Travel Industry news

• Audley Travel launches trade incentive, with double the reward

  04-10-2026 09:17 via breakingtravelnews.com
  Tailor-made specialist Audley Travel has launched a trade booking incentive for the final quarter of the year to reward agents for their support – with the chance to win a £20,000 voucher towards a personal and bespoke Audley trip of their very own - double the prize offered in 2025.
  
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• Top Middle East leaders - Hamad Al Khater Qatar Airways Group

  04-10-2026 13:21 via breakingtravelnews.com
  When Hamad Al Khater became group chief executive of Qatar Airways in December 2025, he inherited one of the world’s most internationally recognised airline brands. He also inherited an unusually interconnected business: a global carrier, Hamad International Airport, cargo, ground handling, catering, retail and tourism interests all organised around Doha’s role as a transfer hub.
  Al Khater arrived with direct experience of that operating system. Before taking the group role, he was c
  
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• Top Middle East leaders - Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum Emirates Airline and Group

  04-10-2026 13:18 via breakingtravelnews.com
  There are airline leaders, airport leaders and destination leaders. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum has spent much of his career operating across all three categories at once. As chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group, chairman of Dubai Airports and chairman of flydubai, he sits at the junction where Dubai’s aviation capacity, network reach and visitor economy meet.
  That position was not created overnight. Sheikh Ahmed began his aviation career in 1985, the year Emira
  
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• Top Middle East leaders - Mohamed Mehdi Haloui Tunisian National Tourist Office

  04-10-2026 13:16 via breakingtravelnews.com
  Tunisia’s tourism recovery has brought back volume. Under Mohamed Mehdi Haloui, the next task is to improve the quality, spread and economic value of that demand. He became director general of the Tunisian National Tourist Office in April 2025, moving into the top role after serving as the organisation’s investment director and working directly on tourism development projects.
  As investment director, he encountered the central weakness in Tunisia’s recovery proposition: demand
  
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• Top Middle East leaders - Ramzi Maaytah Jordan Tourism Board

  04-10-2026 13:13 via breakingtravelnews.com
  Jordan possesses one of tourism’s most recognisable icons in Petra, yet recognition does not insulate a destination from regional perception. Ramzi Maaytah became director general of the Jordan Tourism Board in December 2025 at a time when events beyond the country’s borders were influencing bookings, air capacity and insurance decisions.
  Maaytah brought experience in international tourism, destination development and advisory work. Trained as an economist, with education connected t
  
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• Top Middle East leaders - Phillipa Harrison Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority

  04-10-2026 13:11 via breakingtravelnews.com
  Phillipa Harrison became chief executive of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority in September 2025, moving from a national tourism organisation to one of the world’s most closely watched emerging destinations. Her appointment placed an experienced international marketer in charge just as the emirate entered a major hotel and attraction cycle.
  Harrison spent eight years at Tourism Australia and served as managing director from 2019. Her tenure included bushfires, border closures and
  
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• Top Middle East leaders - Sultan bin Badr Al Otaibi TAIBA

  04-10-2026 13:09 via breakingtravelnews.com
  Saudi hospitality is not only being built through new projects. It is also being consolidated into larger national platforms capable of owning, developing and operating assets at scale. Sultan bin Badr Al Otaibi stands at the centre of that process as chief executive of TAIBA.
  Al Otaibi began his career in finance before moving through hotel development, operations and partnerships. He became a vice president in 2014 and chief executive of Dur Hospitality in 2019. Following the combination of Du
  
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• Top Middle East leaders - Hossam El Shaer SUNRISE Resorts and Cruises

  04-10-2026 13:06 via breakingtravelnews.com
  Hossam El Shaer’s career is rooted in a family travel business founded in 1971. That heritage gave him an early view of tourism from the distribution side: how visitors choose destinations, what tour operators need and how external shocks affect demand. When he established SUNRISE Resorts and Cruises in 2002, he brought that market knowledge into hotel ownership and operations.
  By 2026, SUNRISE operated across 15 destinations in Egypt, Greece, Tanzania and Morocco. Its portfolio comprised
  
