SINGAPORE, 15 June 2026: Royal Caribbean has officially welcomed Legend of the Seas, the newest Icon Class vacation, to its fleet ahead of its highly anticipated European debut on 4 July.
After nearly two years of construction in Turku, Finland, more than 1,200 crew members and partners came together for a legendary delivery ceremony led by Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley, and Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholm.
Delivery celebrations on board the Legend of the Seas.
During the celebration, the team recognised the hard work of thousands of engineers, designers, architects and crew members who brought Legend to life, and marked the transfer of ownership from Royal Caribbean to Meyer Turku.
Legend will kick off the summer in Europe with seven-night Western Mediterranean adventures from Barcelona, Spain and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. before heading to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in November, offering a mix of six-night Western Caribbean and eight-night Southern Caribbean vacations, with each itinerary visiting Royal Caribbean’s top-rated destination, Perfect Day CocoCay.
Legend features record-breaking experiences, including the most dining venues at sea with 28 options; all-new nightlife, edge-of-your-seat entertainment across stage, air, water and ice.
SINGAPORE, 15 June 2026: Asia’s largest B2B travel trade show returns to Singapore from 21 to 23 October 2026, introducing new experience zones, alongside curated guided tours designed to create targeted business opportunities.
Co-located with MICE Show Asia and Travel Tech Asia, the event continues to unite key stakeholders from across the global travel and tourism industry. Key exhibitors include Resorts World Sentosa, Tourism Fiji, Turespaña, and Visit Maldives.
Photo credit: ITB Asia. The Singapore booth at ITB Asia.
ITB Asia 2026 will return to the Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore from 21 to 23 October 2026, co-located with MICE Show Asia and Travel Tech Asia. Over three days, the event is expected to welcome more than 18,000 participants, 1,500+ quality buyers, over 1,000 exhibitors and more than 160 speakers from across the global travel and tourism industry.
Under the theme “Experiences in Motion: Human-Centred Design in Travel & Tourism”, the 2026 edition will reflect the industry’s ongoing shift towards experience-led travel, greater personalisation and the increasing integration of technology across the traveller journey.
“The travel industry is undergoing a profound transformation driven by evolving traveller expectations and rapid technological advancement. With our 2026 theme, ITB Asia places human-centred design at the core of industry dialogue,” said Messe Berlin Asia Pacific Executive Director Darren Seah. “In its 19th edition, ITB Asia continues to serve as the industry’s leading platform in the Asia-Pacific region, enabling meaningful connections, collaboration and real business outcomes.”
Resorts World Sentosa has been confirmed as the Official Integrated Resort Partner for ITB Asia 2026. As one of Singapore’s leading integrated resorts, its participation underscores the event’s position as a key platform connecting global travel and tourism stakeholders across the Asia-Pacific region.
In response to evolving traveller demand and emerging industry trends, ITB Asia 2026 will introduce new experience zones dedicated to Gastronomy Tourism, Wellness Tourism and Adventure Tourism, designed to deliver focused visibility and create targeted business opportunities for exhibitors active in high-growth travel segments.
The new Experience Pavilion, powered by Tripadvisor, will highlight the growing importance of experiential travel and provide a dedicated platform for exhibitors to inspire, engage, and connect.
Curated guided tours debut at ITB Asia
For the first time, ITB Asia will launch curated guided tours designed to connect buyers with targeted exhibitors across key sectors. The tours aim to facilitate structured exhibitor discovery and create more focused networking opportunities across the exhibition floor, enabling buyers to maximise their time onsite and engage directly with exhibitors aligned to their business objectives.
Trade visitors can register for ITB Asia 2026 via the ITB Asia Visitor Registration and benefit from Early Bird rates available until 11 September 2026.
PHNOM PENH, 15 June 2026: AirAsia Cambodia (KT) and the Cambodia Tourism Board (CTB) have entered into a strategic partnership to boost Cambodia’s tourism growth and elevate the Kingdom’s profile in key international markets, with a strong focus on India and Australia.
The agreement was signed by AirAsia Cambodia Chief Executive Officer, Nam Vissoth and Cambodia Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Kim Minea, witnessed by Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Cambodia Tourism Board Huot Hak.
Photo credit: AirAsia Cambodia. Asia Cambodia Chief Executive Officer, Nam Vissoth (right) and Cambodia Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Kim Minea (left), and Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Cambodia Tourism Board Huot Hak (centre).
Under the collaboration, AirAsia and CTB will jointly invest USD100,000 to co-develop and implement a series of marketing and promotional initiatives targeting travellers from India and Australia.
