Travel
Coverage from the Travel desk.
Google Wins Spirit Airlines Data in Bankruptcy Sale for $10 Million
Google won a bankruptcy auction for Spirit Airlines' business data and software code for $10 million, and plans to use the assets to improve its AI models and products.
The Hari Hotels Join IHG’s Vignette Collection Ahead of Singapore Debut
The Hari London, Hong Kong and Singapore hotels are joining IHG's Vignette Collection later this year, preserving the brand's independent character while leveraging the hotel group's global network and loyalty program.
Airbnb Quietly Rebuilds Marketing Engine It Once Dismantled
SEC filings show Airbnb has spent four years reversing the pandemic-era marketing cuts that made it famous, even as it maintains its 90% organic traffic claim.
Archer Acquires Former Rival Wisk Aero in Boeing Deal
Archer Aviation has acquired Wisk Aero, its former rival, as part of a transaction with Boeing that also includes two other subsidiaries. Boeing now holds a 16.5% ownership stake in Archer.
Airbnb-CarTrawler Car Rental Partnership Takes Shape a Month In
A month after launching in five markets, Airbnb's car-rental tie-up with Ireland-based CarTrawler is operating via a third-party platform, a source says.
Harding+ brings three K-beauty brands to European cruise ships
Harding+ is adding Medicube, Biodance and Thank You Farmer to its onboard skincare offer across European ships, starting this month. The products are merchandised around a five-step beauty routine to meet growing demand for ingredient-led skincare.
Cliffside Cafés Sprout Across China's Mountain and Cave Landscapes
From mountain caves in Guizhou to a via ferrata cliff in Fujian, China's newest coffee spots are built into dramatic natural settings, drawing tens of thousands of visitors.
Gregor Roy Chowdhury on the Long Revival of Transylvania's Zabola Estate
In a conversation about Zabola Estate, Gregor Roy Chowdhury recounts how the centuries-old Mikes family property in Szekler Transylvania was carefully restored after decades of nationalization under communism.
Saudi Arabia's Almosafer Targets Year-End IPO Despite War Disruption
Almosafer, Saudi Arabia's largest travel and tourism company, is on track to list on the kingdom's stock exchange before the end of 2026, even as the U.S.-Iran war disrupts travel. The company is betting on domestic demand from Makkah, the Red Sea, and Qiddiya to weather the conflict.
Qatar Duty Free Donates Top Bid from Toblerone Crystal Bar Auction to Education Above All
Qatar Duty Free has handed over proceeds from its Toblerone Crystal Bar auction at Hamad International Airport to the Education Above All Foundation, with the winning bid the highest among nine participating airports.
Liht Organics targets travellers with exclusive beauty duos and serum launch
Singapore-based Liht Organics has expanded its travel retail lineup with two exclusive product duos and a new lash and brow serum, all formulated with high percentages of certified organic ingredients.
Rémy Cointreau and Avolta launch immersive Metaxa 12 Stars campaign across Greek airports
Source signal: Rémy Cointreau and Avolta put Metaxa 12 Stars in the spotlight with immersive Greek airport campaign
Dewar's Opens Speakeasy-Style Pop-Up at Singapore Changi Airport
Bacardi-owned Dewar's has launched an immersive speakeasy-themed pop-up at Singapore Changi Airport's Terminal 3, running through 16 September.
The Look Company Brings Whole-Space Branding to Airports and Public Venues
Visual engagement specialist The Look Company is extending its integrated branding approach into airports and high-traffic public spaces, using graphics, wayfinding, lighting and custom fabrication to create cohesive passenger environments.
UNICO Hotel Collection Expands to Jamaica With Montego Bay Resort
Reservations are now open for UNICO 18˚77˚ Montego Bay, the brand's first property outside Mexico, set to debut in 2027 along the Jamaican coastline.
Omeon Mykonos Review: A Calm, Design-Led Retreat Near the Island’s Energy
Set in Agios Stefanos, the boutique property balances proximity to Mykonos' beach clubs and nightlife with a serene, minimalist atmosphere.
