Through October 2027, the ship will offer short-bream cruises to Malaysia and Thailand, and longer cruises to Vietnam, Taiwan, and Japan.

“Navigator of the Seas’ arrival in Singapore marks a game-changing moment for Royal Caribbean, making it easier for vacationers to discover more of Asia from one convenient homeport. With a range of short getaways and longer journeys to destinations across the region, Navigator gives vacationers greater flexibility in how they experience Asia,” said Royal Caribbean President of Greater China and Managing Director Asia Ben Bouldin. “We’re thrilled to welcome Navigator to Singapore and give families and friends more ways to explore, reconnect and make every getaway count.”

From Singapore, vacationers can choose from two- to five-night getaways across Southeast Asia, exploring the heritage-rich streets and renowned food scenes of Penang, Malaysia, unwinding on the beaches of Phuket, Thailand, or discovering the scenic landscapes of Langkawi, Malaysia. 

Vacationers can also embark on a 10-night journey to Thailand and Vietnam, stopping in Ho Chi Minh City and coastal Da Nang, Vietnam, and spending an overnight in Bangkok, Thailand. For longer adventures, 12-night journeys between Singapore and Tokyo explore destinations across Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Navigator’s year-long Singapore season is part of Royal Caribbean’s 2027–28 Asia-Pacific lineup. From January to April 2028, Voyager of the Seas will sail from Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo, while Ovation and Anthem of the Seas offer adventures from Brisbane and Sydney, Australia. Quantum of the Seas will follow Navigator of the Seas’ season in Singapore, with cruises kicking off in October 2027.

(Source: Royal Caribbean)

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Departures begin in 2028, and the new itinerary offers Viking’s most comprehensive exploration of Egypt to date, featuring four hotel nights in Egypt’s capital and a 14-night sailing between Cairo and Aswan aboard the all-suite Viking Ra.

Guests will discover the country’s renowned landmarks alongside lesser-visited archaeological sites and communities in Middle Egypt, gaining a deeper understanding of the history, culture and traditions that have shaped life along the Nile.

Grand Nile Journey

The new Grand Nile Journey itinerary features 17 guided tours designed to explore the country’s history and traditions. The trip begins in Cairo, with highlights including the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, and the Grand Egyptian Museum, before continuing along the Nile through the heart of Egypt.

The voyage includes visits to sites throughout Middle Egypt that offer a fascinating perspective on the country’s ancient civilisations. Guests will discover the Meidum Pyramid, which represents an important chapter in the evolution of pyramid construction.

They will also explore the cliffside Noblemen’s Tombs of Beni Hasan, renowned for their depictions of daily life in ancient Egypt. At Tell el-Amarna, guests will encounter the remains of the once-lost royal capital established by Pharaoh Akhenaten. At the same time, a visit to Deir el-Muharraq monastery offers insight into Egypt’s Coptic Christian heritage and the site traditionally associated with the Holy Family’s journey through the country.

Continuing south, guests will experience ancient Egypt’s grandeur at the temples of Luxor and Karnak, the royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings, and the Temple of Seti I at Abydos.

The journey also includes time in Aswan, where guests can explore the island temple complex of Philae, immerse themselves in Egypt’s storied past at the monolithic temples of Abu Simbel, and sail the Nile on a traditional felucca. Throughout the voyage, scenic sailing highlights the contrast between the Nile’s lush green riverbanks and the surrounding desert.

For guests who want to extend their travels, Viking offers pre- and post-trip land extensions that can be combined with the Grand Nile Journey itinerary. Options include Cairo (two nights; with services of a Viking Host), offering more time to discover Egypt’s vibrant capital; Morocco (five nights; fully guided), showcasing its colourful markets and rich heritage; and Jordan – Dead Sea, Petra and Amman (four nights; fully guided).

Viking Ra hosts 52 guests in 26 suites and is built specifically to navigate the Nile River. 

(Source: Viking)

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The new funding model, introduced on Thursday, will provide USD500 million to Airbnb.org over the next five years, putting the nonprofit on a path to provide 1 million nights of free housing annually. 

This funding will also allow Airbnb.org to expand its work to support families travelling for medical care and survivors fleeing domestic violence and exploitation.

