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Macao, Macao SAR, October 2, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / How does the global tourism economy turn its scale and reach into a force for lasting transformation? The 12th Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) will return to its founding city Macao, China, from 15 to 17 October 2026. Bringing together political and business leaders, academic elites, and representatives from international organisations across five continents, the Forum will revolve around the theme “Crisis · Resilience · Evolution – Building a Tourism Economy for a Shared Future” to collectively address defining questions of our era and chart a blueprint for shared progress.

The global landscape today sees international cooperation facing rigorous tests amid intersecting geopolitical tensions, climate pressures, and global economic uncertainties. Now more than ever, the world needs to break down barriers and foster connection, with the tourism economy serving as a powerful bond that unites communities across geographical divides. As the timeless wisdom observes, “A partnership forged with the right approach defies geographical distance.” According to the latest data from UN Tourism, international tourist arrivals reached a record 1.52 billion in 2025, vividly proving that tourism transcends its role as an economic sector to become a core driving force for mutual learning among civilizations, restoring global trust, and spurring sustainable growth. The decision by the United Nations to designate 2027 as the “International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism” directly addresses this call of our time.

As a premier flagship event in the global tourism economy sector, the Global Tourism Economy Forum was founded in 2012 and has successfully hosted eleven editions. Having brought together over 15,500 participants across 88 countries and regions, the Forum serves as a vital bridge connecting China with the international community to drive cultural tourism alignment, facilitate trade, and promote mutual learning among civilizations. The newly released 15th Five-Year Plan for Cultural and Tourism Development by China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism designates GTEF as a key national strategic platform, explicitly mandating the expansion of its global reach. Following its inclusion in the 14th Five-Year Plan, being named once again in national strategic planning marks the Forum’s official transition from a Macao-born exchange platform into a key vehicle for China’s high-quality opening-up in cultural tourism, as well as a major contributor to global tourism rules and trends.

Standing at a new historical starting point, the 12th Global Tourism Economy Forum · Macao 2026 will closely align with five core pillars, namely Resilient Governance, Technology and Innovation, The New Traveller, Culture and Identity, and Sustainable Growth, deeply integrating with Macao’s development strategies. The Forum will explore frontier topics such as global cultural tourism capital deployment, China-Europe and Asia-Pacific connectivity, mountain-dwelling tourism, and investment facilitation. It will also transcend traditional industry boundaries to explore emerging “Tourism+” business models such as AI empowerment, educational tourism, sports IP, cultural heritage revitalisation, and experiential retail, offering forward looking guidance for global industry transformation.

This edition features Spain as the Partner Country to share its mature experiences in destination refined governance, balanced regional development, and sustainable transformation as a model for the global cultural tourism industry. Hainan Province joins as the Featured Province to highlight China’s high-standard opening-up through the launch of island-wide special customs operations for the Free Trade Port alongside expanded visa-free policies. Leveraging the Forum, Hainan and Macao will drive substantive progress in policy complementarity and resource sharing while opening new avenues of cooperation in multi-destination tourism itineraries development, reciprocal visitor flows, and international MICE synergies.

In addition, the Forum features business matching, cultural tourism promotions, and themed dinners. Adopting an integrated “MICE + Delegation Visit” model, the event extends its programming to Macao world heritage culinary tours and wellness tourism site visits in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, opening concrete new channels for Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area supply chain synergy and investment execution.

This edition of the Forum is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, maintaining long-term strategic partnerships with UN Tourism and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). It also works closely with leading international tourism organisations, including the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), European Travel Commission (ETC), World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), World Tourism Alliance (WTA), International Mountain Tourism Alliance (IMTA), and Sino-International Entrepreneurs Federation (SIEF), continuously building global governance synergy to write a new chapter in sustainable global cultural tourism development.

Reflecting on crises reveals shifting landscapes, building resilience unleashes collective strength, and aiming for breakthroughs drives transformation. The 12th Global Tourism Economy Forum · Macao 2026 looks forward to joining hands with global stakeholders to navigate challenges with greater ecosystem resilience, forge stronger synergies through deeper cooperation, and lead industry breakthroughs with visionary innovation, shaping an open, inclusive, prosperous, and sustainable future for global cultural tourism.

For more details and the latest updates regarding the Forum, please visit https://www.gte-forum.com/en/ or follow the official GTEF social media accounts.

Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, October 2, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / How would you feel, as a hotel guest, if you raised an issue and it was dealt with by a robotic worker? This increasingly realistic scenario is the setting for recent research by the SHTM’s Professor Janelle Chan and Professor YooHee Hwang. They provide the first evidence of how the growing use of robots in hospitality roles interacts with issues of timeliness and compensation when recovering from service failure.

The involvement of robot workers in the service sector, driven by technological progress, cost pressures and chronic staffing gaps, has grown apace since the COVID-19 pandemic. “Although business is bouncing back due to the relaxed precautionary measures”, the authors note, “the hospitality industry still struggles with a severe labour shortage”. Thus, hotel guests in many countries are becoming used to receiving robotic assistance throughout their stay, not only at check-in.

Indeed, with the integration of AI software into physical hardware, service robots are becoming better able to mimic human behaviour. This turn towards anthropomorphism could transform the customer experience. “For example”, the researchers note, “the Mandarin Oriental in Las Vegas has adopted Pepper, a humanoid robot providing interpersonal interactions”. Automated workers are no longer mere gimmicks: as anthropomorphic robots with real-time communication skills take on customer-facing duties, their acceptance by guests will be key to success.