Avolta Extends Lead in Global Travel Retail Rankings for Third Year
Avolta has retained the top spot in an annual ranking of the world’s largest travel retailers, based on 2025 turnover. The group also leads in food and beverage and the combined retail and F&B table.
Ras Al Khaimah Rewrites Its India Pitch: Premium, Not Just Cheaper Than Dubai
Ras Al Khaimah plans to reposition its India marketing from a budget alternative to Dubai to a premium, experience-led destination, with a brand relaunch set for early 2027.
Great Britain & Ireland Triumph at Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup 2026
Great Britain & Ireland claimed victory at the 2026 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot, with Dubai Duty Free hosting guests and introducing Team Hong Kong to the revamped lineup.
Frankfurt T3 Helps Fraport Retail Recover in Q2 Despite Traffic Dip
Fraport's retail revenues per passenger reached €3.24 in the first half, close to last year's level, as a stronger Q2 driven by the new Terminal 3 offset a weak Q1.
U.S. pays $3.93B to scrap offshore wind leases as RWE takes $1.2B deal
The Trump administration has spent nearly $4 billion to cancel 12 offshore wind leases, with the latest agreement paying German utility RWE $1.2 billion to abandon projects off California, Louisiana and New York.
Nammos Hotels & Resorts to Debut Integrated Destination in Egypt's Ras El Hekma
Nammos Hotels & Resorts will mark its entry into Egypt with Nammos Ras El Hekma, a fully integrated destination on the North Coast developed with Modon Holding.
Macallan and EVERRICH toast Harmony Collection finale with airport debut
The Macallan and EVERRICH Duty Free have unveiled the sixth and final expression in The Harmony Collection with a world-first travel retail launch at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport.
Cole Haan Debuts First Luggage Collection as It Expands Travel Offerings
Cole Haan is introducing its first luggage line this month, offering carry-on and checked bag sizes as the footwear brand deepens its focus on travel.
Booking Holdings Merges Agoda, Booking.com and Priceline B2B Units
Booking Holdings has started consolidating the business-to-business operations of Agoda, Booking.com and Priceline into a single platform, with Priceline partners already being migrated.
Vogue World Sets Its Sights on San Francisco for Next Year
Vogue World, the fashion, art and music extravaganza, will take place in San Francisco next year, a move that underscores the growing crossover between tech culture and high fashion.
Radisson Blu Opens Five-Star Mountain Hotel in Romania's Bucegi Mountains
Radisson Blu has opened a 68-room five-star hotel at Cota 1400 in the Bucegi Mountains, housed in a historic 1939 building with direct ski slope access and a spa.
Avolta wins seven-year duty-free contract at Kolkata Airport
Avolta will operate six duty-free stores at Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport under a seven-year concession, expanding its Indian footprint beyond Bengaluru.
Lancôme and Unifree bring Riviera summer to Istanbul Airport with immersive beauty pop-up
L’Oréal Travel Retail and Unifree Duty Free have launched a vibrant Les Ô de Lancôme summer pop-up at Istanbul Airport, blending fragrance discovery, make-up services and gamified experiences.
Millennials and Gen Z Drive a New Era for Vacation Ownership
New research shows younger travelers are embracing timeshares as a flexible, high-value way to keep travel central to their lives, with Millennials and Gen Z now making up a majority of owners and recent buyers.
AMAN Opens First Mexico Resort: Amanvari on Baja California Sur's East Cape
AMAN has inaugurated Amanvari, its debut Mexican resort, an 18-casita hideaway set on the Sea of Cortez within the Costa Palmas community near Los Cabos.
The Langham, Custom House, Bangkok Opens December 2026
The Langham, Custom House, Bangkok is set to open in December 2026, with reservations now accepted for stays from 20 December. The property will feature 60 guestrooms and 15 suites in a contemporary building beside the historic Custom House.
