Travel Industry News Page 372
Isle of Man crowned Top 3 UK island in Condé Nast Traveller 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards
Today, Condé Nast Traveller has revealed the results of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards, with the Isle of Man proudly ranked as the 3rd best island in the UK – a leap from eighth place last year, recognising the Island’s rising profile as a desirable visitor destination.
Saudi Arabia to host 26th UN Tourism General Assembly in November marking agency’s 50th year
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host the 26th session of the UN Tourism General Assembly from November 7 to 11. The session will take place under the theme “AI-Powered Tourism: Redefining the Future” and will mark the 50th anniversary of the United Nations’ specialized agency for tourism.
Inside Dubai: The Exciting Openings and Upcoming Experiences You Can’t Miss
Dubai welcomed 11.17 million international overnight visitors from January-July 2025, marking a 5% increase compared to January-July 2024. Adding to its appeal for international audiences, Dubai’s accommodation and attraction portfolios continue to evolve for the remainder of 2025 and into 2026, offering quality at every price point. As the year progresses, the city continues to evolve as a global destination, unveiling a wave of exciting new openings across hotels, dining, attractions and events. From record-breaking properties and innovative culinary concepts to immersive experiences and major festivals, the rest of 2025 and into 2026 promise fresh reasons to explore Dubai.
Jamaica Wins Big at World Travel Awards Caribbean & North America Gala 2025
Jamaica has secured several prestigious awards on the international stage with the destination winning 45 major awards at the 2025 World Travel Awards Caribbean & North America Gala Ceremony, held on October 4 in St. Lucia. Jamaica captured 29 regional awards and 16 national prizes. Jamaica was again named the Caribbean’s Leading Destination for the 19th consecutive year with the Jamaica Tourist Board winning the Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board award for the 17th year in a row. The country was also named the Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination 2025, with the Port of Ocho Rios being named the Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Port 2025 and the Port of Montego Bay being named the Caribbean’s Leading Home Port 2025. Jamaica was also named the Caribbean's Leading Family Travel Destination 2025.
World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards partners with Tourism Economics
The World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards has announced a strategic partnership with Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, to deliver data-driven insights and strategies that support a more sustainable future for global tourism. Through this collaboration, World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards and Tourism Economics will combine their expertise to deliver cutting-edge research, economic impact assessments, and actionable policy recommendations.
DerbySoft Launches Global Data Network for Flights with AirAsia as its First Partner
At the World Aviation Festival 2025, DerbySoft, an innovative global technology company dedicated to accelerating travel commerce, introduced its Global Data Network (GDN) for Flights — a next-generation distribution model designed to move flight distribution from centralized systems to a decentralized, API-first network. AirAsia Group (AirAsia) was announced as the first airline group to join the GDN.
World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards Partners with Tourism Economics
The World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards (WSTHA) has announced a strategic partnership with Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, to deliver data-driven insights and strategies that support a more sustainable future for global tourism.
Omio’s annual NowNext ‘25 report reveals a new era of intentional travel
Omio, the leading multi-modal booking platform, has today published its annual NowNext ‘25 report, painting a vivid picture of how global travel will continue to thrive in the coming year - from emotional drivers and generational biases, to trending destinations and evolving demands - albeit with a little more planning and greater intent across evolving traveller types. Omio has commissioned YouGov, the leading research institute, to conduct an omnibus survey of over 10,555 people worldwide: Italy, Spain, Germany, the UK, the US, Brazil, Japan, and Australia. The report is based on those who may take a holiday in the next 12 months (excluding those who said ‘not at all likely’). Additionally, Omio user data is added to the findings.
Boutique Style, Budget Sensibility: Introducing Dazzler Select by Wyndham
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest hotel franchising company, today launched Dazzler Select by Wyndham, a new franchise offering designed for independent hoteliers in the economy lifestyle space. An extension of its boutique-inspired Dazzler® by Wyndham brand, Dazzler Select empowers owners to preserve the individuality, branding, and character of their hotels while unlocking the benefits of Wyndham's vast scale—including access to its award-winning Wyndham Rewards® loyalty program, global distribution, advanced technology, and dedicated sales and marketing support.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN UNVEILS THE NEW LEGEND OF THE SEAS WITH NEXT-LEVEL FAMILY EXPERIENCES
Royal Caribbean is introducing the family time of a lifetime on Legend of the Seas* with more adventure than ever before. The boldest vacation to visit the world's top destinations in Europe and the Southern Caribbean, Legend will deliver a lineup of unrivaled experiences, including thrills and chill, the most dining at sea with 28 options, all-new nightlife and entertainment, and more ways for families and vacationers to make lifelong memories.
Waterford Hotel Group Expands Portfolio with New Management Contracts
Waterford Hotel Group, a national leader in hospitality management, today announced the addition of two distinguished properties to its growing portfolio: the Sheraton Flowood The Refuge Hotel & Conference Center in Flowood, Mississippi, and the Maison Dupuy Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana. The new contracts mark two exciting milestones for the company: the Sheraton Flowood is Waterford's first managed property in Mississippi, and the Maison Dupuy becomes the sixth boutique hotel in New Orleans to join Waterford's portfolio this year.
Sabre Direct Pay introduces integrated chargeback management service for the travel industry
Sabre Direct Pay, the travel payments division of Sabre Corporation, is introducing a new service designed to help travel companies simplify and scale chargebacks, enabling dispute resolution more efficiently across both issuing and acquiring channels.