Faithful to a heritage shaped by innovation and the French art of living, Orient Express continues its vision of exceptional travel and expands its horizons once more. After an initial season of sailing planned through the Mediterranean and the Caribbean in 2026, Orient Express Corinthian, the world’s largest sailing yacht, will welcome her sister-yacht, Orient Express Olympian, in 2027. Together, they will unveil a new collection of itineraries. As with previous journeys, each route will follow the most favourable winds, reducing environmental impact while offering a distinctive maritime experience.

WTTC has unanimously approved Madrid as its new global office after a strategic review, aiming to strengthen leadership through deeper member engagement, stronger advocacy, better access to global talent, and improved efficiency.

Following a wave of UK media reports warning of rising bed bug infestations as Christmas travel accelerates, hospitality experts say the coverage highlights a broader, travel-driven reality that hotels can no longer address through one-off responses alone. The warnings come as travel volumes reach historical highs. According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, aviation is on track for the busiest Christmas travel period on record, following a record-breaking summer, significantly increasing the movement of passengers, luggage, and personal belongings across destinations nationwide.

Just in time for the start of the anniversary year, the historic aircraft have been completed! The Junkers Ju 52 and Lockheed L-1649A Super Star have now been finally accepted at “Lufthansa Group Hangar One.” This means that the two central exhibits, which will soon be on display in the new conference and visitor center, are now complete. Over the past few months, the aircraft were delivered in individual parts by heavy transporters and have since been reassembled with great attention to detail in their new home near Frankfurt Airport.

For greater efficiency and lower CO₂ emissions: Lufthansa Group is retrofitting its existing Airbus A320 fleet to optimize flight routes. Starting in 2026, 134 Airbus A320s will be equipped with the FANS-C digital communication system. The ADS-C EPP (Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Contract Extended Projected Profile) technology automatically transmits 4D flight path information – i.e., data on position, altitude, direction, and time – to air traffic control in real time. This allows flight routes to be better adapted to actual conditions in the air. The result: more fuel-efficient flight routes, lower CO₂ emissions, and greater punctuality.

Wellness culture continues to impact in 2026, with three trends leaning into this overarching movement. Time loses all meaning, with almost 1 in 5 UK travellers ignoring the clock entirely on holiday, choosing to eat, sleep and explore whenever they choose. Meanwhile body-positivity goes global, with 31% of UK adults reporting that body-positive experiences are more socially acceptable now than a decade ago.¹