A rational, evidence-based approach to incorporating robots into hospitality roles is therefore essential. The authors were particularly interested in how guests would feel about humanoid robots in sensitive situations such as the aftermath of service failure. Their thinking was informed by the recently developed service robot acceptance model. This theoretical framework, they explain, “suggests that customers’ acceptance of robots is determined by both functionality and social-emotional elements”.

A key question is how customers complaining of poor service react emotionally to robot versus human staff. Here, the researchers were further guided by another theoretical lens. “Social exchange theory”, they explain, “rests on the assumption that individuals engaging in an interaction believe that they can minimise costs and maximise benefits”. This has specific relevance to recovery from quality lapses. “In the service failure scenario, when individuals interact with service personnel, they are appraising the ratio of what has been given (i.e. loss) to what has been received (i.e. benefit)”.

Human errors and system overwhelm are inevitable in busy service environments. Understanding the emotional dynamics of recovery – putting the mistake right to restore customer satisfaction – is thus essential for hotels. “When customers experience a service failure, they are motivated to rebalance an erratic emotion by receiving compensation”, the researchers explain. “Once customers are relieved of their negative emotion, the psychological consequence of forgiveness emerges”.

However, regaining guests’ confidence may depend on more than simply offering compensation. “Customer forgiveness is not just about a comparison of cost and benefits but also its mediating relationship to trust”, the authors point out. Does compensation necessarily restore trust, and does it matter if the “employee” making the offer is a robot? Moreover, if a hotel’s response to service failure is delayed due to busy circumstances, does this affect the usefulness of compensation? Seeking answers, the researchers designed a pair of scenario-based experiments.

Over 500 volunteers were enrolled in the tests. “Participants were asked to watch a video clip about a hypothetical hotel check-in experience”, the researchers report, “and imagine themselves as a customer in the video clip. Either a human or robot front desk agent helped them check in”. However, the “guests” subsequently discovered that their room was unclean. Upon complaining to the human or robotic agent about the room, some participants in this imagined scenario were offered, by way of compensation, a late checkout. Others were not afforded such compensation.

The second experiment then “investigated the timeliness of service recovery as a boundary condition for the interaction between compensation and employee type”. Some participants had their rooms cleaned immediately, whereas the rest had to wait. This scenario was designed to explore whether a delay in rectifying the problem would alter the emotional dynamics of human- or robot-delivered compensation (or lack of compensation). In each case, the participants were subsequently asked to rate their forgiveness of the hotel and their trust in its service quality.

The results of the first experiment showed that when the front-desk employee was human, customer forgiveness was higher when compensation was offered. Although this might not sound surprising in itself, it is only half the story: when the front-desk employee was a robot, compensation did not improve customer forgiveness. Evidently, financial recompense only has relational meaning when offered by a human. Moreover, the participant feedback regarding trust showed that “the mediating effect of forgiveness on trust was significant for human employees but not for robot employees.”

What about timeliness? The results of the second experiment, in which the dirty room was cleaned either immediately or after a long wait, showed that “when delay exists in service recovery, customer forgiveness is higher after receiving compensation (vs. no compensation) from human employees, but not from robot employees”. In contrast, for those whose complaint was resolved immediately, the use of robots made no odds: “When there is no delay in service recovery”, the researchers explain, “customer forgiveness is not different between no-compensation and compensation conditions for robot employees [or] human employees”.

“Timeliness in rectifying service failure”, they thus conclude, “is a more crucial factor than the humanlike appearance of a robot”. Their findings show that customers value the immediate resolution of problems as more crucial than either monetary compensation or human involvement in the recovery process. When offered by an automated worker, “compensation may not be effective in restoring the trust of robot (vs. human) employees”.

Indeed, the situation is complex when a service lapse is compounded by a failure to solve the problem quickly. The authors refer to such a scenario – represented by the delay in waiting for the room to be cleaned – as “double deviation”. In such cases, monetary compensation can be effective, but only if offered by human employees. “Customers’ appraisement”, the authors surmise, “is not as rationalistic as social exchange theory presumes”. In other words, guests do not merely weigh up gains and losses but distinguish emotionally between human and robot interactions.

The results have critical practical implications for hotels. Managers should consider whether it is wise to deploy robot employees when a timely response to service failure is unlikely, given their finding that “monetary compensation is effective in double deviation by human employees only”. At any rate, they argue, “businesses that deploy robot employees should minimise the use of compensation in retaining customer trust”.

The acceptance of robotic staff in delicate communicative scenarios is evidently a nuanced issue. Harmonious workflows must be built in from the ground up. The researchers advise that “operational managers should work closely with robotic engineers in designing service robots with features to match their role in a specific service setting”. This requires service firms to focus on assessing and managing their customers’ expectations. Their study provides some of the first clues as to how this can be done.

Janelle Chan and YooHee Hwang (2025). Trust and Forgiveness in Service: Effects of Single and Double Deviations with Human and Robot Staff. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, Vol. 30, No. 10, pp. 1401–1414.

About PolyU School of Hotel and Tourism Management
For more than four decades, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has refined a distinctive vision of hospitality and tourism education and become a world-leading hotel and tourism school. Ranked No. 1 in the world for the tenth consecutive year in the “Hospitality and Tourism Management” category in the 2026 ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects; placed No. 1 globally for eight years in a row in the “Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services” category in the 2024/2025 University Ranking by Academic Performance; rated No. 1 in the world in the “Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism” subject area by the 2017 CWUR Rankings by Subject; and ranked No. 2 globally among comprehensive universities in the “Hospitality and Leisure Management” subject area in the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject, the SHTM is a symbol of excellence in the field, exemplifying its motto of Leading Hospitality and Tourism.

