The event brought together restaurant partners, culinary experts and media from around the world to celebrate a decade of connecting travellers with the flavours that define the world’s great destinations.

The 2027 Fine Dining List now spans six continents, 105 cities and 40 countries and regions, recognising 744 restaurants across three tiers – Black Diamond, the highest distinction (60), Diamond (160) and Platinum (524) – with 34 new destinations added this year across Europe, North America, Oceania, Asia, South America and Africa. Since its debut ten years ago, the list has grown from a single-market ranking into a global culinary index spanning 66 countries and regions and 462 destinations, guiding travellers toward restaurants worth building a trip around.

“Today’s travellers are no longer just enjoying food at their destination – increasingly, a single meal is shaping where they choose to go, and when,” said Trip.com Group Vice President and CEO of Trip.Gourmet Sunny Sun. “As cross-border travel becomes more frequent, our goal for the next chapter of Trip.Gourmet is simple: to help every traveller discover restaurants worth the trip, understand why they matter, and book with confidence.”

This year’s list reflects the breadth of global fine dining, with restaurants recognised across 40 countries and regions. Asia-Pacific anchors the list by volume, with 478 restaurants — nearly two-thirds of the global total — spread across 51 cities and 32 Black Diamond honours, led by culinary hubs including Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. 

Europe offers the broadest geographic reach of any continent, with restaurants recognised across 20 countries and regions and 35 cities, and 23 Black Diamond honours, anchored by Paris and London. The Americas contribute 63 restaurants across 14 cities, led by New York. Meanwhile, the list’s newest frontier — spanning South Asia, the Middle East and Africa — adds 17 restaurants across 5 cities, including Dubai and Cape Town.

As host city for this year’s global launch, Singapore is recognised with 27 restaurants on the 2027 Fine Dining List, spanning all three tiers: Three Black Diamond, eight Diamond and 16 Platinum. Singapore’s Black Diamond restaurants — Odette, Les Amis and Restaurant Labyrinth — represent some of the highest culinary honours awarded anywhere in the world this year. In contrast, Diamond-tier restaurants such as Zén, JAAN by Kirk Westaway and Summer Pavilion reflect the city-state’s continued rise as one of the world’s most dynamic dining destinations.

The full 2027 global restaurant rankings can be viewed on the Trip.com app.

(Source: Trip.com Group)

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Building on nearly 80 years of expertise in guided travel, the new Trafalgar portfolio, available on the Travel Agent Portal (TAP) in Q4 2026, will encompass five travel categories — Tours, Small Groups, River Cruises, Rail Journeys and Group Sales – and three value tiers: Saver, Classic and Premium.

“Travel agents have always been central to our growth, and they’ll be central to where we go next,” said TTC Tour Brands Managing Director, Asia, Mae Cheah.

“Expanding what Trafalgar offers means more opportunities for agents to meet the needs of the clients they already have, reach new ones and keep them travelling with us as their needs evolve. As we prepare for our biggest-ever investment in the Trafalgar brand in 2027, we want to bring our advisor partners along with us, giving them the time, tools and support to be ready for the demand we’re working to create and the opportunities that come with it.”

Together, the Trafalgar portfolio will represent more than 600 itineraries across 75 countries, backed by more than 150,000 five-star reviews. With a growing river cruise portfolio, a broader range of small group tours, rail journeys and classic tour categories, Trafalgar is gearing up for 2027 with more itineraries and experiences for agents and their clients.

To help agents prepare, a Your New Era with Trafalgar hub is now live on TAP, giving agents a central place to learn more about the expanded portfolio and access training.  

Agents will see additional features integrated into TAP that will make it easier to navigate the five travel categories and three value tiers, plus new experiences that will go live and be bookable on TAP in Q4 2026. Travel agents can learn more at agents.ttc.com. 

(Source: TTC)

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The new outlet expands Thomas Cook India’s network to 10 locations in the city and 16 across Tamil Nadu State, enhancing access to its comprehensive range of travel services.

