Travel Industry Events News Page 40
The future of long haul travel: Air New Zealand's Economy Skynest™ on sale from May 2026
A new era of long haul travel is on the horizon as Air New Zealand's world-first innovation, the Economy Skynest™, will be available to book from May 18, 2026. It will operate onboard the airline's new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft from November. The game-changing concept gives travelers more choice, providing the opportunity for lie-flat rest in the sky regardless of the cabin they choose to fly. Initial services will operate between New York (JFK) and Auckland (AKL), redefining comfort on one of the world's longest routes.
Family Fun Summer in the Maldives: Eight Ways to Experience a Family Island Escape
The Maldives continues to capture the imagination of discerning travelers, where turquoise lagoons, white sand beaches, and private island living define the ultimate escape. Long associated with once-in-a-lifetime journeys, the destination is increasingly sought after for family-friendly Maldives vacations, where space, privacy, and shared experiences come together for meaningful time away. With this in mind, Marriott Bonvoy portfolio of resorts in the Maldives reintroduces its Family Fun Summer offer, inviting families, groups of friends, and couples traveling together to reconnect across its collection of private island resorts.
Capella Ubud Marks Eight Years With a Journey of Forest, Community and Firefly Conservation
This July, Capella Ubud, Bali marks eight years in Ubud's forested valley with Keliki, Our Home, a curated anniversary journey that unfolds over two nights, thoughtfully designed to immerse guests in the spirit of its home village through forest, community, and conservation.
VIONE PAROS RETURNS FOR ANOTHER SEASON OF EFFORTLESS, DESIGN LED SOPHISTICATION
Following its debut in 2025, Vione Paros returns for the 2026 season on May 10, unveiling a defining new culinary collaboration with Michelin-starred chef Luca Piscazzi. Introducing Pino by Luca Piscazzi at Vione Paros, the partnership marks a significant evolution of the hotel’s gastronomic identity, positioning Vione Paros at the forefront of refined, experience-led dining in the Cyclades.
World Food Travel Association Launches World Culinary Heritage Day
With globalization, industrial standardization, and shifting consumer habits placing traditional foodways under mounting pressure, the World Food Travel Association (WFTA) today launched World Culinary Heritage Day — an annual global observance, held each April 18, dedicated to celebrating and safeguarding the food traditions that define communities, identities, and destinations worldwide. The observance evolves from World Food Travel Day, which the WFTA has organized for eight years. The rebrand reflects a broader mission and greater global appeal — shifting the focus from culinary travel to culinary heritage itself — while making the day more immediately understood by communities, media, and policymakers worldwide.
Erling Haaland & Vinicius Júnior Front New Marriott Bonvoy and Visa ‘For Fans, Everywhere’ Campaign
As the FIFA World Cup™ returns to North America for the first time in more than three decades, Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s award‑winning travel platform, and Visa, a global leader in digital payments, today announced their joint global campaign: For Fans, Everywhere. Anchored by two iconic football stars known for their strong connection to fans, the campaign pays tribute to the passion of those who cross borders, never miss a kickoff, and live and breathe the beautiful game. Throughout the tournament, For Fans, Everywhere will unlock unparalleled match access and once‑in‑a‑lifetime experiences for Marriott Bonvoy members who are also Visa cardholders, bringing them closer than ever to the world’s most celebrated sporting event.
Short Stay Summit 2026 Returns to London as Regulation, AI and Innovation Reshape the Sector
The Short Stay Summit 2026 returns to Old Billingsgate in London, on 22nd April, bringing together the short-term rental industry’s key players to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping the sector’s next phase of growth. Hosted by the Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA), the summit stage will see speakers from key industry leaders to politicians setting the agenda. The exhibition hall will host over 1,300 delegates including executives from Airbnb, Expedia and Booking.com, alongside property managers, hosts and technology providers, for a day of insight, debate and industry announcements.
Majority of FIFA World Cup 2026 Host Cities See Double-Digit Increases in Flight Bookings
RateGain Travel Technologies Limited, a global leader in AI-powered SaaS solutions for the travel and hospitality industry, today launched the FIFA World Cup 2026 Market Pulse Dashboard, a first-of-its-kind, free resource giving travel brands continuous visibility into where travelers are going, how far in advance they're booking, and which markets are driving demand across all 16 World Cup host cities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Built on Sojern's travel intent data, the world's largest of its kind and now part of RateGain, data paints a more optimistic picture than recent media coverage suggests, showing sharp increases in real-time booking signals across flights and hotels. With the tournament now less than two months away—spanning host cities across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Emirates and Wesgro sign MoU to Stimulate Inbound Tourism to the Western Cape
On the sidelines of Africa’s World Travel Market (WTM), Emirates and Wesgro have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to drive inbound tourism and boost visitors to Cape Town and the Western Cape. The partnership underscores the airline’s longstanding commitment to the market through attracting visitors from across its global network supporting the province’s strategy of unlocking tourism growth.
Asia Pacific’s MICE Sector Defies Global Headwinds with Strong Growth
The Meetings Show Asia Pacific 2026 (TMS APAC) concluded its third edition on a high note, reinforcing Asia Pacific’s position as one of the world’s most dynamic and resilient markets for the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) industry. Held from 14–15 April 2026 at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore, the show demonstrated strong growth, with deeper regional participation and a significant uplift in business outcomes, underscoring the industry’s continued momentum amid a challenging global landscape.
Saint Lucia to Host First CTO Latin American Market Summit
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) announced that Saint Lucia will host the inaugural CTO Latin American Market Summit next year on May 5-6, 2027. The announcement was made this week at World Travel Market (WTM) Latin America in Brazil.
Denver Pride Expands to Month-Long Celebration Across the Mile High City
Denver Pride returns this June with an expanded, month-long celebration that emphasizes the city's deep and ongoing commitment to the LGBTQ+ community.