To bridge the gap in direct routes, the campaigns will actively promote AirAsia’s Fly-Thru via Kuala Lumpur. This connectivity enables seamless transit for travellers from both markets, allowing them to book a single itinerary, skip immigration during layovers, and have their baggage checked through directly to Cambodia. Planned activities include joint digital campaigns, advertising promotions, participation in travel expos, and familiarisation trips for key opinion leaders (KOLs) and media representatives from both markets.
The first joint campaign got underway in May 2026, highlighting Cambodia’s rich cultural heritage, vibrant cities, natural attractions, and unique travel experiences further to strengthen the Kingdom’s visibility among international travellers.
AirAsia Cambodia, Chief Executive Officer, Nam Vissoth, said: “As a Cambodian low-cost carrier, AirAsia Cambodia operates as part of the wider AirAsia X (AirAsia Group) network, committed to making air travel affordable and accessible to all. We are dedicated to ensuring every Cambodian can fly, a mission that directly drives Cambodia’s long-term tourism vision. Through our convenient Fly-Thru via Kuala Lumpur, we are seamlessly connecting Cambodia to key global markets like India and Australia, allowing international travellers to experience a hassle-free journey with a single itinerary booking and direct baggage check-through to the Kingdom.
“This strategic partnership with the Cambodia Tourism Board represents an important milestone in our shared mission to showcase the Kingdom’s rich cultural heritage, warm hospitality, and diverse tourism offerings to the world.”
Cambodia Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Kim Minea added: “Strategic partnerships with international airlines such as AirAsia are essential in strengthening Cambodia’s tourism growth and global competitiveness. Aviation connectivity plays a critical role not only in increasing visitor arrivals but also in shaping international travellers’ perceptions of Cambodia. Through this collaboration, we aim to amplify Cambodia’s positive narratives and showcase the Kingdom as a dynamic, welcoming, and diverse destination. Beyond our world-renowned heritage sites, Cambodia offers vibrant urban experiences, authentic cultural encounters, nature-based tourism, and warm hospitality that deserve greater global recognition.”
BERLIN, 12 June 2026: Emirates confirmed this week that it stands ready to launch daily services to Berlin and Stuttgart, committing more than EUR100 million annually in operational expenses, staff, airport charges, fuel, and other expenditures, subject to approval from the German Federal Ministry of Transport.
Berlin sits as the political heart of Europe’s largest economy. A city of 3.9 million people, it is home to a thriving start-up ecosystem, a well-established diplomatic community, and a cultural scene that draws millions of visitors each year. Yet its long-haul connectivity has not kept pace with the city’s strong global credentials. According to OAG schedule data, over 85% of Berlin Brandenburg Airport’s international connectivity is concentrated within Europe.
Photo credit: Emirates
Stuttgart faces a comparable gap in long-haul services. The economic engine of Baden-Württemberg, one of Germany’s most export-driven states, remains underserved when it comes to long-haul air connectivity, the very kind of connectivity manufacturers, suppliers, and trading partners depend upon.
Emirates Airline President Sir Tim Clark said: “Emirates is ready to bring daily widebody connectivity to Berlin and Stuttgart and connect them with our extensive network, backed by substantial investment. These are two of Germany’s most important economic centres, yet both remain underserved in terms of long-haul connectivity. German businesses have told us they need it; the Berlin Chamber of Commerce has called for it; our own data confirms demand; and flights are forecast to be full. Emirates already connects Germany to 50 destinations across Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Australasia that no German airline serves. These are destinations that matter to German exporters, tourism operators, and the millions of travellers looking for more choice and better connections. All we are asking for is the opportunity to serve these cities and their communities, and we remain committed to working constructively with the German authorities to make that a reality and deliver tangible benefits that would be felt across both city regions from day one of our operations.”
Economic impact and job creation
New Emirates routes to both cities would generate hundreds of new jobs. A 2012 study by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) estimated that a daily Emirates service to both Berlin and Stuttgart would create close to 1,000 direct and indirect jobs. That figure remains broadly consistent today.
Of the 2.36 million passengers carried on Emirates’ flights to and from Germany in 2025, 40% flew between Dubai and Germany, while 60% were connecting passengers, underscoring Dubai’s dual role as a premium destination, a growing source market, and a global transfer hub.
If daily flights to Berlin and Stuttgart were permitted, Emirates would offer convenient one-stop connections for German travellers and businesses in these cities and regions.
