Breaking Travel News

Organisations & Operators News Page 56

The Origins of the Airline Alliance: How Three Rival Networks Redefined Global Aviation

The Origins of the Airline Alliance: How Three Rival Networks Redefined Global Aviation

Most airline passengers interact with an alliance before they realise one exists. The lounge access waiting at the other end of a long-haul flight. The frequent-flyer miles earned on a carrier they have never flown before. The ability to check baggage in London and collect it in Sydney despite travelling on multiple airlines with different owners, different liveries and different national identities. Today these experiences feel routine. In the late 1990s they represented one of the most ambitious experiments the aviation industry had ever attempted.

Aviation Leaders Gather in Rio de Janeiro for IATA’s 82nd AGM

Aviation Leaders Gather in Rio de Janeiro for IATA’s 82nd AGM

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that leaders of the global aviation industry are gathering in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the 82nd IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit (WATS) on 6-8 June 2026. The last AGM to be held in South America was in 1999, also in Rio de Janeiro. This marked the formal introduction of the World Air Transport Summit format, recognizing the IATA AGM as the leading industry platform for high-level debate on critical issues surrounding aviation.

Raven launches the Customer Growth Index at the IATA AGM

Raven launches the Customer Growth Index at the IATA AGM

Raven, the aviation growth specialists, today launched the Customer Growth Index (CGI) at the 82nd IATA Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro: a single, comparable rating of the digital experience that wins or loses airline bookings. The CGI scores carriers on four measures of airlines’ digital estates - speed, accessibility, booking flow and AI findability - and ranks each one against a bespoke competitive set matched by both business model and geography. In practice, this means a low-cost carrier is judged against comparable low-cost carriers in the same region rather than against a long-haul flag carrier or an operator in another market.

CTO Honors Journalistic Excellence at Annual Caribbean Media Awards in New York

CTO Honors Journalistic Excellence at Annual Caribbean Media Awards in New York

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) celebrated leading storytellers, broadcasters and digital creators from the U.S. and Caribbean during the annual Caribbean Media Awards Luncheon, a signature event of Caribbean Week in New York. Sponsored by The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, the luncheon honored outstanding journalism and content creation that showcase the Caribbean's people, culture, environment and evolving tourism landscape.

Caribbean Week and the Emergence of a New Caribbean Tourism Agenda

Caribbean Week and the Emergence of a New Caribbean Tourism Agenda

My first Caribbean Week in New York came with a degree of curiosity. Over the past year, I have covered many of the defining gatherings in global travel, from the WTTC Global Summit in Rome, the UN Tourism General Assembly and TOURISE in Riyadh, FITUR in Madrid and ITB Berlin, to ILTM Africa and WTM Africa in Cape Town, ITB China in Shanghai, Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Antigua & Barbuda and the IATA Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro. Against that backdrop, I arrived wanting to understand why Caribbean Week continues to hold such an important place in the region’s tourism calendar.

From Pitch to Paradise: Football Fever Puts Cape Verde's Islands in the Spotlight

From Pitch to Paradise: Football Fever Puts Cape Verde's Islands in the Spotlight

Cape Verde's growing visibility on the international football stage, including recent success and qualification for the FIFA World Cup, is driving fresh interest in the Atlantic nation as a year-round holiday choice, according to UK specialist operator Cape Verde Experience. With increased global attention on the islands the operator says more travellers are looking beyond Cape Verde's well-known beach offering and discover its wider appeal, including volcanic landscapes, Creole culture, live music, hiking and island-hopping experiences.

Atout France Adds Six New Palace Hotels to Its National Collection

Atout France Adds Six New Palace Hotels to Its National Collection

On 2 June, Atout France was pleased to unveil the 2026 collection of France's Palace hotels, an exclusive selection of properties that embody the excellence of French expertise in hospitality. This prestigious distinction, above five star, was re-awarded for the first time in seven years. Recognized for the unique experiences they offer their guests, these flagship establishments of French hospitality now total 33, including six new additions for 2026.

Icelandair Selects Successful Candidate for Unconventional Photographer Role

Icelandair Selects Successful Candidate for Unconventional Photographer Role

Icelandair, Iceland's national carrier, is proud to announce the selected candidate in its viral quest to find the world's worst photographer, ready to become the unexpected name behind a new global ad campaign. Icelandair launched this unconventional recruitment drive after discovering that many people believe images of Iceland look "too good to be true." By championing imperfect photography – whether blurry, poorly composed, or poorly lit – Icelandair aims to prove that Iceland's natural beauty is so breathtaking it transcends technical photographic prowess. No filters. No AI trickery. Just raw, authentic moments that remind us why Iceland actually deserves all the hype.

Villa Argentina and Villa Orsula Reopen in Dubrovnik Following Landmark Transformation

Villa Argentina and Villa Orsula Reopen in Dubrovnik Following Landmark Transformation

Adriatic Luxury Hotels has announced the reopening of Villa Argentina and Villa Orsula, welcoming guests from August 2026 following the transformation of two of the city's most recognisable coastal properties. Positioned beside Dubrovnik's historic city walls and overlooking Lokrum Island, the Adriatic and the Old Town, the neighbouring hotels return with renewed interiors, expanded outdoor spaces and a reconfigured layout designed to maximise light, views and privacy.

MGM Resorts Sets Ultimate Summer Stage for Spectacle, Sports and Sun in Las Vegas

MGM Resorts Sets Ultimate Summer Stage for Spectacle, Sports and Sun in Las Vegas

MGM Resorts International is turning up the heat on summer travel with a lineup of vacation deals, high-energy entertainment and destination-wide events across its Las Vegas properties. From poolside fun and major sports event-viewing to patriotic celebrations and vacation packages, guests can live it up with a season-long slate of offerings designed for the ultimate escape.