Travel News Page 270
Aloft Energizes Shanghai Hongqiao Transport Hub with New Hotel Opening
Aloft Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of more than 30 hotel brands, recently announced the opening of Aloft Shanghai Hongqiao. Nestled in the core of the West Hongqiao Business District, the new hotel neighbors the National Exhibition and Convention Center and the Hongqiao transportation hub. Offering a vibrant, social, and stylish stay for modern explorers, Aloft Shanghai Hongqiao features energetic public spaces, tech-savvy rooms, and a design-driven experience that’s anything but ordinary.
Where coconut palms hum and sustainability feels like luxury: Ana Mandara Cam Ranh
There’s a certain hush that falls the moment you slip off the beaten track and find yourself on Bai Dai’s sun-baked sand, palms tilting like ushers toward a long, quiet sea. At Ana Mandara Cam Ranh, that hush is intentional — not the silence of isolation but the carefully curated stillness of design that lets the ocean, garden and sky do the talking. It’s a place that has quietly been collecting accolades for that very balance: in 2025 Ana Mandara Cam Ranh was crowned Vietnam’s Leading Green Resort at the World Travel Awards.
Turkish Airlines Opens its First European Lounge Abroad in Edinburgh
Turkish Airlines has opened its first-ever European lounge at Edinburgh Airport, aside from the world-famous one at its Istanbul hub, bringing another dimension of its world-renowned hospitality to travellers in Scotland. The new lounge further elevates Edinburgh’s premium travel offering while reinforcing the airport’s growing role as an international gateway. Türkiye’s flag carrier, which flies to more countries than any other, hosted a celebratory event at Edinburgh International Airport on 10 December to mark the opening of its eighth lounge outside of Türkiye. Turkish Airlines continues to bring scaled-down slices of its five-star Lounge in İstanbul to its international gateways to maintain a seamless and luxurious experience.
Etihad for Business Enables Corporate Clients to Purchase Carbon-Offsets
Leveraging its existing collaboration with CarbonClick*, Etihad Airways has introduced a new enhancement to its Etihad for Business (EYB) platform, enabling corporate clients to redeem EYB credits for carbon-offsets directly through the Etihad for Business portal.
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi Celebrates 15 Years with Star-Studded Anniversary
Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi celebrated its 15th anniversary on December 3, 2025, in the presence of Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari HP Formula 1 Driver, Ferrari executives including Maria Carla Liuni, Ferrari’s Chief Brand Officer, Julien Kauffmann, CEO of Miral Experiences, tier 1 media outlets, and the park’s dedicated annual pass holders and VIP guests. The milestone event brought together partners, fans and long-time supporters to honor 15 years of record-breaking rides, innovation and unforgettable family experiences under the park’s iconic red roof.
Cancún Convention & Visitors Bureau: Steering Paradise to Global Triumph
In the glittering world of travel accolades, few honors shine as brightly as the World Travel Awards; and in 2025, one destination has captured imaginations and industry applause alike: the Cancún Convention & Visitors Bureau (CCVB), crowned World’s Leading City Tourist Board. This victory isn’t just an award — it’s a tribute to a vision that redefines what it mean
IHG Hotels & Resorts signs new Holiday Inn Resort in picturesque Lonavala
IHG® Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has announced the signing of a management agreement with Emproy Hospitality LLP, for the development of Holiday Inn Resort Lonavala. Slated to open in 2027, the deal strengthens IHG’s presence in the essentials category and underscores its continued expansion across India’s fast-growing leisure destinations. Nestled in the lush, year-round greenery of Lonavala, the new Holiday Inn Resort will offer travelers a scenic getaway. Its prime location on the NH-48 Expressway ensures excellent visibility and access, positioning it as the corridor’s next premier destination. Embodying the ethos of the trusted Holiday Inn brand, beloved for its consistent comfort and guest-focused innovation, Holiday Inn Resort Lonavala will feature 100 well-appointed rooms, three distinct dining options, and recreational facilities including a swimming pool, spa, and fitness center.
Coral spawning on the Great Barrier Reef
It may not snow in Queensland in December, but underwater, the Great Barrier Reef is putting on its own kind of snowfall in a dazzling underwater exhibition of new life. Giant clams, molluscs and gastropods joined the Great Barrier Reef’s headline event, the annual synchronised coral spawning, across much of the 2600km/1615 miles length of the Reef last night (10 December 2025), putting on a jaw-dropping show after some corals performed a curtain raiser in November. This underwater snowstorm of coral sperm and eggs showcases one of the world’s most visually incredible natural phenomena.
Relaxation and Connection Define Wellness Travel in 2026
As we enter into the new year, many will be looking to beat the January blues with a wellness escape, prioritising relaxation and rejuvenation to begin 2026. Expedia’s Unpack 2026 highlights that 91% of travellers are seeking trips centred on relaxation, reading and quality time with loved ones. This evolution reflects a broader shift in which travellers are choosing to step away from a hyperconnected world and reconnect with the people they care about, seeking shared experiences over constant digital engagement. This is evident in the way travellers are actively pursuing mindful breaks from daily demands, whether through the therapeutic sound of the sea, the grounding presence of nature or the restorative atmosphere of a spa.
New for 2026 - Award-Winning Pierhouse Hotel to Launch New Loch and Castle View Cafe on Argyll Coast
The award-winning team behind one of Argyll’s most iconic coastal hotels has announced plans to open a new cafe overlooking Castle Stalker and Loch Linnhe in early 2026. The Pierhouse Hotel at Port Appin is now leading the refurbishment of the former Castle Stalker View Cafe on the A828 between Ballachulish and Connel.
City of Dreams Named Cyprus’ Best MICE Hotel 2025
The five-star resort, based in Limassol Cyprus, joins an exclusive lineup of winning properties which includes some of the world’s finest venues for global meetings, incentives, conferences and events. Voted for by MICE professionals, media and consumers, the award recognises City of Dreams’ commitment to excellence in this field. Grant Johnson, property general manager at City of Dreams, Mediterranean commented: “What an honour it is to be recognised by the World MICE Awards as Cyprus’ leading MICE Hotel
CHTA HIGHLIGHTS THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FROM CHIEF 2025
The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) today shared the leading insights emerging from the 2025 Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), which recently took place in Barbados. CHTA also announced that CHIEF 2026 will be held November 16–18, 2026, running concurrently with Taste of the Caribbean. The annual event brought together hotel executives, policy makers and tourism partners from across the region to examine the strategies reshaping Caribbean hospitality and the operational shifts required for long-term resilience and competitiveness.