Global Travel News

Madrid, Spain, July 29, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today announced that its Hotel Sustainability Basics programme will transition to an independent third-party certification scheme, aligned with new European Union requirements for environmental claims and designed to meet the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Accreditation Framework.

The move strengthens Hotel Sustainability Basics as a globally recognised framework for hotel sustainability, providing independent verification, greater transparency, and a credible pathway for hotels to demonstrate their sustainability performance in line with evolving regulatory and market expectations.

Since its launch in 2022, Hotel Sustainability Basics has been adopted by more than 8,000 hotels across 85 countries, developed by the industry, for the industry, and with support from Greenview, a global leader in sustainability and ESG data solutions for the hospitality and Travel & Tourism industries. The framework sets out 12 practical actions covering energy and water efficiency, waste reduction, emissions, support for local communities, and protection of nature. Designed to be accessible to hotels of every size and type, it has established a common foundation for sustainability action across the global accommodation sector.

The enhanced certification programme responds to the EU Directive on Empowering Consumers for Green Transition (Directive (EU) 2024/825), which introduces stricter requirements for environmental claims. Through independent third-party certification and alignment with the GSTC Accreditation Framework, Hotel Sustainability Basics will provide hotels with a robust and internationally recognised approach to sustainability assurance, helping strengthen confidence among travellers, businesses, governments and investors.

Hotels already participating in the programme are not required to take immediate action. WTTC and its verification partners, including SGS, will provide further guidance and support throughout the transition to the new certification model.

Later this year, WTTC will also introduce Basics Plus, developed with and endorsed by the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (WSHA), providing hotels with the next stage in their sustainability journey. Together, Hotel Sustainability Basics and Basics Plus will form the foundation of the WSHA’s Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality, offering hotels a clear roadmap from essential sustainability practices to independently verified performance.

Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC, said:

“Hotel Sustainability Basics has demonstrated that sustainability can be practical, achievable and scalable, with thousands of hotels already taking meaningful action around the world. By strengthening the programme through independent certification, we are giving hotels a globally recognised framework that reflects evolving regulatory expectations while building greater trust and confidence in sustainability claims. Together with Basics Plus, we are creating a clear pathway that enables hotels of all sizes to continue progressing on their sustainability journey.”

Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC, said:

“This marks an important moment for the hospitality industry, strengthening alignment around credible and consistent approaches to hotel sustainability. The GSTC accreditation of WTTC’s Hotel Sustainability Basics will reflect what can be achieved through a shared commitment to meaningful progress. It will be a milestone we are truly proud to celebrate together.”

Glenn Mandziuk, President & CEO of the WSHA, said:

“The evolution of Hotel Sustainability Basics into an independent certification is a monumental step forward. By aligning this framework with EU standards and integrating it with our Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality, we are providing a seamless, credible roadmap for the global accommodation sector. Together with the upcoming Basics Plus, we are empowering hotels of every size to move confidently from essential practices to verified performance, proving that a united industry can drive truly scalable change.”

Strong Industry Support Highlights the Value and Scalability of the Initiative

The success of the Basics to date reflects strong industry-wide backing. The initiative has been supported by governments, destinations, hotel groups and key stakeholders across the Travel & Tourism ecosystem, including the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (WSHA), Jin Jiang, Radisson Hotel Group and HBX Group.

The framework’s strength lies in its simplicity and universality. By focusing on a core set of achievable actions, it has enabled hotels of all types to take meaningful first steps towards sustainability, while creating a common baseline for the industry. This approach has facilitated rapid global adoption and demonstrated the power of industry-led collaboration in driving progress at scale.

This transition sends a strong message of industry alignment on hotel sustainability expectations, establishing a clear, credible framework and certification that brings together the expertise of WTTC, GSTC and WSHA. It also marks the full maturity of this impactful, industry-led effort, demonstrating the Travel & Tourism sector’s ability to define what is practically achievable and drive sustainability progress at scale.

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Kenya, July 28, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today reveals that Africa is entering a new era of tourism growth, with Travel & Tourism (T&T) outperforming the wider economy and positioning the continent among one of the world’s fastest-growing regions in 2026.

