Travel Industry News Page 324
Small Luxury Hotels of the World debuts Call-to-Action Report inspiring action from boutique hotels
Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ (SLH), renowned for its independently minded portfolio of boutique properties, has launched a sustainability Call-to-Action (CTA) Report. Marking the 35th anniversary of the brand in 2025, SLH’s version of a CTA report looks at the past, present and future of small luxury hotels and sustainability. The report shares the inside track of the SLH journey to date, valuable insights learned along the way from its standout properties and impactful partnerships, and outlines commitments to come. The report, SLH’s largest call to action yet, is a continuation of an ethos that has always kept sustainable principles front of mind, championing small, independent and family-owned hotels since its inception. By nature of being anti-chain and anti-same, the luxury escapes in the portfolio have been operating in sustainable, mindful ways for decades, with hero hotels now exemplified in SLH’s Considerate Collection.
MotoGP Valencia Finale to Draw 150,000 Fans and Generate €35.9 Million in Tourism Impact
As the 2025 MotoGP Championship races toward its thrilling conclusion at the Gran Premio de la Comunitat Valenciana, Mabrian and The Data Appeal Company – Almawave Group have analysed the expected tourism impact of the final weekend of the championship, to be held at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Cheste, near Valencia (Spain). The analysis estimates a tourism-related economic impact of €35.9 million for Valencian Community region.
RLA GLOBAL 2025 MID-YEAR WELLNESS REAL ESTATE REPORT
Wellness hotels demonstrated remarkable stability amid economic pressures in January-June 2025, according to RLA Global’s 2025 Mid-Year Wellness Real Estate Report, published in partnership with P&L benchmarking firm HotStats that analyses the performance of over 12,000 properties worldwide. Several of the top 10 best-performing countries – identified in the report for the first time – had double-digit growth in wellness membership and spa treatments. Another new report section, the market spotlight, revealed interesting dynamics in leased-out wellness models in the UAE.
Dubai International Soars to World’s Busiest Airport as DXB Overtakes Atlanta
Dubai International Airport (DXB) has officially become the busiest airport in the world in 2025, overtaking Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) for the first time. The achievement marks a defining moment in global aviation and reflects Dubai’s long-term investment in innovation, connectivity, and passenger experience. Speaking at the TOURISE Summit in Riyadh, Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said the future of aviation is no longer defined solely by size or scale but by emotion and experience. “The future of travel isn’t just about moving people faster, it’s about how they feel along the way,” he noted. “From biometric boarding to frictionless terminals, we’re creating airports where speed, culture, and comfort converge.”
Sir Rocco Forte: Gulf Partnerships Powering New Era of Global Growth
British hotelier Sir Rocco Forte has credited the Gulf’s long-term investment vision and rapid decision-making culture as key drivers behind the global expansion of Rocco Forte Hotels, as UK businesses increasingly turn abroad for growth and capital. Forte described his company’s alliance with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) as “transformational,” strengthening the group’s balance sheet and elevating its international profile. “The PIF are very good people to work with. They take a long-term, strategic view. They saw potential in us not for short-term returns but for sustained global growth,” he said.
Fastjet and WorldTicket by GO7 forge strategic partnership to expand global distribution
Fastjet, the Zimbabwean multi-award-winning regional airline, and WorldTicket by GO7, a leading global airline distribution solutions provider, today announced a strategic partnership to enhance ticketing, connectivity, and international visibility across Southern Africa. Through this collaboration, fastjet’s flights are now available for booking via WorldTicket’s W2-365 platform, giving travel agents worldwide access to the airline’s domestic and regional services. The partnership enables fastjet to grow international sales and connectivity without the need for traditional BSP membership or complex GDS infrastructure.
Marriott Bonvoy Unlocks Longest Cyber Week Stay Window Ever
Marriott Bonvoy® is extending the holiday cheer this year with its most celebrated Cyber Week Sale yet. For the first time, members can stay from November 30, 2025, through February 22, 2026, the longest stay window in the sale’s history, and enjoy 25% off when booking through the Marriott Bonvoy App. That means more ski weekends, more beach escapes, more city retreats, and more time to share the joy of travel with family and friends.
Rua Al Madinah Holding Signs $165M Hospitality Deals to Boost Tourism
Rua Al Madinah Holding, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has announced the signing of two landmark hospitality agreements worth a combined USD 165 million during the inaugural TOURISE Global Tourism Forum in Riyadh. The deals, made with IHG Hotels & Resorts and Adeera Hospitality Management, mark a significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of Madinah’s tourism and hospitality landscape.
Pullman Hotels & Resorts unveils its global brand transformation at TOURISE
At the inaugural TOURISE Summit in Riyadh, Pullman Hotels & Resorts, part of Accor’s premium portfolio, unveiled a bold global brand transformation that redefines its vision for the future of travel and hospitality. The announcement took place before an international audience of tourism leaders and innovators, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s ambition to position itself at the forefront of global tourism innovation.
Red Sea Global announces the opening of AMAALA: The world’s new coastal lifestyle destination
With spectacular resorts, an exclusive yacht club, and world-leading marine life institute, RSG’s latest destination sets new global standards for holistic wellness and environmental stewardship
Seven Legends: A New Era of Ultra-Luxury Hospitality Unveiled at TOURISE Riyadh
During the prestigious TOURISE Global Tourism Forum in Riyadh, AMEK Group’s Founders and Co-CEOs officially unveiled Seven Legends, a groundbreaking ultra-luxury hospitality brand redefining the boundaries of exclusivity and experience.
TOURISE announces USD 113BN in portfolio investments to accelerate the future of tourism
TOURISE, the bold global platform shaping a new horizon for tourism, announced today that it has catalyzed investment portfolios totaling USD 113BN at the inaugural TOURISE Summit in Riyadh. The milestone reflects TOURISE’s mission to unlock high‑value deal flow by convening public and private sector leaders across tourism, technology, investment, and sustainability to set a shared roadmap for the next 50 years of global tourism.