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Shaza Hotels is setting its sights on a new phase of international growth, with Turkey, Central Asia and North Africa identified as priority markets for expansion from 2027, as the luxury hospitality group looks beyond its established GCC base towards destinations offering strong potential for culturally relevant, family-focused hospitality.
Unveiling its strategic expansion plans during Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, Shaza Hotels said its next phase of development will be driven not simply by adding hotels, but by identifying markets where its distinctive hospitality philosophy can respond to evolving traveller expectations.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 14:08:52 +0000
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Nobody at the European Commission wants to say the words “EES has failed”. So Holiday Extras will say them, and add a fairly simple follow up question: if nine countries covering most of Europe’s tourism have just been quietly told they can keep delaying it with no deadline in sight, why not just turn the whole thing off?
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 14:06:37 +0000
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flydubai continues to strengthen its network and add capacity as it responds to resilient travel demand.
The airline has restored operations to 85% of its network, demonstrating the agility of its business model and its ability to progressively adapt to a changing operating environment. This flexibility has enabled flydubai to grow to more than 125 destinations across its network in 56 countries. flydubai has also added capacity in key markets, built on the confidence in the long-term fundamentals of travel demand.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 13:54:47 +0000
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flydubai has announced the next phase of its growth strategy, expanding its fleet beyond 100 aircraft and launching a new cabin retrofit programme in September.
The airline will take delivery of 11 additional aircraft in 2026, including seven Boeing 737-9 MAX and four Boeing 737-8 MAX, marking a significant step in its ongoing expansion.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 13:46:58 +0000
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Zeal Connect today launched Zeal CRM, an AI-first CRM built for travel. It completes a platform that carries a booking from first enquiry to final resolution flights, hotels, packages, corporate travel or groups and arrives days before Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, where Zeal CRM and Zeal Desk will be shown together for the first time.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 13:44:18 +0000
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The capabilities provide the infrastructure sellers need to run modern direct hotel contracting programs at scale while expanding the hotel options available through Amadeus’ net-rate merchant program
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 13:42:55 +0000
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Gulf nations must showcase the differences in their offerings while presenting a united front to international visitors, according to regional business events leaders speaking on day two of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026. The 33rd edition of ATM is being hosted at Dubai World Trade Centre until Thursday 17 September.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 13:41:44 +0000
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This unified data foundation powers advanced AI capabilities designed to accelerate decision-making, improve operational performance, and drive business growth
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 13:20:20 +0000
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The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) celebrates the success of the “Amazing Thailand Ambassador” project, which generated more than 448 million impressions across media and digital channels. The initiative reflects TAT’s efforts to evolve how Thailand is communicated as a destination in response to today’s changing traveller behaviours and digital landscape, using contemporary stories, content, and perspectives to connect audiences with Thailand’s unique charm. As part of the initiative, LISA, as the Amazing Thailand Ambassador, helped showcase Thailand’s stories and perspectives to travellers through the “Feel All the feelings” campaign, sparking widespread conversation and inspiring people to experience and discover Thailand for themselves.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:01:41 +0000
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Jamaica will host World Travel Week, a major gathering of global tourism stakeholders, from October 10–15 at Princess Resorts in Negril. Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett made the announcement at the World Travel Awards in Dubai on Sunday, calling it “a statement that Jamaica is ready, willing, and able to lead the global conversation on the future of travel.”
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:54:15 +0000
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As businesses navigate evolving workforce needs, artificial intelligence (AI) presents new opportunities to strengthen productivity, develop talent and support operations. Realizing that potential, however, requires businesses to prepare their people to use AI effectively and responsibly. The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is helping the region’s hospitality and tourism businesses do just that with the release of the AI Workforce Transformation Guide for Caribbean Hospitality: Practical Strategies for People Management, Learning and Leadership – the third edition of its AI Guidebook Series.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:49:17 +0000
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AmaWaterways has launched its new 2027 Journeys That Move You brochure, showcasing its Exotic programmes, latest itineraries including City Escapes and upcoming ship launches including AmaMaya on the Mekong, AmaRudi on the Danube and AmaNubia on the Nile.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:47:37 +0000
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Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has launched its Beyond Borders product and experience, bringing its ambition to life through the next evolution of the Etihad guest journey.
