Travel News Page 187
Abu Dhabi Comes of Age
Abu Dhabi’s tourism story has always been about intention rather than acceleration. Where some destinations chase headlines, the UAE’s capital has focused on foundations—carefully planned infrastructure, long‑term cultural investment and a visitor experience designed to mature over time. Today, that approach is delivering results. Abu Dhabi’s tourism success is increasingly visible on the ground and, this week, clearly articulated on the global stage at ITB Berlin.
Yerevan Finds Its Moment
Infrastructure, confidence and a global debut at ITB Berlin Yerevan has always known who it is. One of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, Armenia’s capital wears its history lightly—etched into pink tuff stone, echoed in courtyard conversations, and poured generously into glasses of local wine. What is changing now is not the city’s character, but its readiness. Yerevan is quietly, steadily upgrading the foundations of tourism, and this week, at ITB Berlin, it is presenting itself with a new sense of purpose to the global travel industry.
Virgin Atlantic is building future-ready talent through apprenticeships
Breaking Travel news caught up with Becky Woodmansee to explore how Virgin Atlantic is building future-ready talent through apprenticeships, and what this means for the wider aviation sector at a time of rapid skills transformation. See her response to our questions detailing this innovative scheme and its benefits in the exclusive interview below.
Global Travel Leaders Formalise Cross-Sector Coordination Through the Global Resilience Network
As geopolitical fragmentation, AI acceleration and infrastructure pressure reshape global mobility, senior leaders across travel, finance, technology and government are consolidating strategic engagement through the Global Resilience Network (GRN). The Network, now operating across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas, is strengthening executive-level coordination at a time when industry leaders are questioning whether traditional forums alone can deliver the coherence required for the next phase of global travel growth.
STORY Hospitality Makes Its Debut at ITB Berlin
There is a particular energy that comes with a first appearance, and at ITB Berlin, that sense of anticipation surrounds Abu Dhabi‑headquartered STORY Hospitality as it steps onto the world’s leading travel trade stage for the very first time. Among the familiar names and long‑established exhibitors, STORY Hospitality arrives with a fresh narrative—one shaped by contemporary Middle Eastern hospitality and a clear ambition to connect with a global audience.
ONYX Hospitality Group Celebrates 60 Years on the Global Stage at ITB Berlin 2026
At ITB Berlin 2026, where the world’s travel industry gathers to take the pulse of the future, ONYX Hospitality Group arrives with a milestone worth celebrating. Sixty years into its journey, the Asia‑Pacific hospitality leader is using one of the globe’s most prestigious tourism fairs not only to mark an anniversary, but to reaffirm its vision for what modern hospitality can—and should—be. The atmosphere around ONYX’s presence in Berlin is one of quiet confidence shaped by experience. Six decades in hospitality have given the group a deep understanding of how travel evolves, how guest expectations shift, and how cultures connect through meaningful stays. At ITB, ONYX is showcasing this legacy while firmly looking ahead, positioning itself as a brand that has grown alongside Asia‑Pacific tourism and helped define it.
Lanzarote focuses on sustainable tourism at ITB Berlin 2026
Under the bright lights of ITB Berlin—one of the world’s most influential tourism fairs—Lanzarote is making its presence felt with quiet confidence and a clear sense of purpose. This is not an island content to simply sell sunshine and scenery. Instead, Lanzarote arrives in the German capital with a compelling message: the future of travel must be thoughtful, climate-conscious, and regenerative—and this Atlantic island has been living that philosophy for decades.
Sabre unveils once-in-a-generation company rebuild and its AI-first platform at ITB Berlin 2026
At ITB Berlin 2026, Sabre unveiled the culmination of a multiyear, once-in-a-generation rebuild of its technology, architecture, and operating foundations. This transformation has unshackled the company to deliver a single, unified, AI-first platform, purpose-built for velocity to innovate for whatever comes next. In the first major milestone for the new Sabre, the company has seized a first-mover position in agentic travel – a clean break from legacy industry architectures that have constrained travel industry innovation for decades. This watershed moment is visually underscored by the debut of Sabre’s new brand identity, reflecting the reality of a company fundamentally reconstructed for what comes next.
Germans’ desire to travel remains unbroken despite crises
Despite growing global tensions, Germans are spending more on travel than ever before. At the opening of ITB Berlin 2026 on Monday, Albin Loidl, President of the German Travel Association (DRV), gave a positive assessment of 2025 in travel. He also looked ahead to the coming summer with optimism. Holidaymakers were booking earlier and placing greater emphasis on safety and quality, said Loidl. With regard to the current developments in Iran, he stated that the situation was being monitored with great concern.
Angola aims to position tourism as a driver of sustainable development
At the opening press conference of ITB Berlin 2026, Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Angola, highlighted the role of host country and welcomed the international media and industry representatives.
The global travel market continues to grow steadily
The ITB Travel & Tourism Report 2026/2027 shows that the mood in the industry is optimistic, but that strategic preparation often lags behind the challenges of an increasingly complex world. According to data from the market research institute Phocuswright, the European and US travel markets are largely saturated. Speaking at the opening of ITB Berlin 2026 on Monday, Mitra Sorrells, CEO of the US institute said that despite this, she expected global annual growth of around 5.3 per cent until at least 2027. The driving forces were India and Latin America.
Travelsoft Pay Partners with Mastercard to Power the Next Generation of Secure Travel Payments
Travelsoft Pay today announced a strategic partnership with Mastercard to enhance how payments flow through the global travel ecosystem — delivering a secure, scalable and travel-native payments infrastructure designed for modern B2B travel commerce.