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Koh Samui, Thailand, September 18, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / This festive season, Garrya Tongsai Bay Samui invites guests to celebrate Christmas and welcome 2027 in the tranquil surroundings of its private bay. The resort will come alive with beachfront dining, live entertainment, festive drinks, restorative spa experiences, and meaningful moments designed to be shared.

From Christmas Eve celebrations by the sea to a relaxed Christmas Day lunch and the White Coastal Gala welcoming 2027, the festive programme brings together a collection of experiences inspired by the natural beauty and peaceful spirit of Koh Samui.

Christmas Celebrations: “Woodland Glow”
On Christmas Eve, 24 December 2026, Garrya Tongsai Bay Samui will host a beachfront BBQ at Fish Tales from 19:00 to 22:00 hrs., featuring festive roasts, premium meats, seafood, and international and Thai favourites. Live music by Bulet and a special appearance by the Tongsai Carol Singers will accompany the evening.

The experience is priced at THB 4,900 net per adult and THB 2,450 net per child aged 5–12 years, excluding beverages.

Book with full payment by 15 November 2026 to enjoy 10% off food. Optional three-hour beverage packages are available from THB 1,590 net per person.

Christmas Day continues with a relaxed lunch by the sea at Fish Tales from 12:00 hrs., with a choice of two- and three-course festive menus created by the resort’s Culinary Team, starting from THB 1,490 net per person.

New Year’s Eve: White Coastal Gala 2026
On 31 December 2026, the resort will welcome 2027 with its White Coastal Gala at Po-Lad Beach Bar and Fish Tales. Inspired by Pearl White & Coastal Gold, the evening will feature a beachfront cocktail reception, grand dinner buffet, live music, Samui Fire Dancers, DJ Simon, a midnight countdown, and fireworks.

The celebration is priced at THB 8,500 net per adult and THB 4,250 net per child aged 5–12 years, excluding beverages.

Book with full payment by 15 November 2026 to enjoy 10% off food. Optional four-hour beverage packages are available from THB 2,850 net per person.

Festive Wellbeing
For those seeking a restorative spa experience in Koh Samui during the festive season, 8LEMENTS SPA offers a peaceful retreat focused on relaxation and wellbeing. Guests booking any 90-minute treatment from December 2026 through January 2027 will receive a complimentary 8LEMENTS Massage Oil as a festive gift.

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Dubai, United Arab Emirates, September 18, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the Kingdom of Bahrain will host the International Tourism Investment Forum (ITIF), from 10 to 12 January 2027, in partnership with UN Tourism.

Her Excellency Fatima bint Jaafar Al Sairafi, Minister of Tourism of Bahrain, and Her Excellency Shaikha Nasser Al Nuwais, Secretary-General of UN Tourism, signed the hosting agreement at the Arabian Travel Market 2026 in Dubai, in the presence of officials and representatives of the tourism sector.

The Forum will bring together ministers, investors, financial institutions and private-sector leaders, with a focus on where tourism investment is heading, how projects are financed, and how to build partnerships that deliver long-term economic and social returns. The programme will also present Bahrain’s tourism projects and investment opportunities to international investors.

Her Excellency Fatima bint Jaafar Al Sairafi said: “This agreement is an important step in establishing Bahrain as a regional and international destination for tourism investment. The Forum will give investors and decision-makers a global platform to find new opportunities and build lasting partnerships. It will also show what Bahrain offers: a strong investment environment, advanced infrastructure, a strategic location and a diverse tourism offer.”

Her Excellency Shaikha Al Nuwais said: “Investment decides whether tourism grows in a way that creates jobs, builds resilience and lasts. UN Tourism will bring its investment expertise and global network to Manama, and we thank the Kingdom of Bahrain for hosting the Forum. Our ambition is clear: to help turn tourism potential into investable projects that deliver lasting value.”

The agreement reflects Bahrain’s commitment to international cooperation in tourism, drawing on UN Tourism’s global expertise to strengthen the Kingdom’s investment environment and the competitiveness of its tourism sector.