Manapakkam is emerging as a prominent residential and IT hub in Chennai. With its expanding residential and corporate ecosystem, Manapakkam has emerged as an important catchment for a diverse and growing base of travellers.

The new outlet will cater to travellers from Manapakkam and its neighbouring catchments across diverse customer segments — families, couples, Young India’s Millennials and GenZ, business travellers and GenS (seniors). 

Thomas Cook’s Manapakkam outlet offers end-to-end travel services: 
International and domestic holidays (group tours, personalised holidays, and cruises); 
Value-added services such as travel Insurance. 

Additionally, Thomas Cook’s AI booking platform helps customers plan personalised vacations in real time by checking availability and making reservations in minutes.

Chennai/Tamil Nadu Travel Trends

Year-round travel: Chennai travellers are increasingly leveraging public holidays and weekends to take multiple short breaks and mini-cations throughout the year, extending travel beyond traditional holiday seasons.

Growing demand for spiritual tourism: Pilgrimage and spiritual travel continue to gain momentum, with Thomas Cook India strengthening its Spiritual Tourism portfolio to cater to this growing segment. Key destinations include Kailash Mansarovar, Char Dham, Puri, Kashi, Ujjain and Ayodhya.

Fresh new destinations: Chennai travellers are displaying growing interest in destinations such as the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Morocco, South Africa, Kenya, Iceland, Antarctica and Seychelles. Cruise holidays and charter flight-based holidays are also gaining traction.

Demand for unique experiences: Travellers are increasingly seeking differentiated, immersive experiences while exploring emerging destinations beyond conventional itineraries.

Top destinations

Chennai is a strong source market generating travel bookings for trips to the following domestic and overseas destinations.

International: Europe’s Switzerland, France, Austria, Italy, Spain; the Scandinavian countries of Finland, Norway and Sweden; Eastern European destinations such as the Czech Republic and Hungary; Australia and New Zealand; South America; Vietnam, Indonesia, China, Japan and South Korea; as well as Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

Domestic and Indian subcontinent: Kashmir-Leh, Northeast India, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Kerala, Sri Lanka and Andaman

(Source: Thomas Cook India)

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The collaboration brings together MATTA’s extensive network of travel and tourism industry players with Alibaba Cloud’s expertise in cloud computing, AI and digital technologies. The partnership aims to help tourism businesses become more innovative, competitive, and digitally ready in an increasingly technology-driven global tourism landscape.

Under the MoU, both parties will explore a range of initiatives, including adopting AI-powered digital solutions among MATTA members, capacity-building and training programmes, SME digital enablement, tourism marketing and promotion, smart tourism initiatives, industry research and development, and participation in industry events and knowledge-sharing programmes.

A key focus of the collaboration will be encouraging MATTA members, particularly small and medium-sized travel enterprises (SMEs), to leverage emerging technologies such as AI, cloud computing, data analytics, e-commerce and cybersecurity to enhance operational efficiency, customer engagement, marketing capabilities and overall business competitiveness.

The collaboration will also explore Alibaba Cloud’s AI technologies, including its proprietary AI model Qwen and all-in-one workplace AI agent QwenWork, to support the digitalisation of travel businesses and develop practical AI applications relevant to the tourism sector. These technologies could support tourism businesses across areas such as customer engagement, productivity, content creation and personalised digital experiences, helping them translate AI capabilities into practical business applications.

MATTA and Alibaba Cloud will also explore opportunities to jointly organise workshops, seminars, certification programmes and other knowledge-sharing initiatives to equip tourism industry professionals with the skills and knowledge required to navigate the rapidly evolving digital economy.

The MoU also provides a framework for both parties to explore tourism marketing initiatives through Alibaba’s digital ecosystem and platforms, including potential cross-border digital marketing opportunities to promote Malaysian tourism products and destinations to international travellers.