The idea for Airbnb.org began in 2012 when a host opened her home to people displaced by Hurricane Sandy. Other hosts followed, and in 2020 the effort inspired Airbnb to found Airbnb.org, an independent nonprofit. Since then, Airbnb.org has provided more than 1.6 million nights of free housing to more than 250,000 people around the world.  

“Fourteen years ago, after Hurricane Sandy hit, one host opened her home to people who had nowhere else to go. That simple act of generosity grew into Airbnb.org. Since then, we’ve helped provide more than 1.6 million nights of free housing to people in crisis. Now, every time someone books a home on Airbnb, they’ll help someone else find a place to stay when they need it most. That’s Airbnb at its best,” said  Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky, 

This new funding model will not increase what guests pay or reduce host payouts. Guests and hosts don’t need to opt in or take any action.

Expanding Airbnb.org’s impact

This year, Airbnb.org has provided free temporary housing in response to more than 200 disasters, compared with just eight in 2023. At the same time, Airbnb.org is expanding beyond disaster response to more situations where free temporary stays can provide comfort and stability. 

The US$500 million in funding from Airbnb and additional donations will help Airbnb.org expand its work to include:

Families travelling for medical care: By the end of 2026, Airbnb.org will support families travelling for medical care in more than 20 countries, in partnerships with the Leukaemia Foundation of Australia, Instituto Beaba in Brazil, B.C. Friends of Children in Canada, Fundación Xana in Spain, and Children’s Miracle Network in the United States, among others.

Survivors of domestic violence and exploitation: A new program will provide free, temporary stays for survivors who have left unsafe situations and are rebuilding, in partnership with Peace House in Utah, among others.

Veterans in the United States: Airbnb.org is expanding support for veterans facing serious illness or undergoing intensive treatment, in partnership with Fisher House Foundation,  Dream Foundation and Operation Healing Forces.

Airbnb.org in Thailand

Since 2020, Airbnb.org has provided more than 7,200 nights of free emergency housing in Thailand, including during the March 2025 earthquake in collaboration with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and Zendai Foundation, and Hat Yai flooding in 2025.

When families need a place to stay during a crisis, Airbnb.org helps them find one quickly. In 2026, nearly 60% of Airbnb.org check-ins worldwide happened within 24 hours of booking.

Airbnb.org signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the BMA this year to provide free emergency housing for people displaced by disasters and first responders during crises. The partnership aims to speed up access to temporary housing for disaster-displaced people across Bangkok.

How Airbnb.org works

Airbnb.org is an independent nonprofit that provides free, temporary housing to people in times of crisis. It works with local nonprofit organisations and government partners to identify people who need support. 

Guests supported by Airbnb.org stay for free, while hosts are paid. Hosts can also choose to support Airbnb.org by offering discounted stays or donating a portion of their Airbnb earnings.

Airbnb covers Airbnb.org’s operating costs, allowing 100% of public donations to go directly toward providing free housing. Airbnb makes no money from Airbnb.org stays.

(Source: Airbnb)

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Performance remained uneven across markets, with capacity reductions lowering passenger traffic on some routes. In contrast, longer-haul markets continued to grow, partly as passengers chose routings that avoided Middle East hubs.

In September, Asia Pacific airlines carried 30.4 million international passengers, up 0.7% from a year earlier. Passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), grew 5.9%, while available seat capacity expanded 6.8%, reducing the average international passenger load factor to 80.2%.

Meanwhile, air cargo markets benefited from stronger global manufacturing activity, increased purchases of raw materials and components, and sustained demand for AI-related goods. International air cargo demand, as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), grew by a firm 6.4% year-on-year, outpacing the 4.9% expansion in offered freight capacity. As a result, the average international freight load factor rose by 0.8 percentage points to 60.3% for the month.

Commenting on the results, AAPA Director General Wong Hong said: “September saw passenger numbers increase slightly compared to a year earlier, with stronger growth in longer-haul travel, while air cargo demand gained momentum. Overall, during the first nine months of the year, Asia Pacific airlines carried 289.5 million international passengers, 1.9% more than in the same period last year. International air cargo demand rose by 5.6% over the same period.”

