Travel News Page 367
Lisbon Celebrates Fado as Caixa Alfama Festival Returns
Lisbon’s historic Alfama district will once again host the Caixa Alfama Festival on 26-27 September 2025, celebrating Portugal’s most iconic musical tradition. Over two days, more than 40 artists will perform across 12 stages - from churches and auditoriums to plazas and cultural venues - transforming the neighbourhood into a living stage and confirming the festival as a standout event in Lisbon’s cultural calendar.
Autumn and Winter Events in Okinawa 2025
This autumn and winter, Okinawa will come alive with festivals that showcase the islands’ traditions, community spirit and natural beauty. Highlights include the Guinness World Record-holding Naha Great Tug-of-War and centuries-old gratitude festivals such as the Tanadui Festival on Taketomi, the Shichi Festival on Iriomote and the Kitsugansai Festival on Kohama. Adding to the season’s appeal, the internationally acclaimed Tour de Okinawa brings world-class cycling to the subtropical landscapes of northern Okinawa.
EVA Air Adds Extra Flights to Milan and Brisbane Routes
EVA Air, Taiwan’s leading independent airline, has introduced new flights to its services between both Taipei and Brisbane and Taipei and Milan. From 16 January 2026, the Taipei-Milan-Taipei route will be offering a daily service, representing an increase of 3 flights per week (the route currently operates flights 4 days per week). What’s more the Taipei-Brisbane-Taipei route will see additional flights operate every Tuesday between 2nd December 2025 and 24th February 2026.
Marriott Bonvoy and Miles & More Join Forces to Elevate Member Benefits
Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s award-winning travel platform, today announced a preferred partnership with Miles & More, the loyalty programme of the Lufthansa Group, designed to enhance travel experiences, reward loyalty and provide more ways for members of both programmes to earn and enjoy rewards through travel.
Marriott International Signs Agreement to Bring the Iconic St. Regis Brand to the North of Bodrum
Marriott International, Inc. today announced it has signed an agreement with Kuzu Group to bring a luxury resort and branded residences under the iconic St. Regis brand within the secluded enclave of the Kazikli Cove in Bodrum. Anticipated to open in 2030, the beachfront project will bring the brand’s celebrated rituals, bespoke spirit, storied heritage and signature Butler service to Türkiye’s renowned Aegean coast.
Quore Empowers Hotel Housekeepers with Technology Tips to Make Their Jobs Easier
In honor of International Housekeeping Week, September 14 to 20, Quore is celebrating the vital role housekeepers play in hotel operations and highlighting how technology can simplify the hardest and often most thankless job they perform. Quore’s Cleanings Plus gives housekeeping teams a smarter way to stay connected. By streamlining communication and enhancing efficiency across shifts, the platform helps housekeepers and managers stay on the same page. And when paired with a hotel’s property management system, it adds another layer of seamless integration to keep operations running smoothly.
Kempinski Hotels Names Frank Veenstra as Chief Development Officer
Kempinski Hotels has announced the appointment of Frank Veenstra as Chief Development Officer, tasking him with helping to shape the brand’s next phase as Kempinski continues to move into the ultra-luxury segment. Veenstra will lead the evolution of Kempinski’s development strategy, focusing on curating its portfolio in ways that resonate with a new generation of high-end travellers while honouring Kempinski’s legacy as Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group. As Chief Development Officer, Veenstra will be responsible for advancing and refining the organization’s growth strategy, selectively determining hotel assets for investment while navigating continued growth through management agreements, and developing and strengthening the larger development team for long–term success.
Kerzner International Announces New One&Only Resort and Private Homes to Open in Fiji
Kerzner International Holdings Limited (“Kerzner”) recently announced the signing of the first One&Only resort and community of Private Homes to be developed in Fiji. Located in the Yasawa Islands, an archipelago in Western Fiji, the resort is slated to open in 2029 with Private Homes going on sale this November.
Wyndham Rewards Adds KrisFlyer as Newest Point Transfer Partner
Wyndham Rewards®, the #1 hotel loyalty program as named by readers of USA TODAY, has added KrisFlyer, the lifestyle rewards program of the Singapore Airlines Group, to its roster of point transfer partners, giving its approximately 120 million enrolled members new ways to unlock added value from their membership.
Grand Hyatt Evolves Offerings in Holistic Wellbeing, Experiential Programs and Food & Beverage
The Grand Hyatt brand, Asia’s standard bearer of premium hospitality for more than 35 years, is strategically investing in evolving its offerings across the region to further support the changing needs of meetings and events planners and attendees. The shift includes placing sustainability and wellbeing at the heart of the event experience, implementing innovative event features at new properties to inspire creativity, and elevating Hyatt’s signature focus on dining with fresh banquet and catering menus.
IHG’s first dual-branded hotel in Australia opens
IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s largest and leading hotel companies, has opened its first dual-branded hotel in Australia, with the opening of Hotel Indigo Melbourne Little Collins & Holiday Inn Melbourne Bourke Street Mall. The highly anticipated openings are part of an eight-year development in the heart of the reimagined ‘Melbourne Walk’ precinct and on the doorstep of Bourke Street Mall – one of the city’s most coveted retail destinations. The opening marks a significant milestone for the Holiday Inn brand as it returns to Melbourne’s CBD with its newest interior design style, while Hotel Indigo offers guests a distinct stay experience through its strength as a neighbourhood storyteller.
Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique Celebrates its Recent Opening
Hilton welcomed government officials and project partners to Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter in elegant, sustainable hospitality in the Guanacaste region. Set atop the dramatic cliffs of Punta Cacique with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, the ceremony marked a major milestone in Hilton’s global luxury expansion—particularly across Latin America.