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Bangkok, Thailand, September 17, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / On 15 September 2026, Dusit Thani College and Avocados Australia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote collaboration in education, workforce development, and food innovation. The agreement was signed on behalf of Dusit Thani College by Dr. Atthawet Prougestaporn, Rector of Dusit Thani College, and Ms. ​Pichaya Noranitiphadungkarn, Director of International Relations and Accreditations, while representing Avocados Australia were Mr. Brad Rodgers, Director for Western Australia, and Mr. KC Liew, General Manager, Southeast Asia. The ceremony was witnessed by H.E. Mr. Pablo Kang, Ambassador of Australia to Thailand.

The MoU aims to foster knowledge exchange in food and culinary studies, advance food technology development, and build collaborative networks between academia and industry at an international level. The partnership is expected to help prepare students and professionals for the evolving demands of the future food industry.

On the same day, Dusit Thani College, with support from Avocados Australia, organized the Australian Fruits Culinary Competition 2026, an internal culinary competition designed to select Dusit Thani College students to represent Thailand and showcase their talents in Malaysia from 1-4 November 2026.

“This competition is a great example of the strong and practical relationship between Australia and Thailand, bringing together education, industry and emerging culinary talent,” His Excellency Mr. Pablo Kang, Ambassador of Australia to Thailand said, “Partnerships like this create opportunities for knowledge exchange and strengthen the people-to-people and commercial links between our two countries. It is particularly encouraging to see young Thai chefs engaging creatively with high-quality Australian produce and developing new ideas that reflect Thailand’s dynamic food culture.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Atthawet Prougestaporn, Rector of Dusit Thani College, added: “We are especially grateful to Avocados Australia for supporting this competition and for believing in the creativity of our students. Your partnership allows our young chefs to explore new ingredients, new techniques, and new ways of thinking about food — skills that will serve them throughout their careers in the global hospitality industry. We hope this is only the beginning of a much deeper collaboration between our two organizations. We look forward to creating many more opportunities for our students and faculties to learn from one another.”

Mr. Brad Rodgers, Director for Western Australia at Avocados Australia, expressed the view that culinary education has an important role in market development. He noted that the students participating today will become chefs, educators, and foodservice professionals who shape future menus and influence how consumers experience different ingredients. “For Avocados Australia, this partnership will help us better understand how Australian avocados are received and used in Thailand. We hope it will also provide Dusit Thani College students and faculty with access to industry knowledge, Australian produce, and future opportunities for collaboration,” he said.

The competition challenged participants to create an original signature dish inspired by Southeast Asian cuisine, featuring premium Australian produce as the main ingredients, including avocados, stone fruit, and table grapes. It aimed to highlight the versatility and potential of these fruits in contemporary cuisine while encouraging creativity, flavor innovation, and the preservation of ASEAN’s rich culinary identity. Competitors were tasked with developing dishes that are innovative, commercially viable, culturally relevant, and aligned with the preferences of today’s consumers.

More than just a flagship activity under this new partnership, the competition provided students with opportunities to demonstrate their creativity, food product development skills, and application of food

innovation. It also reflected the educational approach of Dusit Thani College’s newly launched Food Technology and Creative Culinary Arts program, which integrates culinary arts with science, technology, and innovation to develop food products that meet modern consumer demands in terms of taste, nutrition, sustainability, and commercial potential.

The competition is also part of the Australian Fruits Culinary Programme, a regional initiative jointly delivered by the ASEAN-Australia Centre, Avocados Australia, Australian Table Grape Association, Summerfruit Australia, and regional educational institutions. The programme aims to connect Australia’s horticultural industry, culinary education institutions, and emerging chefs from across Southeast Asia through activities such as culinary training, recipe competitions, etc.

Dusit Thani College and Avocados Australia expect that this MoU will pave the way for future academic activities, knowledge-sharing initiatives, and collaborative projects aimed at enhancing the capabilities of both students and professionals in the food and hospitality industries.

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Karoo, South Africa, September 17, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / From a five-star training ground rewriting the odds for rural women, to children directing and filming their own South African adventure films, to rhino lineage and reef ecosystems kept alive by the communities living alongside them, four properties across South Africa show what it looks like to protect heritage when the cameras aren’t rolling

Every 24 September, South Africa marks Heritage Day – popularly known as National Braai Day, a day when the country’s diversity is celebrated over a fire and a shared plate. But heritage in South Africa is not confined to a single public holiday. Across four properties, from a Cape Dutch national monument in the Karoo to a private reserve on the Sabie River and two eco-lodges anchored in KwaZulu-Natal’s wild coast and rhino heartland, hospitality is doing the quieter, harder work of keeping heritage, culture, wildlife and community alive every day of the year.