Wong Hong added: “The latest results highlight the resilience of demand amid a difficult operating environment. Passenger markets continued to adjust to changes in capacity and travel patterns, while stronger manufacturing activity and demand for AI-related goods supported cargo flows. Nevertheless, elevated jet fuel prices, airspace restrictions and weaker Asian currencies continue to put pressure on operating costs and profitability.”

He concluded: “Year-end holiday travel should lend support to passenger demand, while continued investment in AI infrastructure and associated trade flows bode well for air cargo markets. However, higher travel and shipping costs could temper growth, while geopolitical tensions and changes in trade policies remain key uncertainties.”

(Source: Association of Asia Pacific Airlines)

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The new service, launched on 25 October, is among the key international routes introduced under the airline’s largest-ever Winter Schedule 2026. During the six-month timetable, Air India Express operates about 585 daily flights, including up to 150 international departures, across a growing network of 65 destinations and more than 220 routes. 

The international network alone is set to grow from 83 routes to over 100 routes, supported by an expanding fleet of more than 105 aircraft.

The new Kochi-Bangkok service will operate four times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, offering non-stop connectivity between Kerala and Thailand’s capital city. Air India Express will operate about 250 weekly flights to and from Kochi during the Winter Schedule 2026, including 104 international and 146 domestic flights.

Along with the Kochi-Bangkok service, the airline has also introduced new services on the Kochi-Kuwait, Thiruvananthapuram-Bahrain, and Thiruvananthapuram-Riyadh routes, further strengthening Air India Express’ international network from Kerala. With these additions, Air India Express now operates around 575 weekly flights to and from Kerala, connecting the state to key domestic and international destinations.

(Source: Air India Express)

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The Da Nang-Singapore route will operate daily with an Airbus A321 aircraft configured with 184 seats. The flight time is 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Flight schedule

VN691 departs Da Nang (DAD) at 1500 and arrives in Singapore (SIN) at 1845.
VN690 departs Singapore (SIN) at 1945 and arrives in Da Nang (DAD) at 2130.

Vietnam Airlines currently operates 14 round-trip flights per week between Hanoi and Singapore and 21 between Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore.

Singapore is an important source market for international visitors to Vietnam. In the first nine months of 2026, arrivals from Singapore rose 29.8% year on year, underscoring the growing potential for travel between the two countries.

With its dramatic natural landscapes, pristine beaches and rich cultural heritage, Da Nang is a compelling destination for Singaporean travellers. Highlights include Son Tra Peninsula, the Marble Mountains, and Ba Na Hills. The city also offers convenient access to renowned cultural sites across Central Vietnam, including Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary, and the former imperial capital of Hue.

Beyond leisure travel, Da Nang is emerging as a destination for business and investment, supported by its established resort infrastructure, capacity to host major events and the development of the Vietnam International Financial Centre. The new nonstop service will provide a more convenient travel option for both leisure and business travellers, strengthening links between Central Vietnam and Singapore, a major regional hub for tourism and commerce.

The new route forms part of Vietnam Airlines’ broader international network expansion in 2026. The airline has introduced new services to Amsterdam, Colombo and Phuket, and is preparing to launch nonstop flights between Hanoi and Ahmedabad on 3 November, followed by Hanoi and Hangzhou on 22 November. Through strategic development of its international network, the airline aims to support Vietnam’s broader economic ambitions, including the national target of achieving double-digit economic growth in 2026.

(Source: Vietnam Airlines)

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This year’s rankings place POTONG at No. 1 in Bangkok and OMEMO at No. 1 in Phuket & Southern Thailand, recognising restaurants across both regional rankings, alongside special awards celebrating excellence across a broad range of cuisines, culinary traditions, and dining experiences.

In Bangkok, POTONG takes the No. 1 spot, followed by Chef’s Table by lebua at No. 2 and Sorn at No. 3. Baan Tepa takes fourth, with INDDEE rounding out the top five. The ranking also recognises established culinary destinations and distinctive dining concepts that continue to shape Bangkok’s international gastronomic reputation.

Phuket & Southern Thailand

In Phuket & Southern Thailand, OMEMO takes the No. 1 position, followed by The Smokaccia Laboratory at No. 2 and L’Arôme by the Sea at No. 3. Tambu ranks fourth, followed by Royd at No. 5 and Aulis Phuket at No. 6. The top ten further includes AIM, Acqua, Age and Saffron Phuket.

