The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) proudly unveiled the winners of the 2025 Caribbean Hotel Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) Awards at the opening of the annual event, taking place in Barbados from November 16–18. The signature program recognizes outstanding leadership, innovation and best practices across the regional hospitality sector. The CHIEF Awards highlight excellence across five competitive categories: Environmental Sustainability, People (Staff) Development and Support, Innovative Sales and Marketing, Social Responsibility and Tech Transformation. This year’s winners and finalists represented 12 destinations, reflecting the depth and diversity of Caribbean hospitality leadership. Their submissions showcased purpose-driven work and highlighted some of the most forward-thinking initiatives in the industry.

Etihad Airways’ brand-new Airbus A321LR takes pride of place on static display at Dubai Airshow – the region’s only narrowbody aircraft featuring private First Suites. With extended range and significantly improved fuel efficiency, this next-generation aircraft serves routes from Abu Dhabi to destinations including Chiang Mai, Dusseldorf, Krabi, Phnom Penh, Phuket, Tunis and Zurich, delivering genuine long-haul luxury for short-and medium-haul sectors.

Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, today announced orders for 65 additional Boeing 777-9 aircraft, powered by GE 9X engines, worth US$ 38 billion at list prices, on the opening day of Dubai Airshow 2025. This takes the airline’s total orderbook with Boeing to 315 widebody aircraft, comprising 270 Boeing 777Xs, 10 Boeing 777 freighters, and 35 Boeing 787s; and its orderbook with GE Aerospace for GE9X engines to a total of 540 units including the 130 additional units signed today. This is a massive long-term commitment to US aerospace manufacturing, generating support for hundreds of thousands of high value manufacturing jobs in the US over the life of the programmes. Emirates’ latest agreement with Boeing also provides strong backing for Boeing’s feasibility study to develop the 777-10, a larger variant of its 777X family, with the airline signing up for options to convert its latest 777-9 order into the 777-10 or the 777-8.

Artificial intelligence isn’t just reshaping travel technology, it’s reshaping the way travel leaders think, work, and create. From using AI to communicate more clearly to embedding it into enterprise platforms that forecast demand and personalize experiences, executives across the industry are finding new ways to collaborate with machines. Some embrace AI as an everyday assistant; others approach it with caution, mindful of preserving human creativity and judgment. Yet all agree: the potential is enormous, and we’re only at the beginning of understanding how these tools will redefine travel, business, and leadership itself.

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Cabo San Lucas at Cabo Del Sol invites guests to set sail on CIAO, a new private yacht experience designed for resort guests. Further underscoring its dedication to crafting unforgettable moments, this luxurious offering is where breathtaking coastal views, attentive service, and the spirit of Baja unite to create a truly remarkable and luxurious escape. “Reflecting the resort’s La Buena Vida philosophy, CIAO brings the allure of our modern hacienda lifestyle onto the water,” says Richard Raab, General Manager of Four Seasons Resort Cabo Del Sol. “It’s a gateway for guests to uncover and appreciate Cabo’s coastline from a new perspective, where the region’s natural beauty meets the exceptional care and creativity that defines Four Seasons.”

Ciel Dubai Marina is now officially open within IHG’s Vignette Collection. Setting a new global benchmark as the world’s tallest hotel, the ambitious project – led by Dubai developer The First Group – underscores Vignette Collection’s vision to offer one-of-a-kind stays in destinations to remember. The architectural marvel spans 82 floors which collectively rise 377 meters above Dubai and is home to one of the world’s highest infinity pools.