Making its world debut at Arabian Travel Market, Etihad’s new Airbus A330 cabin provides a major showcase of Beyond Borders, with all-new First, Business and Economy interiors and a signature design language that will progressively extend across the airline’s growing fleet and premium spaces. Alongside the A330, Etihad is showcasing how the Beyond Borders look and feel will extend to the A321LR across First, Business and Economy, creating greater consistency across the Etihad journey.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:43:44 +0000
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Hilton has announced a significant expansion to its value-focused brand Spark by Hilton with the signing of 10 hotels across the UK, boosting the brand’s footprint across England and Wales. The additions will bring 672 Hilton rooms to Cardiff, Coventry, Derby, Doncaster, Hull, Peterborough, Runcorn, Sunderland, Wakefield and Washington, with the hotels expected to open between late 2026 and 2028.
Paul Blackmore, vice president, development, UK & Ireland, Hilton, said: “These signings underline the strength of demand for Spark by Hilton we are seeing from owners across the UK. With nearly 700 rooms in the pipeline, including the brand’s first hotel in Wales, Spark continues to gain momentum as owners recognise the strength of its value proposition and its ability to meet the needs of today’s travellers.”
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:40:16 +0000
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Marriott International, Inc. today announced it has signed an agreement with Özak GYO to introduce its first luxury, all-inclusive resort in the Europe, Middle East & Africa region. Situated in Kemer within the Antalya region, The Ritz-Carlton, Kemer, All- Inclusive is set to deliver legendary service and an elegant aesthetic, along with an immersive resort experience in one of Türkiye’s most coveted coastal destinations.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:33:44 +0000
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PriceTravel Holding, one of Latin America’s leading travel distribution companies, has signed a new direct connectivity agreement with Mangia’s Hotels & Resorts, connecting 12 properties across Sicily and Sardinia with its international distribution network and expanding the Italian hotel group’s access to leisure demand across Latin America and other international source markets.
The partnership gives Mangia’s access to PriceTravel Holding’s network of more than 16,000 affiliated travel agencies and 28,000 active travel agents, while its wholesale business reaches more than 180 source markets. The agreement forms part of Mangia’s broader strategy to strengthen the international distribution of its portfolio and connect its Sicilian and Sardinian properties with new travel trade partners worldwide.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:31:22 +0000
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Technology, talent and an unwavering focus on the customer will be critical to maintaining competitiveness as the travel industry enters its next phase of growth, according to senior industry leaders at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:05:15 +0000
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Red Sea Global (RSG), the regenerative tourism developer, has announced that AMAALA Yacht Club has officially begun operations, marking a major milestone in establishing the Saudi Red Sea as a new global destination for luxury yachting, sailing and marine tourism.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:02:36 +0000
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River cruise operator VIVA Cruises has launched dedicated coach departures for its three-night ‘Advent on the Rhine’ and four-night ‘City Hopping Netherlands’ sailings.
The departures - on November 14 for ‘City Hopping Netherlands’ and December 14, 2026, for ‘Advent on the Rhine’ - are on an executive-class coach departing from London, with an additional pickup stop in Maidstone, Kent, before heading to the Eurotunnel and on to Düsseldorf to board VIVA MOMENTS.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 08:58:23 +0000
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Virgin Voyages has completed its biggest UK and Ireland trade activation to date, welcoming more than 1,200 First Mates (travel agents) onboard Valiant Lady this summer.
The ‘Valiant Lady UK Summer Tour 2026’ took place throughout August, calling at Dublin, Glasgow, Liverpool, Belfast, Edinburgh and Portsmouth (twice). It marked the highest number of ports and ship visits Virgin Voyages has included in a single UK and Ireland trade initiative.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 08:54:39 +0000
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All-inclusive ski holidays and Arctic adventures are among the fastest-growing travel trends for UAE residents this winter, according to the latest booking data from dnata Travel.
