Virginia Messina, Group CEO of ATTA® said: “WTTC’s latest Economic Impact Research reinforces Africa as a major global player within travel and tourism, and one of the fastest growing regions following Asia and the Middle East. “International visitor spending to Africa was up by 5% in 2025 and the continent is outperforming mature markets like Europe (+1.3%) and North America (still below pre-pandemic levels). “According to the report, Travel & Tourism contributed a total of $211 billion to the region’s GDP in 2024, representing 7.8% of the African economy which was an increase of 9.8% compared to 2019. The sector also supported 27.9 million jobs across the continent, a share of 5.6% of total employment.

Lighthouse, the AI commercial operating system for the travel and hospitality industry, today announced the launch of The Hotels Network app, the first direct booking app for hotels available inside ChatGPT. Powered by Lighthouseʼs Connect AI engine, the app gives hotels a direct presence in AI conversations for the first time. The app is available to hotels of every size worldwide on a flat fee subscription with zero booking commissions.

The Africa Tourism Investment Conference (ATIC), held on 14 April 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), stands as a defining moment for the African tourism industry. This one-day conference, produced in partnership with JLL Africa and an affiliate member of the United Nations Tourism Organization (UNWTO), brought together key stakeholders from across the continent. Investors, policymakers, tourism authorities, and leaders from the private sector gathered with a shared mission: to ignite high-level discussions about unlocking tourism investment opportunities across Africa.

One Planet Group, a closely held private equity firm that owns and operates a portfolio of technology and media businesses, today announced the upcoming launch of Quite Remarkable, a new travel and lifestyle company built to redefine the standards of modern luxury through technology, service, one-of-a kind properties, experiences and intentional design. The platform is slated for initial launch in Fall 2026.

As the first leaves return to the vines, Charentes slips into one of its most appealing seasons. Spring remains something of an insider’s secret. Between April and June, this quietly compelling French destination near Bordeaux offers something increasingly rare: space, authenticity and the freedom to savour it at your own pace. The roads are quieter and the experiences – from tastings to tours – feel more personal. With seasonal direct flights from the UK to La Rochelle, just a 2h30 train ride from Paris, and straightforward rail connections between Angoulême, Saintes and Cognac itself, exploring the region is sustainable and effortless.

Vicuna Air, the in-cabin pet travel company redefining how pets fly, today announces the expansion of its North American network with new routes between New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The launch gives more pet owners access to seamless domestic travel within the U.S., while also making it easier for travellers across North America to connect onwards to the company’s existing international services from New York to London and Paris.