MATTA President Nigel Wong said the collaboration reflects MATTA’s commitment to ensuring that Malaysia’s travel and tourism industry remains future-ready and able to harness the opportunities presented by AI and digital technologies.

“Digital transformation is no longer an option but an important component of the future competitiveness of the travel and tourism industry. Through this collaboration with Alibaba Cloud, MATTA hopes to provide our members with greater access to knowledge, technology and practical solutions that can help them improve productivity, enhance customer experiences and grow their businesses.”

He added that the partnership would also support MATTA’s broader efforts to promote innovation and technology adoption across the tourism ecosystem.

Choong Hon Keat, Deputy General Manager of Southeast Asia Region, General Manager of Malaysia, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, said:

“AI and cloud technologies are creating new opportunities for tourism businesses to improve operational efficiency, enhance customer engagement and deliver more personalised digital experiences. Through our collaboration with MATTA, we look forward to bringing our technology capabilities and expertise closer to its extensive network of members, particularly SMEs, and supporting them in exploring practical ways to harness AI for innovation and growth.”

The collaboration will initially focus on exploring and developing mutually beneficial initiatives, with specific programmes and projects to be further agreed upon by both parties from time to time.

Through this partnership, MATTA and Alibaba Cloud aim to contribute towards building a more digitally capable, innovative and technology-driven Malaysian tourism industry, while creating new opportunities for travel businesses to compete effectively in the evolving global tourism landscape.

(Source: MATTA)

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The landmark result was revealed as part of the group’s end-of-financial-year results to the Australian Securities Exchange.

FCM Travel Asia Managing Director, Vicki Parris, said the results came against a rapidly changing business travel landscape.

“FY26 has reinforced just how quickly the business travel landscape can change. Geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and the rapid evolution of AI have all challenged organisations to rethink how they manage travel. “Yet across Asia, business travel has remained a strategic investment as companies continue to expand and bring increasingly regional workforces together.

“Customer expectations are moving just as quickly. Organisations want more than efficient travel management; they’re looking for technology that makes travel easier to manage, backed by trusted advice and people who understand the markets they operate in. For us, that has created a real opportunity to keep raising the bar on what managed travel can deliver,” she explained.

“There’s plenty to be proud of in how we’ve responded to that opportunity across Asia in FY26. Our accelerated growth across our emerging markets, with Southeast Asia and Greater China delivering exceptional growth and nearly doubling in scale from FY25. “We’ve also made great strides in technology. In Japan, we launched our proprietary domestic booking solution, bringing more local content through a simpler, more seamless booking experience.

“Together with the continued evolution of Sam and our AI capabilities, we’re giving customers the benefits of globally connected technology while responding to the very different needs of individual markets across Asia.”

FCTG Global reports new wins

FCTG Global Corporate CEO Chris Galanty said: “It was a record year for TTV and revenue, and the productivity work we’ve been putting in for several years is really showing up in the result. This is despite headwinds, including the conflict in the Middle East, which affected businesses across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and parts of Europe. We’re operating in a world that keeps throwing curveballs, and our teams navigated that really well.”

“The US was a standout. Corporate TTV in the market surpassed USD2 billion for the first time,” commented Galanty. “The US is the largest travel market in the world, and we still only hold a small share of it. That tells you how much room we have to keep growing there.”

Closer to home, the ANZ Corporate business had its best year for both TTV and profit, strengthening its position as the number one player in the local market. Much of the year’s profit growth has come from what Mr Galanty calls “productive operations,” a multi-year effort to modernise the way the business runs.

“We’ve automated more of the process and given customers the tools to do more themselves when that’s what they want,” Galanty said. “What I’m proudest of is that this hasn’t come at the expense of service. We hit record SLA, NPS and CSAT scores this year. Productivity and customer experience have moved together, not against each other.

