Day Headlines in Travel News: 2026-07-17

  • United Launches Another Economy Class Innovation: Economy Plus Seats With Extra Elbow Room (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-17 05:36:00)
    United today announced its latest United Economy® class innovation: a row of Economy Plus seats on its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft with extra elbow room and access to a shared table across an open middle seat.This new Economy Plus offering will be available for sale starting later this year. United expects to include this new Economy Plus option on its entire order of 50 A321XLRs and is exploring offering these types of seats on other aircraft types in the future.
  • Ramada by Wyndham İzmir Aliağa Earns Nomination for Türkiye’s Best MICE Hotel at World MICE Awards (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-17 05:32:31)
    Ramada by Wyndham İzmir Aliağa has been officially nominated for Türkiye’s Best MICE Hotel at the World MICE Awards 2026, one of the hospitality industry’s most prestigious international awards.For the team behind the hotel, this nomination is much more than international recognition. It is an important milestone on a journey defined by continuous learning, constant improvement and a genuine passion for hospitality.
  • MGallery Collection and Colossos SA announce a new hotel in Rhodes (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-17 05:29:22)
    MGallery Collection, Accor’s portfolio of distinctive boutique hotels, and Colossos SA, a leading family-owned hospitality company with a long-standing presence on the island, announce the signing of an agreement for the first MGallery Collection hotel in Rhodes. The new adults-only hotel is currently under construction and is scheduled to welcome its first guests in Spring 2027.
  • Wilderness Shumba and Busanga Bush Camp Reopen For 2026 Safari Season In Kafue (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-17 05:19:37)
    Wilderness Shumba and Busanga Bush Camp, set in the remote Busanga Plains of Kafue National Park – managed by African Parks in partnership with Zambia’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife – have reopened for the 2026 season. From June to October, guests once again have the opportunity to experience one of Africa’s last truly wild places, where unforgettable wildlife encounters bring the safari experience to life.Set within 28,000 hectares of private wilderness, the camps are surrounded by sweeping grasslands threaded with wetland channels. Known as the Plains of Plenty, the Busanga Plains are home to more than 55 species of large mammals, including 20 types of antelope, six big cat species, and over 500 bird species. Guests can expect sightings of oribi, roan and sable antelope, as well as iconic predators such as lion, wild dog and cheetah. The famous Busanga lion prides offer exciting game-viewing moments, while large pods of hippos are found in the waterways, adding to the magic of the landscape.
  • Great Plains Introduces New Experiences at Mara Expedition Camp, Kenya (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-17 05:10:51)
    Great Plains, the iconic eco-tourism company founded by National Geographic explorer-filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert, is delighted to unveil a collection of new guest experiences at Kenya’s Mara Expedition Camp for Summer 2026. From floating bubble baths and the camp’s much loved Singing Kitchen to guided cycling adventures and family-friendly experiences, the new additions encourage guests to discover the Maasai Mara in entirely new ways beyond the traditional safari drive.
  • The farthest livestream in history: How AWS helped NASA stream 4K from the Moon (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-17 05:01:29)
    In April 2026, four astronauts aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft launched on the Artemis II mission—the first crewed voyage to the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. An estimated 25 million people watched the launch live on NASA+, YouTube, and Prime Video, and days later, millions more tuned in to see something no one had ever witnessed: 4K video of astronauts rounding the Moon, transmitted to Earth by laser.You may have watched the launch, but what you didn’t see was everything behind it: the years of engineering work, the cloud-based computing that charted the flight path, and a network connection built in weeks between NASA and Australia to deliver 4K video to 25 million viewers.
  • DerbySoft and Travelodge Announce Strategic Partnership (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-17 04:57:05)
    DerbySoft, a leading provider of hospitality distribution, connectivity, and payments technology, today announced a strategic partnership with leading UK budget hotel chain Travelodge to expand the hotel brand’s direct distribution capabilities and improve access to its inventory across the corporate travel ecosystem.
  • Viking Announces Two New Oberammergau Voyages for 2030 (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-17 04:55:42)
    Viking® today announced two new river voyages for 2030 that will offer guests the rare opportunity to experience the world-renowned Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany, which has been performed every 10 years for nearly 400 years. With departure dates from May through to September 2030, the new Oberammergau, Innsbruck & the Rhine and Oberammergau with Salzburg itineraries both feature preferred seating at the 43rd Passion Play and allow guests time to explore Bavaria and destinations along the Rhine and Danube rivers, respectively.
  • Recently Ranked Among the World’s Most Beautiful Cities, Lisbon Unveils a Summer of Music Festivals (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-17 04:53:36)
    Recently ranked among the world’s most beautiful cities in Time Out’s 2026 survey*, Lisbon is inviting visitors to experience its vibrant cultural scene through a season of world-class music festivals. From internationally acclaimed jazz performances and innovative opera productions to contemporary music and the soulful sounds of UNESCO-recognised fado, the city’s event calendar offers plenty of reasons to plan a visit over the coming months.Ranked fifth globally, Lisbon has earned recognition for its year-round sunshine, colourful streets, historic neighbourhoods, iconic yellow trams, picturesque riverside setting and beautiful Atlantic coastline, further cementing its reputation as one of Europe’s most captivating city-break destinations. To help travellers experience the city at its most vibrant, Visit Lisboa highlights some of the must-visit music events taking place this summer.
  • CHIEF 2026 UNVEILS SESSION TOPICS TO PREPARE CARIBBEAN HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM FOR 2030 (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-17 04:50:43)
    The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has unveiled the program for the 2026 Caribbean Hospitality Industry and Exchange Forum (CHIEF), scheduled for November 16-18 at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lords Castle All-Inclusive Resort. As the Caribbean hospitality industry’s leading forum for professional development, CHIEF equips hospitality and tourism leaders with practical strategies, peer-to-peer insights, and innovative solutions to strengthen business performance and prepare for the future.
  • Edinburgh Airport Partners With Airportr To Bring Baggage-As-A-Service (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-17 04:47:33)
    Airportr, the travel technology company that pioneered Baggage-as-a-Service, allowing checked-in passengers to have their luggage collected from their home or hotel and delivered directly to their flight, has partnered with Edinburgh Airport and easyJet to bring the Airportr service to passengers departing from one of the UK’s busiest and fastest-growing airports.Available in time for the busy summer holidays, Airportr’s door-to-flight service gives easyJet customers travelling from Edinburgh the option to check in their luggage from home, skip bag drop on departure and, when travelling to Geneva, have their bags delivered from their flight to their final destination.
  • W Hotels Makes its Debut in Saudi Arabia with the Unveiling of W Riyadh - KAFD (Breaking Travel News 2026-07-17 04:46:44)
    W Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, has announced the opening of W Riyadh – KAFD, marking the brand’s debut in Saudi Arabia. Located in King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), the hotel serves as a social and dining destination, with detail-driven design, multiple dining venues, curated programming, and the brand’s signature Whatever/Whenever service.