TOP25 Restaurants International Founder Bernard Metzger commented: “The TOP25 Restaurants Thailand Awards celebrate the people and establishments that make Thailand such a compelling culinary destination. The 2026 rankings reflect the country’s extraordinary diversity, from Bangkok’s internationally recognised dining establishments to the distinctive culinary experiences of Phuket and Southern Thailand.

“At TOP25 Restaurants, we believe that artificial intelligence can help make restaurant recognition more comprehensive and accessible, while human expertise remains essential to understanding culinary excellence in all its dimensions. Our ambition is to help exceptional restaurants gain greater visibility and to support destinations in showcasing gastronomy as an integral part of the travel experience.” 

For more information, visit: Top 25 Restaurants 

(Source: TOP25 Restaurants by Travelindex)

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The move aims to strengthen portfolio awareness, clarify the experience for travellers and hotel owners, and accelerate growth through a unified platform and enhanced digital capabilities, while delivering a guest experience powered by local expertise.

Grounded in rigorous consumer research and guest feedback, this strategic evolution reflects how today’s travellers discover, evaluate, and book hotels, while preserving each independent property’s local character.

“We have a hotel for virtually every travel occasion, but many travellers only know a portion of our portfolio,” said Larry Cuculic, President and Chief Executive Officer, WorldHotels. “WorldHotels gives us a clearer way to tell our story. By connecting our brands, loyalty program and digital capabilities together under one masterbrand, we’re making it easier for travellers to understand who we are today, while enabling our hoteliers to better compete on a global scale and preserving the independence and individuality of our 4,000 hotels.”

Local Expertise at Global Scale

Unlike many large hospitality companies built around standardised experiences, WorldHotels is building its platform around local expertise. The transformation is designed to scale the knowledge of thousands of independent hoteliers throughout the global network — surfacing neighbourhood insights from on-the-ground hotel teams and making those local experiences easier for travellers to discover across the portfolio.

While individual property identities, signage and iconic flags will remain unchanged, the WorldHotels platform will expand cross-portfolio discovery, strengthen direct relationships with guests and increase visibility for hotel owners worldwide.

WorldHotels Rewards: A Unified Loyalty Programme for 70 Million Members

Central to the transformation is WorldHotels Rewards, a new, unified loyalty program that combines Best Western Rewards® and WorldHotels Rewards, bringing together approximately 70 million existing members. Simple, transparent, and rewarding, the new program introduces three streamlined membership tiers while protecting all current benefits, including status matching, member rates, and points that never expire. Members will retain their existing points value, enjoy additional opportunities to earn points, and gain access to a more connected global portfolio and a simplified rewards experience.

Additional details about the new loyalty programme will be announced on 16 November 2026. 

“WorldHotels Rewards was designed with our guests at the heart of every decision. Through extensive consumer research and member feedback, we learned travellers want a loyalty program that feels intuitive and transparent, that recognises them wherever they travel,” said Joelle Park, Chief Marketing Officer, WorldHotels. “By bringing our loyalty program together under WorldHotels Rewards, we’re making it easier for guests to discover the full breadth of our portfolio, find the right hotel for every journey and feel welcomed wherever they stay.”

Enhanced Digital Platform Designed to Scale Local Hospitality

To power this new rewards program and modernise guest engagement, WorldHotels has invested heavily in its digital infrastructure, launching a new website and redesigned mobile app. At the heart of the experience is a proprietary discovery platform built on more than 10,000 hours of insights gathered from hotel teams worldwide.

These insights will help travellers discover hotels, neighbourhoods, and experiences across the portfolio, with a user experience that makes it easy to manage bookings and loyalty activity. By connecting local expertise, loyalty, and digital discovery on a single platform, WorldHotels helps travellers explore more of its portfolio while increasing visibility and direct-booking opportunities for hotel owners.

WorldHotels Collection: Independent, Character-Rich Hotels

As part of this transformation, the portfolio’s upscale and luxury hotels will now be unified under WorldHotels Collection, a global platform for independent properties that preserves the individuality that increasingly drives traveller choice. WorldHotels Collection comprises six categories: WorldHotels Luxury, WorldHotels Elite, WorldHotels Distinctive, WorldHotels Crafted, WorldHotels Backdrop and WorldHotels Residences.

