News 2026-02-26 08:38:27)
    Oceania Cruises®, the world’s leading culinary- and destination-focused luxury cruise line, today announced the launch of its Oceania ClubTM Ambassador Program, a new referral initiative designed to reward loyal guests for sharing their passion for travelling well with friends and family.When an Oceania Club member refers a friend or family member who books their first-ever voyage with Oceania Cruises, both the referring member and the new guest will enjoy US$200 savings, a gesture that celebrates shared discovery and connection.
  • Minor Hotels Brings Luxury Anantara Hotels & Resorts Brand to Australia - Anantara Perth Hotel (Breaking Travel News 2026-02-26 08:35:47)
    Minor Hotels, a leading global hotel owner and operator, is introducing its world-renowned luxury Anantara brand to Australia with the signing of Anantara Perth Hotel. The announcement marks a pivotal expansion for the company, bringing Anantara’s celebrated Thai-inspired hospitality to one of Australia’s fastest‑growing capital cities.
  • New Comfort Inn & Suites Opens Across From Orlando Sanford International Airport (Breaking Travel News 2026-02-26 08:32:33)
    Comfort Inn & Suites Orlando Sanford Airport has opened directly across from Orlando Sanford International Airport. The four-story hotel is owned by AirSan Investments LLC, an ownership entity of the Hickman family.The hotel was developed to serve the daily rhythm of airport travel while supporting the broader mix of group and regional demand in the Sanford and Central Florida area.
  • Arival and Phocuswright release landmark global market-sizing report (Breaking Travel News 2026-02-26 08:30:48)
    Arival and Phocuswright today released The Outlook for Travel Experiences 2019–2029, the most comprehensive global market-sizing report for tours, activities and attractions since before the pandemic.  The new research shows the experiences sector has not only fully rebounded but its growth rate is now outpacing every other major segment of travel, reaching $271 billion in 2025 and projected to climb to $342 billion by 2029.
  • ITB Berlin Convention 2026: Charting a course between crises and AI (Breaking Travel News 2026-02-26 08:28:43)
    This year, the ITB Berlin Convention is focusing on political expertise: The age of polycrisis and the impact of global tensions on travel behaviour are the subject of a keynote speech by Joschka Fischer, former German Foreign Minister, who will highlight how the tourism industry can position and assert itself in a world of increasing political uncertainty. The other events at the convention will also offer first-hand international experience and insider knowledge in 17 themed tracks on four stages: Top executives from global companies – including Google, Microsoft, Expedia and this year’s official Premium Partner of ITB Berlin and co-host of the ITB Berlin Convention, Airbnb – will provide practical information on current strategies and projects that will shape the world of travel in the long term.
  • OneReg CEO on North America’s snow‑driven flight disruptions (Breaking Travel News 2026-02-26 08:25:30)
    As heavy snow and high winds swept across North America this week, the aviation system once again hit a breaking point.  More than 12,000 flights were cancelled between Sunday and Tuesday across the U.S., with New York’s major airports among the hardest hit.  At the peak of the storm, cancellation rates were nearly twenty times higher than a typical winter day – a reminder of how quickly disruption cascades when operators are juggling volatile weather, complex regulations, and disconnected sources of operational information.
  • Minor Hotels Appoints Milan Jajčanin as Hotel Manager of Avani+ Barbarons Seychelles (Breaking Travel News 2026-02-26 08:21:55)
    Minor Hotels, a global hospitality group with hotels, resorts and branded residences across 59 countries, has appointed has appointed Milan Jajčanin as Hotel Manager of Avani+ Barbarons Seychelles, strengthening the resort’s operational leadership as it continues to build momentum in the Indian Ocean