The properties differ in setting and story, but the throughline is consistent: heritage protected not as a display for guests, but as a living system – of skills passed on, cultures represented with intention, and land and species kept intact because the people closest to them have a stake in their survival.

A national monument turned training ground: Drostdy Hotel

In Robert Sobukwe (formerly Graaff-Reinet), South Africa’s fourth-oldest town, the five-star, Cape Dutch-style Drostdy Hotel is doing more than preserving a national monument – it is preserving a pathway. The hotel is owned by the South African College for Tourism (SACT), founded in 2001 by Dr Anton Rupert with a mandate to train unemployed young individuals from rural South Africa for careers in hospitality.

Students at SACT are not rehearsing service standards in a mock-up dining room. They are rostered onto the floor of a working five-star hotel, handling real guests, real bookings and real complaints – meaning a graduate’s CV lists Drostdy itself, not a simulated placement. Tebello Polisane-Casper, Executive Director of both Drostdy Hotel and SACT, has spent 16 years in hospitality, starting as a student waiter herself.

“Women in leadership positions serve as vital role models and mentors,” she says. “By demonstrating competence, resilience and initiative, we inspire the next generation to realise their potential. Tourism is a live environment – our young women are dealing with people as it happens, and graduating with hands-on, high-end experience.”

Anra Smith is one result of that model: she started as an intern reservationist and is now the hotel’s Wine Shop and Events Manager, 16 years on. Seventy years after the 1956 women’s march, Graaff-Reinet offers a working example of that legacy inside an industry built on service – a heritage site turned into a pipeline for the women it once would have excluded from its front-of-house.

Heritage handed to the next generation: Shiviko Kruger

At Shiviko Kruger, on the banks of the Sabie River minutes from Kruger National Park’s Paul Kruger Gate, heritage is not something children observe – it is something they make, wear and take home. Each of the property’s four exclusive-use villas is built around a distinct African culture, told through its architecture, craft and objects: Ekasi draws on Soweto township culture, Shaka on the traditions of Nguni women, Pula on Tswana and Sotho heritage, and Thobela on Shangaan, Pedi and Venda influences.

That storytelling extends into the activities themselves. Guides run junior fire-making sessions and storytelling around the flames. A traditional bead worker teaches children to make their own bracelets, necklaces and headbands, along with the meaning behind the patterns and colours. Marimba lessons let children learn from the musicians who perform at the lodge, and in the boma, children plant and name their own tree with their guide. A newly launched children-led filmmaking experience – using the same professional camera kit as Shiviko’s own guides – lets children capture their stay in their own words, edited into a keepsake film by the property’s videographer.

“Multi-generational travel is about creating a space where grandparents, parents, and children can move at their own rhythm and create memories on their own terms,” says Anica Jones, General Manager at Shiviko Kruger.

Conservation as living heritage: Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge and Thonga Beach Lodge

Two Isibindi Africa Lodges properties in KwaZulu-Natal show that protecting South Africa’s heritage extends to the land, wildlife and marine life that heritage is built on, and that this protection only works in partnership with the communities who live alongside it.

Inside Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, the reserve where every southern white rhino alive today traces its lineage, and the birthplace of the pioneering Operation Rhino programme in the 1950s and 60s – Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge sits within the very landscape it helps protect. As the park records a landmark 52% reduction in rhino poaching this year, guest stays directly fund ranger patrols, smart-fencing technology and the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife K9 Unit’s tracking dogs. Many of the lodge’s staff are drawn from the neighbouring Mpembeni community, through a model connecting conservation, community and tourism as one system rather than three separate efforts.

On the Mabibi coastline, within the UNESCO-listed iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Thonga Beach Lodge protects a different kind of heritage: loggerhead and leatherback turtles that return to the same beaches to nest each year, and the coral rockpools and reefs of one of the country’s last untouched shorelines. Eighty-eight percent of the local community is employed at the lodge, and marine educator Saneliso “Sunny” Mathenjwa – born and raised in Mabibi, now leads youth education programmes in marine biology, waste management and conservation ethics.

“These days, protecting turtles isn’t just something we say,” Sunny reflects. “It’s part of our lives, how we support our families, and how we honour our heritage.”

