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Locanda La Raia, the biodynamic winery and boutique hotel in Piedmont, Italy, has officially reopened, welcoming guests back for a new season in the rolling hills of Gavi, in Lower Piedmont. Set within the biodynamic 200-hectare estate of La Raia, where vineyards, woods, lakes, gardens and farmland form a singular ecosystem, the reopening marks a new chapter for the estate’s hospitality offering with the expansion of Borgo de La Raia: an ancient rural hamlet carefully restored in 2024 into a space for hospitality, and now further developed with the addition of two new apartments, Ape Regina and La Villa, introducing a more residential style of stay.
Published: Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:37:13 +0000
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World Travel Awards (WTA) has announced that the paradise nation of the Maldives will host its Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2026, with travel industry leaders from across the region gathering for a prestigious VIP reception on 27 September 2026 to coincide with World Tourism Day.
The ceremony heralds the return of the Indian Ocean leg of the World Travel Awards Grand Tour, an annual series of red carpet events hosted in each continent. The decision reflects the strength of the travel and tourism sector in the Maldives and its leadership in the luxury, sustainability and experiential travel domains.
Published: Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:34:26 +0000
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Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has introduced Google’s Find Hub share item location feature to support the recovery of lost or delayed baggage, offering guests an additional, optional way to assist the airline’s teams during the baggage tracking process.
Through this feature, guests using a compatible tracker tag or Bluetooth accessory can generate a secure, temporary link and share the location of their baggage directly with Saudia when reporting a delayed or missing bag by attaching the shared link to the guest’s baggage claim record. The shared link provides time-limited access to location information, helping ground teams identify and recover baggage more efficiently. Location sharing can be stopped at any time by the guest and expires automatically after seven days.
Published: Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:26:49 +0000
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So after incredible scenes yesterday, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is now fully set, and with 48 nations heading to the United States, Canada and Mexico, this is not only football’s biggest stage, it is also one of the biggest tourism showcases on the planet. For some teams, the story is pure football pedigree. For others, it is also about destination power, visitor scale, global recognition and the chance to turn tournament visibility into future demand. France remains the world’s most visited destination on the latest comparable figures, with 102 million international tourists in 2024, ahead of Spain on 93.8 million and the United States on 72.4 million, while Turkey, Mexico, Germany and Japan all arrive with huge tourism weight of their own. Sport and tourism are now so tightly bound together, from airlines sponsoring stadiums to destinations sponsoring shirts, that the two are increasingly inseparable. So with that in mind, Breaking Travel News’ football fanatic Editor in Chief Justin “You’ll Never Walk Alone” Cooke has taken huge liberty and attempted to fuse football with tourism data to create his own ranking for who comes out on top at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Published: Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:17:14 +0000
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Tribute Portfolio, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, today announced the opening of Varel Singapore, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in one of Singapore’s most vibrant, character-rich neighbourhoods. Located at the kaleidoscopic crossroads of Selegie Road and Mount Sophia, the 128-room hotel further expands Tribute Portfolio’s footprint in Singapore, celebrating individuality, local character, and a uniquely personal approach to hospitality.
Rising on the former site of Selegie Centre, the newly-built boutique hotel marks a thoughtful transformation for the location, introducing an urban oasis within a neighbourhood undergoing a quiet revitalisation. Set within a heritage-rich precinct that traces stories of early immigrant communities through pre-war shophouses and Art Deco buildings, alongside late-night eateries, cafés, and indie haunts, Varel Singapore reflects the evolving identity of this spirited arts-and-culture district, where history, creativity and everyday life intersect.
Published: Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:15:09 +0000
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Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Emerald Cruises & Tours have launched a new trade incentive, offering travel agents the chance to win a sight-seeing helicopter tour.
Running until April 9, 2026, the prize will see one lucky agent awarded a helicopter tour over London, to coincide with the arrival of the 228-guest Scenic Eclipse II into the capital on July 31, 2026. It will be the first time the ultra-luxury Scenic discovery yacht enters UK waters.
Published: Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:13:27 +0000
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Regenerative travel is shaping the future of tourism, and at Las Torres Patagonia more than 30 years of family-led stewardship have shaped every aspect of this estancia experience in Chilean Patagonia. From inviting guests to share the heritage and traditions of Baqueano cowboy culture and sample their multifaceted zero-waste mixology program, to their long-term conservation, volunteer, community partnership and NGO-led initiatives. Importantly, Las Torres Patagonia also celebrates the people who have brought these endeavours to life.
Published: Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:11:36 +0000
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Viking® today announced its two newest ships for the Nile River—the Viking Ptah and the Viking Sekhmet—have been “floated out,” marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ships have touched water. Set to debut in September and November 2026, respectively, the Viking Ptah and the Viking Sekhmet will join the company’s growing fleet of state-of-the-art ships in Egypt and will sail Viking’s popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.
“Egypt is truly a phenomenal destination, distinguished by its remarkable history, enduring culture and the singular power of the Nile,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “With the float out of our two newest ships, we look forward to further expanding our elegant fleet on the Nile and welcoming more curious travellers to experience this extraordinary region in the years to come.”
Published: Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:09:24 +0000
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Marriott International, Inc. reinforced its long-term commitment to Greece with the announcement of nine deal signings comprising nearly 1,000 rooms, including the market entry of two brands - Residence Inn by Marriott and Le Méridien. The signings are expected to further enhance the company’s footprint in the country where it currently has a portfolio of 47 properties and over 6,000 rooms across 10 brands and 12 markets.
“As one of the world’s most desirable leisure destinations, Greece continues to offer significant opportunities for Marriott to expand its footprint across its islands, coastal regions, and urban centres,” said Jerome Briet, Chief Development Officer, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “These new signings reflect the strong confidence owners and franchisees place in Marriott and underscore the sustained demand for our diverse and inspiring portfolio of brands in the Greek market.”
Published: Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:07:02 +0000
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Holland America Line today (April 2, 2026) opened a month-long Anniversary Sale to mark its 153rd year.
Running to April 30, 2026, the sale features up to US$400 onboard credit per stateroom on departures from now to spring 2027, for cruises ranging from four to 69 days. The credit can be used on amenities including speciality dining, beverages, spa services, shore excursions, gift shop purchases and onboard photography.
Published: Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:05:16 +0000