The SHTM is driven by its mission to shape the future of global hospitality and tourism through pioneering education and impactful research that advance industry excellence and societal well-being. With a strong international team of over 90 faculty members from 21 countries and regions around the world, the SHTM offers programmes at levels ranging from undergraduate to doctoral degrees. Through Hotel ICON, the School’s groundbreaking teaching and research hotel and an integral part of its paradigm-shifting approach to hospitality and tourism education, the SHTM advances teaching, learning and research, inspiring a new generation of passionate and pioneering professionals to take their positions as leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry.

Phuket, Thailand, October 1, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / The Global Wellness Summit (GWS), the foremost gathering of leaders in the global wellness economy, takes place November 10–13 at Angsana Laguna Phuket in Thailand.

With longevity recently redefining the wellness space and quickly becoming a multi-billion-dollar market and a new consumer mindset, the conference will explore the rapid transformation of this new medical-wellness pillar. In a few short years, we’ve seen longevity evolve from a niche obsession among tech bros into a mainstream movement, along with a shift of focus from lifespan to healthspan—the number of years lived in good health. The field has also moved beyond protocols designed exclusively for men to interventions specific to women’s biology of aging. Longevity has also become more serious: it’s no longer just the individual pursuit of wealthy elites, but a new effort by governments to create policies that drive more healthy, productive years in the face of a rapidly aging world. The space now spans everything from complex biotech experiments to the “natural longevity” of the Blue Zones; it’s about both the clinical and human connection.

The Summit today announced that Andrea B. Maier, MD, PhD, one of the world’s top experts in healthy aging, longevity medicine and precision geroscience, will join the conference to spearhead the exploration of what’s next in longevity and healthspan and what it means for the wellness industry. She will keynote on “Health Optimization: Integrating Consumer-Led Health and Precision Geromedicine.”

Maier’s achievements are extraordinary and her vision is unique. She’s professor of medicine at the National University of Singapore (NUS), where she is co-founder and director of the clinical trial center, the NUS Academy for Healthy Longevity, leading the team just named one of the 20 finalists in the $101 million XPrize Healthspan competition, which identifies the boldest science and most promising therapeutics helping people to live not just longer, but healthier lives. NSU and Maier’s finalist project PROMETHEUS is a new, personalized framework for longevity, using multimodal interventions (lifestyle and diet interventions, a slate of nutraceuticals and repurposed drugs), all precision-prescribed based on the person’s specific gerotype and dynamically adapted based on treatment response. Her team will now conduct rigorous trials in advance of the XPrize winner being named in 2030.

Maier is also the author of over 500 peer-reviewed publications, advises influential organizations such as the UN and the World Health Organization, and is professor of gerontology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in The Netherlands. She is founder of Chi Longevity, Asia’s first evidence-based longevity medicine clinic, grounded in The Maier Method, which tests people’s unique biology (whether their genetic, epigenetic or metabolic measures) to identify precision interventions.

As a longevity scientist, Maier is different. She’s passionate about solving longevity’s evidence problem. Her methods are firmly grounded in an integrative, medical-wellness approach: precision diet, exercise and psychosocial health interventions are key. And rather than simply providing concierge services to the rich, she works hard to bring longevity medicine to all. She co-founded the NUS Academy for Healthy Longevity to conduct the trials needed to give longevity medicine a solid scientific base, to translate that science into real-world, right now solutions, and critically, to train doctors in longevity science. As she has noted, we now have zero capacity to do that and are accepting anyone that calls themselves a “longevity physician”—a dangerous problem that is also making it impossible to grow private clinics and programs. For her deep, innovative body of research, for her commitment to evidence and bringing longevity to the masses, TIME magazine just named her one of the 12 longevity leaders for 2026.

“After seeing Dr. Maier present at the Roundtable of Longevity Clinics at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging last year, I immediately knew that we had to have her drive the discussions on the future of longevity and healthy aging at this year’s Summit,” said Susie Ellis, GWS chair and CEO. “She is brilliant, an activist for evidence-based, truly integrative and democratic longevity approaches—and brings a much-needed woman’s perspective to a male-dominated field. Her work is not about some far-off magic longevity drug, but creating the science-based interventions that can make a difference now.”

In addition to keynoting, Maier will lead an intimate “After Dinner Conversation” on November 10.

Maier joins a rich, diverse group of keynotes on the future of longevity and healthspan, including Dan Buettner, founder of the Blue Zones movement; George Gaitanos, MSc, PhD, chief operating and scientific officer of Chenot Group, which has spent over 50 years redefining conventional thinking on aging at its global wellness resorts; Christopher Asandra, MD, founder and medical director of AsandraMD in California, a precision and age-management medicine leader, with a unique focus on women’s longevity; and Tanupol Virunhagarun, MD, CEO of BDMS Wellness Group, a leading preventive healthcare and scientific longevity provider in Thailand.

Apply to attend the Summit now, as rates go up October 1.  

About the Global Wellness Summit: The Global Wellness Summit brings together leaders and visionaries to positively shape the future of the $6.8 trillion global wellness economy. In addition to an annual conference held at a different location around the globe, GWS also hosts annual in-person events such as the Wellness Real Estate & Communities Symposium, along with virtual gatherings, including Wellness Master Classes and Wellness Sector Spotlights. The organization’s Future of Wellness report forecasts the top wellness trends for the year ahead and is oft-quoted in the media. The 20th annual Global Wellness Summit will be held in Phuket, Thailand, November 10-13, 2026.

Bangkok, Thailand, September 30, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and the Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA) have formalised an organisational partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), establishing a framework for greater collaboration in tourism research, knowledge exchange and professional engagement.