According to new 2026 Economic Impact Research (EIR) data from WTTC, sponsored by Chase Travel, Lead Research Partner, Kenya continues to strengthen its position as one of the continent’s most strategically important tourism markets. T&T contributed $12.7 billion to Kenya’s economy in 2025, representing 9.3% of national GDP, and supported 1.8 million jobs, equivalent to 8.3% of total employment. This dual contribution underlines tourism’s role as both a major economic driver and a powerful engine of inclusive growth.

Kenya’s growth is underpinned by a balanced demand model. International visitor spending accounted for 52.4% of total tourism expenditure in 2025, reaching $5 billion and slightly exceeding domestic visitor spending of $4.5 billion. The country also welcomed 2.5 million international visitors, an increase of 5.6% compared with the previous year, reinforcing its position as a key gateway and growth market for tourism in Africa.

The strength of Kenya’s tourism economy is further reflected in its Travel & Tourism trade surplus. In 2025, international visitor spending exceeded outbound travel spending by $3.96 billion, generating a significant net inflow of foreign exchange and underlining the sector’s growing contribution to national economic resilience and prosperity.

Kenya is also emerging as a global leader in sustainable tourism. The T&T sector sources 19.9% of its energy from low-carbon sources, significantly outperforming both the global average of 5.9% and the African average of 2.9%, positioning Kenya among the world’s leading destinations in advancing tourism’s energy transition.

Kenya’s strong performance, strategic location and commitment to sustainable tourism have made it a natural partner for WTTC’s long-term engagement across Africa. During this week, WTTC visited the country and held high-level meetings with senior government officials and tourism stakeholders, including Hon. Rebecca Miano, Minister of Tourism and Wildlife, the Kenya Tourism Board and representatives from the public and private sectors.

Africa’s Tourism Growth Continues to Accelerate

Kenya’s success story is part of a broader transformation taking place across Africa. WTTC’s latest research shows that T&T contributed $228 billion to Africa’s economy in 2025, representing 7.0% of regional GDP and growing by 5.0%, significantly outpacing the wider economy, which expanded by 3.5% as well as the global average of 4.1%.

Growth is expected to accelerate further in 2026, with the sector forecast to contribute $241 billion and expand by 5.4%, making Africa one of the fastest-growing tourism regions globally, alongside Asia-Pacific.

Employment trends reinforce this positive trajectory. T&T supported 30.2 million jobs across Africa in 2025 and is forecast to reach 31.5 million jobs in 2026. Over the next decade, the sector is expected to create an additional 9.4 million jobs, reaching 40.9 million by 2036.

While domestic travel continues to account for around 61% of tourism spending across the continent, international demand is accelerating rapidly. International visitor spending is forecast to grow by 6.8% in 2026 to reach $80 billion. In 2025, Africa welcomed 99.2 million international visitors, an increase of 14.1%, highlighting strong recovery momentum and substantial long-term growth potential.

Realising the full potential of T&T across Africa will depend on continued progress in key areas, including:

• Visa facilitation and processing to improve access and stimulate international demand
• Improved connectivity through aviation, transport, and regional integration
• Secure and seamless travel enabled by digital and biometric solutions
• Infrastructure modernisation to support quality growth at scale
• Tourism product development and diversification to expand visitor experiences, increase length of stay, and strengthen destination competitiveness
• Investment in workforce development, skills training, and talent retention to build a future-ready tourism workforce
• Greater adoption of technology to enhance traveller experiences and operational efficiency

Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Africa is now one of the fastest-growing tourism regions globally, and Kenya is helping lead that momentum. With a strong economic contribution, a balanced demand model and clear leadership in sustainable tourism, Kenya demonstrates what long-term Travel & Tourism success can look like. WTTC is proud to continue strengthening its engagement with Kenya and Africa, amplifying the region’s voice on the global stage, and supporting efforts to unlock the immense potential of Travel & Tourism as a driver of jobs, investment, and sustainable economic growth.”

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Bangkok, Thailand, July 27, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / Extraordinary Travel Festival (ETF) returns for a third year, welcoming extreme travelers and global explorers to Bangkok, Thailand, from October 22-25, 2026.

