This International Day of Persons with Disabilities, easyJet and easyJet holidays are proud to become an official member of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower global network. Becoming an official member is part of the airline and holiday companies’ continued work to make travel accessible for all and ensure customers who may need additional assistance can travel with the confidence that their needs will be recognised.

Billnäs Gård, the six-room luxury boutique hotel set in a restored 1912 manor house an hour from Helsinki, announces an exclusive culinary partnership with Sami Tallberg, Finland’s foremost foraging expert and acclaimed chef. This collaboration marries Tallberg’s two decades of wild food expertise with Billnäs Gård’s commitment to local produce and French-Finnish culinary heritage.

Viking today announced it has taken delivery of the company’s newest ocean ship, the Viking Vela®. The delivery ceremony took place this morning when the ship was presented at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona, Italy. Classified as a small ship, as are all Viking ocean ships, the Viking Vela has 499 staterooms that can host 998 guests. The Viking Vela joins the company’s growing fleet of award-winning ocean ships and will spend her inaugural season sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean and in Northern Europe.

Mandarin Oriental has announced full ownership in its branded collection of the world’s finest private vacation homes and mansions and will operate the business independently. In line with the Group’s brand-led, guest-centric vision, the portfolio offers more exceptional luxury experiences for guests in sought-after destinations. Launched as a limited collection of eight properties in 2022, the Group plans to grow the portfolio and further cement its leadership in the luxury villa market and simultaneously grow the base of Fans around the world.

GoNexus Group, a leading experiences and mobility travel group, proudly announces the launch of its newest division, Global DMC Network by NexusTours. This expansion reinforces the company’s commitment to global growth and innovation in the travel sector. This news comes shortly after GoNexus Group’s announcement of Javier Arévalo’s appointment as Managing Director of both the Global DMC Network and the newly created Hospitality Partnerships division. Under his leadership, GoNexus Group will spearhead the expansion of NexusTours’ global reach through strategic alliances with local affiliates. These partnerships will enable the company to open new destinations while fostering scalability to achieve its goal of becoming a global leader in destination management services.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has published its annual environment report, detailing the company’s commitment and its progress towards its environmental goals. In 2023, the airline achieved a 45.3% improvement in passenger carbon intensity compared to its 2019 baseline. This resulted in a carbon intensity of 475 grams of CO₂ per Revenue Tonne Kilometer (RTK) for passengers. Etihad’s strategy aims to reduce emissions through industry-specific actions, adhere to voluntary roadmaps and frameworks, collaborate with UAE’s industrial partners, maintain transparency and proactivity on environmental issues, and continuously update its strategic targets.