The partnership is intended to strengthen connections between the organisations and support the responsible and sustainable development of tourism through greater cooperation, knowledge sharing and opportunities for engagement between their respective communities.

“Research and reliable tourism intelligence are increasingly important to understanding how our industry is changing and to supporting better-informed decisions across destinations and the wider tourism sector,” said PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid. “TTRA brings together an extensive community of researchers, academics and tourism professionals with a strong commitment to advancing the use of research. This partnership provides an opportunity for PATA and TTRA to share knowledge, connect our networks and create greater opportunities for our members to learn from one another.”

Under the agreement, PATA and TTRA will collaborate across several areas, including:

• Events and Knowledge Sharing: Mutual support for relevant events and activities, including opportunities for qualified speakers to participate in each organisation’s programmes and for representatives to attend selected events.
• Knowledge Exchange: Opportunities to exchange knowledge and perspectives on issues relevant to travel and tourism research, planning and development.
• Marketing and Communications: Mutual promotion of relevant events and activities through member newsletters and other digital communication channels, where applicable.
• Professional Engagement: Greater opportunities for members and representatives of both organisations to connect, share expertise and engage with developments shaping the travel and tourism sector.

Through these activities, the partnership will provide a platform for greater interaction between PATA’s Asia Pacific tourism network and TTRA’s global community of tourism researchers, practitioners, academics and industry professionals.

TTRA CEO Kathleen Palmer said, “TTRA is committed to building meaningful global connections that strengthen the exchange of tourism research, knowledge, and ideas. Our partnership with PATA creates exciting opportunities to connect our communities and expand the reach and impact of the work being done across both organizations.”

The MOU provides a foundation for continued cooperation between the two organisations, with both parties able to identify further opportunities for collaboration in areas of mutual interest.

New York, United States, September 29, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) announced that the Republic of Kenya has signed the DCO Charter on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81), becoming a Signatory Member and marking an important step toward completing its accession as a Member State of the Organization.

H.E. Hon. William Kabogo Gitau, EGH, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy of the Republic of Kenya, signed the DCO Charter and formally handed it over to Ms. Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, during a ceremony held in New York, with H.E. Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, E.G.H., Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Kenya witnessing the signing and formal handover.

The signing of the Charter opens a new chapter of cooperation between Kenya and the DCO, enabling both sides to advance shared priorities across digital transformation, responsible artificial intelligence, digital policy, skills and talent development, entrepreneurship, innovation and investment. It also enables Kenya to deepen cooperation and knowledge exchange with DCO Member States and partners, supporting efforts to build an inclusive, trusted and sustainable digital economy.

H.E. Hon. William Kabogo Gitau, EGH, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy of the Republic of Kenya, said: “Kenya’s digital transformation has been driven by innovation, entrepreneurship and a strong commitment to using technology to expand opportunity. By signing the DCO Charter, we are creating a new platform to exchange knowledge, scale practical solutions and deepen cooperation with countries that share our ambition for an inclusive and competitive digital economy. We look forward to bringing Kenya’s experience to this community while learning from the approaches and capabilities of fellow Member States.”

Ms. Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, said: “Kenya has shown what becomes possible when a country trusts its people with technology and gives them room to build. By the end of 2025, mobile money penetration in Kenya reached 98 percent, and the country’s information and communication sector grew by 4.8 percent that year, ahead of the wider economy. Behind those figures are entrepreneurs, students and small traders who have made digital tools part of ordinary life. We welcome Kenya to the DCO community with genuine admiration for what its people have built, and in the belief that Kenya’s experience belongs to every country still working to bring its citizens into the digital economy. No country reaches the digital future on its own. The value of this Organization lies in what Member States are willing to share with one another — experience, expertise and the readiness to act together. Kenya’s accession brings us closer to the purpose that brought the DCO into being: digital prosperity for all.”

Kenya’s digital economy provides a strong foundation for deeper cooperation with DCO. The country has established itself as one of Africa’s leading digital economies, supported by a dynamic technology and entrepreneurship ecosystem, broad adoption of communications technologies and a globally leading mobile financial services sector. Kenya’s ICT sector contributed an estimated 9.2% of GDP in 2024, while more than 80% of the population uses mobile payment and money transfer services. The country’s digital economy is valued at approximately USD 4.2 billion and is projected to approach USD 13 billion by 2035, driven by continued investment in communications, digital services, innovation and emerging technologies.

Kenya was among eight countries whose candidature to join the DCO was recently approved by the DCO Council. Upon completion of the accession procedures, the Organization’s membership will expand from 16 to 24 countries, collectively representing approximately 980 million people.

The signing of the Charter on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly reflects the growing role of international digital cooperation in advancing inclusive and sustainable digital prosperity and reaffirms DCO’s commitment to strengthening cooperation among countries at different stages of digital development to work together toward building a digital economy that benefits everyone.

About the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO)
The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) is the world’s first standalone international intergovernmental organization dedicated to accelerating the growth of an inclusive and sustainable digital economy. Founded in 2020, the DCO brings together the Ministries of Communications and Information Technology of its 16 Member States, representing nearly USD 3.5 trillion in GDP and a combined market of over 800 million people, more than 70% of whom are under the age of 35. Following a DCO Council decision in July 2026, nine additional countries began the process of joining the organization.

The DCO works with governments, the private sector, civil society, and international organizations to promote digital inclusion, enable cross-border data flows, empower women and youth, and support entrepreneurs and SMEs. It facilitates coordinated digital policies across borders and holds observer status with the United Nations General Assembly and other global bodies.