The four-day event brings together mega-travelers who have reached the world’s most remote corners, alongside passionate explorers eager to push their own boundaries further. Among them: travelers who have set foot in all 193 UN sovereign nations — including one traveller who has done it three times over.

ETF is proud to announce that legendary war correspondent Denis D. Gray will join this year’s speaker lineup. Gray spent more than 30 years as bureau chief of the Associated Press in Bangkok after reporting from the front lines of Indochina. Over his AP career he reported from nearly 40 countries and 20 conflicts, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Kosovo and Rwanda.

Born Zdeněk Mečíř in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia near the end of World War II, Denis escaped the country as a child after his family’s flight across the Iron Curtain, later settling in the United States, where he attended Yale and served as a US Army captain during the Vietnam War before returning to cover the conflict as a journalist.

This year, Gray brings his newly published memoir, Lost Horizons: A Foreign Correspondent’s Extraordinary Life Story, to the ETF stage. The book recounts encounters with kings, killers and celebrities alongside brushes with death, betrayal, love and friendships forged in war, structured thematically rather than chronologically. His session promises ETF’s most traveled attendees a rare, first-hand account of six turbulent decades on the front lines of history — a perspective few in the world can offer.

Co-founder of ETF, award-winning travel photographer, podcaster, blogger and filmmaker, Ric Gazarian, says this third iteration of the festival promises to be an unparalleled convergence of the world’s most accomplished and adventurous travelers.

“The Extraordinary Travel Festival is a celebration of global exploration and human connection, and Denis’s impressive career exemplifies this spirit” says Gazarian, whose website features stories and images from his own extensive travels to 190 of the world’s 193 UN-recognized nations.

“Following the tremendous success of our previous gatherings, we are excited to bring this unique community together once again in Bangkok, a city that truly embodies the spirit of travel,” says Gazarian.

Building on the success of past festivals, ETF offers attendees a robust schedule of speakers, complemented by vibrant parties and a gala dinner. The festival will feature more than 40 storytellers who will deliver engaging keynotes and host insightful breakout sessions and lively panel discussions.

Attendees will gain invaluable insights, share captivating travel tales, and learn practical strategies from those who have gone the distance. While many speakers and attendees have achieved the rare feat of visiting all 193 sovereign countries — an accomplishment only approximately 500 known people can claim — the festival aims to inspire and inform all who share a deep love for travel, regardless of their current country count.

Tickets for ETF 2026* are on sale now. Use code BANGKOK to save on your ticket. For more information, please visit the Extraordinary Travel Festival website.

*Readers can use code BANGKOK for a special discounted rate.

About Extraordinary Travel Festival

The Extraordinary Travel Festival unites hundreds of the world’s most traveled individuals, including country collectors, overland adventurers, explorers, extreme travelers, and those pushing the boundaries of what it means to experience the world. The event will feature more than 30 speakers, including adventurers who have climbed the Seven Summits, visited every sovereign nation, and those who explored some of the most remote corners of the globe. The festival will also bring together the leaders and members of major communities such as Travel Massive (80,000 members), NomadMania (56,000 members), Every Passport Stamp (40,000 members) and Pangea, creating unparalleled opportunities for networking among the world’s most dedicated travel enthusiasts.

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Phuket, Thailand, July 25, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / OMEMO has been selected in the MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2026, nine months after opening at Vibes of Nature in Phuket. OMEMO features already in the TOP25 Restaurants Thailand 2026.

Created by Swiss chef Yannick Hollenstein, OMEMO presents a contemporary interpretation of classic Swiss cuisine, shaped by his Alpine heritage and his experience in Southern Thailand.

The restaurant’s full experience menu presents its contemporary Swiss cuisine as a complete sequence, bringing together house-made specialities and modern interpretations of traditional dishes.

“Every dish tells a story of harmony – between tradition and innovation, between the mountains of my homeland and the ocean of my new home.” – Yannick Hollenstein, Partner and Executive Chef of OMEMO

OMEMO’s menus draw on Swiss ingredients, techniques and traditions while reflecting the climate, produce and setting of Phuket. Familiar Alpine dishes are reinterpreted through contemporary technique, precise presentation and a focus on balance.

