Travel Industry News Page 220
Premier Inn signs MoU with Equitativa to accelerate GCC expansion
Premier Inn Middle East has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Equitativa Real Estate, an international holding company providing real estate funding and investment management capabilities, marking an important step in the brand’s next phase of growth across the GCC.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Earns Industry-First Five-Star Rating from Forbes Travel Guide
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection sets a new benchmark in luxury hospitality, becoming the first cruise brand to earn a Five-Star rating from Forbes Travel Guide. Ilma, the company’s second ultra-luxury yacht, receives the milestone distinction in the newly unveiled 2026 Star Awards, announced today by Forbes Travel Guide, the only global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas and cruise ships. Ilma now joins a distinguished group of global honorees showcased on ForbesTravelGuide.com.
The Ritz-Carlton x Kilometre Paris: Iconic Destinations, Reimagined in Handcrafted Travel Pieces
Drawing inspiration from sun-washed coastlines and resort escapes, the collaboration transforms the spirit of The Ritz-Carlton’s most iconic resorts into travel pieces designed to be carried, collected, and remembered. Guided by a shared passion for travel and a deep sense of place, The Ritz-Carlton announces a new collaboration with Kilometre Paris, the luxury accessories brand renowned for its hand-embroidered, destination-driven designs. The limited-edition capsule translates four iconic coastal resorts – The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel; The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara; The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, and The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami – into a colorful assortment of beach totes, bucket bags, and bandanas perfect for leisure travel.
Turkish Airlines carried 7.6 million passengers in January 2026
Turkish Airlines announced passenger and cargo traffic results for January, with 10% higher passenger capacity in terms of available seat kilometres compared to that of 2025. In January, the number of passengers was recorded as 7.6 million, and the total load factor was realised at 84%.
The Impact of Luxury Eco-Camps on Masai Mara Conservation
Most people picture a luxury safari as champagne on a sun deck, maybe a plunge pool overlooking golden grass. That's part of it, sure. But I didn't fully understand what was happening behind the scenes at these Masai Mara conservations until I spent a week bouncing between a high-end eco-camp in the Naboisho Conservancy and the main reserve. The difference wasn't just about comfort or fewer vehicles. It was about where the money actually goes.
The Bench launches Future Hospitality Summit Egypt
Aligned with Egypt’s Vision 2030 ambitions for tourism and investment, FHS Egypt, a new two-day market event will connect senior hospitality investment decision-makers to accelerate projects, partnerships and capital deployment
Robust growth in GCC outbound tourism drives increased Asian participation at ATM 2026
Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, which takes place at the Dubai World Trade Centre on 4-7 May, is projecting a significant increase in exhibitors from Asia-Pacific countries, underpinned by a strong 13.95% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in participation from Asian exhibitors over the 2024–2026 period.
Beyond Simplicity: Rethinking PMS Usability for Modern Hotels
In today’s hospitality landscape, a sleek, intuitive interface is no longer a differentiator. It’s a baseline for any property management system. Clean, minimal design helps staff learn quickly, streamline daily tasks, and reduce operational friction. But for hotels juggling complex workflows, multiple departments and interconnected systems, usability requires more than simple aesthetics. True efficiency comes from pairing simplicity with the depth needed to manage day-to-day realities of hotel operations.
Marriott International Delivers Record-Setting Expansion in Greater China Region in 2025
Marriott International, Inc., today announced that the company accelerated its expansion in Greater China in 2025 and signed a record-breaking total of over 200 deals throughout the year, representing 25% year-over-year growth in annual signings in the region. With a deal signed every two days or fewer, the company added more than 36,000 rooms to the regional pipeline in 2025. This robust momentum underscores Marriott’s continued growth and long-term focus on the Greater China market.
Ferrari’s Electric Renaissance: From Petrol Power to a New Design Era
For more than 75 years, Ferrari has defined performance through the visceral roar of a petrol engine — the V8s and V12s that became as synonymous with the brand as the Prancing Horse itself. Now, in one of the most significant transformations in its history, Ferrari is accelerating toward an electric future — and doing so with the creative vision of legendary designers Sir Jony Ive and Marc Newson.
Dubai tourism hits third record year with 19.59M visitors in 2025
Strategic partnerships, global marketing campaigns and major events contributed to Dubai welcoming 19.59 million international overnight visitors in 2025, marking a 5% increase compared to 18.72 million arrivals in 2024, according to data published by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), and a third successive year of record-setting figures.
WTTC warns that new UK tourism levies would dent growth, restrict jobs and reduce competitiveness
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the private sector in the travel & tourism industry, has cautioned against the introduction of new local visitor levies in England, warning that additional costs and fragmented local policies risk fewer jobs, as well as further weakening the UK’s competitiveness at a time when the sector’s growth is already lagging behind global recovery.