The company is seeing growing demand for snow-based holidays and cooler-climate escapes across Europe and Asia. Japan has entered dnata Travel’s top five most-booked international destinations for winter 2026/27 to date, while Finland, France, Switzerland, and Georgia are recording some of the strongest year-on-year increases in bookings and climbing the company’s top 20 winter destinations ranking.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 08:53:45 +0000
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Aethos invites travellers to rediscover autumn in Italy — from a final stretch of alpine summer and Sardinia’s coast before it closes for the year, to Milan’s autumn programming and the harvest season in Umbria’s hills.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 08:49:39 +0000
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LION welcomes guests back on September 25th, marking the return of a familiar home on the 62nd floor of Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai. With Mediterranean cuisine at its heart, the restaurant brings renewed focus to open-fire cooking and a personal approach to hospitality, inviting familiar faces and first-time guests to settle into its home above the city.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 08:40:11 +0000
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London, Paris and Amsterdam are among the most popular European city breaks for customers travelling this autumn and winter, while New York and Boston top the list of transatlantic destinations, according to new Aer Lingus booking data.
Aer Lingus recently launched of one of its biggest sales of the year, offering savings across its global network. The airline is offering discounts on millions of seats across over 100 routes, giving customers the opportunity to plan their next getaway for less.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 08:39:52 +0000
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Luxury Group by Marriott International and Sotheby’s continues to deepen their global partnership, bringing their exclusive masterclass series to Asia Pacific for the first time. Building on last year’s debut through private tours at Sotheby’s Maison during Sotheby’s Hong Kong’s Luxury Week, this next chapter introduces “The Art of Knowing,” a multi-faceted series spanning digital masterclass content and exclusive in-person experiences that offer deeper access to the worlds of rare craftsmanship, heritage, and high-value collecting.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 08:36:42 +0000
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With approximately six in ten international visitors reaching its shores through Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi, Seychelles Tourism Board is placing the GCC at the centre of its strategy for high-value, sustainable tourism at Arabian Travel Market 2026.
The destination’s participation is anchored by plans to sign an MoU with Emirates, stronger engagement with the regional travel trade and a renewed ambition to introduce Middle Eastern travellers to a Seychelles experience that extends far beyond its world-famous beaches.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 08:31:46 +0000
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Rotana, one of the leading hotel management companies in the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and Türkiye, is highlighting the scale and direction of its growth strategy at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, with 40 properties and 8,334 keys under development alongside 78 operating properties representing across the region.
Saudi Arabia accounts for 10 of Rotana’s 40 properties under development, representing 1,404 keys and one quarter of the group’s pipeline. The developments span Riyadh, Jeddah and Makkah, as well as Hail, Abha and Al Baha, reflecting an approach that balances established gateways with emerging destinations supported by growing domestic demand.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 08:28:18 +0000
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Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport renewed Level 5 of the Airports Council International (ACI) Customer Experience Accreditation Program for the third time, the highest level of this international program specializing in the assessment of how airports manage the passenger experience.
With this renewal, Quito Airport remains among a group of only 12 airports worldwide that have achieved Level 5. In the Americas, only two airports have reached this level.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 06:43:55 +0000
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AROYA Cruises, the first Arabian cruise line, has announced an expanded 2026-27 Mediterranean programme from Galataport Istanbul, its Mediterranean homeport. Key additions include Alexandria as a second embarkation gateway and AROYA’s first overnight calls in the city on selected itineraries, alongside new ports of call and its first two 14-night voyages.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 06:40:04 +0000
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This week, the Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) shines the spotlight on Natasha J. Chalwell, a distinguished leadership laureate who will be celebrated at the 2026 CMEx Leadership Awards and Fundraiser on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026, at Loews Coral Gables Hotel in the Miami area.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 06:38:05 +0000
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Anguilla welcomed a record 81,907 stayover visitors from January through June 2026, up 19.9% from 68,287 during the same period last year, extending the momentum from the island’s strongest first quarter on record.
at Tue, 15 Sep 2026 06:35:16 +0000
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Discussions targeted financing pathways for MSMEs as Jamaica deepens tourism ties with Saudi Arabia
at Mon, 14 Sep 2026 19:07:59 +0000
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His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, today visited the 33rd edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre until 17 September. The event brings together leading travel and tourism organisations, companies and industry professionals from the UAE, the region and across the world.