Bangkok, Thailand, September 27, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / The MICHELIN Guide today unveils its 2026 MICHELIN Key hotel selection, recognizing the most outstanding hotel experiences around the world. Following months of anonymous inspections and evaluations, the global selection now features 2,832 MICHELIN Key hotels across 79 countries, including 155 Three MICHELIN Keys, 657 Two MICHELIN Keys, and 2,020 One MICHELIN Keys. The 2026 selection also welcomes 470 newly awarded Key hotels and more than 80 promotions worldwide.

As one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic and diverse travel destinations, the Philippines continues to strengthen its presence within The MICHELIN Guide’s hotel selection. This year, 9 hotels across the country have earned MICHELIN Keys, reflecting the Philippines’ rich variety of hospitality experiences, from luxury city stays and world-class island resorts to distinctive retreats deeply connected to their local surroundings.

“This second global selection of the MICHELIN Keys reflects the extraordinary momentum driving the hospitality sector once again this year. With nearly 470 newly distinguished establishments, we are witnessing a continuous upscaling of the offering, driven by even more creative and ambitious projects. All around the world, hoteliers are reinventing the stay experience through more immersive, personalized, and experiential concepts.”

“This capacity for innovation is expressed both in must-visit destinations and in emerging tourist markets. Often driven by visionary independent hotelkeepers, this evolution in concepts is now inspiring the industry as a whole. It is also supported by investments from major international groups, which are helping to accelerate this transformation. The 2026 selection thus celebrates the diversity, vitality, and excellence of an ever-evolving sector, one that continues to push the boundaries of the hospitality experience and invite travelers to discover new destinations,” says Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of The MICHELIN Guide.

Thailand: 71 MICHELIN Key Hotels Reflect the Best of Thai Hospitality

Thailand’s MICHELIN Key selection grows to 71 distinguished hotels in 2026, comprising:

• 6 Three MICHELIN Keys (including 1 promoted hotel)
• 22 Two MICHELIN Keys (including 1 new hotel and 4 promoted hotels)
• 43 One MICHELIN Keys (including 14 newly awarded hotels)

The selection highlights the exceptional diversity of Thai hospitality, from riverside luxury in Bangkok and exclusive island hideaways to heritage-inspired boutique retreats in the North.

Three MICHELIN Keys
Capella Bangkok – If ever there was an urban resort deserving of the title, Capella Bangkok is it. Situated on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River, the hotel combines the tranquility of a luxury resort with easy access to Bangkok’s historic heart. Expansive landscaped gardens, an elegant riverside pool, acclaimed dining venues, and a sophisticated spa create a serene retreat within one of Asia’s most dynamic cities.

Opened in 2020, the property showcases quiet luxury through thoughtfully designed rooms and suites featuring floor-to-ceiling river views, private balconies, and refined East-meets-West interiors. Personalized service, exceptional design, and a strong sense of place make Capella Bangkok one of the world’s most extraordinary hotel experiences.

Two MICHELIN Keys
Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui – Set on a lush hillside descending toward a pristine private beach, Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui exemplifies tropical luxury at its finest. Every villa enjoys sweeping ocean views and sea breezes, while private infinity pools, elegant interiors, and world-class service create an unforgettable island escape.

Whether relaxing on the beach, snorkeling in crystal-clear waters, or enjoying wellness experiences inspired by the natural surroundings, guests discover a resort that perfectly captures the beauty and spirit of Koh Samui.

One MICHELIN Key
Villa Mahabhirom, Chiang Mai offers an authentic interpretation of Thai hospitality through a collection of fourteen traditional teakwood villas, each individually decorated with antiques and artwork celebrating Thailand’s cultural heritage. Set in a peaceful residential area of Chiang Mai, the hotel combines a tranquil atmosphere, lush gardens, and locally inspired cuisine, creating a distinctive and memorable stay.

Maison Mystique, Khao Yai brings cinematic flair to Thailand’s boutique hospitality scene, with a striking white façade and interiors inspired by classic European grandeur. Individually designed rooms feature rich jewel tones, velvet furnishings, and vintage details, while elegant spaces such as The Vivarium Dining Room, Bar Mystère, and The Emerald Library Bar create a uniquely immersive hospitality experience.

Chiva-Som Hua Hin Resort is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading wellness retreats, combining luxury hospitality with holistic health and wellbeing. Set amid landscaped gardens along Hua Hin’s coastline, the resort offers comprehensive wellness programs, renowned spa treatments, and serene accommodations designed to promote rest, renewal, and balance.

Celebrating Excellence Beyond the Keys: Four Special Awards

In addition to the MICHELIN Keys, The MICHELIN Guide recognizes remarkable achievements across specific areas of hospitality through four Special Awards:

• The MICHELIN Guide Architecture & Design Award goes to Desert Rock Resort in Umluj, Saudi Arabia, a striking property carved into the landscape of the Hijaz Mountains.
• The MICHELIN Guide Wellness Award highlights Schloss Elmau Luxury Spa Retreat & Cultural Hideaway in Elmau, Germany, for its particularly rich and varied approach to wellness.
• The MICHELIN Guide Opening of the Year Award celebrates Airelles Palladio Venice in Venice, Italy, the first Airelles property outside France and a new arrival overlooking the Giudecca Canal.
• The MICHELIN Guide Local Gateway Award spotlights Londolozi Game Reserve in Kruger, South Africa, a pioneering safari property with a long history of connecting guests with the landscape and culture of the region.

All MICHELIN Guide hotel recommendations are available on The MICHELIN Guide website and mobile application, where travelers can discover, compare, and directly book exceptional stays around the world.