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• Top Middle East leaders - Adel El Fakir

  04-10-2026 13:04 via breakingtravelnews.com
  Adel El Fakir has experienced destination growth from both sides of the terminal. As chief executive of the Moroccan National Tourism Office, he was responsible for persuading travellers and airlines to choose Morocco. Since becoming director general of Airports of Morocco in June 2024, he has been responsible for what happens when that demand arrives.
  The career transition is strategically significant. Marketing can accelerate visitor numbers faster than infrastructure can absorb them. By movin
  
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• Top Middle East leaders - Kamel Abou Aly Pickalbatros Hotels and Resorts

  04-10-2026 13:02 via breakingtravelnews.com
  The origin story of Pickalbatros Hotels and Resorts is unusually personal. Kamel Abou Aly has recounted how an unsatisfactory stay in Hurghada convinced him that Egypt’s growing Red Sea market needed better organised resorts. In 1992, he founded the company and began developing the Beach Albatros concept.
  Born in Port Said in 1954, Abou Aly spent part of his early career in Switzerland before returning to Egypt. His background included sport and ice hockey, experiences that helped shape hi
  
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• Top Middle East leaders - Tarek M El Sayed Al Rayyan Tourism Investment Company

  04-10-2026 12:58 via breakingtravelnews.com
  Tarek M El Sayed’s portfolio is global, but its strategic centre remains Doha. As chief executive of Al Rayyan Tourism Investment Company, known as ARTIC, he oversees 30 hotels and resorts with more than 8,000 rooms, alongside approximately 1,830 residences and close to 100,000 square metres of commercial space.
  The assets span 14 cities, including Doha, Cairo, Rome, Istanbul, Berlin and Miami. This geographic spread gives ARTIC exposure to business travel, leisure, domestic demand and int
  
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• Maison 71 strengthens team with Jerell Atrio Francisco appointment

  04-10-2026 09:52 via breakingtravelnews.com
  Maison 71 has appointed Jerell Atrio Francisco as Office Manager, adding experience in property administration, digital visibility and online fraud analysis to the team behind its real estate and hospitality advisory business.The Abu Dhabi-headquartered firm recently announced a dedicated hospitality division during FHS World, with a focus on hotel and resort acquisitions, sales and development partnerships across the GCC, Caribbean and Indian Ocean. Francisco’s appointment supports the da
  
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• Ennismore signs Delano Puglia, introducing the iconic brand to Italy’s Adriatic Coast

  04-10-2026 09:40 via breakingtravelnews.com
  Ennismore, the fastest-growing lifestyle hospitality company, together with LIMM and Società Rinascimento Valori, are delighted to announce the signing of Delano Puglia, marking the brand’s first property in Italy. Set to open in 2028, the resort will introduce Delano’s inimitable blend of effortless elegance and cultural energy to one of Italy’s most compelling coastal regions.
  
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• AMAWATERWAYS PARTNER WITH CELEBRITY CHEF THEO RANDALL TO OFFER EXCLUSIVE CHEF’S TABLE DINING

  04-10-2026 09:35 via breakingtravelnews.com
  AmaWaterways has announced a culinary partnership with acclaimed British chef, Theo Randall, for an exclusive July sailing on board the luxury AmaWaterways AmaLea ship for the Romantic Danube itinerary.Sailing the Danube River through Germany, Austria and Hungary from the 17th – 24th July 2027, this partnership will see Theo host two intimate Chef’s Table luxury dining experiences on board the ship, designed to showcase the culinary depth of a scenic AmaWaterways cruise. Theo will ca
  
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• CHIVA-SOM HUA HIN CONCLUDES 2026 WITH A CALENDAR OF HOLISTIC WELLNESS EXPERIENCES

  04-10-2026 09:28 via breakingtravelnews.com
  Transformative holistic wellness destination Chiva-Som Hua Hin has unveiled a calendar of complimentary experiences for the final quarter of 2026. From October to December, guests can embrace the grounding qualities of Earth, the final element of Thai Traditional Medicine (TTM), through movement classes, sound healing experiences and expert-led talks designed to enhance strength, stability and balance. Alongside the wellness program, seasonal celebrations including Loy Krathong, as well as the i
  
