Day Headlines in Travel News: 2026-03-31

  • The World’s Most Luxurious Surf Contest at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa is Coming Back (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-31 10:36:07)
    The Indian Ocean does not need much convincing to put on a show. But for one week each September, it outdoes itself. At Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, the Surfing Champions Trophy is confirmed to return to the legendary Sultans break from September 4 to 11, 2026, and with it comes the promise of world-class surfing, sun-bleached evenings, and the kind of access that rarely exists anywhere else on earth.Now entering its 14th edition, the Surfing Champions Trophy is one of the most singular events in sport: an invitation-only gathering of surfing’s finest, competing across three board disciplines (single fin, twin fin and thruster) at one of the Maldives’ well-known reef breaks, with Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa as the garden-island base for competitors, judges and guests alike.
  • Collection brands from Accor and Ennismore unlock new opportunity (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-31 10:32:03)
    Accor’s collection brands are accelerating their global expansion, combining individuality with the power of scale. The Group now operates over 180 hotels worldwide across Emblems Collection, MGallery Collection, and Handwritten Collection, as well as Morgans Originals and Paris Society Hotel Collection, which are both part of Ennismore. A further 125+ hotels are currently in the pipeline across the Group’s collection brands, representing more than 65% growth over the coming years.
  • gategroup and KLM announce strategic partnership for the future of KLM Catering Services (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-31 08:45:57)
    gategroup, the leading global player in airline catering and hospitality, and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have reached an agreement for gategroup to acquire a majority stake in KLM Catering Services (KCS). This landmark transaction establishes a long-term strategic partnership designed to redefine the future of inflight catering for KLM airlines at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
  • Air Canada Board of Directors announces the retirement of President and Chief Executive Officer (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-31 05:48:22)
    The Board of Directors of Air Canada today announced that Michael Rousseau has informed the Board that he will retire by the end of the third quarter of 2026, after nearly two decades of strong and dedicated leadership that has reinforced Air Canada’s place as a leader in the airline industry domestically and globally. Mr. Rousseau will continue to lead the company and to serve on its Board until that time.
  • ROYAL CARIBBEAN’S HERO OF THE SEAS INTRODUCES THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF FAMILY VACATION EXPERIENCES (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-31 05:45:17)
    Introducing the hero of family vacations: Royal Caribbean has revealed Hero of the Seas, the fourth Icon Class ship and bold evolution of family adventure arriving in Miami in August 2027. As part of the game-changing Icon Class that combines beach retreats, resort escapes and theme park thrills, Hero will raise the bar with more records and iconic ways for families to make lifelong memories. Hero’s eight neighborhoods will be home to the most pools at sea, a record-breaking 28 dining venues and cooking classes for all ages, brand-new family raft slides, new accommodations for multigenerational families – including the three-story Ultimate Family Treehouse – and more
  • TAP Air Portugal selects new JFK Terminal 6 for future operations (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-31 05:44:52)
    JFK Millennium Partners (JMP), the company selected by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey to build and operate John F. Kennedy International Airport’s new world-class Terminal 6 (T6), and TAP Air Portugal, (TAP) the national carrier of Portugal, today announced that TAP will make T6 its future home at JFK airport, joining codeshare partner JetBlue and Star Alliance airlines such as Air Canada, ANA, Avianca, Lufthansa and SWISS in the state-of-the-art terminal as part of its phase one opening in 2026.
  • ATLAS OCEAN VOYAGES INTRODUCES ALL-SUITE ACCOMMODATIONS, ELEVATING THE GUEST EXPERIENCE (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-31 05:42:18)
    Atlas Ocean Voyages today announced a defining evolution in its accommodations, formally transitioning to an all-suite experience across its fleet, reflecting the brand’s continued commitment to delivering a consistently elevated standard of luxury expedition travel.Effective April 2, 2026, all guest accommodations will be reclassified under a unified suite nomenclature, reinforcing what guests already experience onboard: spacious, design-forward environments paired with intuitive, highly personalized service. This milestone marks a natural extension of Atlas Ocean Voyages’ elevated brand positioning introduced earlier this year.