Source

Dili, Timor-Leste, September 27, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / International tourism generated an estimated USD 62.5 million in direct expenditure for Timor-Leste in 2025, supported by high visitor satisfaction and strong intentions to recommend and revisit the country. The results are detailed in the January–December 2025 International Visitor Survey (IVS), released by the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) and Timor-Leste’s Ministry of Tourism and Environment (MTA) through the New Zealand Government-funded Pacific Tourism Data Initiative (PTDI).

The survey found that 95% of visitors would recommend Timor-Leste and 91% intended to return. Eighty-four per cent described the country as a unique and appealing destination, and the same share considered it good value for money. More than half of respondents (58%) were first-time visitors. People and hospitality were the most frequently cited attraction (46%), followed by natural beauty and scenery (30%); culture, history, diving and snorkelling were also prominent.

Estimated direct expenditure averaged USD 1,279 per visitor per trip, including retained prepaid spending and in-country expenditure—equivalent to about USD 165 per visitor per day. Applied to an estimated 48,927 international visitor arrivals in 2025, this produced a direct economic contribution of approximately USD 62.5 million.

Holidays were the main purpose of travel (55%), followed by business and conferences (13%), visiting friends and relatives (10%), volunteering (10%), and research and education (7%). Asia was the largest source region (52%), ahead of Europe (22%) and Oceania (19%). The leading markets were Australia (18%), China (17%), Indonesia (16%), Portugal (13%) and Malaysia (4%).

Respondents identified transport, roads, airport processes, visitor information and signage, digital connectivity, environmental cleanliness and waste management as priorities for improving the visitor experience and destination competitiveness.

MTA Director General of Tourism Antonio da Silva said the findings would guide national tourism priorities. “The survey confirms that visitors value what makes Timor-Leste unique—particularly the warmth and hospitality of our people, our natural environment, our culture and traditions, and our history. We are encouraged that a high proportion of visitors would recommend Timor-Leste and intend to return. These findings will also importantly shape our tourism planning and investment priorities as we improve connectivity, infrastructure and visitor services, ensuring Timor-Leste is well prepared to host the ASEAN Summit in 2029.”

The 2025 IVS marks a further milestone in the SPTO–MTA partnership under PTDI, which strengthens tourism data capability to support evidence-based planning and investment.

Source

London, United Kingdom, September 27, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / As founder Elio Epifani marks a quarter-century since building the device the tourism industry laughed at, Vox Group marks 25 years of changing how groups travel, alongside a major update to its AI-powered guiding platform, Aura, now live in 200 languages.

It Started with a Laugh

In 2001, Elio Epifani was a tour director earning a thousand euros a day, the kind of money most people in the industry didn’t walk away from. He walked away from it anyway, with a van and a box of radios, to solve a problem nobody had asked him to solve.

“They laughed,” Epifani recalls. “Tour operators told me I was crazy, why would anyone pay for a radio when the guide can just speak louder?” The idea was simple: one guide, speaking once, heard clearly by an entire group. It took a booking at the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, where guides are not permitted to raise their voice at all, to prove the point. “Suddenly nobody was laughing,” he says. “You don’t convince people with arguments; you convince them with a problem they can’t solve any other way.”

Twenty-five years on, that same radio link now operates in more than 150 countries, underpinning tours for cruise lines, tour operators, DMCs and destination experience partners around the world. What began as one man’s answer to a problem the industry had simply learned to live with has grown into the guiding infrastructure much of the global travel industry now runs on.

A Family Business That Went Global Without Losing Its Shape

Vox has done something most family businesses never manage: brought a second generation in without losing the culture the first generation built. “I choose who comes into this business very carefully, and family is no exception,” Epifani says. “The family members here started on the ground floor, packing boxes and radio sets, and worked their way up like everybody else. What they have that a new hire does not is time. You cannot teach that in a boardroom, you absorb it.”

That same instinct for culture over process has shaped how Vox has grown internationally. “You cannot send culture to another country in a document,” Epifani explains. “It arrives with people. Culture is what happens when the boss leaves the room. If the standard does not drop a single inch when I am not there, we have done our job.”

A New Chapter, The “Game-Changer”

Vox’s 25th year has brought its most significant product evolution yet. Aura, first introduced as a live translation device, now runs simultaneous translation in up to four languages at once from a library that has grown from 50 to 200, alongside live subtitles for guests who are deaf or hard of hearing and multiple parallel commentary channels for a single mixed group. Its AI companion gives guides verified answers to guests’ questions in real time, drawing on operator-approved content rather than the open internet. It sits alongside Vox BT, a new Bluetooth accessory letting guests connect their own earbuds or hearing aids directly to a tour.

For Epifani, the technology is judged by the same standard he applied to that first radio. “If the guest notices the technology, you’ve failed,” he says. “It should be like oxygen: essential, but invisible.” Asked how that philosophy applies to AI, he is direct: “The point is not what the technology can do, it is what it should do for the business you are in. So we asked what gives a guide more, never what replaces them. A guide knows the subject better than any machine. What a guide cannot be is in four places at once.”

What Comes Next

Epifani is candid about what has changed most since 2001. “Back then it was me, a van, and a box of radios,” he says. “Now there are people in many countries who wake up every morning and care about this company like it’s theirs. That’s the part I could never have imagined.”

Looking ahead, his prediction for the wider industry is blunt. “In five years, the companies that survive in travel won’t be the ones with the best prices. They’ll be the ones that own the guest experience end to end. Technology will decide who leads and who follows.” Asked what he wants Vox to be known for in another 25 years, his answer is simple: “The company that proved technology and humanity aren’t opposites. That you can build something global, innovative, and profitable, without losing your soul.”

Vox Group is available now for cruise lines, tour operators, DMCs and destination experience partners.

