Organisations & Operators News Page 409
Etihad Goes Four Daily To Karachi
Etihad has further increased its flight frequencies to Karachi, Pakistan, with tickets now on sale. This expansion is part of the airline’s ongoing commitment to provide guests with more travel options and enhanced connectivity. From 01 October, 2025, Etihad will start flying four times a day on the Abu Dhabi – Karachi route, providing a total of 28 weekly nonstop services to Pakistan’s economic hub.
Airport Parking and Hotels (APH.com) Reveals the Airlines Going Paperless in 2025
From 3 November 2025, travellers flying with Ryanair will no longer be able to download and print a physical boarding pass. The airline will become the first low-cost carrier (we know of) to go fully digital moving to complete paperless boarding passes, check-in and gate access.
Grenada Chocolate Fest 2025 Wraps With Sweet Success and Bold Plans for 2026
The 12th annual Grenada Chocolate Fest has been heralded as a successful celebration of one of the island's most treasured crops—cocoa. The festival is very much a community driven event where local people and visitors came together to explore the rich world of Grenadian chocolate through an imaginative line-up of events that combined culture, education, gastronomy, wellness and pure chocolate fun.
Viking Announces 14 New Ocean Itineraries for 2026 and 2027
Viking® (www.viking.com) today announced that 14 new ocean itineraries exploring the Mediterranean, United Kingdom, Ireland and Scandinavia in 2026 and 2027 are now open for booking. Ranging from 15 to 36 days, each of the new voyages combines two or more of Viking's most popular itineraries to allow for more in-depth exploration.
AI- powered platform Hive empowers hotels to compete with OTAs data dominance
The roomangel Foundation, a pioneering nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing transparency and fairness in the hospitality industry, today announces the launch of Hive, an AI-powered, platform-agnostic tool designed to improve collaboration and data sharing across the industry. Hive provides a chat-based interface that helps hotels access real-time insights and make more informed decisions aims to help hotels reclaim control, optimize performance, and fight back against the data asymmetry that has long favored powerful intermediaries such as OTAs.
UrVenue and OpenTable Expand Integration
UrVenue, the leading booking technology provider for hospitality experiences, today announced an expanded partnership with OpenTable, a global leader in restaurant technology. Building on their successful 2021 integration – which unified dining reservations with resort activities – this expanded collaboration gives hotels the ability to offer guests, both those that are already on-property and with upcoming stays, priority access to premium OpenTable reservations directly through UrVenue’s Itinerary Builder as part of the pre-arrival journey. Guests can secure exclusive, high-demand restaurant bookings and curated dining events in advance, while hotel staff can also manage reservations on their behalf through UrVenue’s Experience Center, ensuring seamless, personalized service.
Tribute Portfolio Debuts in Buenos Aires with the Opening of Recoleta Grand
Tribute Portfolio, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, marks its debut in Buenos Aires with the opening of Recoleta Grand, Buenos Aires, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel. Located in the dynamic Recoleta district – known for its European charm and cultural richness – the property joins Tribute Portfolio’s growing family of characterful, independent hotels around the world.
Teamwork and Technology Turn Outdoor Experiences into Unforgettable Adventures
As summer travel trends shift, one truth remains: the more personalized and immersive the experience, the more likely guests are to return. In today’s uncertain marketplace, travelers are booking later and staying for shorter periods, often Thursday through Sunday rather than a full week. With rising costs and global events weighing on decision-making, guests are opting for quick getaways — and looking for meaningful experiences to make the most of them. Despite the uncertainty, outdoor adventure remains a strong draw. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, the U.S. outdoor recreational economy is worth $887 billion annually and according to CRR Hospitality, outdoor adventure tourism is projected to grow by 15.3% annually through 2033.
Rediscovering Culinary Roots with the Luxury Group by Marriott International
Following the success of last year’s inaugural campaign, the Luxury Group by Marriott International announces the return of the Luxury Dining Series, a multi-city regional gastronomic journey taking place from July to September across Asia Pacific. This year’s line-up of luxury hotels includes The St. Regis Osaka, JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa, JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort & Spa, The Ritz-Carlton, Perth, The St. Regis Singapore, The St. Regis Jakarta, and The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok. Each property will offer carefully curated culinary experiences prepared by Marriott International’s talented culinary and mixology professionals from across the world. Marriott Bonvoy members will also have the opportunity to bid on these exceptional dining events using their Marriott Bonvoy Moments loyalty points.
Emirates launches complimentary coach service for Economy Class passengers to and from Clark Interna
In a move to further enhance the travel experience for its Filipino passengers, Emirates will be introducing a new coach service exclusively for Economy Class customers flying to and from Clark International Airport (CRK) starting today. The complimentary service will connect Trinoma in Quezon City with Clark International Airport in Pampanga, offering a convenient and seamless transit option.
First Human-Looking AI Concierge Now Available
Hotel Communication Network (HCN), the world leader in guestroom tablets for hotels and resorts, is transforming the way operators are driving revenues and engaging with guests. Taking advantage of advances in AI technologies, HCN has developed an industry breakthrough by creating the first human-looking AI Concierge persona capable of addressing guests individually with full voice integration and providing voice-activated access to all guest services during their stay at HCN partner hotels. To make this technological achievement even more compelling, HCN’s new ad-supported revenue model makes the entire platform highly subsidized with a possible revenue share for hotels.
World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards and Institute of Tourism partner
The World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards and the Institute of Tourism have announced a new value-based partnership to advance responsible and sustainable tourism globally. The strategic agreement establishes a collaborative framework between the two organisations, with a shared mission to spotlight and celebrate best practices in sustainable travel and hospitality.