DFS Launches 12th First Class Beauty Campaign Across Hong Kong and Macau
DFS Group Hong Kong and Macau has kicked off the 12th edition of its First Class Beauty campaign, featuring more than 30 beauty and skincare brands across its travel retail locations.
Bristol Airport seeks operators for ten new food and beverage units
Bristol Airport has opened a public tender for ten food and beverage units in its extending departure lounge, part of a £400 million terminal upgrade.
Handheld Mini Fans: Budget Amazon Finds vs. Premium Dyson and Shark
A new roundup of handheld mini fans tests budget models from Amazon and TikTok Shop against premium devices from Shark and Dyson, with prices ranging from $10 to $150.
Gen Z Keeps 600-Year-Old 'Ground Opera' Alive in Guizhou
Source signal: Meet The Gen Z That’s Keeping This 600-Year-Old ‘Ground Opera’ Alive
MSC Cruises Reveals Luxury Retail Line-Up for New Flagship MSC World Asia
MSC Cruises has unveiled the onboard retail offer for its upcoming flagship MSC World Asia, featuring luxury boutiques and exclusive shopping experiences when it debuts in the Mediterranean this December.
Hong Kong’s Everyday Icons Reborn as Playful Mecha in New Show
Local artist Felix Ip transforms familiar Hong Kong sights—from herbal tea shops to neon signs—into chunky sci-fi robots at an exhibition running through September 20 at Pioneer Centre.
Florida redirects $200M EV charger funds to build air taxi landing pads
Florida plans to use nearly $200 million in federal EV charging funds to build 32 landing pads with charging stations for electric air taxis, connecting golf courses, luxury apartment buildings, and airports. The state never spent the money, arguing private companies have built sufficient charging networks.
Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel Opens After Restoration
The iconic Danieli hotel on Venice's Riva degli Schiavoni has officially reopened as a Four Seasons property, featuring 120 rooms and suites with views of the lagoon and San Giorgio Maggiore.
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts launches global renovation drive
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is renovating 20% of its portfolio worldwide, including major redevelopments in Bermuda and Geneva, with reopenings slated for 2026 and 2027.
Airbnb Adds Car Rentals Through CarTrawler Partnership
Airbnb has launched car rental services in five countries via a partnership with CarTrawler, deepening its transformation into a full-service travel platform.
Mandarin Oriental Opens Downtown Dubai Hotel, Shifts Focus from Beach to City Center
Mandarin Oriental has launched its second Dubai property, moving beyond beachfront luxury to establish a contemporary city destination in the commercial and cultural heart of Downtown Dubai.
Areas Opens Morro Fi Vermouth Bar at Barcelona-El Prat Airport
Global travel restaurateur Areas has launched Morro Fi, a Barcelona-inspired vermouth bar, at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, marking the first new venue in its F&B transformation for Aena.
Western Sydney International Airport Readies for Passenger Launch with Curated Retail
The airport's general manager of retail outlines the ambitious retail and dining offer as the 24-hour gateway prepares for passenger flights starting 25 October.
BFA Leverages Technology to Transform Dining at Antalya Airport
BFA, the joint venture managing food and beverage at Antalya International Airport, is deploying digital ordering and QR-based delivery to enhance passenger experience.
Senegalese pride drives Lagardère Travel Retail’s African success
Lagardère Travel Retail’s West, Central & East Africa division, based in Dakar, is led by a young, diverse team that champions local talent and innovation at Blaise Diagne International Airport.
Cavu unifies three travel-tech platforms under single brand
Cavu, the travel technology company owned by Manchester Airports Group (MAG), has rebranded its ecommerce, distribution and lounge platforms under one identity to simplify its offering to clients.
Foreigner Sales Remain Soft in South Korean Duty Free Despite Rising Shopper Numbers
International customers continue to dominate South Korean downtown duty-free sales, accounting for 85.7% of revenue on just 51.5% of shoppers, but their spending eased month-on-month in May, signaling persistent softness.
Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido: A Century-Old Urban Luxury Resort with Private Beach
Opened in 1908, the Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido remains the only urban luxury resort in Venice with a private beach, blending historic grandeur with modern exclusivity.
Mondelez WTR and Extime Duty Free launch Toblerone activation at Paris airports
Mondelez World Travel Retail and Extime Paris Duty Free have unveiled a multi-location Toblerone campaign at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, featuring a branded shop-in-shop, personalised gifting and limited-edition Swarovski crystal bars.
China Unveils First Five-Year Plan to Boost Consumption, Targets $9 Trillion Retail Sales by 2030
China's cabinet has issued its first five-year plan dedicated to boosting consumption, aiming for annual retail sales of 60 trillion yuan ($9 trillion) by 2030 and promising to raise household incomes significantly.
Travel + Leisure Co. Invests $343 Million in Two Timeshare Acquisitions
Travel + Leisure Co. has acquired Yes& Vacations and agreed to purchase Spinnaker Resorts for a combined $343 million upfront, signaling ongoing consolidation in the timeshare industry.
AI Game Brings China’s Most Famous Painting to Life
A University of Hong Kong professor has developed an AI-powered simulation that lets users explore the world of 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival', a renowned 5-meter-long scroll painting from the Song Dynasty.
Aesop Women's Library Makes Travel Retail Debut with CDFG in Hainan
L'Oréal-owned beauty brand Aesop has launched its Women's Library initiative in travel retail for the first time, partnering with China Duty Free Group at the cdf Sanya International Duty-Free Shopping Complex in Hainan. Throughout July, shelves are stocked with books by female authors instead of products.
Heinemann and Sydney Airport Unveil Major Duty-Free Overhaul; MECCA to Enter International Terminal
Heinemann Oceania and Sydney Airport have embarked on an 18-month transformation of duty-free shopping at Australia's busiest gateway, with Australian beauty retailer MECCA making its first duty-free appearance.
TaiChill City Fest Returns for 5th Edition with 91 Acts in Taichung
Taiwan's street music festival returns for its fifth anniversary this summer, featuring 91 international artists, heavy metal headliners, and street culture at Taichung Station.
Gebr. Heinemann and Pernod Ricard bring Skrewball whiskey to European travel retail
Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail and Gebr. Heinemann have partnered to introduce Skrewball, a peanut butter-flavored American whiskey, to European duty-free stores this month. The launch spans seven airports across Europe.
Chanel opens standalone beauty boutique at Toronto Pearson in partnership with Avolta
Source signal: Chanel partners with Avolta to elevate the shopping experience at Toronto Pearson Airport
Sainsbury's opens first Manchester Airport store in Terminal 3
Sainsbury's has opened its first store at Manchester Airport in Terminal 3 arrivals, offering convenience products and online collection services for Argos and Habitat.
Soho House Opens in Tokyo's Aoyama District
Soho House has launched its first Tokyo location, occupying two floors of the new Omotesando Grid Tower in the upscale Aoyama area.
Regent Hotels to make Chengdu debut with 2029 opening
IHG Hotels & Resorts has partnered with Newhope Real Estate to open Regent Chengdu in the city's Jinjiang District by the third quarter of 2029, marking the luxury brand's first property in the southwestern Chinese metropolis.
Lotte Duty Free Launches ChatGPT-Powered Shopping Service in Korean Travel Retail
Lotte Duty Free has introduced a ChatGPT-based shopping platform, the first generative AI service in Korean travel retail, allowing customers to browse and purchase via natural language conversations.
Dubai Retains Top Spot for International Airport Traffic; Atlanta Leads Overall in 2025
Source signal: Dubai remains world’s busiest airport for international traffic in 2025; Atlanta tops overall rankings
Shinsegae Duty Free Opens Health Supplement Pop-Up in Myeong-dong
Shinsegae Duty Free has launched a pop-up store dedicated to health supplements at its flagship Myeong-dong location in Seoul, featuring brands such as NutriOne Life and Foodology.
