Travel News Page 125
Serenity Holidays Showcases Corsica and Cape Verde for National Walking Month
To mark National Walking Month, Serenity Holidays is showcasing its range of walking focused holidays in Corsica and Cape Verde through its specialist brands, Corsican Places and Cape Verde Experience. Each offers accommodation across the islands, supporting more active and immersive travel experiences with the help of its expert local teams. With routes ranging from rugged mountain hikes and gentle coastal walks to jaw dropping ravines and volcanic craters, both destinations offer exceptional opportunities for travellers seeking immersive, active holidays in striking natural surroundings, combining scenery, culture and flexibility.
BABA BEACH CLUB NATAI
Just twenty minutes north of Phuket International Airport on a quieter, lesser-known stretch of coastline, Baba Beach Club Natai presents a more discerning alternative to the island’s conventional beach party destinations. Set on Natai Beach, where long sections of shoreline remain uninterrupted, the resort combines direct access to the Andaman Sea with a level of space and privacy rarely found in Phuket, while remaining within easy reach of the island’s established scene.
SriLankan Airlines Leads with Two Category Wins in South Asia at PAX Awards
SriLankan Airlines led with two wins in the Airline Award category for South Asia, securing both Best Overall Passenger Experience and Most Improved Airline at the PAX International Readership Awards 2026 held recently in Hamburg, Germany. The awards celebrate the industry’s best and brightest, with winners determined by votes from PAX’s global readership. The Best Overall Passenger Experience – South Asia award recognises an airline that delivers an exceptional onboard experience to passengers across multiple service areas, including meal service, inflight entertainment and seating. At SriLankan Airlines, this entails meticulous planning at every stage of the passenger journey, supported by collaboration among multiple teams and continuous monitoring and refinement.
Belize delivers successful Sustainable Tourism Conference
The Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Sustainable Tourism Conference wrapped up on a high note last week in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, bringing together tourism leaders from across the region and beyond under the theme “Tourism in Full Color: Integrating Blue, Green, Orange and Beyond Economies into Sustainable Planning and Development.” Hosted by the Belize Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism, Youth, Sports and Diaspora Relations, the conference provided a dynamic platform for dialogue, innovation and collaboration.
Antigua and Barbuda Gears Up for Caribbean Travel Marketplace
As the Caribbean prepares for a busy spring and summer tourism calendar, Colin James, Chief Executive Officer of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, says the destination is in advanced stages of readiness to host and capitalize on back-to-back editions of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace, May 12-15, at the American University of Antigua. Speaking with the Caribbean Tourism Authority, James emphasized the coordinated national effort behind the preparations, noting that public and private sector teams have been working closely to deliver a seamless and impactful experience. Planning spans all aspects of the event, from the structure of the business-to-business meetings to curated opening and closing events designed to showcase the destination. Beyond facilitating commercial exchanges between buyers and suppliers, the strategy includes immersing visiting media, tour operators and MICE planners in the Antigua and Barbuda experience to strengthen their ability to promote the destination globally.
CTO Presents 2026 Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Award Winners
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has unveiled the winners of the 2026 Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Awards, spotlighting top-tier innovation in the region’s journey toward sustainable and regenerative tourism. Honorees from Belize, Guyana, Jamaica and Turks and Caicos Islands were recognized for their leadership in pioneering sustainable tourism practices that protect the Caribbean’s natural and cultural assets. Established in 2000, the awards honor individuals, organizations and destinations driving positive change through environmental stewardship, community empowerment, cultural preservation and climate resilience. This year’s winners underscore the Caribbean’s continued leadership in building a more sustainable and resilient tourism sector.
Spirit Airlines’ Exit Removes 21.3 Million Seats from the U.S. Air Connectivity Network
A total of 21.3 million seats will be removed from the U.S. aviation market following Spirit Airlines’ announcement to end operations on Saturday, May 2, creating a significant impact on air connectivity across the United States—particularly within the low-cost segment and key domestic routes—according to an analysis by Data Appeal and Mabrian (Almawave-Almaviva Group). The vast majority—91.3% of this capacity—corresponds to domestic routes, while the remaining seats were allocated to international services connecting the U.S. mainly with Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Radisson Hotel Group leads with Verified Net Zero hotels
Radisson Hotel Group’s 2025 Responsible Business Report demonstrates how the Group is turning its Net Zero transformation into real, measurable progress across its hotels and operations, and cares for people and communities. In a rapidly evolving operating environment shaped by shifting guest expectations, climate risk, and increasing regulatory requirements, sustainability continues to guide the Group’s strategic direction. Radisson Hotel Group remains committed to supporting careers and communities, as well as achieving Net Zero by 2050. The Group focuses on strengthening the long-term competitiveness of its hotels and owners through sustainability and contributes to the transition toward a low-carbon hospitality sector.
Grand Opening of Centara Life Namba Hotel Osaka
Centara Hotels & Resorts,Thailand’s leading hotel operator, celebrates the grand opening of Centara Life Namba Hotel Osaka, marking its second hotel in Japan. Now officially open, the vibrant new lifestyle property is ready to welcome guests from around the world to the heart of Osaka’s energetic Namba district. Designed to uplift everyday travel through elevated essentials and lifestyle-led comfort, the hotel offers flexibility, convenience and exceptional value in one of the city’s most dynamic neighbourhoods. Perfectly positioned just steps from Nankai Shin-Imamiya and Namba Stations, Centara Life Namba Hotel Osaka places travellers at the heart of one of the city’s most dynamic neighbourhoods. Guests can easily explore the bright lights of Dotonbori, the culinary delights of inner Namba’s hidden alleys, the fresh flavours of Kizu Wholesale Market, and the many shopping malls of Namba and Shinsaibashi, with convenient access to major attractions including the historic icon Osaka Castle.
Four Seasons Resort Nevis Offers Caribbean Residents a Summer 2026 Stay
Four Seasons Resort Nevis offers Caribbean residents exclusive regional rates this summer starting from USD 395 per room, per night. Available May 19 to October 31, 2026, the offer includes a luxurious stay in a Nevis Peak View Room, featuring views of Nevis Peak and the surrounding landscape. “Our island remains one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets, and we enjoy welcoming our regional neighbours to experience what makes Nevis so special,” says Avi Phookan, General Manager of Four Seasons Resort Nevis. “This offer provides an ideal opportunity for residents across the Caribbean to relax and reconnect during the summer season.”
Qatar Airways Resumes Operations to Iraq
Qatar Airways continues to reinstate its network across the Middle East, announcing the return of passenger flights to Baghdad (BGW), Basra (BSR), and Erbil (EBL) in Iraq, starting on 10 May 2026. In parallel, Qatar Airways will reintroduce freighter services to Baghdad* from 7 May 2026, further supporting cargo flows.
Lufthansa Launches Stopover Program
Turning a layover into a city trip: Lufthansa now offers passengers on Singapore and U.S. routes the opportunity to extend their stopover at the Munich hub for up to seven days. As an additional step, hotels and other tourist offerings in the Bavarian capital can be included in the booking.