Both lodges are backed by the Isibindi Foundation and the Isibindi Guide Training School, run in partnership with FGASA, which trains unemployed local youth as professional nature guides a direct career path from village to lodge that ensures the people living on the borders of these parks are the ones leading the narrative for guests.

Hospitality’s real Heritage Day work

Taken together, the four properties point to a common idea: that South African hospitality, at its best, does not package heritage for a single day on the calendar. It builds heritage into its staffing, its architecture, its children’s programming and its conservation funding models, so that culture, craft, wildlife and community are still being protected long after the fire has gone out.

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Bangkok, Thailand, September 16, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / The PATA Foundation has launched the Nepal Tourism Recovery Fund to support tourism workers and small businesses whose livelihoods have been affected by the devastating floods that struck Nepal on August 26.

The floods caused significant loss of life and widespread damage, particularly along affected river corridors and downstream communities. Tourism communities in the affected areas, including guides, drivers, porters and operators of homestays, lodges, teahouses and small hotels, have lost homes, business premises, equipment and income.

The Nepal Tourism Recovery Fund will focus on helping these tourism-dependent families and businesses rebuild their capacity to earn a living.

In a joint statement, Henry Oh, Chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), and Andrew Jones, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PATA Foundation, said: “Our first thoughts are with the families who have lost people, and with those still waiting for news. Nepal’s tourism communities are among the most resilient I have worked with, and they will rebuild. What they need from our industry is support that reaches individual livelihoods, and an accurate account of which parts of the country are open so that the autumn season is not lost as well.”

Donations to the Fund will support practical recovery needs, including equipment for guides, porters, drivers and tourism workers; the refitting of lodges, homestays and teahouses so they can receive guests again; tools, stock and equipment for tourism-related businesses; and shared facilities used by affected communities.

Every grant will be approved by the PATA Foundation’s Board of Trustees, with the Foundation committed to publishing information on funds raised and how they are used.

“The purpose of this Fund is straightforward: to help tourism-dependent families get back to earning,” added Mr. Jones. “For many people in the affected areas, their home and their tourism business were the same building. Rebuilding the equipment, premises and capacity that allow them to welcome visitors is an important part of the recovery.”

Nepal remains open to tourism

PATA and the PATA Foundation are also urging the international tourism industry and travellers to distinguish between affected areas and the rest of Nepal.

While the impact of the disaster is severe, its effects are not uniform across the country. Conditions and access can change quickly, however, particularly as recovery and assessment operations continue and further weather-related incidents may affect individual areas.

The two organisations are therefore encouraging travel businesses, media, travellers and other tourism stakeholders to check the latest official information and destination-specific travel status before making or communicating travel plans.

The Government of Nepal has similarly called for travel advisories to be confined to specific affected areas while highlighting that the rest of the country remains open for travel and tourism.

“Continued travel to destinations that are open and operating is one of the ways the tourism industry can stand with Nepal at this time,” the statement added. “Those bookings sustain businesses, workers and communities, while allowing recovery efforts to focus on the areas most directly affected.”

The Fund is open to contributions from individuals, tourism organisations, businesses and other supporters of Nepal’s tourism community.

To support the Nepal Tourism Recovery Fund, visit the PATA Foundation website.

For organisations interested in making a direct contribution or discussing a larger commitment, please contact Foundation@PATA.org.

For the latest information on travel conditions in Nepal, travellers and tourism businesses are encouraged to consult official Nepal government and tourism authorities and destination-specific guidance before travelling.

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Bangkok, Thailand, September 14, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / As TOP25 Restaurants expands its international presence across Asia, Thailand is set to benefit from the growing regional platform promoting gastronomy as a driver of tourism and destination development. Following the inaugural TOP25 Restaurants Sarawak Awards 2026, presented by the Premier of Sarawak, and the signing of Memoranda of Understanding with a number of Asian partners, the TOP25 Restaurants Thailand Awards 2026 will further extend the international visibility of Thailand’s exceptional culinary scene. Taking place on 26th October 2026 at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, the awards will recognize outstanding restaurants and culinary talent while helping strengthen Thailand’s position as a premier gastronomy destination in Asia.

