This year, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest independent hotel brand, is introducing two of the continent’s most anticipated escapes for 2026: a barefoot-luxury eco-lodge on Zanzibar’s peaceful southeast coast and an intimate safari retreat set deep within Madikwe Game Reserve, one of South Africa’s most pristine wilderness areas.

United Airlines has been recognised with multiple honours at the 40th anniversary Business Traveller Cellars in the Sky Awards in London, reinforcing the airline’s position as a leader in premium onboard wine experiences. The airline received a Gold Medal in the ‘Business Class Red Wine’ category for The Mascot Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, which judges praised for its “exceptional depth, rich fruit tannins, great balance and presence”. United also secured Gold in the ‘Drinks Innovation: Bespoke Drinks Partnership’ category for its collaboration with Champagne Laurent-Perrier and the bespoke Laurent-Perrier “La Cuvée”, UA 100, created to celebrate United’s 100th anniversary and mark a century of connecting customers around the world.

Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has signed a hotel management agreement with Atmosphere, a luxury real estate and hospitality development company focused on creating premium lifestyle destinations, to introduce Dusit’s upper-midscale Dusit Princess brand in the Tehri Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. Slated to open in 2031 amidst the tranquil Himalayan foothills near Rishikesh, one of India’s most sought-after destinations for spirituality, wellness and adventure tourism, the project is envisioned as an upscale mixed-use development that combines contemporary hospitality with immersive, wellness-led experiences inspired by the surrounding natural landscape.

Wizz Air, the fastest-growing European airline and London’s local airline, today celebrates the launch of its new direct route between London Luton Airport (LLA) and Yerevan (EVN) becoming the only airline currently offering direct flights between the United Kingdom and Armenia. The inaugural flight departed yesterday, providing British travellers with direct access to one of the Caucasus region’s most captivating, but unspoiled destinations while strengthening connectivity between the UK and Armenia.

New research commissioned by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) warns that prolonged border delays linked to the rollout of Europe’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) could put up to 41 million visitor arrivals and $45.4 billion in visitor spending at risk from four of Europe’s most important source markets. The analysis, based on a survey of more than 2,500 travellers from the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Australia, found that if travellers face regular border waits of three to four hours when entering the Schengen Area, around one-third would become much less likely to travel to Schengen or would choose not to visit at all.

New consumer sentiment research, released today from ABTA – The Travel Association, explores the impact of the conflict in the Middle East and the rising cost of living on people’s intention to travel over the next 12 months. It shows that a strong appetite to travel abroad remains, with 64% of people planning to travel overseas during the next 12 months