Spain’s Meliá Hotels International and Barceló Hotel Group have returned to the World Travel & Tourism Council alongside Uber. Their participation forms part of a broader membership expansion, with the organisation reporting 50 additions during 2026. Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental have also taken Executive Committee seats, strengthening luxury hospitality representation within the council’s leadership.
Grand Hyatt The Red Sea has opened on Saudi Arabia’s Shura Island, adding 430 rooms, suites and villas to the coastal destination. The resort combines holiday accommodation with extensive wellness facilities and major spaces for conferences, weddings and incentive travel. The opening makes it the second Hyatt-branded property at The Red Sea destination and the
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts plans to add more than 40 independent luxury hotels to Registry Collection Hotels by early 2027. The expansion follows a strategic partnership with HotelRez Hotels & Resorts, announced on 2 November 2026. The agreement includes properties in Thailand, Greece, Malta, Northern Ireland and Colombia. Participating hotels will retain their individual identities
Agoda has expanded its AI Travel Assistant to 21 markets, bringing conversational holiday planning and booking tools to travellers in the UAE. Announced on 30 October 2026, the rollout follows a limited mobile trial launched on 15 September. The feature allows users to discuss destinations, compare live prices and explore available accommodation within the same
China is broadening its tourism offering with robotics, artificial intelligence and industrial experiences that complement traditional sightseeing. Hangzhou has introduced organised technology routes, while Shenzhen offers examples of visitors exploring robots, drones and emerging transport services. Hangzhou’s programme, launched on 30 July 2026, introduced 20 technology attractions and 20 themed study routes. The initiative gives
Pegasus Airlines plans to launch three Uzbekistan routes from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, broadening international access beyond the capital, Tashkent. Bukhara flights are scheduled from 14 December 2026, followed by Andijan on 18 December and Termez on 1 March 2027. The Turkish low-cost carrier plans eight weekly departures across the three destinations once all services
British Airways has restored advance main-course selection through a limited trial for premium economy passengers flying from Heathrow to Las Vegas. The complimentary service allows eligible World Traveller Plus customers to choose their preferred dish before departure. Passengers can make selections through Manage My Booking from seven days before departure until 24 hours before take-off.
easyJet has launched direct Liverpool to Reykjavik flights, giving North West England travellers another gateway to Iceland’s winter attractions. The service operates twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays during the winter season. The connection brings volcanic scenery, geothermal bathing and Northern Lights holidays within easier reach of passengers departing from Liverpool John Lennon Airport. It
Jet Airways’ legal dispute with Boeing has renewed attention on unpaid ticket claims affecting Indian travel agents and former passengers. However, proceedings involving the aircraft manufacturer do not establish a refund timetable for customers or agencies. The airline’s liquidator, Satish Kumar Gupta, brought the appeal listed before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal on 3
Sydney Airport will introduce a new independent domestic lounge in early December 2026, expanding premium hospitality access before year-end travel peaks. The 113-seat facility will welcome departing Terminal 2 passengers regardless of their airline, ticket class or frequent flyer status. Developed with Plaza Premium Group, the Sydney Airport domestic lounge will offer paid entry through
Federal maritime regulators have intervened at PortMiami to enforce stringent maritime safety and environmental protocols, placing an immediate administrative detention order on the MSC Poesia prior to its scheduled voyage across the Caribbean and Central America. Officials from the United States Coast Guard Sector Miami initiated an expanded inspection of the foreign-flagged vessel to confirm
International passenger movement across coastal waters, oceanic corridors, and inland waterways has expanded at an unprecedented pace, establishing new benchmarks for the global tourism economy. Official sector evaluations and market intelligence releases from the Cruise Lines International Association confirm that maritime vacation demand continues to outpace broader travel trends, with global passenger tallies rising well