Launched in Bangkok in 2017 as the world’s first AI-powered restaurant guide, enhanced by human expertise, TOP25 Restaurants has continued to evolve its approach to recognising culinary excellence. What began with a pioneering restaurant guide has developed into an international gastronomy tourism platform, with the TOP25 Restaurants Thailand Awards 2026 continuing this journey by celebrating the breadth, diversity and excellence of Thailand’s culinary scene. Over the years, TOP25 Restaurants has recognized the diversity and excellence of Thailand’s restaurant scene across different destinations and culinary communities.

The TOP25 Restaurants Thailand Awards 2026 continues this evolution, bringing the spotlight to Thailand’s dynamic gastronomy scene and recognizing restaurants and culinary talents whose excellence, creativity, authenticity and commitment are helping shape the country’s culinary identity.

Hosted at the iconic Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, the 2026 awards will bring together leading chefs, restaurateurs, hospitality professionals, tourism representatives, food personalities and distinguished guests for an evening celebrating the people and establishments that make Thailand one of the world’s most compelling gastronomy destinations.

Years of recognizing Thailand’s culinary excellence

Since the first TOP25 Restaurants awards in Thailand, the program has sought to provide a dedicated platform for recognizing restaurants that contribute to the richness, diversity and evolution of the country’s gastronomy landscape.

From Bangkok’s internationally recognized dining scene to the distinctive culinary traditions of Phuket and Southern Thailand, the program has highlighted the extraordinary range of experiences available to diners and travellers throughout the country.

The development of the awards reflects the growing importance of gastronomy within Thailand’s tourism landscape. Food is increasingly one of the principal reasons travellers choose destinations, while restaurants, chefs and local culinary traditions have become important ambassadors for Thai culture and identity.

The 2026 edition builds on this established foundation while looking towards the future of Thai gastronomy tourism.

Bernard Metzger, Founder of TOP25 Restaurants International, said:
“Through TOP25 Restaurants, we aim to amplify Thailand’s culinary excellence on the global stage and connect outstanding restaurants and chefs with the growing opportunities in gastronomy tourism. The TOP25 Restaurants Thailand Awards 2026 will celebrate the people and establishments shaping Thailand’s culinary future, while inspiring more travellers to discover the remarkable flavours, stories and hospitality that make Thailand truly exceptional.”

Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok to host the 2026 celebration

The prestigious Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok will provide the setting for this year’s awards, bringing Thailand’s gastronomy and hospitality communities together in one of Bangkok’s most iconic venues.

Sascha Lenz, General Manager, Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, said:

“We are delighted to welcome the TOP25 Restaurants Thailand Awards 2026 to Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok. Thailand has an extraordinary culinary heritage and a vibrant restaurant scene that continues to evolve and inspire. Hosting an evening dedicated to recognizing the people and restaurants behind this remarkable gastronomy culture is a great honor for our hotel. We look forward to being part of this special celebration of culinary excellence in Thailand.”

The Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok’s central location, established reputation for hospitality and extensive event facilities provide a fitting setting for an evening dedicated to Thailand’s culinary community.

Where gastronomy meets tourism

The TOP25 Restaurants Thailand Awards 2026 comes at a time when gastronomy is increasingly recognized as a powerful driver of tourism and destination development.

For today’s travellers, discovering a destination often means discovering its food — its ingredients, traditions, markets, restaurants, chefs and the stories behind them.

Thailand is uniquely positioned to benefit from this trend. Its culinary culture connects food, heritage, local communities, agriculture, creativity, hospitality and tourism, creating experiences that resonate with both domestic and international visitors.

By recognizing restaurants across Thailand, TOP25 Restaurants aims to contribute to the continued development of the country’s gastronomy ecosystem and to give greater, global visibility to the people and establishments shaping its future.

A new chapter in the TOP25 Restaurants Thailand story

The 2026 awards represent the next chapter in the TOP25 Restaurants journey in Thailand — building on years of recognition while creating an increasingly visible platform to promote the country’s rich culinary heritage and as a prime gastronomy tourism destination.

The award recipients will be revealed during the ceremony on 26 October 2026, with further announcements regarding the award categories, participating restaurants, distinguished guests and program to follow in the lead-up to the event.

For Thailand’s restaurant industry, the evening will be an opportunity to celebrate achievement and recognize the people behind some of the country’s most memorable dining experiences.

For the wider tourism community, it will be a celebration of one of Thailand’s greatest international assets: its extraordinary culinary culture.