Vox technology is used across the travel industry, by tour operators, DMCs, cruise lines, museums, galleries, heritage sites, destination experience partners and many more.

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New York, United States, September 25, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation on digital economy development and responsible and inclusive artificial intelligence.

The MoU was signed by UN Under-Secretary-General and ESCWA Executive Secretary Rania Al-Mashat and Digital Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya. The signing comes just three months after a meeting between the two organizations’ Principals on 23 June, reflecting the rapid progress from strategic alignment to a formal cooperation framework and their shared readiness to translate ambition into practical implementation.

Across the Arab region, countries are accelerating digital transformation, investing in advanced technologies and strengthening the capabilities needed to build competitive, inclusive and resilient digital economies. With its growing innovation ecosystems, ambitious national strategies, expanding pool of digital talent and increasing leadership in artificial intelligence, the region has the potential not only to benefit from the global digital transformation, but also to help shape the global digital and AI agenda. This partnership will support countries in scaling successful approaches, translating national progress into wider regional impact and bringing the region’s perspectives, experience and innovation more prominently to global discussions.

The partnership brings together the ESCWA regional policy expertise, analytical methodologies, intergovernmental mechanisms and the Arab Digital Agenda with DCO’s Member State-driven digital economy mandate, cross-regional reach, policy intelligence and diagnostic tools, implementation platforms, and an ecosystem of public, private and financing partners. Through these complementary capabilities, the two organizations will work to connect regional frameworks with practical country-level implementation.

Cooperation will initially focus on two practical workstreams. The first will advance digital economy development, including policy implementation, institutional capacity-building and investment readiness. The second will focus on responsible and inclusive AI readiness, combining diagnostics, policy support, capacity-building and peer learning.

“A signature is a beginning, not an achievement,” Al-Mashat underscored. “This memorandum does not stand alone. It comes with a joint action plan setting out where we will work together over the coming years, and our intention is to agree a concrete calendar of activities for 2027 before the end of this year. That is the test of whether a partnership is real: not what it declares, but what it schedules,” she added. “Work begins where our strengths genuinely meet.”

Ms. Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the DCO, said: “ESCWA’s member countries are building some of the most ambitious digital economies in the world, and their talent and innovation deserve a stronger voice in how the rules for data and AI are written. By pairing ESCWA’s regional depth with DCO’s tools for turning strategy into delivery, we will support governments in moving faster on investment, skills and responsible AI. As Lebanon, Palestine and Syria join the DCO, we will bring these countries’ perspectives to the Global Digital Compact review and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance with evidence, experience and results to share.”

The cooperation comes at a timely moment as global discussions on digital and AI governance continue to evolve, including the high-level review of the Global Digital Compact during the 82nd session of the United Nations General Assembly and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance in New York in May 2027. DCO and ESCWA will work to strengthen readiness, evidence and policy dialogue, enabling countries across the region and developing economies more broadly to contribute proactively and effectively to relevant global discussions.

The scope for cooperation is also expanding alongside DCO’s growing membership. In addition to DCO’s eight current Arab Member States, the Organization’s expansion includes Lebanon, the State of Palestine and the Syrian Arab Republic, extending the reach of the MoU and creating further opportunities for practical cooperation and implementation across the Arab region.

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New York, United States, September 25, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2026 convened leaders in New York for high-level working sessions to advance solutions that no single actor or sector can deliver alone.

The discussions took place amid fast-evolving economic, technological and geopolitical dynamics, as well as wider environmental challenges. Participants explored how to advance resilient economic growth and sustainable development, build responsible artificial intelligence (AI) and frontier technologies that create economic and societal value, and mobilize capital for greater impact.

The meetings, held alongside the 81st United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week, brought together 600 business executives, 100 top officials from government and international organizations, more than 100 civil society leaders, and representatives from academia and the next generation. The meetings focused on long-term impact and building momentum towards the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2027 in Davos, Switzerland.

“As prolonged conflicts and geopolitical tensions put energy, economic and diplomatic systems under strain, business leaders can play a critical role in shaping what comes next,” said Mirek Dušek, Managing Director, World Economic Forum. “By investing boldly, building resilience before crisis hits and working across borders when cooperation is hardest, they can help economies and societies navigate change with speed and purpose.”

Economic growth and sustainable development

Economic growth and sustainable development cannot be seen as competing objectives; instead, economies that invest in climate and nature are better positioned for long-term resilience and prosperity. Amid escalating geopolitical risks, new approaches to investment, productivity, resilience and development are urgently needed to create resilient growth that can endure future shocks.

As part of a longstanding tradition, the meetings convened a high-level luncheon of the Informal Gathering of World Economic Leaders (IGWEL), bringing together 70 leaders from business, government, international organizations, civil society and academia to explore international cooperation amid geopolitical, geoeconomic and technological change, with a particular focus on economic growth and the implications of AI and other frontier technologies.

The WEF’s latest Chief Economists’ Outlook found the global economy stabilizing, though living costs are expected to rise faster than incomes across most regions. The inaugural Chief Sustainability Officers’ Outlook showed sustainability progress holding steady or accelerating, despite uneven progress across sectors and regions and persistent concerns around compliance and AI’s environmental footprint.

Broadening economic opportunity also requires closing persistent gender gaps. The 20th edition of the Global Gender Gap Report found that 69.2% of the global gender gap is closed across 145 economies, but progress remains fragile: at the current pace, full parity is still 120 years away. Champions of the Global Gender Parity Sprint convened to advance pathways towards parity by 2030 across senior leadership, technology and financial markets.