Today, Berlin and Stuttgart are connected directly to Dubai exclusively by narrow-body aircraft with limited onboard amenities, and only seasonally. A daily Emirates Boeing 777 service would deliver a step change, not only in passenger experience and comfort, but also in cargo capacity.
Germany logged nearly 1.2 million overnight stays by GCC visitors in 2024, a valuable tourism segment that stays longer, spends more, and has a direct, positive impact on tourism revenues. GCC visitors contributed an estimated EUR2.3 billion to the German economy in 2024 alone. The German National Tourist Board projects GCC visitor numbers will reach 3 million annually by the end of the decade.
Looking ahead
The airline argues that the economic case is clear. Daily Emirates services to Berlin and Stuttgart would create hundreds of jobs, strengthen trade links, open up underserved destinations, and attract high-value tourism.
Emirates believes these services would complement Germany’s existing aviation ecosystem, offering travellers and businesses greater choice and competition on routes where it is needed most.
The airline remains committed to engaging constructively with the German Federal Government and looks forward to the opportunity to bring the benefits of long-haul connectivity to Berlin and Stuttgart.
SAMUI ISLAND, 12 June 2026: Centara Reserve Samui announces “A New Dimension of Wellbeing”, an exclusive collaboration between Reserve Spa Cenvaree and Integrative Somatic Practitioner, Performance Specialist Brad Reed.
The collaboration forms part of the resort’s broader “Month of Mindful Renewal” initiative: a curated wellness focus designed around restoration, nervous system balance, and slower, more intentional experiences by the sea. This approach further strengthens the spa’s credibility following its recent recognition in the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards 2026, reflecting consistently strong guest feedback and experience-led wellness programming.
Available for a limited period at Reserve Spa Cenvaree, the “New Dimension of Wellbeing” programme brings together somatic therapy, breathwork, sound healing, and body-based practices through a series of treatments designed to release tension, restore alignment, and support nervous system recovery.
Rather than approaching wellness as passive relaxation, the collaboration focuses on how the body physically holds stress, fatigue, and overstimulation, with particular relevance to fast-paced modern routines and travel patterns. Each session is structured to recalibrate both body and mind through grounded, hands-on techniques delivered within the calm setting of Reserve Spa Cenvaree.
Brad Reed’s holistic approach combines movement, therapeutic touch, breath regulation, and vibrational sound work, drawing from practices that support posture, circulation, recovery, and nervous system balance. The collaboration introduces treatments that are both restorative and deeply physical in their effect, designed not simply to feel calming in the moment, but to create a lasting sense of ease afterwards.
The programme includes:
Somatics & Body Balancing
Available in 60-minute and 90-minute formats, this hands-on treatment combines gentle movement, breathwork, and therapeutic touch to release chronic tension, improve posture, and restore natural alignment. Each session is tailored individually, supporting a more grounded physical state and improved body awareness.
Restore & Radiance Ritual
Blending myofascial work, Balinese massage, deep tissue techniques, and the resonant frequencies of sound therapy, this ritual is designed to support both physical renewal and visible radiance. Treatments are available in facial, body, or combined formats.
Nervous System Reset
A 90-minute immersive treatment focused on deep relaxation and recalibration. Combining bodywork, energy balancing, Tibetan singing bowls, and tuning forks, the experience is designed to quiet the mind and release accumulated tension held in the body.
Alongside the signature treatments, guests may also participate in Reserve Morning Rituals: guided sessions of mindful movement and breathwork by the sea, designed to gradually awaken the body and establish a calmer rhythm for the day ahead.
Set within the landscaped surroundings of Centara Reserve Samui, Reserve Spa Cenvaree has increasingly positioned itself around slower, more considered wellness experiences, where architecture, natural light, sound, and pace all contribute to how treatments are experienced. This collaboration continues that direction, introducing practices that feel both contemporary and deeply restorative within the splendour of island wellbeing.
Available for a limited time at Reserve Spa Cenvaree: “A New Dimension of Wellbeing,” from 18 June to 12 July 2026, daily from 0900 to 2000.
NEW DELHI, 12 June 2026: RateGain’s latest internal data shows the traveller experience has already become ‘AI-first’ with 70% of travellers across the Asia-Pacific using AI throughout the entire travel experience.
Based on emerging trends across Asia Pacific and the Middle East, RateGain Executive Vice President APMEA Anurag Jain points out that rapid changes in traveller behaviour and accelerating technology adoption are reshaping how destinations and hotel brands compete.