One culinary journey. A celebration of Thailand’s extraordinary gastronomy.

About TOP25 Restaurants International

TOP25 Restaurants is an international gastronomy recognition and gastronomy tourism development platform dedicated to discovering, recognizing and promoting outstanding restaurants and local culinary experiences.

With a growing presence across Asia, TOP25 Restaurants provides a platform that connects culinary excellence, gastronomy, tourism, culture and destination development, while celebrating the distinctive culinary identity of each destination.

The program has a regional presence and is expanding internationally through new destination-focused awards and gastronomy tourism development initiatives.

In 2026, TOP25 Restaurants held its inaugural TOP25 Restaurants Sarawak Awards in Kuching, Malaysia, where the awards were presented by the Premier of Sarawak, the Right Honourable Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Abang Haji Openg, marking an important milestone in the organisation’s international expansion.

Through its growing international network, TOP25 Restaurants seeks to give greater recognition and visibility to outstanding restaurants and culinary talent while highlighting the increasingly important role of gastronomy in tourism and destination development.

About Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok

Located in the heart of Bangkok, Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok is a landmark luxury hotel renowned for its exceptional hospitality, sophisticated dining experiences and distinctive location in the city’s vibrant Ratchaprasong district.

The hotel combines contemporary luxury with warm Thai hospitality and offers an extensive range of accommodation, restaurants, bars, meeting spaces and event facilities. Its culinary portfolio reflects the diversity and sophistication of Bangkok’s dining culture, while its extensive venues make it an established destination for prestigious celebrations, conferences and social events.

As part of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok reflects the Grand Hyatt brand’s commitment to creating memorable experiences through distinctive destinations, thoughtful service and world-class hospitality.

FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Nicole Lim
Media Relations
TOP25 Restaurants International
E: media@top25restaurants.com

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Rome, Italy, September 14, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / Vox Group, a guiding technology company operating in more than 150 countries, today launched a significantly expanded version of Vox Aura. First introduced at WTM London in 2025 as a live translation device, Aura is now an AI-powered smart transmitter.

Aura was built to solve one problem: language. One guide, speaking once, understood by every guest on the tour. Over the past year, working alongside the operators and guides who use it, Vox found that was only the starting point.

“Operators have called Aura “a game changer”, and the reason is simple. One guide speaks once, and every guest receives a tour made for them in their own language, run from a single app. There is no extra kit to hand out and collect, and nobody is left out of the story. It gives guides more to work with and operators more to sell.” Fabio Primerano, Chief Executive Officer, Vox Group

What they asked for changed the product. Guides wanted the unexpected question covered, the obscure detail they could not be expected to carry. Hosts, who are not always trained guides, wanted the same support throughout the tour. Operators wanted one tour that could hold a mixed group together.

Aura now supports live simultaneous translation in up to four languages at once, drawn from a library that has grown from 50 languages to 200. Guests need nothing at all to take part: no smartphone, no download, no roaming fees and no separate interpreter. The audio reaches them over the same Vox radio link operators have relied on for 25 years, in more than 150 countries, while the guide runs everything from a single device.

One tour, built for every guest

Aura also lets one tour work for everyone on it. Multiple channels run at the same time, each tailored to the listener, whether that is the standard commentary, a historical deep-dive, a children’s version or a translated feed. The same departure now suits a family, a specialist and a first-time visitor without the guide repeating themselves.

Accessibility is part of the same principle. For guests who are deaf or hard of hearing, live subtitles can be sent to their own phone as the guide speaks, so they follow the tour with the group rather than reading a summary afterwards. There is no extra equipment to hand out or manage, and nothing that marks a guest out as needing it.

At the heart of it is Aura’s AI companion, built to support the guide rather than speak for them. Verified information is there the moment a guest asks something off the beaten track, and local context, from place names to local sayings, is on hand for commentary that feels natural. When there is a gap to fill on a long transfer, the guide can call up a story or a quiz to keep the group with them.

Crucially, Aura draws on operator-approved content and verified sources rather than the open internet, so operators decide what their guests hear.

For operators, the update addresses a long-standing operational challenge: a single departure can now carry visitors who would previously have needed splitting into separate language groups, with the tour adapting to each guest as it runs.