“Our focus is now shifting from productivity to growth. We’ve done the hard work of transforming the business; now the job is to take this proposition to market and win more customers. We’ll be investing more in sales and marketing this year, and next, than we ever have before,” he concluded.

(Source: FCTG)

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The collaboration is built on three strategic pillars: enhancing cardholder value, unlocking new travel and lifestyle opportunities, and advancing innovative payment experiences. Together, these initiatives are designed to address the evolving expectations of travellers across Asia Pacific, as identified in Klook’s Travel Pulse 2026.

The Klook Travel Pulse research underscores a growing trend among travellers seeking meaningful, experience-led journeys alongside the best value. 

While 47% of APAC consumers actively seek deals, discounts and bundled offers, and 42% book earlier to secure better prices, travel decisions are increasingly being driven by experiences. More than half of travellers no longer begin with a destination in mind, with 23% choosing their destination based on a specific activity and 73% willing to visit a lesser-known city for a unique event.

Against this backdrop, the Klook–Mastercard collaboration will introduce a range of propositions designed to bring more value to travellers, with exclusive discounts and privileges for Mastercard cardholders ahead of the year-end travel period. This collaboration lays the groundwork for a growing pipeline of entertainment benefits, with more exciting opportunities to be announced as the collaboration deepens.

“Experiences give travel meaning, creating moments that become lasting memories,” said Klook Co-Founder and President Eric Gnock Fah. “By combining Klook’s experiences platform with Mastercard’s global network and trusted payments infrastructure, we can help travellers discover more, unlock greater value, and spend less time planning and more time experiencing the world.”

“The future of travel will be shaped by ecosystems that bring together the best of technology, payments and experiences. Through collaborations with industry leaders like Klook, with their deep insights on travellers, Mastercard is helping create more personalised, rewarding and seamless journeys across the region. Together, we’re unlocking new ways for consumers to discover, access and enjoy the experiences that matter most to them,” said Mastercard Executive Vice President, Market Development, Asia Pacific, Peter Robejsek.

Looking ahead, Klook and Mastercard will explore opportunities to further strengthen their collaboration across a range of strategic growth areas, from deepening data collaboration to evaluating next-generation payment innovations. Together, the companies aim to unlock new value for travellers and help shape the future of connected travel experiences.

(Source: Klook)

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The move forms part of Agoda’s collaboration with NTT DATA, a global leader in AI, digital business and technology services, to make its Singapore IT operations more energy efficient while maintaining the performance, availability and reliability required to serve millions of travellers worldwide.

NTT Global Data Centres’ Singapore facility holds BCA Green Mark Platinum and LEED Gold certifications. Alongside the renewable energy certificate coverage, the collaboration includes measures to reduce electricity use across Agoda’s servers and cooling systems.

Singapore Country Head for NTT Global Data Centres, Tadaaki Arimura, said: “Sustainable infrastructure is most effective when it is practical, measurable and built into day-to-day operations. Our work with Agoda shows how data centre efficiency can support business growth while helping reduce environmental impact.”

Based on Agoda’s internal 2026 measurements, Agoda lowered energy use by up to 16% for eligible workloads through dynamic power management, allowing servers to use less power when full processing capacity is not required. 

Agoda also reduced cooling-related energy use by approximately 40% per eligible server by adjusting fan speeds as needed, compared with running them at maximum speed. NTT Global Data Centres complements these efforts through facility-level airflow and cooling management.

Agoda, VP of Global IT Infrastructure Paolo Prinsecchi said: “At Agoda, we are always looking for practical ways to operate our IT infrastructure more efficiently and responsibly. 

“By partnering with the right colocation provider, such as NTT Global Data Centres, and optimising how we use our infrastructure and hardware, we can support more sustainable growth while maintaining the seamless experience our users expect from our platform.”

(Source: Agoda)

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Following the impact of geopolitical uncertainty on summer travel plans to Europe, renewed interest is now emerging in experiential journeys to these destinations. 