Photo credit: RateGain. RateGain Executive Vice President APMEA Anurag Jain.
Despite widespread adoption of digital tools and AI among consumers, the hotel industry continues to lag behind in its operational transformation.
Fragmented systems and disconnected data environments continue to limit the effective use of AI across commercial and operational processes, meaning many critical decisions remain largely manual.
According to RateGain, up to 50% of revenue opportunities are being lost due to a lack of automation in decision-making. This inefficiency is also evident in demand generation and performance management, where 70% of marketing teams struggle to demonstrate return on ad spend (ROAS) clearly. In comparison, 80% of revenue management teams spend up to two days per week on reporting tasks that could be automated.
“At RateGain, our focus is on helping hotels become more discoverable at the moments that matter, ensuring they are present where demand is created and strengthening direct channel performance,” says Jain.
“Our AI-first approach is about removing friction from commercial decision-making and enabling faster, more accurate responses to shifts in demand.”
“We also want hotels to move away from fragmented vendor ecosystems and instead work with a single integrated partner that drives growth across the full commercial funnel. AI should not add complexity, but simplify operations and deliver scalable, performance-driven outcomes,” he adds.
AI as the connective layer of hotel commercial performance RateGain argues that the hotels currently outperforming the market are those that have moved beyond standalone tools and are embedding AI as a connective layer across the entire guest journey.
“The hotels that will win are not those with more tools, but those with smarter systems capable of connecting all guest data across the full travel cycle. The most successful operators are not simply adding more technology, but building smarter commercial practices that connect marketing, revenue, distribution, and guest experience,” Jain concluded.
RateGain highlights that early adopters of AI-driven commercial models are already achieving significant performance gains: more than a 100% increase in demand through intent-based marketing, a x2 increase in direct conversion via AI-powered booking engines, revenue uplifts of around 30% through intelligent pricing, and up to 300% growth in ancillary revenue through AI-driven concierge solutions.
HO TRAM, Vietnam, 12 June 2026: Meliá Hotels International has confirmed a major expansion of Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort alongside its long-term partner and property developer, Tanzanite International, reinforcing its commitment to Vietnam as a strategic growth market in the Asia Pacific.
The expansion will enhance Meliá Ho Tram’s accommodation, wellness, and lifestyle offerings when it opens in Q3 2028, boosting the room count by an additional 191 rooms at the 238-key resort.
Photo credit: Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort.
The development will also feature five new swimming pools across 2,500 sqm, including a signature rooftop pool, alongside expanded wellness, fitness, and dining facilities to further elevate the resort experience.
As part of the broader development, the project will also introduce Indochine Residences at Melia Ho Tram — a collection of two and three-bedroom residences, duplexes and penthouses.
The residences will offer investors an opportunity to participate in the resort’s growth through fully serviced, hotel-managed properties that combine private ownership with access to Meliá’s hospitality standards and rental programme
About Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort Coastal Road, Ho Tram Hamlet, Ho Tram Commune, Ho Chi Minh City. A flagship luxury resort managed by Meliá Hotels International, featuring 152 rooms and 86 The Level Villas.
SIEM REAP, 12 June 2026: Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor promotes a new ‘Path of History’ tour featuring rare photographs, video footage, architectural drawings, and other vintage artefacts that highlight a golden age of travel in Southeast Asia.
A new history book by authors Andreas and Carola Augustin complements the permanent exhibition at Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor in Siem Reap. A Tale of Two Hotels – Raffles in Cambodia showcases the property alongside Raffles Hotel Le Royal, its sister property in Phnom Penh, while chronicling an era of globe-trotting explorers and thrilling discoveries.
Photo credit: Raffles Hotels & Resorts.
The ‘Grand Path of History’ tour and book both trace the early boom years (1900-1940) of international travel, when passengers boarded steamships bound for the East and the first aircraft took to the skies. It is a story of true pioneers, like the Sarkies brothers in Singapore, whose Raffles brand has epitomised luxury travel for nearly 140 years.
The 160-page book, full of colourful photographs and available in hardcover and paperback, brings readers into Cambodia’s two grandest hotels, Hotel Le Royal and Grand Hotel d’Angkor, and recounts the country’s determined efforts to promote its rich cultural heritage abroad, from the Royal Ballet of Cambodia’s striking debut in Paris at the start of the 20th century to Hollywood actor Charlie Chaplin’s visits to Le Royal and Angkor Wat.
The ‘Grand Path of History’ tour is available to in-house guests only, with guided visits led by a Raffles historian. Andreas and Carola Augustin curated the exhibit.