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• Asian Tour Destinations goes global as Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort joins network

  04-10-2026 09:24 via breakingtravelnews.com
  Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort in Morocco has become the first club outside of Asia to join Asian Tour Destinations (ATD) – following an announcement today by the award-winning venue and the Asian Tour.The resort’s golf club played an important role in professional golf this summer when it hosted back-to-back events on the Asian Tour and Asian Development Tour (ADT), and today’s news further cements its relationship with the game at the highest level.
  
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• FAIRMONT NEW ORLEANS OPENS BOOKINGS AHEAD OF NOVEMBER 2nd DEBUT

  04-10-2026 09:19 via breakingtravelnews.com
  Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a global luxury brand part of Accor, has today announced reservations from November 2nd are now live, ahead of its much-anticipated opening. As Fairmont’s newest property, Fairmont New Orleans will be the brand’s 19th property in the USA. Located in New Orleans’ Central Business District, just steps from the French Quarter and Ceasars Superdome, the hotel’s opening marks the much-anticipated grand return of the iconic luxury brand to the Cre
  
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• Brand USA Invites Visitors to Experience American Rail in 2027

  04-10-2026 09:13 via breakingtravelnews.com
  In 2027, the United States marks 200 years since the beginning of its railroad era, providing travelers with a timely reason to experience the country from a different perspective: through the window of a train.  From crossing the Rocky Mountains and following the path of Route 66 to riding vintage trains through historic landscapes and sleeping inside restored railway carriages, Brand USA is highlighting unique and unforgettable ways to experience 200 years of American rail.
  
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• Pools with a view, bars with character and a different expression of Mykonos at every address.

  04-10-2026 09:02 via breakingtravelnews.com
  The Mykonos pool scene has developed a character of its own. More than a place for a morning swim, the best hotel pools now set the pace of the day, moving between leisurely lunches, sunset cocktails and evenings beneath the island sky.
  Across Myconian Collection, pools and bars are shaped by their location. Some overlook the rooftops of Mykonos Town, others follow the hillsides above Elia, while in Ornos and Agrari, the distance between pool and sea is reduced to a few steps.
  
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• Ten Beautiful Fairytale Castle Hotels For A Relaxing Getaway

  04-10-2026 08:56 via breakingtravelnews.com
  Looking for the perfect way to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or milestone? Staying in a grand castle hotel that blends modern luxury with rich history could be the ultimate way to mark the occasion. This is why the global car rental and comparison site DiscoverCars.com have researched and put together this list of ten fairytale castle destinations across Europe. The cost for a two-night stay from 25th-27th September and car hire prices for the same time frame are included.
  
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• WTTC and ICC unite to strengthen the voice and growth of millions of Travel & Tourism SMEs worldwide

  03-10-2026 08:49 via breakingtravelnews.com
  The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen the voice, growth and competitiveness of millions of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the global Travel & Tourism sector.The partnership brings together WTTC’s specialist Travel & Tourism expertise, economic research and industry insight with ICC’s global business network spanning more than 45 million busin
  
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• Top Middle East leaders - Adeeb Ahamed Twenty14 Holdings

  03-10-2026 08:46 via breakingtravelnews.com
  Adeeb Ahamed approaches hotels as both experiences and long-duration assets. Since founding Twenty14 Holdings in 2014, he has assembled a portfolio valued at more than $750 million, with properties in the UK, the Middle East and India. The collection includes Great Scotland Yard in London, Sheraton Oman, Pullman Dubai Downtown, Port Muziris in Kochi and the historic Caledonian in Edinburgh.
  Ahamed’s route into hotel investment was not conventional. He began his career in hospitality, with
  
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• Top Middle East leaders - Philippe Zuber Kerzner International