Responding to this shift, Thomas Cook (India) Limited and its Group Company, SOTC Travel, have curated a portfolio of Fall and Winter holidays across key international destinations, bringing together seasonal highlights, distinctive experiences and varied travel styles for the Indian traveller.

The Northern Lights continue to remain one of the season’s most compelling draws, with Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland offering ways to experience the Arctic. Beyond Aurora viewing, travellers can explore snow-covered landscapes through husky/reindeer sledging, snowmobile excursions and snowshoeing. Travellers are also choosing unique accommodations such as the famous glass-ceilinged igloo houses, snow-hotels, log cabins and Arctic tree houses.

Europe takes on a distinctive character in winter as its cities and towns transition into the festive season. France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the UK and the Czech Republic offer Christmas markets, illuminated streets, seasonal gastronomy and cultural celebrations. For travellers looking beyond the festivities, the Alps offer scenic rail journeys, mountain stays, winter sports, and panoramic landscapes. At the same time, distinctive alpine accommodation and local culinary experiences add another layer to the journey. Across Scandinavia, winter cruises and whale-watching experiences offer another immersive way to experience the season, combining dramatic fjords, Arctic landscapes and wildlife encounters.

North America adds another dimension to Fall and Winter travel, combining dramatic landscapes, outdoor adventure and vibrant festive experiences. Canada’s Rockies offer snow-covered mountain scenery alongside skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, wildlife encounters, gondola rides and scenic winter trails. At the same time, the USA brings together New York’s iconic holiday season with experiences ranging from festive light-ups and seasonal markets to mountain escapes, winter sports, scenic road trips and nature-led adventures.

For travellers who would rather leave the cold behind, Australia and New Zealand offer a completely different seasonal proposition, with spectacular New Year celebrations adding to the appeal. Australia brings together vibrant city celebrations, spectacular coastlines, wildlife encounters and outdoor adventures, while New Zealand offers mountains, lakes, fjords and nature-led experiences. Together, the destinations provide a compelling option for travellers seeking sunshine, adventure, the outdoors and memorable New Year experiences during the months September to January.

Across these destinations, Fall and Winter travel is evolving beyond sightseeing towards more immersive, season-led experiences. From Arctic adventures and festive Europe to North American winter landscapes and sun-filled celebrations in the Southern Hemisphere, Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel are bringing together journeys that combine destination, season and experience.

Thomas Cook (India) Limited President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Rajeev Kale said: “Travel is increasingly being defined by the experience a destination can offer at a particular time of year. Fall and winter open up some of the world’s most compelling travel moments, from the Aurora across Arctic skies and snow-covered Alpine landscapes to Europe’s festive traditions and the outdoors of the Southern Hemisphere. At Thomas Cook India, we offer these diverse seasonal experiences to Indian travellers and bring deep expertise in curating journeys that go beyond conventional itineraries. We are seeing a clear shift towards holidays that are richer, more immersive and built around meaningful experiences, with travellers willing to explore beyond conventional winter destinations. This is reshaping the opportunity for the industry, as seasonal travel evolves from a destination choice into a more experience-led way of discovering the world.”

SOTC Travel Limited President and Country Head – Holidays and Corporate Tours, SD Nandakumar said: “The winter holiday is evolving from a standard itinerary into a carefully curated experience. Travellers are increasingly combining the core destination with experiences that add depth to the journey — whether that is a Northern Lights escape, a scenic rail journey, a unique stay, local gastronomy, wellness or a snow-filled adventure. What is particularly encouraging is the diversity of this demand: couples are seeking immersive, romantic escapes; families are combining festive celebrations with adventure; and younger travellers and groups are actively seeking experiences and destinations beyond the conventional winter circuit. This allows us to create more distinctive, experience-rich journeys that reflect how Indians want to travel today.”

