Tourism News Page 32
Few Are Smiling About the Friendly Skies
With the summer travel season approaching, American air travelers are preparing for the most stressful airport experience in recent memory. According to a new survey commissioned by Ship&Play, a door-to-door luggage and gear shipping company, travelers plan to arrive nearly two hours earlier than usual for their summer flights, dread standing in long lines, and brace for mounting fees for checked bags.
Emirates Palace, LEAD Development, and Mandarin Oriental unveil plans for 35 private residences
Emirates Palace Company (EPCO), together with LEAD Development and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, today announced Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions, Abu Dhabi, a limited collection of thirty-five uniquely designed private residences located within the grounds of Emirates Palace. The development marks the first-time private ownership has been introduced within one of the UAE’s most historically and institutionally significant destinations. Completion is anticipated in 2029.
Six Senses Joins the UNEP and UN Tourism “Recipe of Change”
Six Senses has joined Recipe of Change, a global initiative convened by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN Tourism to unite the tourism sector in a shared commitment to halve food waste by 2030. A living expression of the brand’s sustainable ethos and Eat With Six Senses philosophy, the engagement sees Six Senses share its long-learned operational and behavioral solutions through open conversations with guests and industry peers alike to address the near one-third of all food produced globally that is never eaten*.
CTO to Launch Scholarship Fund for Caribbean Women in Tourism
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) will launch a new scholarship fund dedicated to empowering the next generation of Caribbean women in tourism at its Caribbean Women in Tourism Leadership Dinner & Awards on June 1. Titled “From Her to Her: From Today’s Female Leaders to Tomorrow’s Tourism Stars,” the program will provide annual support for a promising female student from the Caribbean pursuing studies and a career in tourism. All proceeds from the June 1 event will directly fund the scholarship through the CTO Foundation.
point.me Launches Travel Hub to Help Fans Find Award Flights and Experiences for World Cup
Going to the 2026 World Cup may feel increasingly out of reach, but point.me is opening a new way in. point.me, an award flight search and loyalty platform for travelers, has launched a travel hub to help fans deal with rising prices and limited availability by finding flights with points and unlocking match tickets and experiences.
WTM Spotlight Riyadh to accelerate growth of the Kingdom’s rapidly growing MICE industry
As Saudi Arabia advances its Vision 2030 economic diversification agenda, the Kingdom’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry is emerging as one of the fastest-growing segments within its tourism ecosystem. Against this backdrop, WTM Spotlight Riyadh will serve as a global platform to showcase the country’s expanding capacity to host world-class business events, bringing and connecting international planners with opportunities across the Kingdom. According to Mordor Intelligence, Saudi Arabia’s MICE market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 9.82% through to 2031, reaching US$5.65 billion, reflecting the Kingdom’s substantial investment in venues, aviation, hospitality, and supporting infrastructure.
New ticket categories and more ways to experience the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
The F1 season has resumed and the championship is gaining momentum again ahead of its December finale at Yas Marina Circuit. With anticipation building for what could be another decisive showdown, the Formula 1® Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has expanded its ticket offering with the premium 16/360 experience now on sale and a new three-day Abu Dhabi Hill ticket available from AED 995. Further ticket categories and additional hospitality options will be announced in the coming weeks.
CABOT HIGHLANDS CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING OF TOM DOAK-DESIGNED OLD PETTY
Cabot, global developer and operator of luxury golf destinations, today announces the grand opening of Old Petty, its highly anticipated second course at Cabot Highlands in the heart of the Scottish Highlands.
Moldova Celebrates 25 Years of National Wine Day
The Republic of Moldova will mark the 25th anniversary of National Wine Day under the slogan "United by Wine" on 3–4 October 2026 in Chișinău, celebrating a milestone that reflects the country's transformation into an increasingly recognized player in the global wine industry. As one of the few countries in the world to dedicate a national holiday to wine, Moldova has turned National Wine Day into a major cultural and tourism event, attracting thousands of visitors annually and showcasing the evolution of its wine sector on the international stage.
Sun-Soaked Greek Escapes for Every Generation with H Hotels Collection
As UK travellers increasingly move away from long-haul travel amid ongoing global uncertainty Greece stands out as a closer-to-home option, offering consistent sunshine, accessible travel, and a strong sense of escapism. H Hotels Collection a family-run group of hotels in Rhodes and Athens, has recently renovated several of their hotels across the portfolio offering refurbished rooms, enhanced dining concepts and refreshed leisure facilities, ensuring a more elevated and contemporary guest experience.
Jamaica to Host 2nd CTO Air Connectivity Summit Next February
Jamaica will host the second annual Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Air Connectivity Summit in Kingston on Feb. 23, 2027, building on the success of this year’s inaugural event in Bermuda and aiming to advance regional air travel amid ongoing global challenges. Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett made the announcement while speaking at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Antigua on Thursday.
World first: CHTA Marketplace goes virtual
Virtual World Internet, https://www.virtualworldinternet.com/ has created the first immersive digital twin of Caribbean Travel Marketplace, opening the region’s flagship travel trade event to a global audience 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For the first time in its 44-year history, Caribbean Travel Marketplace can now be experienced virtually.