Travel News Page 302
MotoGP Valencia Finale to Draw 150,000 Fans and Generate €35.9 Million in Tourism Impact
As the 2025 MotoGP Championship races toward its thrilling conclusion at the Gran Premio de la Comunitat Valenciana, Mabrian and The Data Appeal Company – Almawave Group have analysed the expected tourism impact of the final weekend of the championship, to be held at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Cheste, near Valencia (Spain). The analysis estimates a tourism-related economic impact of €35.9 million for Valencian Community region.
RLA GLOBAL 2025 MID-YEAR WELLNESS REAL ESTATE REPORT
Wellness hotels demonstrated remarkable stability amid economic pressures in January-June 2025, according to RLA Global’s 2025 Mid-Year Wellness Real Estate Report, published in partnership with P&L benchmarking firm HotStats that analyses the performance of over 12,000 properties worldwide. Several of the top 10 best-performing countries – identified in the report for the first time – had double-digit growth in wellness membership and spa treatments. Another new report section, the market spotlight, revealed interesting dynamics in leased-out wellness models in the UAE.
Dubai International Soars to World’s Busiest Airport as DXB Overtakes Atlanta
Dubai International Airport (DXB) has officially become the busiest airport in the world in 2025, overtaking Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) for the first time. The achievement marks a defining moment in global aviation and reflects Dubai’s long-term investment in innovation, connectivity, and passenger experience. Speaking at the TOURISE Summit in Riyadh, Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said the future of aviation is no longer defined solely by size or scale but by emotion and experience. “The future of travel isn’t just about moving people faster, it’s about how they feel along the way,” he noted. “From biometric boarding to frictionless terminals, we’re creating airports where speed, culture, and comfort converge.”
Sir Rocco Forte: Gulf Partnerships Powering New Era of Global Growth
British hotelier Sir Rocco Forte has credited the Gulf’s long-term investment vision and rapid decision-making culture as key drivers behind the global expansion of Rocco Forte Hotels, as UK businesses increasingly turn abroad for growth and capital. Forte described his company’s alliance with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) as “transformational,” strengthening the group’s balance sheet and elevating its international profile. “The PIF are very good people to work with. They take a long-term, strategic view. They saw potential in us not for short-term returns but for sustained global growth,” he said.
Fastjet and WorldTicket by GO7 forge strategic partnership to expand global distribution
Fastjet, the Zimbabwean multi-award-winning regional airline, and WorldTicket by GO7, a leading global airline distribution solutions provider, today announced a strategic partnership to enhance ticketing, connectivity, and international visibility across Southern Africa. Through this collaboration, fastjet’s flights are now available for booking via WorldTicket’s W2-365 platform, giving travel agents worldwide access to the airline’s domestic and regional services. The partnership enables fastjet to grow international sales and connectivity without the need for traditional BSP membership or complex GDS infrastructure.
Marriott Bonvoy Unlocks Longest Cyber Week Stay Window Ever
Marriott Bonvoy® is extending the holiday cheer this year with its most celebrated Cyber Week Sale yet. For the first time, members can stay from November 30, 2025, through February 22, 2026, the longest stay window in the sale’s history, and enjoy 25% off when booking through the Marriott Bonvoy App. That means more ski weekends, more beach escapes, more city retreats, and more time to share the joy of travel with family and friends.
LADERA UNVEILS TOTAL RENOVATION
The resort’s reimagining took inspiration from Ladera’s setting as the only resort within the island’s UNESCO World Heritage Site Piton Mountain range, and its unique vantage point immersed in the Pitons. From the room renovations, whose furniture was built on site by the resort’s artisans, to the staff’s new uniforms, which were designed in partnership with St. Lucian designers, to the spa treatments which use local plants and minerals – the very-Saint-Lucian ethos and identity of Ladera was preserved while being reinterpreted for a new era through the vision of the island’s current-day artists and artisans. “We have the most special setting on all of the island: The resort was built on a ridge and it feels like you can reach out and touch the Pitons in either direction,” says Property Manager Eustace Augustine, who helped to build the resort and has been working at Ladera for 41 years.