  • SUPER BOWL RETURNS TO LAS VEGAS IN 2029 (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-31 05:40:27)
    The National Football League announced that Las Vegas will host Super Bowl LXIII in 2029 at Allegiant Stadium.The announcement was made today at the NFL Annual Meeting in Phoenix, following a review by the NFL’s Fan Engagement & Major Events Committee and a vote by full ownership.
  • U.S. Virgin Islands Announces the Performance Line-up for 74th Annual St. Thomas Carnival Village (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-31 05:38:34)
    The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, in partnership with the Division of Festivals, announces the highly anticipated lineup for the 74th Annual St. Thomas Carnival Village, showcasing an exciting mix of homegrown, regional, and international talent.Headlined by hip-hop icon Busta Rhymes, and award-winning St. Thomas–born duo R. City, this year’s Village concerts celebrate the vibrant culture and musical diversity of the Caribbean and the Virgin Islands.
  • WTTC Endorses ICAO’s Next-Generation Public Key Directory to Advance Safe and Seamless Travel (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-31 05:35:14)
    The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) welcomes the introduction of the next-generation Public Key Directory (PKD) by the International Civil Aviation Organization, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of secure and seamless global travel.
  • Celestyal cancels all April sailings (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-31 05:33:02)
    Celestyal has confirmed the cancellation of all April 2026 departures as its ships wait to reposition to Athens, Greece.The line’s fleet is currently positioned in the Arabian Gulf, with Celestyal Discovery in Dubai, UAE, and Celestyal Journey in Doha, Qatar. All guests and non-operational crew have been disembarked, while both vessels remain fully operational; their departure from the region will take place in accordance with safety guidance from the relevant authorities.
  • Marriott International and Lefay Announce Milestone Deal to Grow Luxury Wellness Offerings Globally (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-31 05:30:09)
    Marriott International and the Leali family, founders of Lefay, today announced their plans to enter into a joint venture to bring the highly awarded luxury wellness hospitality brand Lefay into the Marriott portfolio. This collaboration combines Lefay’s approach to holistic wellbeing with Marriott’s global scale, and the power of its award-winning Marriott Bonvoy loyalty platform. Lefay will be the first brand in Marriott’s portfolio dedicated exclusively to luxury wellness.
  • Hong Kong: A City of Moments” Featuring Lola Hubner (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-31 05:28:51)
    Travel commerce platform BYRDLI launched its first international destination partnership outside of the United States, Hong Kong: A City of Moments.With the launch, BYRDLI brought one of Asia’s most dynamic cities to life through the lens of Australian creator, and platform superuser Lola Hubner.The campaign marks BYRDLI’s first destination partnership in Asia - a milestone moment for the globally operating Australian founded platform as it continues expanding its network of creator-led Travel Clubs and tourism partnerships worldwide.
  • Star Clippers Increases Rail & Sail Packages in Second Edition of Dedicated Brochure (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-31 05:25:17)
    The specialist cruise line has launched its second printed brochure encompassing solely of rail-inspired sailing journeys. It sees an increase of 55% in the number of packages featured, compared to the inaugural brochure’s debut in Spring 2025.The 23-page brochure represents an ongoing demand for enhanced and curated trips post-Covid, which was first acknowledged in 2021 with a leaflet-style document highlighting 4 packages comprised of a Mediterranean Star Clippers sailing and a train journey.
  • A LEGENDARY 15TH-CENTURY VENETIAN PALAZZO REAWAKENED: ORIENT EXPRESS VENEZIA OPENS IN VENICE (Breaking Travel News 2026-03-31 05:21:34)
    Orient Express proudly unveils Orient Express Venezia at Palazzo Donà Giovannelli, the extraordinary rebirth of the 15th century architectural jewel, owned by Arsenale Group, reimagined by architect and interior designer Aline Asmar d’Amman as a hotel, for the first time in nearly six centuries. A new icon in the brand’s constellation of ultra-luxury travel experiences, the hotel invites guests into a world where Venetian history, contemporary artistry and the legendary spirit of the Orient Express art of travel converge in perfect harmony. Once a celebrated crossroad on the legendary route from Paris to Istanbul, Venice reclaims its role as a theatrical gateway for the Orient Express world of luxury travel.