Tourism News Page 36
Jumeirah Marks World Sea Turtle Day
Jumeirah, a global leader in luxury hospitality and a member of Dubai Holding, marked World Sea Turtle Day with the release of 23 rehabilitated sea turtles into the Arabian Gulf. Among them was Foxy, a green turtle fitted with a satellite tracker through the Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project (DTRP), allowing her journey to be monitored following release. With her release, the programme has now returned more than 100 satellite-tracked turtles to the wild. Foxy was rescued by a fisherman off the coast of Ras Al Khaimah in January 2025 after losing a front flipper. By chance, DTRP Ambassador Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi was in Ras Al Khaimah at the time and drove the turtle back to Dubai for treatment and rehabilitation. Following more than a year of specialist care, Foxy has made a remarkable recovery, demonstrating strong swimming ability despite her injury.
SUNWAY SIGNS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH TOURISM MALAYSIA TO PROMOTE VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR 2026-27
Sunway Hospitality Group, Malaysia’s leading hospitality company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tourism Malaysia that will support the Visit Malaysia Year 2026-27 campaign and position this vibrant Southeast Asian nation as a destination-of-choice for international travel and tourism.
Registration opens for WTM London 2026 following a record-breaking 2025 event
Ticket booking is now open for WTM London 2026, part of RX Global. Serving as the world’s most influential travel and tourism event for almost five decades, this year’s show is set to build on last year’s record‑breaking performance, with several new features and standout experiences introduced across the show floor. Taking place at Excel London from 3–5 November, WTM London 2026 will once again act as the premier global meeting place for travel industry professionals, stakeholders and decision‑makers, drawn by an enhanced conference programme, an expanded schedule of networking events and unrivalled business opportunities.
LATAM Airlines partners with Meili to launch direct car rental booking experience in Latin America
Meili, the leading technology platform enabling direct ancillary distribution, has announced a strategic partnership with LATAM Airlines, the largest airline group in Latin America. The partnership marks a key milestone in Meili’s expansion across Latin America, strengthening its presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing travel markets. LATAM Airlines has selected Meili to enhance its car rental offering across all digital touchpoints. The partnership empowers car rental providers to distribute directly within LATAM’s ecosystem, eliminating third-party redirects and enabling greater control over customer experience, performance, and loyalty integration.
Vietnam Airlines Launches Nonstop Hanoi–Amsterdam Service
Vietnam Airlines has officially inaugurated its nonstop service between Hanoi and Amsterdam, becoming the first Vietnamese carrier to operate a direct route connecting Vietnam and the Netherlands. The inaugural flight, VN83, departed Noi Bai International Airport at 3:50 AM on June 16, carrying nearly 300 passengers aboard an Airbus A350 wide-body aircraft. After a flight time of more than 12 hours, the aircraft landed at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. In the opposite direction, flight VN82 departed Amsterdam for Hanoi at 2:00 PM (local time) on the same day.
Olympia Events CEO: “The world’s attention is returning to London - Olympia is ready to welcome it
The presence of the Prime Minister, the Mayor of London and HRH The Prince of Wales at London Tech Week last week highlights the growing importance of the UK’s events and exhibition industry and reinforces London’s position as a global destination for innovation, business and international collaboration, according to Olympia Events’ CEO Andy O’Sullivan. Speaking as Olympia enters the next phase of its £1.3 billion transformation, O’Sullivan said the high-profile attendance reflects the growing recognition of the role events and exhibitions play in driving economic growth, attracting international investment and showcasing British expertise on the world stage.
Secrets Resorts & Spas and The Skin Deep Launch First-of-Its-Kind Collaboration
Hyatt Hotels Corporation and The Skin Deep, the Emmy Award-winning experience design studio and relationship platform known for its emotional storytelling and card-based conversation games, today announced a first-of-its-kind collaboration between The Skin Deep and Secrets Resorts & Spas, part of Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection. Expected to launch starting in June 2026, the collaboration is designed to elevate the all-inclusive guest journey through thoughtfully integrated digital and physical touchpoints that encourage Secrets guests to slow down, reconnect and create memorable shared experiences while on vacation.
Courtyard by Marriott Debuts in Okinawa with a New Beachfront Escape
Courtyard by Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, announces the opening of Courtyard by Marriott Okinawa Resort. The 170-room beachfront resort in Nago marks the brand’s debut in Okinawa, deepening Marriott International’s resort footprint in Japan’s southernmost prefecture, famous for its rich Ryukyuan culture, coral reefs and UNESCO-listed Yambaru National Park. Set along Kise Beach overlooking the pristine waters of Nago Bay in northern Okinawa, the hotel brings Courtyard by Marriott’s warm, modern hospitality to one of Japan’s most beloved island escapes. Famed for its subtropical climate, crystal-clear waters and easy island rhythm, Okinawa draws millions of domestic and international visitors each year. The hotel sits approximately 72 kilometers, or one hour’s drive, from Naha International Airport.
Sandals® and Beaches® Resorts Launch Rebranded Loyalty Program, ‘Island Insiders Club’
Sandals and Beaches Resorts unveiled today the introduction of its new Island Insiders Club, the next chapter of its refreshed loyalty program. Replacing the long-running Sandals Select Rewards program (established in 2008), the new program is designed to elevate the guest experience with a more immersive approach to awards and recognition. Effective July 1, 2026, the transition will preserve members’ current status and existing benefits, while expanding access to enhanced rewards, exclusive events and enriched experiences that bring members closer to the Caribbean.
Hyatt Announces Plans for Hyatt Place Semarang, Expanding Brand Presence in Indonesia
Hyatt Hotels Corporation, announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with PT PAM and BINA NUSANTARA, strengthening Hyatt’s brand presence in Indonesia and supporting Hyatt’s continued growth across key destinations in Southeast Asia. Hyatt Place Semarang will become part of an integrated ecosystem in Semarang, together with BINUS SCHOOL Semarang, BINUS University @Semarang, 23 Semarang Mall, and other supporting facilities. Through this development, BINA NUSANTARA aims to create a connected environment where education, community, lifestyle, business, and hospitality can grow together and bring added value to the people of Semarang and its surrounding areas.
Club Med Listed in the Prestigious 2026 TIME100 Most Influential Companies List
Club Med has been officially listed in the 2026 TIME100 Most Influential Companies list, marking the first time the global all-inclusive pioneer has received this global accolade. Featured in the Innovators category, Club Med is recognised for successfully reshaping the traditional all-inclusive travel sector into a highly sophisticated, premium global offering that spans sun, ski and unexpected new adventure destinations. The annual TIME100 Most Influential Companies List highlights 100 extraordinary businesses that are actively shaping global industry standards. To assemble the annual list, TIME solicits nominations from across various sectors and polls its global network of contributors, correspondents and outside experts. TIME editors then evaluate each company on key metrics, including impact, innovation, ambition and success.
Norwegian to acquire Nordic Leisure Travel Group
Norwegian has entered into an agreement to acquire Nordic Leisure Travel Group (NLTG), the leading hotel and leisure travel experiences company in the Nordics. The transaction brings together household names and award-winning brands such as Ving, Spies, Tjäreborg, Globetrotter, and Sunclass Airlines with Norwegian and Widerøe, creating a stronger and unique end-to-end Nordic travel player. The acquisition combines NLTG’s expertise in packaged travel and hotels with Norwegian and Widerøe’s existing network with 27 million passengers. Together, the combined company will create a leading Nordic provider of leisure and business travel. For travellers, this means a wider selection of destinations, simpler bookings, and seamless travel.