Strengthening resilience to climate risks was another key focus. A framework for strengthening workforce resilience to extreme heat and a playbook on investing in place-based resilience offered practical approaches to address the $2.4 trillion in productivity at risk from extreme heat and growing insurance pressures. New partnerships with the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative and United Nations Development Programme will accelerate water innovation and country-level action on plastic pollution, with the latter formalized through an MoU signed at SDIM26. Beyond climate-related risks, Risk Management, Reimagined outlined four shifts chief risk officers are making as uncertainty becomes structural rather than episodic, from predicting disruptions to preparing for them.

Forum initiatives including Circular Economy Transformation, Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders, UpLink and First Movers Coalition advanced low-carbon and circular solutions, with UpLink announcing innovation cohorts on restoration, low-carbon and circular systems, and carbon dioxide removal. The New Global Stakeholders initiative also highlighted how public-private cooperation can address emerging security risks and strengthen stability.

On industry, the Resilience-to-Growth Circularity Playbook outlined a three-step approach to turn circularity into a driver of resilience and growth. Meanwhile, the Future of Space Community explored how defence-driven investment in Earth intelligence can support climate action.

“As environmental pressures mount, sustainability is increasingly central to competitiveness, resilience, security and well-being. But progress remains uneven: solutions that are commercially compelling in one market can remain constrained by financing costs, infrastructure or policy in another, and the costs and benefits of the transition are not always shared evenly,” said Sebastian Buckup, Managing Director, World Economic Forum. “In a more fragmented world, the task is to connect capital, technology and markets so that solutions can scale and deliver for people. SDIM showed why practical cooperation around these real-economy challenges remains an urgent priority.”

“The outlook for the global economy has improved, but resilience remains fragile. The Forum’s community of chief economists is concerned about geopolitical disruption, asset-price corrections and readiness for the next shock, and headline growth masks living costs rising faster than incomes across most regions,” said Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director, World Economic Forum. “A new economy demands a new approach to investing in jobs, developing talent and accelerating economic mobility.”

The next phase of AI and technology

AI and frontier technologies are being deployed across economies and societies, unlocking opportunities to boost productivity, accelerate scientific discovery and expand access to healthcare, education and climate solutions. Ensuring that these benefits are broadly shared requires collaboration to close gaps in access, governance, skills and trust.

Communities, including the AI Global Alliance, convened around a shared question: how to harness AI for economic growth without forcing a trade-off between sovereignty and access to capabilities. UpLink announced the winners of its Powering Tomorrow: Electricity Systems and AI in Supply Chains challenges, supporting solutions to strengthen energy systems and supply-chain resilience. A report on more sustainable and resilient data-centre development highlighted efficiency measures that could reduce energy use by 6.5–11%, while analysis of more than 600 AI start-up solutions identified ways to strengthen supply-chain resilience. A further report outlined four shifts needed to manage structural uncertainty, while new research on the Mediterranean examined the region’s potential as a production, energy and innovation corridor supporting resilient European value chains.

A report on New Economy Skills called for hybrid training, expanded apprenticeships and portable credentials as demand for trade and manufacturing workers rises. Leaders from the Future of Jobs Initiative, Future Skills Alliance, Education 4.0 and Chief Learning Officers communities examined how AI is reshaping career pathways, highlighting the need to better connect education and employment as 63% of employers identified skills gaps as a key barrier to transformation.

The Global Coalition for Digital Safety advanced a life-cycle approach to child-safe AI, while a session on AI for Social Innovation laid the groundwork for a coalition set to launch in January 2027, with a goal of mobilizing $500 million by 2030.

“AI advancement is becoming a capital-intensive race set to reward the economies and corporations that can meet rising demands for compute, energy, infrastructure and talent. New approaches from public and private sector leaders are needed to develop the right skills, access and guardrails to help ensure the benefits of AI and frontier technologies are shared broadly,” said Matthew Blake, Managing Director, World Economic Forum.

Directing capital where it can deliver the greatest impact

Many of the communities facing the greatest development and climate challenges are also those where investment is hardest to mobilize. Public finance remains essential, particularly during times of crisis, but fiscal pressures and high sovereign debt limit what it can achieve alone. The meetings explored how public finance, private investment and philanthropy can work together to unlock capital and support locally led, commercially viable solutions, particularly in fragile and frontier markets.

The InvestFrontier Leadership Group, part of an initiative launched by the World Economic Forum and the European Commission, also met to advance catalytic finance and locally led, commercially viable solutions in fragile and frontier markets.

The Resilience Consortium identified critical infrastructure needs, barriers to private investment and priorities for public-private action. These findings will inform its forthcoming Business Readiness and Resilience Briefing Paper. In addition, the Urban Risk and Resilience community brought together 30 leaders to address the estimated $800 billion annual urban resilience investment gap through 2030.

More than 20 Schwab Foundation social innovators and entrepreneurs contributed to discussions on development, climate adaptation and financing solutions, while roundtables on water, longevity and mining explored innovation, finance, procurement and partnerships to close the pilot-to-scale gap.

The Faith in Action Community convened investment, policy and faith leaders to explore how faith-based principles can inform decisions on capital, technology, work and long-term value, while supporting more inclusive and resilient economies.

“Public finance cannot meet the scale of development challenges alone. Mobilizing private investment and philanthropy, alongside locally led solutions, will be essential to strengthen resilience and drive growth in fragile and frontier markets,” said Sheba Crocker, Managing Director, World Economic Forum.

About the Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2026

The Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2026 (SDIM26) took place in New York, USA on 21-24 September and brought together senior leaders from across sectors and regions to advance solutions to shared opportunities and challenges, with a particular focus on long-term impact and building momentum before the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2027.

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