“The future of luxury hospitality isn’t about standardisation. It’s about helping exceptional independent properties compete and grow on a global stage, while remaining true to their identity,” said Ron Pohl, President of WorldHotels Collection. “WorldHotels Collection sits at the intersection of independence and scale, giving owners access to the commercial power, technology and demand drivers of a major hospitality network while maintaining the tailored, local experiences today’s travellers are seeking.”

WorldHotels Collection is expanding in some of the hospitality industry’s fastest-growing categories: WorldHotels Residences combines private homeownership with luxury hospitality services and brand affiliation, while WorldHotels Backdrop connects travellers with distinctive destinations where immersive natural settings and elevated accommodations converge. Together, these platforms expand growth opportunities for developers, owners, and independent operators seeking global distribution and brand recognition.

For more information, visit WorldHotels.com.

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Twelve winter 2028 journeys of five to eight nights follow Autumn 2027 itineraries announced last June. They sail routes to the harbours and archipelagos of the Antilles from 21 November 2027 through 20 March 2028, and open new waters in the Dominican Republic, Martinique, Guadeloupe and the Grenadines.

Amangati extends its inaugural Caribbean season into 2028 with 12 voyages of five- to eight-night sailings between 2 January and 20 March. 

Departing Palma de Mallorca on 7 May 2027, Amangati’s inaugural Mediterranean season will feature five- to eight-night voyages across the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean seas, with itineraries designed around longer stays, late departures and access to intimate harbours and secluded anchorages. 

Autumn 2027

The Autumn season comprises three regional voyage routes: the Leeward Islands, the Windward Islands, and the Dutch Caribbean, with select sailings extending through the festive season.

The Leeward Islands voyages open the season with three successive itineraries through the northern arc of the Antilles, drawing on the harbour of Gustavia in Saint Barthélemy and Saint Kitts and Nevis. 

The Windward Islands voyages depart from Saint John’s and Bridgetown in Barbados, respectively, and carry guests south through Îles des Saintes in Guadeloupe, Portsmouth in Dominica, Anse d’Arlet in Martinique, and Soufrière in Saint Lucia, beneath the rain-forested Pitons. 

The Dutch Caribbean voyages offer itineraries from Bridgetown and Oranjestad, tracing the southern Caribbean’s ABC islands, Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.

Launching in May 2027, Amangati will welcome just 94 guests across 47 ocean-facing suites, each featuring a private terrace and uninterrupted sea views. On board, guests can enjoy four signature restaurants, the Aman Spa and direct access to the sea via The Marina. 

(Source: Aman at Sea)

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The launch of British Airways’ second route to Australia coincides with two of the city’s biggest events — the Australian Open and the Melbourne Grand Prix — giving customers an alternative daily service to Australia’s sporting capital via a transit stop in Kuala Lumpur.

The airline will deploy a 214-seat B787-900 to serve the route daily, with an end-to-end flight time of around 22 hours from LHR to MEL, including a 100-minute transit stop in Kuala Lumpur. British Airways has secured fifth freedom rights for the KUL-MEL-KUL sectors, allowing it to sell tickets between the two cities and through to London Heathrow.

Flight schedule LHR-KUL

BA33 departs London (LHR) at 2110 and arrives in Kuala Lumpur (KUL) at 1805.
BA34 departs Kuala Lumpur (KUL) at 2315 and arrives in London (LHR) at 0520.

Flight time on the LHR-KUL sector is 12 hours and 55 minutes

Flight schedule KUL-MEL

BA33 departs Kuala Lumpur (KUL) at 1945 and arrives in Melbourne (MEL) at 0640 (plus a day).
BA34 departs Melbourne (MEL) at 1635 and arrives in Kuala Lumpur (KUL) at 2135.

Flight time on the KUL-MEL sector is seven hours and 55 minutes.

Customers have a choice of four cabins — World Traveller (economy), World Traveller Plus (premium economy), Club World (business class) and First. Return fares start from UKP1,130 (including taxes and carrier fees).

(Source: British Airways)

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