Travel Industry News Page 100
THIRTY, FLIRTY AND FLYING HIGH: VIRGIN ATLANTIC MARKS MANCHESTER MILESTONE
Virgin Atlantic is celebrating a major milestone for its home in the North, as the airline marks thirty years of flying from Manchester Airport this week. Since Sir Richard Branson launched operations from Manchester on 17th May 1996 with services to Orlando, the Northern base has remained a key part of Virgin Atlantic’s UK network and to mark the occasion, the airline is excited to welcome a new A330-neo aircraft to its fleet. The aircraft, named Champagne Supernova after the iconic Oasis track, is set to carry the registration G-VMAN in a nod to the airline’s longstanding connection to the region. To celebrate the milestone, Virgin Atlantic will also host a customer activation at Manchester Airport on Monday 18th May, inviting travellers to join in the celebrations with a dedicated photo opportunity, signature treats and a themed gift giveaway.
HFTP Announces 2026 Hospitality Technology Honors
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) is pleased to recognize two champions of hospitality technology. Mary Gerdts will be inducted to the HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame, recognized for the development of game-changing, hospitality payment technology. Gerdts is the founder and CEO of two payment processing companies, POST Integrations, Inc. and EboCom, LLC. Bob Gilbert will be posthumously recognized with the HFTP Award of Merit, which recognizes individuals who have made a significant innovation or breakthrough that established a path for others in hospitality technology. Gilbert, was the president and CEO of HSMAI Americas for more than 30 years.
Data Appeal Becomes the World’s Largest Travel Intelligence Ecosystem for Tourism Destinations
The Data Appeal Company, part of Almawave / Almaviva Group, today unveiled its new brand framework that brings together their combined capabilities into a cohesive family of solutions, with Mabrian as its Tourism Destinations division. This step reflects the shared vision of building the world’s largest travel intelligence ecosystem for data-driven destination management.
Unforgettable Croatia launches 2027 season and Michelin Star add on
Unforgettable Croatia has launched its 2027 small-ship cruising programme, featuring 136 guaranteed departures. The specialist luxury operator will offer 12 cruise itineraries and nine cruise and land journeys during the season, taking place from May to October across six ships. Each cruise has a maximum of 18 cabins. Unforgettable Croatia has unveiled two new themed cruises as part of its recently launched 2027 programme.
Ramada Residences by Wyndham at Dubai Islands - a Q&A with Abhishek Jalan, CEO of Grovy Developers
This development will mark an important milestone for Grovy's growth. It will be our first entry into the branded residences sector and thus represents a significant strategic evolution for the company. BTN puts the questions to their CEO
RAY HOTEL BY CLOUD 7 APPOINTS MOHAMMAD TAHA AS GENERAL MANAGER
Global lifestyle hospitality leader Kerten Hospitality has announced the appointment of Mohammad Taha as General Manager of Ray Hotel by Cloud 7, bringing more than 25 years of international hospitality leadership experience to Kuwait’s newly launched lifestyle hotel in Mangaf.
LATEST TOURISM DATA SHOWS PALMA’S SUCCESSFUL DESEASONALISATION STRATEGY
Palma de Mallorca continues to strengthen its position as a leading year-round city break destination, with the latest tourism data highlighting the success of its long term deseasonalisation strategy driven by a rich and evolving cultural offering. The Balearic capital is increasingly establishing itself as a premier cosmopolitan city break within the Mediterranean, attracting culturally minded travellers beyond the traditional summer season. New figures reveal a clear shift in visitor behaviour, with significant growth recorded outside of the traditional peak summer months. In the early shoulder season, overnight stays by British visitors in Palma increased year on year by 13.64% in April 2025 and 11.48% in May 2025, demonstrating that the destination is successfully attracting visitors earlier in the year.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises® Partners with Flou to Deliver an Unrivalled Sleep Experience
Regent Seven Seas Cruises®, the world’s leading ultra-luxury cruise line, has partnered with Italian sleep specialists Flou to redefine rest at sea aboard the highly anticipated new ship, Seven Seas Prestige™, launching in December 2026. Uniting two brands defined by excellence and luxury, the partnership introduces Flou’s handcrafted Leonardo Sleep Systems to Seven Seas Prestige’s highest suite categories, culminating in a bespoke creation designed exclusively for the Skyview Regent Suite
AROYA Cruises Returns to the Mediterranean for a Second Summer Season
AROYA Cruises, the first Arabian cruise line, will return to the Mediterranean this summer for its second season in the region, building on the success of its 2025 debut and reinforcing its presence across regional and international markets. Galataport Istanbul will once again serve as AROYA’s Mediterranean homeport, with seven-night sailings across Türkiye, Greece and Egypt departing from one of the region’s most connected cities and offering guests a seamless gateway to the Eastern Mediterranean.
JA Resorts & Hotels Announces Strategic Enhancements Across Its Dubai Portfolio
JA Resorts & Hotels has shaped Dubai’s hospitality landscape for over four decades. The brand has built its reputation not on scale alone, but on properties that endure — places guests return to over time, from Dubai and around the world. As JA Resorts & Hotels prepares for the upcoming launch of its state-of-the-art Jebel Ali Sports & Shooting Club this summer, the brand is progressing a series of enhancements across its Dubai portfolio.
Vollebak’s Spaceshop Has Landed — and Retail May Never Look the Same Again
Forget flagships. Forget concept stores. Forget polite rails of neatly folded jackets under warm lighting. Vollebak has built a 1,000kg aluminium spacecraft-shop and sent it on tour.
Music & Events Professional Kim O’Brien Launches Til Sunrise Barbados
After two decades shaping some of the UK’s most recognisable live music environments, Kim O’Brien is evolving her work within the live music sector, expanding beyond large-scale festival systems into a new international hosted experience focused on intimate, music-led cultural connection.