His Highness was accompanied during the visit by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and a number of senior officials.
at Mon, 14 Sep 2026 17:23:35 +0000
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Preparedness and multilateral collaboration were at the top of the agenda on the opening day of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, as policymakers from the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe and the United Nations (UN) examined the resilience and long-term trajectory of the GCC’s tourism industry. The 33rd edition of ATM is being hosted at Dubai World Trade Centre until Thursday 17 September.
H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Cabinet Member and Minister, Economy and Tourism, and H.E. Shaikha Al Nuwais, Secretary-General, UN Tourism, took to ATM 2026’s Global Stage to deliver welcome addresses on day one of the event, following opening remarks from Hugh Jones, CEO, RX Global.
at Mon, 14 Sep 2026 14:12:31 +0000
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Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026 officially opened its Future Stage today, with industry leaders examining how artificial intelligence (AI) is moving beyond personalisation, chatbots and automated customer service to reshape the underlying systems on which the global travel industry operates.
Located within the Tech & Innovation Hub at the newly launched ATM Travel Tech, Rachel Travers, President, UK Hub at RX Global, officially opened the Future Stage and welcomed attendees to four days of discussions on the technologies, ideas and innovations transforming the global travel industry.
at Mon, 14 Sep 2026 13:24:39 +0000
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The German National Tourist Office GCC (GNTO GCC) has today announced that the number of overnight stays by GCC visitors to Germany has grown steadily since 2022 to 1.2 million in 2025, an increase of 9%, while GCC travellers spent a total of €3 billion, over 30% more than the average expenditure of all overseas visitors to Germany in 2025.
The announcement was made during a press conference on the opening day of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, taking place from 14–17 September 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).
at Mon, 14 Sep 2026 13:22:06 +0000
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Marking its 16th consecutive year at the Arabian Travel Market, Hospitality Management Holding (HMH) continues to demonstrate that cultural authenticity and sharp operational discipline are the true cornerstones of sustainable hospitality. In a regional market marked by rapid transformation and shifting traveller expectations, our sustained presence at ATM represents more than institutional longevity, it reflects an enduring commitment to authentic Emirati hospitality paired with the commercial precision required to lead in a dynamic industry.
at Mon, 14 Sep 2026 13:19:46 +0000
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There are few places in the United Arab Emirates where the landscape still seems to belong to the birds, the fishermen and the tides. In Umm Al Quwain, the pace changes almost immediately. The towers recede, the roads become quieter and the coastline opens into a world of lagoons, mangroves and islands, where the Gulf seems less like a backdrop and more like the reason for being here.
It is precisely this sense of escape that makes Umm Al Quwain increasingly intriguing — and at the 2026 World Travel Awards Middle East Gala Ceremony in Dubai, the emirate received an important vote of confidence when Flamingo Beach Hotel was named Umm Al Quwain’s Leading Hotel 2026.
at Mon, 14 Sep 2026 13:14:16 +0000
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There is a different rhythm to Fujairah. Beyond the glass towers and manicured avenues of the UAE’s better-known cities, the landscape rises dramatically into the Hajar Mountains, while the Gulf of Oman stretches out towards the horizon. It is a side of the Emirates that feels wilder, more elemental and, increasingly, rather irresistible.
At last night’s World Travel Awards Middle East Gala Ceremony at One&Only One Za’abeel in Dubai, Fujairah received international recognition for precisely those qualities, collecting five emirate-level awards across its hotels, resorts and travel industry. The ceremony, held on 13 September, brought together the region’s leading tourism and hospitality names, with Fujairah emerging with a particularly compelling collection of victories.
at Mon, 14 Sep 2026 13:09:32 +0000
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For years, Ajman was the emirate that many travellers passed through rather than travelled to. Smaller, quieter and considerably less showy than Dubai, it occupied a curious place in the UAE’s tourism story: close enough to the country’s major attractions to be convenient, yet sufficiently removed from the international spotlight to retain a character of its own.
That perception is changing.
At the World Travel Awards Middle East Gala Ceremony, held at One&Only One Za’abeel in Dubai on 13 September, Ajman was named Middle East’s Leading Emerging Tourism Destination 2026 — a prestigious regional accolade that places the emirate firmly among the destinations to watch.
at Mon, 14 Sep 2026 13:03:22 +0000
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