Choose Chicago announced today that Kristen Reynolds, a highly respected leader in the travel and tourism industry, will serve as the organization’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective May 5. Reynolds joins Choose Chicago after an impactful tenure as President and CEO of Discover Long Island, where she spearheaded transformative growth in the region’s visitor economy.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has again emphasised the importance of harnessing emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), to drive innovation and resilience within the tourism sector. Speaking yesterday (April 2) at the George Washington University School of Business on the theme: Tourism Unleashed: AI, People, and the Future of Global Resilience, the tourism minister highlighted Jamaica’s strides in tourism innovation and the critical role of AI in shaping the sector’s future.

Finnair, Finland’s flag carrier and oneworld alliance member, has reclaimed the title of leading European airline to Japan this summer, as it underscores its commitment to Asia. The Nordic airline, known for connecting Europe and the Far East, has taken off with its new summer schedule, which now offers customers 25 weekly flights between its home hub, Helsinki, and Japan - more than any other European carrier.

Raffles Hotels & Resorts has announced plans to bring the storied brand to the highly coveted Lake Como region, marking Raffles’ first property in Italy

Icelandair has revealed surprising insights into how travellers feel about increased dependence on AI generated content when it comes to online travel listings, reviews and social posts. The study, conducted among 2,000 UK travellers, explores behaviour, trust and how digital content is impacting booking decisions. Over half (54%) of respondents expressed concerns about AI-generated or fake reviews when researching trips, and 44% noted they have become more wary of travel reviews due to AI and bots than previous years. As such, it's no surprise that a staggering 67% think any misleading, exaggerated or fake reviews of holiday destinations or hotels were written using AI.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites, in partnership with Cycas Hospitality, celebrates the opening of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sion, marking the debut of the brand in Switzerland. The hotel opening forms part of the region's largest urban development, Cour de Gare, which will create over 5,700 m2 of retail space, alongside offices, apartments, parking areas and a concert & conference centre.