Tourism News Page 267
Liwa International Festival 2026: Abu Dhabi’s Winter Festival in the Heart of Al Dhafra Region
‘The Desert’s Grand Stage’, the Liwa International Festival, will return from 12 December 2025 to 3 January 2026, bringing 23 days of culture, adventure, motorsports, music, and family fun to the golden dunes of the Al Dhafra region.
MGM Grand Completes $300 Million Room and Suite Remodel, Welcoming New Era for Iconic Resort
Marking a bold new chapter in Las Vegas hospitality, MGM Grand Hotel & Casino unveils an entirely new collection of 3,969 rooms and suites in its main tower, blending sleek contemporary design with exceptional comfort. The $300 million transformation features sophisticated interiors inspired by the glamour and energy of the disco era, embracing the hotel’s vibrant legacy as an icon of entertainment. Guests can now book the remodeled accommodations, which complement MGM Grand’s innovative lineup of new dining and entertainment offerings.
Holland America Line Unveils Exclusive Tulip to Celebrate Dutch Heritage and Timeless Traditions
Holland America Line is proud to announce the creation of a new and exclusive tulip, celebrating the cruise line’s Dutch heritage and maritime legacy. The tulip will make its official debut in April 2026, symbolizing Holland America’s revitalization of its cherished traditions and the company’s enduring connection to the Netherlands, where it was founded in Rotterdam in 1873.
Princess Cruises Deepens Connection in the Caribbean and Panama Canal with 2027-28 Voyages
Expanding its breadth and appeal in the Caribbean and Panama Canal, Princess Cruises revealed its largest and most diverse Caribbean program, with 31 ports sailing from five homeports for the newly announced 2027-28 season.
Sommet Education & Tanmeya Capital: Saudi-Swiss Partnership
Under the patronage of His Excellency Mr. Ahmed bin Aqil Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, a landmark Saudi-Swiss partnership was announced at the “TOURISE 2025” Summit in Riyadh to advance innovation, develop national talent, and build human capital in tourism, hospitality, and culinary arts, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
PULLMAN HOTELS & RESORTS UNVEILS A NEW ERA
Pullman Hotels & Resorts, part of Accor’s global Premium portfolio, today unveiled its global brand transformation and vision for the future — a milestone designed to inspire, energize and strengthen Pullman’s position as one of the world’s most dynamic hotel brands. The announcement follows the successful international debut of Pullman xChange, a new global event series designed to ignite bold ideas and invite fresh perspectives among leaders, creators, and innovators.
Signia by Hilton’s Portfolio Set to Double by 2028 as Growth Momentum Builds Around the World
Signia by Hilton, Hilton’s portfolio of exceptional hotels in gateway cities and resort destinations, is entering a pivotal phase of growth, with new openings set to double the portfolio by 2028. Following its international debut with the opening of Signia by Hilton Amman earlier this year, the brand is continuing its momentum with a strong pipeline of openings and signings. This includes Tainan, with the signing announced today, marking the brand’s first property in Asia Pacific, along with additional international signings in Jaipur, India and Cairo, Egypt. Domestically, expansion continues with new openings and signings in San Antonio, Texas; Hollywood, Florida; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Savannah, Georgia. Since 2021, Signia by Hilton has nearly tripled its room count.
High Five to loyalty: A special reward for five years of flying
Virgin Atlantic has unveiled High Five, a new Flying Club reward that recognises members for coming back to the airline over time, regardless of tier status or spend. Launching in January 2026, High Five rewards members for flying with Virgin Atlantic across any five distinct years, consecutive or not, recognising loyalty that lasts over time. Whether your dream destination is Barbados, Los Angeles, Dubai, Maldives or Cape Town, once members have flown with the airline across five different years, the airline will recognise their loyalty with a reward.
World Golf Awards announces Best in Golf 2025
World Golf Awards – the leading authority that recognises and rewards excellence in golf tourism – has unveiled the winners of its 2025 programme. Portugal enjoyed a strong showing, with the sun-blessed nation named ‘World’s Best Golf Destination’, and its Atlantic archipelago of Madeira claiming ‘World’s Best Emerging Golf Destination’. Sir Nick Faldo was voted ‘Golf Designer of the Year’. The six-time major champion continues to expand his global design portfolio through Faldo Design, with current projects including Vietnam, Brazil, Pakistan and Madeira.
Finnair flies high with new Nordic routes and super 2026 schedule
Finnair has unveiled an expanded 2026 network, as it continues to increase its European offering in response to demand. The new bumper schedule, which will strengthen Finnair’s European network, includes 12 new routes for summer 2026. Routes to Alta, Catania, Florence, Kos and Valencia were announced earlier this year, and Finnair is now adding flights to Kuressaare in Estonia, Luxembourg, Stavanger in Norway, Thessaloniki in Greece, Tirana in Albania, Turin in Italy and Umeå in Sweden.
Marriott International Named One of the Top 2025 World’s Best Workplaces
Today, Marriott International, Inc. announced it has been named one of the top five World’s Best Workplaces by Great Place To Work® and Fortune magazine. “We are honored to once again be named one of the world’s best workplaces. This recognition reflects Marriott’s longstanding commitment to excellence and our people-first culture that continues to be our north star across the company and around the world,” said Anthony Capuano, President and CEO of Marriott International. “This year’s recognition is a testament to the incredible talent and dedication of our global teams and a powerful affirmation of the core values we’ve upheld for nearly a century. I am proud of our associates’ dedication to creating authentic and memorable experiences for our members and guests and being a force for good in our communities.”
Qatar Airways Expands Services in Saudi Arabia with New Hail Route
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, has announced another expansion of the airline’s service in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during his panel discussion, “Tourism Rising: A New Era of Influence and Impact”, at the TOURISE Summit 2025 in Riyadh. From 5 January 2026, Qatar Airways will launch three weekly flights to Hail (HAS), making it the 13th Saudi city to be served by the airline. The World’s Best Airline, as voted by Skytrax in 2025 for the ninth time, will also increase flights to Jeddah (JED) and Riyadh (RUH) from six to seven daily flights.