Travel News Page 20
Agatha Christie Festival 2026 Announces Immersive Celebration of the Queen of Crime
The 2026 Agatha Christie Festival line-up has been unveiled, featuring unique events at hidden locations linked to the Queen of Crime, before culminating in a four-day Literary Festival packed with panel discussions, immersive experiences and appearances from leading crime writers and Agatha Christie experts. Founded in 1990, to mark the centenary of Christie’s birth, The Agatha Christie Festival is an annual celebration of her life and work, held near her birthday on 15 September on the English Riviera.
Preferred Hotels & Resorts Celebrates 15 Years of Preferred Pride with Expanded Commitment to LGBTQ+
As Pride Month shines a spotlight on progress, community, and inclusion, Preferred Hotels & Resorts is marking a major milestone: the 15th anniversary of Preferred Pride, its pioneering LGBTQ+ travel programme that has helped shape more welcoming hospitality experiences around the world since 2011. Launched at a time when LGBTQ+ travellers had far fewer trusted resources for identifying genuinely inclusive accommodations, Preferred Pride was created to connect travellers with hotels that not only welcomed the community but actively supported it. Fifteen years later, the programme has evolved into a global network of member hotels, travel advisors, and industry partners united by a shared commitment to ensuring every guest feels seen, valued, and respected.
Limassol: Where Heritage Meets Modernity
Perched on the island’s southern coast, Limassol effortlessly blends a sleek, modern skyline and luxury marina with deep-rooted history, dramatic mountain backdrops, and over 300 days of Mediterranean sunshine. For incentives, high-tier awards, and large-scale conferences, Limassol delivers an unmatched energy in every season. Better yet, its central location makes logistics a breeze as it sits between Larnaca and Paphos Airports, offering flexible flight options with only 45-minute transfers in either direction.
A&K Sanctuary Unveils a New Chapter for Ngorongoro Crater Camp
A&K Sanctuary, the boutique luxury lodge, camp and riverboat collection from Abercrombie & Kent, announces the relocation of its longstanding Ngorongoro Crater Camp to a carefully chosen new setting within the UNESCO-listed Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Alongside the move, the camp has been entirely redesigned, creating a more immersive guest experience that reflects the landscapes, cultures and craftsmanship of East Africa. The relocation and redesign reflect A&K Sanctuary’s enduring approach to creating exceptional camps and lodges in destinations where the company has operated for decades: selecting remarkable locations, investing thoughtfully in the guest experience, and ensuring every development is shaped in partnership with local communities and with deep respect for the surrounding environment.
RateHawk Defines Ten Trends Shaping Travel Distribution over the Next Decade
RateHawk, a B2B online platform for booking hotels, flights, and transfers, and PhocusWright, a leading tourism market research think tank, released a joint study on the future of travel distribution. The report identifies 10 key trends that travel professionals should keep in mind to stay competitive and succeed by 2036. The report was presented at the RateHawk Futurecast online event on June 23, 2026
Meyyafushi Maldives to Host Michelin-Starred Chef Nicolas Isnard for Exclusive Culinary Residency
Meyyafushi is delighted to announce an exclusive culinary residency with acclaimed French chef Nicolas Isnard from 20 to 26 July 2026, bringing Michelin-starred expertise and contemporary French gastronomy to the heart of the Indian Ocean. Renowned for his innovative approach to French cuisine and his passion for celebrating exceptional ingredients, Chef Nicolas Isnard has built an international reputation through his Michelin-starred restaurants, culinary collaborations and appearances at prestigious gastronomic events around the world.
Free Admission to Parks Canada Sites across Nova Scotia Return With Canada Strong Pass for Summer 26
Tourism Nova Scotia is encouraging UK travellers to make the most of the Canada Strong Pass this summer, offering free admission to some of the province’s most iconic attractions and experiences. Running from 19 June to 7 September 2026, the Canada Strong Pass provides free admission for all visitors to national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas operated by Parks Canada, alongside a 25% discount on camping and overnight accommodation fees at participating Parks Canada locations.
Olympia Events secures major multi-year commitments with London Tech Week, Big Data LDN and Decorex
Olympia Events, managed by Legends Global, has secured new multi-year agreements with three of the UK’s most influential business events - London Tech Week, Big Data LDN and Decorex - reinforcing Olympia’s position as a leading destination for world-class events, further enhanced by its recent £1.3 billion redevelopment. The agreements see all three events secure their long-term relationships with Olympia, citing the venue’s evolving destination offer, investment into enhanced event infrastructure, unrivalled transport links, growing hotel capacity and ability to support future growth as key factors behind their commitments.
JCB Contactless Expands to Metro de Madrid Enabling Seamless Tap-to-Ride Access Across the Network
JCB is pleased to announce that JCB Contactless is now available for use on Metro de Madrid, enabling cardmembers to access the metro network with a simple tap of their card or mobile device. From June 2026, passengers can enter metro stations by tapping their contactless-enabled JCB Cards or mobile wallets directly at fare gates. While card payments have already been available at metro station ticket machines, this new functionality allows users to bypass ticket purchases and access the network more efficiently, helping to reduce waiting times, particularly during peak hours, by tapping directly at fare gates.
VOLOTEA’S DIRECT FLIGHT MODEL AVOIDS 54% OF CO₂ EMISSIONS
Volotea, the airline connecting small and mid-sized European cities, operates a direct-flight connectivity model that helps significantly reduce the environmental impact of air travel. According to a company study, direct flights can avoid CO2 emissions by 54% compared with itineraries requiring connecting flights. This improvement is driven by several factors, including avoiding 58% of the travel time associated with connections and a 37% decrease in distance travelled. As a result, fuel consumption, and therefore CO₂ emissions generated per journey, is significantly reduced. These benefits are further supported by a load factor that has remained above 90% since 2018 and reached 91% in 2024, helping maximize operational efficiency and optimize resource utilization.
Dan Snow Explores Ancient Maya Secrets in Belize for Major History Hit Documentary and Podcast
History Hit, the podcast, SVOD and content platform network founded by Dan Snow, is heading deep into the jungles of Belize to uncover the story of one of the most significant Maya archaeological discoveries in decades and explore the extraordinary ancient sites that make Belize one of the world’s most fascinating archaeological destinations. In July 2025, archaeologists working at Caracol announced the discovery of the burial chamber of one of the Maya civilisation’s greatest rulers, Te K’ab Chaak, the founder of the Caracol dynasty and the first ‘named person’ royal tomb uncovered at the site in more than 40 years. Inside they found remarkable treasures including jadeite ornaments, ritual pottery and a mosaic death mask, offering fresh insights into the power, sophistication and beliefs of the Classic Maya world.
AI, identity and demand shifts take center stage as industry leaders confront a fast‑changing travel
Day 2 at Phocuswright Europe opened with a clear message: the forces reshaping travel are accelerating, and the industry must adapt with equal speed. From AI‑driven distribution battles to digital identity pilots, shifting demand patterns and new expectations for loyalty, the day delivered a steady stream of insight, debate and practical direction for the year ahead. Travel demand stays resilient as AI reshapes the path to purchase