The Lake Como EDITION Debuts on Italy’s Most Iconic Shoreline
Lake Como, with its placid turquoise waters surrounded by towering, sharp-peaked mountains, has been one of the most dreamt-of destinations in the world for centuries. EDITION, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio, Omnam Investment Group (“Omnam”), and private investment firm Bain Capital boldly reimagine this storied locale with the opening of The Lake Como EDITION – marking a radical departure from traditional Lake Como hospitality. The property introduces elegant tastemakers and global travelers to a new vision of lakeside luxury that pairs culinary excellence with a groundbreaking wellness spa offering cutting-edge longevity and rejuvenation treatments. The striking interior spaces, brought to life through a collaboration between EDITION, design firm Neri&Hu, and architects De.Tales reflect this bold new chapter in Lake Como’s legendary history
Etihad Airways Expands its Saudi Arabia Network with Launch of Flights to Medina
Etihad Airways has commenced flights from Abu Dhabi to Medina this week, further expanding the airline’s strong footprint in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and enhancing travel options for guests across religious, business and leisure segments. The resumed direct service connects Abu Dhabi with Medina, one of the most spiritually significant cities in the world and a key destination for visitors performing religious travel throughout the year. The route will support growing demand from pilgrims and travellers across the world seeking seamless connections to the Kingdom’s holy city. Medina becomes the latest addition to Etihad’s operations in the Kingdom, reinforcing the UAE’s national carrier as a major facilitator of travel to and from Saudi Arabia. With the launch of flights to Medina, Etihad will operate 93 flights per week to five cities across the Kingdom, flying four times per day to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, and three services per week to Al Qassim. This expansion is part of Etihad’s ambitious growth strategy, announcing 31 new destinations in a year.
Top UK university teams win Dida’s ‘Future of Travel Innovation’ Challenge at the Shangri-La, London
Dida, a global AI-first travel technology group, has announced the winners of its inaugural Future of Travel Innovation Challenge, held at the iconic Shangri-La Hotel in The Shard, London in partnership with Headstart Global. The competition brought together the brightest student innovators from leading UK universities to reimagine the future of global travel through technology, creativity, and sustainability. The nine finalist teams pitched their groundbreaking ideas live to a panel of judges from Dida’s global executive leadership and innovation partners.
SKYDECK CHICAGO LAUNCHES 10TH ANNUAL LOVE ON THE LEDGE CONTEST
Skydeck Chicago, the iconic observation deck on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower, is celebrating a decade of romance in the sky with the 10th annual Love on The Ledge contest. The beloved Valentine’s Day social media contest invites deserving couples to tie the knot or renew their vows 1,353 ft. above the city in an intimate ceremony on The Ledge, creating the feeling of floating above Chicago’s skyline.
SITA, AMADEUS AND AACO COLLABORATE TO DRIVE GREATER TRANSPARENCY ON EMISSIONS IN AIR TRAVEL
AACO, SITA, and Amadeus have come together to explore how data and technology can bring greater accuracy and transparency to aviation’s sustainability efforts. The initiative represents a concrete step toward helping airlines and passengers make informed decisions based on the environmental impact of air travel, and building the trust needed to support meaningful climate action. Conscious of the criticality of the challenge, two of aviation’s leading technology providers are working together. The collaboration pairs SITA Eco Mission, which draws on real aircraft performance and operational data to deliver accurate emissions and fuel-burn calculations, with Amadeus Travel Impact Suite, which aggregates carbon emissions calculations from multiple recognized sources and standards. Together, they provide the ecosystem with detailed emissions information so that travelers can make more informed decisions. Their shared goal is to demonstrate how accurate data can support decision-making on sustainable travel and facilitate climate action, such as carbon offsetting.