Raffles Hotel Le Royal, which originally opened in 1929, today features 175 rooms and suites that underwent a full refurbishment as part of a meticulous one-year restoration project in 2019. The hotel’s elegant past has been reinterpreted in a bold, contemporary style that is inspired by French colonial, Khmer, and Art Deco influences.
Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor opened in 1932 as a rest stop for archaeologists and adventurers exploring the ancient kingdom of Angkor Wat. The hotel features an authentic expression of 1930s French Art Deco style, with beautifully refined rooms, suites, and villas that blend old-world charm with Cambodian influences and contemporary details.
SINGAPORE, 12 June 2026: Visit Maldives Corporation reports its strongest financial performance in eight years, highlighting a year marked by tourism growth, strengthened governance, and expanded international destination marketing activities, according to a statement released at the close of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 9 June 2026.
During the meeting, shareholders reviewed and approved the corporation’s annual report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025, with VMC recording total self-generated income of MVR32.54 million in 2025, the highest annual income achieved by the corporation in the past eight years.
Photo credit: Visit Maldives.
Income was generated through membership contributions, participation in international trade fairs and roadshows, publications, and other commercial activities, reflecting continued growth in stakeholder engagement and revenue diversification.
The AGM also highlighted a landmark year for Maldivian tourism. During 2025, the Maldives welcomed more than 2 million tourist arrivals, while tourism receipts exceeded USD5.57 billion, representing a 16.4% increase compared to the previous year.
The corporation contributed to these broader industry achievements through destination marketing campaigns, international trade engagement, strategic partnerships, media outreach, and digital promotion activities implemented across key global markets.
Speaking at the AGM, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Abdulla Ghiyas Riyaz, noted that the achievements of 2025 reflected the collective efforts of the tourism industry and the corporation’s continued focus on strengthening destination competitiveness.“
“The achievements of 2025 demonstrate the strength of the Maldives tourism industry and the value of collaboration between government institutions, industry stakeholders, and our international partners.
“While the corporation’s record financial performance reflects stronger stakeholder engagement and commercial growth, our broader success lies in supporting a tourism industry that continues to deliver economic value for the country while maintaining the Maldives’ position as one of the world’s most sought-after destinations.”
In July 2025, the corporation officially rebranded from Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation to Visit Maldives Corporation under a Presidential Decree.
On the international stage, the Maldives secured significant recognition during 2025, winning World’s Leading Destination at the World Travel Awards for the sixth consecutive year and World’s Leading Green Destination for the second consecutive year.
The AGM further highlighted the corporation’s extensive marketing activities during the year, including 46 destination campaigns, 27 collaborative initiatives, and participation in 16 international trade fairs, 14 familiarisation trips, 27 public relations activities, and strategic engagements across key source markets.
About Visit Maldives Corporation Visit Maldives Corporation is the State-owned enterprise mandated to promote the Maldives as a tourist destination worldwide under the brand “Maldives” and slogan “Maldives… The Sunny Side of Life”. The corporation actively markets the Maldives in key global markets with an integrated 360-degree marketing approach and has gained immense recognition, accolades, and awards in the international tourism arena.
ABU DHABI, UAE, 12 June 2026: Etihad Airways will increase flights between Abu Dhabi and Kabul to double daily, effective 15 July, due to a rapid growth in travel demand.
Kabul joined the Etihad network in March 2026, initially operating four times weekly. Demand has significantly exceeded expectations, with strong take-up from both point-to-point travellers and those using Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport as a hub to connect onwards to Europe and beyond.
Photo credit: Etihad. Twice daily to Kabul.
The route is flown by Airbus A320 aircraft configured with eight business and 150 economy seats. With double-daily flights now in place, travellers between Afghanistan and the UAE will have considerably more choice over departure times, whether travelling for family, business or leisure.
Afghanistan has longstanding ties with the UAE, which is home to one of the Gulf’s largest Afghan communities. For the hundreds of thousands of Afghans living and working across the country, as well as those with business and trade connections between the two nations, the expanded schedule offers a more flexible and better-connected service.
Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Arik De, said: “The response to our Kabul launch has been exceptional. Demand has remained strong from day one, and moving to double-daily is a direct reflection of what our guests have been telling us with their bookings.
“This rapid expansion is another example of the strategic approach we take to network development, allowing us to respond quickly to the wishes of our guests, and strengthening Abu Dhabi’s role as an important gateway connecting regional markets with our global network.”
