Tourism News Page 229
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United Airlines winter holiday travel forecast and festive facts
UK Travel: United’s passenger bookings from London to the U.S. increased by 9% and from Edinburgh to the U.S. by 73% during the winter holiday travel season (December 18 – January 6) compared to last year. United increased service between London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare from twice daily to three-times daily flights during the winter period.
FITUR 2026 to confirm the strength and potential of the UK tourism market
FITUR 2026, the International Tourism Trade Fair, running from 21 to 25 January at IFEMA MADRID, will highlight the vitality of the UK tourism market and the close relationship it maintains with Spain, a destination to which British travellers give one of the highest ratings in Europe. In 2024, 18.4 million British tourists visited Spain, accounting for 19.6% of the total. By September 2025, arrivals were expected to reach 15.3 million, up 4% year-on-year, with spending projected at €19 billion, according to the Secretary of State for Tourism.
Marriott International Celebrates 100 Signings for City Express by Marriott in the U.S. and Canada
Marriott International, Inc. today announced it has reached 100 signed agreements for City Express by Marriott properties in the U.S. and Canada. With six properties that have opened so far in 2025, and four more slated to open by the end of the year, this achievement underscores the demand that is fueling the company’s expanding midscale portfolio
UK government unveils £750,000 funding boost to inspire the next generation of aviation talent
Young people across the UK are being encouraged to reach for the sky following a new £750,000 government funding announcement designed to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals and open up access to highly skilled careers across the sector.
hostAI reaches 5,000 properties as it scales AI-Powered direct distribution
hostAI, an artificial intelligence–based software company specializing in direct distribution for vacation rental managers, today announced that it has surpassed 5,000 active properties on its platform, a major milestone driven by the expansion of its integrations with property management systems (PMS).
GoNexus Group and Peregrino redefine customer journey efficiency
GoNexus Group, a leading experiences and mobility travel group, and Peregrino, a digital transformation consultancy that helps companies adopt and scale technology with measurable business impact, have announced breakthrough results after deploying their next-generation omnichannel and automation-driven service platform for six months. The performance metrics released today correspond to a 90-day continuous measurement period (August–October 2025) in which the solution operated at full scale. During this time, the platform handled 12,737 conversations and 120,322 messages, averaging 140 cases per day.
Experience-lead and agentic destination management emerge as key trends for 2026
The Data Appeal Company and Mabrian, both part of Almawave Group, unveil Travel Megatrends 2026, a comprehensive look at the behaviours, motivations and spending patterns transforming tourism across Europe and beyond. The report highlights 7 major megatrends, led by the rise of experiential tourism, directly shaping destination management strategies for 2026.
United Adds New Features to Award-Winning Mobile App Like Virtual Gate, Club Recommendation Tool
United today launched new features to its award-winning mobile app to save customers even more time and further improve the overall travel experience on the world’s largest airline*:
Princess Cruises Kicks Off “Pitch-Perfect Vacations” with Fleetwide Broadcast of FIFA World Cup 26™
Princess Cruises is kicking off summer 2026 with a winning play: the cruise line has secured rights from IMG to broadcast every match of the FIFA World Cup 26™ across all 17 ships in its fleet. Fans can now book their dream summer getaway without fear of missing a moment as their favorite team battles it out on the world’s biggest pitch.
Trinity Hills Valley, S.A. Signs Franchise Agreement with Marriott International
Trinity Hills Valley, S.A., the Panamanian land-owning entity affiliated with US-based developer TrinityHills Capital, today announced the signing of a franchise agreement with Marriott International, Inc. to develop and operate a Tribute Portfolio hotel and residences as part of a pioneering surf lagoon-anchored resort. This marks a significant milestone in bringing upscale, experiential hospitality to Panama’s emerging tourism landscape.
New Exciting Experiences Await Travelers in 2026 in Daytona Beach
The Daytona Beach area, known for its beautiful beaches, rich motorsports history and family-friendly attractions, will have new experiences, amenities and exhibits for visitors to enjoy in 2026. Whether it’s a first-time or returning visitor, there will be new coastal fun to discover in Daytona Beach. Here’s a look at some of the new developments within the destination:
Sands Resorts Macao to host the World’s Biggest Wedding Planners in 2026 at the DWP Congress
The Destination Wedding Planners (DWP) Congress, the world’s most influential B2B platform for destination weddings organised by QnA International, today announces its partnership with Sands Lifestyle Macao as the Host Hotel Partner for 2026, taking place from 22 to 24 April 2026 in the vibrant city of Macao. As the pioneers of the very first platform designed to unite the world’s most influential wedding planners, luxury brands, creative visionaries, and premium hospitality leaders, laying the foundation for the industry’s growth, over the last two decades the DWP Congress 2026 will be hosted in one of the world’s most iconic integrated resort destinations — Macao, a city shaped by Sands China’s cumulative investment exceeding MOP 134.5 billion.