PMI GTR and Frankfurt Airport Retail Launch IQOS and VEEV Pop-Ups
Philip Morris International Global Travel Retail and Frankfurt Airport Retail have opened new pop-up installations at Frankfurt Airport to showcase IQOS and VEEV products.
Clarins Launches Beauty Concierge at Changi Airport with Singapore-Inspired Pop-Up
Clarins has debuted its Beauty Concierge concept globally at Changi Airport, featuring a Singapore-themed pop-up with personalized skincare services and exclusive travel retail offerings.
Hilton Unveils Tempo Brand in China as Travel Demand Surges
Hilton has launched its Tempo by Hilton lifestyle brand in mainland China, marking the brand's Asia-Pacific debut as the company bets on sustained growth in the country's tourism sector.
Reese's Launches 'Take Home the Cup' Travel Retail Campaign for FIFA World Cup
The Hershey Company has rolled out a new travel retail campaign for Reese's, themed around football and timed with the FIFA World Cup. The initiative includes exclusive packaging, airport pop-ups, and interactive experiences across major international airports.
Lark Distilling Co. Debuts in Asia Travel Retail with Lotte Duty Free at Changi Airport
Tasmanian whisky house Lark Distilling Co. launches at Singapore Changi Airport via a partnership with Lotte Duty Free, marking its first Asia travel retail presence.
Nammos Hotels Plans Luxury Resort and Residences in Montenegro's Smokva Bay
Nammos Hotels & Resorts will develop a mixed-use luxury destination at Smokva Bay, Montenegro, featuring a 117-key resort, branded residences, dining, retail and wellness facilities.
Kobe Airport Marks 20th Anniversary with Interactive Mystery Game
Kobe Airport invites travelers to solve a mystery in a smartphone-based adventure game running from August to October as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations.
Shenzhen Duty Free Group Wins Duty-Free Concession at Zhongshan Port
Shenzhen Duty Free Group has secured the arrivals duty-free concession at Zhongshan Port in South China, serving ferry passengers between Hong Kong, Macau and the mainland.
Jägermeister launches immersive dual-store concept at Frankfurt Airport Terminal 3
Mast-Jägermeister has opened its first fully immersive airport concept in Frankfurt Airport’s new Terminal 3, featuring two complementary spaces designed to blend storytelling, retail and digital engagement over a year-long activation.
Carnival UK executive urges brands to capitalise on cruise retail's unique guest access
Cruise retail offers brands extended time to build relationships with guests, a luxury rarely found in other travel retail channels, according to Carnival UK Associate Vice President for Onboard Revenue Susan Reid.
Executive Retail Shops Launches World Cup Campaign at Fort Lauderdale Airport
Luxury travel retailer Executive Retail Shops has introduced a FIFA World Cup-themed campaign at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport's Sheltair FBO for private aircraft passengers, running through July 19.
CNSC wins arrivals duty-free concession at Quanzhou Jinjiang Airport
Sinopharm-owned China National Service Corporation (CNSC) has secured the arrivals duty-free contract at Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport, giving it control of both departures and arrivals duty-free stores at the Fujian province gateway.
Antalya Airport Selected to Host FAB 2027 Conference
The 2027 Airport Food & Beverage + Hospitality Conference and Awards will take place at Antalya Airport in Turkey on 3-4 June, as announced at the close of this year’s event in Bangalore.
Chapter Chianti Opens as Latest Luxury Resort in Tuscany
Chapter Chianti, a restored 17th-century borgo spanning 50 hectares of vineyards and olive groves, has opened in Tuscany's Chianti region as the second property in the Chapter Italia portfolio.
ARI spreads joy across global network with June 'Joy On Your Way' campaigns
Travel retailer ARI celebrated its 'Joy On Your Way' brand platform throughout June with a series of campaigns highlighting local culture, sustainability and premium brand launches across its global operations.