(Source: Thomas Cook India)

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As select travel partners for the programme, under which DCT Abu Dhabi covers the full cost of UAE entry visas for eligible bookings, the companies will enable eligible customers booking leisure holiday packages with a minimum continuous three-night hotel stay in Abu Dhabi to avail of a complimentary UAE entry visa at no additional cost. 

The offer is applicable for eligible bookings made until 31 October 2026, for travel until 31 October 2026, and is subject to applicable terms and conditions.

The initiative reinforces the long-standing partnership between DCT Abu Dhabi, Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel, reflecting a shared commitment to creating greater value for Indian travellers. 

By combining destination-led initiatives with the companies’ extensive omnichannel reach and holiday expertise, the collaboration aims to drive awareness and encourage more Indian travellers to experience Abu Dhabi’s unique blend of cultural heritage, world-class attractions, family entertainment, adventure, luxury hospitality and immersive experiences.

As one of India’s largest source markets for international travel, the country continues to play a key role in Abu Dhabi’s tourism growth strategy. Through strategic collaborations with leading travel partners such as Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel, Abu Dhabi continues to strengthen its engagement with the Indian market by making travel planning more seamless, accessible and rewarding.

Thomas Cook (India) Limited President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Rajeev Kale said: “Our long-standing partnership with Abu Dhabi has enabled us to curate enriching holiday experiences for Indian travellers consistently. 

“We are delighted to be among the select travel partners for Abu Dhabi’s Visa Subsidy Programme, which further enhances the value proposition for our customers. By offering a complimentary UAE entry visa  for eligible leisure holiday bookings, we are making it even more compelling for Indian travellers to explore Abu Dhabi’s diverse experiences—from iconic landmarks and cultural attractions to family entertainment, adventure and luxury.”

SOTC Travel, President & Country Head – Holidays & Corporate Tours, SD Nandakumar, commented: “Indian travellers today seek holidays that combine enriching experiences with exceptional value. Abu Dhabi continues to enjoy strong appeal across families, couples, young professionals and groups, thanks to its diverse tourism offerings and year-round attractions. We are delighted to partner with DCT Abu Dhabi on this initiative, enabling eligible leisure travellers to enjoy the added value of a complimentary UAE entry visa.

We look forward to inspiring more Indian travellers to choose Abu Dhabi for their next international holiday.”

(Source: Thomas Cook India)

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The hire marks the latest in senior leadership additions as CTS scales its position as the most powerful infrastructure layer behind branded travel and lifestyle programmes.

Anand joins CTS from MakeMyTrip (NASDAQ: MMYT), India’s largest travel platform, where he led product strategy and business performance for several of the platform’s highest-traffic businesses.

At MakeMyTrip, Anand repeatedly took businesses with no search visibility, no funnel, and no revenue model and built them into some of the platform’s strongest growth engines. He conceived industry-first products that raised the standard for traveller trust and was an early champion of AI-first product practices across the organisation.

‘We are deliberately bringing in leaders who have built and scaled at the highest level of the travel industry. Ishan has done exactly that – from zero to category-leading growth engines, and he’ll shape what CTS builds next for our partners and beyond,” said CTS Founder and CEO Mike Putman.

“CTS gives any brand the platform, the inventory, and the economics to turn travel into something rare: a loyalty experience their members genuinely value, and a revenue line the brand fully owns. That combination is what drew me in, and the platform is already building for where booking goes next as the industry becomes more AI-driven. I’ve spent my career turning platforms like this into trusted, category-leading businesses, and the chance to do that at CTS’s global scale made this an easy decision.” – Ishan Anand, VP of Product 

At CTS, Anand will lead product strategy and vision across the company’s platform, spanning its white-label travel loyalty infrastructure, AI-powered member experience, and an expanding suite of modules.

About Custom Travel Solutions
Custom Travel Solutions provides white-label travel loyalty and booking infrastructure to banks, membership organisations, fintech companies, publishers, and enterprise partners worldwide that want to grow loyalty, engagement, and non-dues revenue through travel.

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