“Twenty-five years ago, we put a radio into a guide’s hand so that every guest could hear them. That principle has not changed. Aura begins with the guide and stays with the guide. What has changed is how much it can carry for them: two hundred languages, a personal channel for every listener, and answers on hand the moment a guest asks something nobody saw coming.” Elio Epifani, Founder, Vox Group

Vox customers are vast and include tour operators, cruise lines, shore excursion providers, sightseeing providers and destination marketing organisations.

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Brussels, Belgium, September 10, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / At the IIPT Global Leadership Summit today, SUNx Malta President Geoffrey Lipman announced CanadaStrong.travel, a new initiative linking travel, peace, climate action, and the next generation.

Speaking as the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) celebrates its 40th anniversary, Lipman argues that: “The world is facing four major wars: the existential war against the climate crisis; the hidden war around humanising super artificial intelligence; the real-world wars in Ukraine and the Middle East; and, in his view, an assault on the established global rule of law and our intelligence coming from Donald Trump.”

SUNx Malta has focused primarily on the climate war, building a worldwide Climate Friendly Travel (CFT) network, supporting companies with CFT Action Plans and putting young people at its heart through Dodo4Kids. We have also launched a global initiative to send our Dodo4Kids Books to the long-suffering children in Ukraine.

CanadaStrong.travel will take this ambition further through a new collaboration with IIPT to bring Dodo4Kids to Peace Parks around the world, alongside Global Himalayan Expeditions, which will support young people’s ‘adventure for good’ journeys, and Canada-based Tripian, helping travellers create meaningful, community-connected journeys. The initiative reflects the evolving vision of a new world order articulated by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

It will also be a continuing tribute to Lipman’s late friend, mentor and fellow Canadian Maurice Strong, with Strong’s Earth Charter centrally featured as a roadmap for peace, decency between people, and respect for the planet.

CanadaStrong.travel will formally launch on 21 September 2026 – the UN International Day of Peace.

About SUNx Malta
SUNx Malta is a legacy program of the late Maurice Strong, built to support Climate Friendly Travel – low carbon, SDG-linked, and Paris 1.5-aligned. It is supported by the Malta Tourism Authority and its Tourism Observatory. Working with partners like the Institute of Tourism Studies Malta, SUNx develops climate resilience through education2action and a focus on Small Island and Developing States

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Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, September 12, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / Weddings need not necessarily unfold beneath chandeliers in a traditional hotel ballroom. The Hari Hong Kong is setting the scene for the occasion of a lifetime with an intimate new wedding experience at contemporary Japanese restaurant Zoku and lush alfresco space The Terrace overlooking Wan Chai.

‘The Hari Ever After’ package, priced at HK$50,000 (USD 6378) for 50 guests, affords couples exclusive use of Zoku and The Terrace for four hours, replete with eight varieties of handcrafted Japanese canapés, three hours of free-flow drinks, a whimsical The Hari Candy Trolley and a complimentary night in a luxurious Corner Room for the newlyweds.

For couples marking proposals, anniversaries and other special occasions, the hotel offers the ‘Romance in Style’ stay in one of the hotel’s three elegant suites with their own balconies and sweeping vistas of Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, The Peak and Victoria Harbour, as well as bespoke floral arrangements, and The Hari Gift Cards.

The wedding ceremony and cocktail reception party move between Zoku, meaning “clan” in Japanese and characterised by leather fluted booths and crimson velvet banquets under a dramatic origami-inspired ceiling of angled timber slats, and open-air The Terrace, framed by greenery and a striking triple-height living wall.

Couples select eight of Zoku’s signature Japanese canapés, with choices including deep-fried beef brisket maki, mini octopus skewer with sesame, Atlantic salmon kushiyaki, pork belly taco, shrimp and avocado tart, shrimp tamagoyaki with karasumi, mini sesame crab cake and wasabi prawns.

In addition to unlimited red and white wine, Asahi beer and non-alcoholic refreshments for three hours and The Hari Candy Trolly brimming with the likes of macarons and marshmallows, elegant venue decorations and complimentary value parking for up to two vehicles, subject to availability, are also included. After the wedding, the newlyweds head upstairs for their complimentary room night in a Corner Room, with a 10% privilege to upgrade to a luxurious suite featuring a private terrace, a rarity in Hong Kong.

