Travel Industry Events News Page 36
Paris named Official Host Destination for World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2026
Paris has been named Official Host Destination for the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2026, with the Gala Ceremony to take place in the French capital on 9 December 2026 as the culmination of the two-day World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance Summit.
JA Resorts & Hotels Builds on the UAE’s Growing Appetite for Active and Group Experiences
As a UAE-born brand shaped by authentic hospitality and immersive experiences, JA Resorts & Hotels continues to evolve alongside the nation it calls home. Across the country, time is increasingly spent in ways that feel shared and intentional, with community-led and active experiences taking quiet precedence, a shift JA has long been part of through its distinctive blend of world-class hospitality and considered lifestyle experiences. Home to JA Palm Tree Court, JA Beach Hotel, and JA Lake View Hotel, the resort reflects how modern residents choose to stay, play, and unwind.
World Cup 2026: Rising Demand Highlights Uneven Growth Across Host Destinations
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is already leaving its mark on global travel, with international interest climbing across the United States, Canada, and Mexico—but not at the same pace. New analysis from Data Appeal and Mabrian (Almawave-Almaviva Group), in collaboration with PredictHQ— the leader in real-world context for AI and forecasting—shows that while demand is clearly building, converting that interest into arrivals will depend on air connectivity, domestic travel momentum, and how effectively destinations prepare for peak periods.
HITEC 2026 Showcases Unmatched Hospitality Tech Variety as Exhibit Floor Space Sells Out
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) has announced that exhibit floor space for the 2026 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®) is officially sold out, with more than 360 companies exhibiting across 83,000 net sq. ft. of exhibit space. With expanded exhibit floor space this year, attendees can explore a broad mix of companies and dive into dozens of technology categories and solution options. The HITEC 2026 exhibit hall will be open June 16–18, 2026, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio with more than 5,800 attendees expected. The event remains the world’s largest and longest-running hospitality technology conference and exhibition.
Anantara Chiang Mai Resort Unveils The Mae On – Mae Ping Atelier Afternoon Tea
Anantara Chiang Mai Resort introduces The Mae On – Mae Ping Atelier Afternoon Tea, a refined culinary journey crafted in collaboration with Skugga Estate, celebrating single-origin cacao grown in Mae On, located approximately 40 minutes east of Chiang Mai city. Rooted in the timeless British afternoon tea ritual, the experience draws inspiration from the resort’s heritage as the former British Consulate. Presented with contemporary finesse, the collection reinterprets tradition through a distinctly Northern Thai lens, where local terroir, artistry and flavour come together in harmonious balance.
World Gourmet Festival Returns to Bangkok with “The World of Flavours”
The celebrated World Gourmet Festival returns to Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel from 29 September to 4 October, inviting guests to embark on an extraordinary culinary journey under this year’s theme, “The World of Flavours.” Renowned as one of Asia’s premier gastronomic events, the festival will bring together an exceptional collective of internationally acclaimed chefs, regional talents, and leading local culinary figures. Complementing this global lineup, chefs from Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel will also be featured across select experiences, adding further depth to the program.
WIZZ AIR MARKS ONE YEAR OF CUSTOMER FIRST COMPASS WITH EXTENSIVE NETWORK EXPANSION
Wizz Air today provided a one-year update on its €14 billion Customer First Compass transformation plan, highlighting a year of strong operational performance, continued network expansion and new customer-focused innovations. Over the past 12 months, the airline has maintained an average completion rate of 99.5%1 while continuing to scale its operations, operating 7% more flights than the same period last year. Wizz Air now operates a fleet of 262 aircraft, strengthening its position as one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the industry2.
The RuMa Hotel and Residences is launching The Kuala Lumpur Escape
The RuMa Hotel and Residences, a one MICHELIN Key awarded five-star property, introduces “The Kuala Lumpur Escape,” a thoughtfully curated stay experience that invites residents of ASEAN countries to step away from the everyday and rediscover Kuala Lumpur through a lens of calm, comfort, and understated luxury. Crafted for the discerning regional traveller, The Kuala Lumpur Escape blends Kuala Lumpur’s energy with quiet luxury and culturally rooted experiences. Nestled in the heart of the city, The RuMa, whose name derives from the Malay word “rumah”, meaning home, is a tranquil sanctuary where every detail is meticulously considered to evoke the feeling of a private residence.
China Ready Workshop launched at WTM Africa 2026
China Ready Workshop, a sold-out, two-hour premium paid training session was held on 15 April at WTM Africa 2026 in Cape Town, marking the first time the workshop has been staged in South Africa. The program was partnership between CBISN and WTM Africa. Attendance reflected the breadth of the industry, with registered participants spanning hotels, DMCs, attractions, wineries, transportation providers, MICE operators and luxury travel. Senior management from several tourism boards were also present.
The City of Cologne Congratulates Lufthansa on Its Anniversary
Last Thursday evening in Cologne, numerous guests from the worlds of politics, the aviation industry, local society, and sports gathered for a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the first Lufthansa. The Mayor of Cologne had hosted a reception at the Historic City Hall. Cologne Mayor Torsten Burmester: “Cologne is proud to have played a major role in Lufthansa’s corporate history since World War II. Cologne is growing as an aviation hub, because in addition to being home to the headquarters of EASA and the DLR, as well as the prospect of a European space hub, Cologne/Bonn Airport is the cargo hub of Western Europe. I hope that the relationship between Cologne and Lufthansa will intensify again even beyond this anniversary year. I therefore congratulate all Lufthansa employees from the bottom of my heart on the company’s 100th anniversary.”
Egypt Leads Record African Hotel Boom as Pipeline grows by 35.5%
Africa's chain hotel development pipeline has reached a record high of 675 hotels and 123,846 rooms as of early 2026, representing an 18.6% increase year-on-year, according to the 18th annual Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa report published by W Hospitality Group. At the heart of this surge is Egypt, the continent's undisputed hotel development powerhouse with 185 planned hotels and 45,984 rooms, representing 37.1% of the entire African pipeline. North Africa as a whole now commands 50% of all pipeline rooms across the continent, with its pipeline growing 27% year-on-year - well over double the 11% growth recorded in sub-Saharan Africa. The North African pipeline stands at 284 hotels and 62,630 rooms, drawing from four active development markets: Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. There is no current development pipeline in Libya.
Dubai’s Hotel Community Unites Behind GCC Resident Offer Push to Drive Regional Travel Demand
Dubai’s hospitality community is mobilising behind a coordinated effort to strengthen GCC resident offers across the city’s hotels, restaurants, attractions and tourism experiences. This industry-led initiative brings together hospitality partners to align, refresh, and amplify existing GCC and UAE resident offers into a unified, market-wide push, timed to upcoming peak travel periods, school holidays, and the summer season. The Dubai Hotel Group (DHG) is supporting this effort across its members and wider UAE industry partners, encouraging broad participation and alignment across the sector.