  03-10-2026 08:43 via breakingtravelnews.com
  Philippe Zuber leads a company whose properties are expected to be destinations in their own right. Atlantis, One&Only, SIRO and Rare Finds operate in different parts of the market, but each depends on a strong concept rather than simple accommodation. Zuber’s role is to make those concepts commercially scalable without making them feel manufactured.
  He became chief executive of Kerzner International in 2020 after joining the company in 2015 as president and chief operating officer of
  
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• Top Middle East leaders - Ghaith Al Ghaith flydubai

  03-10-2026 08:41 via breakingtravelnews.com
  When flydubai was created in 2008, its purpose was to connect Dubai with underserved regional markets using a simple narrowbody model. Under chief executive Ghaith Al Ghaith, it has grown into something more complex: a network airline that complements Emirates, carries premium as well as value-conscious travellers and reaches cities larger aircraft cannot serve efficiently.
  Al Ghaith brought more than two decades of aviation experience to the launch. He joined Emirates in 1986 and rose to execut
  
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• Top Middle East leaders - Bander Almohanna flynas

  03-10-2026 08:39 via breakingtravelnews.com
  Bander Almohanna’s career at flynas spans nearly the entire modern history of the airline. He joined in 2006 as chief financial officer, became executive vice president in 2008 and took the chief executive role in 2015. That continuity has allowed him to influence not only the carrier’s network, but also its capital structure and operating model.
  His background is unusually well suited to that task. Almohanna earned an accounting degree from King Saud University, an MBA from American
  
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• Top Middle East leaders - Guy Hutchinson Hilton

  03-10-2026 08:37 via breakingtravelnews.com
  Guy Hutchinson’s appointment as Hilton’s president for the Middle East and Africa was a return as much as a new beginning. Before leading Rotana from 2020 to 2024, he had spent 16 years with Hilton in operational and regional roles across the Middle East, Europe, Japan, China, Australia and India.
  That combination gives Hutchinson an uncommon perspective. He understands the systems, brand architecture and loyalty economics of a global hotel company, but he has also run a regional com
  
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• PREFERRED HOTELS & RESORTS EXPANDS PRESTIGIOUS LEGEND COLLECTION

  03-10-2026 08:36 via breakingtravelnews.com
  Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest independent hotel brand, announces the continued expansion of its prestigious Legend Collection with the addition of 11 distinguished properties in 2026. The growth has brought new representation across Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, further strengthening a collection that now encompasses over 125 legendary properties worldwide.
  
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• Top Middle East leaders - Imad Barrakad Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development

  03-10-2026 08:34 via breakingtravelnews.com
  Tourism strategies often begin with targets and end with marketing. Imad Barrakad works in the complicated middle: land, finance, infrastructure, investors and the conversion of concepts into operating destinations. As chief executive of the Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development, known as SMIT, he has occupied that space since 2011.
  Barrakad is an industrial engineer with postgraduate training in project management. Before moving into tourism, he built his career at Morocco’s national el
  
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• JULES VERNE LAUNCHES 2027/28 WORLDWIDE COLLECTION FEATURING NEW TOURS ACROSS ASIA AND EUROPE

  03-10-2026 08:34 via breakingtravelnews.com
  Jules Verne has unveiled its new Worldwide Collection for 2027/28, bringing together over 120 small group tours across more than 80 destinations and introducing a range of new itineraries for 2027.Designed for curious travellers seeking deeper cultural experiences, the collection includes escorted tours, rail journeys, wildlife adventures and river cruises. Among the new additions for 2027 are new tours to Venice, Malta and Madeira, as well as longer-haul adventures across India, China, Japan an
  
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• Top Middle East leaders - Duncan O’Rourke Accor

  03-10-2026 08:32 via breakingtravelnews.com
  Duncan O’Rourke manages hospitality at continental scale. As chief executive for Accor’s premium, midscale and economy division across the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, he is responsible for markets ranging from mature tourism economies to cities receiving their first internationally branded hotels.
  O’Rourke assumed the expanded role in 2023 and joined Accor’s executive committee. By September 2025, the group owned 37 hotels and managed 808 across the region under
  
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