“The greatest luxury for a wedding, in my humble opinion, is forgetting about the stress of orchestrating such an occasion yourself and leaving that to our team so you can focus on the person you are marrying and the people you have chosen to celebrate with,” said The Hari Hong Kong’s general manager Edward E. Snoeks.

“Zoku and The Terrace offer something remarkably different to the traditional hotel ballroom: two singular venues entirely for the wedding, with atmospheric Zoku seamlessly flowing into the open air and greenery of The Terrace. Our team takes care of every detail behind the scenes, right down to the little touches people remember, leaving the bride and groom-to-be free to forget the logistics and lose themselves in a day nothing short of extraordinary.”

The Hari Hong Kong’s Romance in Style package couples a one-night stay in a suite with breakfast for two, a chocolate strawberry bouquet and a romantic turndown with rose petals, a bubble bath and a choice of Champagne, red wine or white wine. Couples also receive 15% off food and beverages at Lucciola, The Lounge, Zoku & The Terrace, as well as early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability.

The Hari Ever After package is priced at HK$50,000 (USD 6378) for 50 guests and subject to a 10% service charge. Each additional guest costs HK$800 (USD 102) + 10% service charge.

About The Hari Hong Kong

Opened in December 2020, The Hari Hong Kong is the vision of Dr. Aron Harilela, Chairman and CEO of Harilela Hotels Ltd, and the second hotel to open under the ‘The Hari’ brand. The first hotel, The Hari London opened in August 2016. The Harilela Group was established in 1959 and is still wholly owned by the Harilela family. The Harilela Group is the parent company of Harilela Hotels which owns 15 properties across Hong Kong, China, Asia, Europe, and the US.

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Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana, September 12, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / At Mashatu Game Reserve, the 42,000 hectare privately owned game reserve in eastern Botswana, younger travellers are encouraged to experience the African bush by following tracks, discovering wildlife, learning from experienced rangers and exploring the wilderness through hands-on activities.

From tracking spoor and identifying animal calls to discovering insects, bush skills and the smaller wonders of the wilderness, the Kids@ Mashatu Programme gives young travellers their own way into the African bush.

Designed for children aged 4–12, the Kids@ Mashatu Programme combines exploration, learning and play through a range of age-appropriate experiences. Activities are tailored according to each child’s age, interests and confidence, and vary according to the season, camp schedule, group size and length of stay.

For families, there is also reassurance in the depth of experience within the Mashatu team. Staff have an average tenure of 14 years, with some members of the team guiding at Mashatu for an impressive 45 years. This experience provides families with a knowledgeable and familiar team to introduce younger travellers to the African bush.

For children, a safari can be found in the details: a footprint in the sand becomes a mystery to solve, a bird call becomes a challenge to identify, and a beetle is worth stopping to investigate.

Through Bush Discovery Walks and Micro Safaris, children explore the areas around camp and lodge paths with a ranger, learning to identify trees, birds, nests, insects and reptiles, while practising basic tracking and recognising animal prints, spoor and other signs of wildlife.

Ranger Games and Animal Trivia bring wildlife learning to life through interactive activities including animal-call challenges, “Who Am I?”, dung detective and survival-skill quizzes.

For budding trackers, Spoor Tracks and Bush Crafts introduce children to animal footprints and other signs in the sand, with the opportunity to create plaster casts of selected tracks to take home. Children can also learn outdoor survival tips and plant use, as well as take part in target practice using safe, handmade slingshot tools.

Bush Bumble Drives offer younger children who may not yet be ready for a full game drive the opportunity to experience the reserve at a gentler pace. These shorter drives focus on birds, insects, tracks, plants and nearby animal behaviour.

Creative experiences also introduce elements of Botswana’s culture and early bush skills, with activities including making clay figures, stone-inspired tools and nature-based crafts using seeds, leaves and feathers.

The Kids@ Mashatu Programme is available at Kolokolo Safari Home, Mashatu Lodge and Tuli Safari Lodge Mashatu, subject to availability and must be pre-booked before arrival. Families are encouraged to let their Kaelo Destinations reservationist know in advance if their children would like to participate, allowing the team to plan suitable activities wherever possible.

With the December and January school holidays approaching, families looking to experience Botswana together can begin planning their safari now. Mashatu’s Pay Stay and Extended Stay offers provide an opportunity for guests to extend their stay and spend more time exploring the reserve.

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