OMEMO is Hollenstein’s flagship restaurant at Vibes of Nature. He also developed the culinary concepts behind COBY, the property’s all-day brunch and bakery destination, and EMO, its before-and-after-dinner lounge.

The selection in the MICHELIN Guide Thailand 2026 marks OMEMO’s first inclusion and an important milestone for Hollenstein and the OMEMO team during the restaurant’s first year of operation.

About OMEMO

OMEMO is a contemporary Swiss restaurant at Vibes of Nature in Phuket, Thailand.

Under the positioning “Exclusive Swiss Dining,” OMEMO combines Alpine culinary heritage with contemporary technique and inspiration drawn from its island setting. Its full experience menu features house-made specialities and modern interpretations of traditional Swiss dishes.

About Vibes of Nature

Vibes of Nature is a private villa sanctuary in Phuket combining accommodation, distinctive dining concepts and tailored golf experiences.

Where Golf, Gastronomy & Privacy Meet.

Its dining outlets include OMEMO, COBY and EMO, each developed with its own culinary identity and guest experience.

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Bangkok, Thailand, July 23, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / Nila invites guests to embark on an extraordinary culinary voyage with the launch of its new 7-Course Tasting Menu, “A Tasting Journey Across India.” Designed as a celebration of India’s rich regional diversity, the experience takes diners across the country’s vibrant culinary landscape—from the spice-laden coasts of the South to the royal kitchens of the North, the bustling streets of the West, and the heritage-rich traditions of the East.

More than a tasting menu, it is a journey through the stories, ingredients, and traditions that define Indian cuisine. Each course pays tribute to a different region, bringing together authentic flavors, seasonal ingredients, and contemporary presentation.

Highlights from the Journey

Guests begin their experience with vibrant regional flavours that awaken the palate, before moving through a carefully curated progression of textures, spices, and aromas.

Among the signature courses are:

Machher Pathuri (West Bengal, East India)

Seabass marinated with kasundi mustard spices, wrapped in banana leaf and gently steamed. Served with curd rice and aloo chokha.

Kashmiri Yakhni Lobster / Kofta (Kashmir, North India)

Inspired by the royal kitchens of Kashmir, this classic yakhni features a delicate yoghurt-based sauce infused with fennel, cardamom, and aromatic Kashmiri spices. Choose between grilled spice-marinated lobster or fig-stuffed cottage cheese kofta, served with baby garlic naan.

Soya Sukka (Maharashtra, West Coast)

Inspired by Maharashtra’s coastal kitchens, soya chunks are slow-cooked with freshly ground spices and toasted coconut, creating a bold, dry-style curry. Served with flaky masala paratha.

Optional House-Wine Experience

To further elevate the tasting journey, guests may opt for a carefully curated wine pairing designed to complement each of the seven courses. Selected for balance, structure, and character, the wines have been thoughtfully chosen to enhance the diverse regional flavors showcased throughout the menu.

From delicate preparations to richly spiced royal dishes and street-inspired flavours, each pairing is intended to create harmony between Indian cuisine and fine wines, enhancing depth, contrast, and overall dining experience.

7 Courses | One Journey | Endless Discoveries

Available in both Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian menus, the tasting experience has been thoughtfully crafted to showcase the breadth of Indian cuisine while creating a seamless narrative from the first course to the last.

Each plate invites guests to discover a new region, a new story, and a new perspective on India’s extraordinary culinary heritage.

Experience Details

• 7-Course Vegetarian Option— THB 1,500 net per person
• 7-Course Non-Vegetarian Option — THB 2,200 net person
• House-Wine Experience — THB 765 net per person

Available every day from 12:00 – 24:00 hrs.

Nila is located at 4^th floor Amari Bangkok

Book now https://bit.ly/Nilabooktable or call +66 2 653 9000

About Amari Hotels & Resorts

Amari Hotels & Resorts, part of ONYX Hospitality Group, brings a contemporary expression of Thailand’s vibrant culture and creativity to destinations across Asia. Each property celebrates its local flair through thoughtful architecture, inspired design, locally influenced cuisine, and heartfelt service infused with the warmth of Thai hospitality. The Amari portfolio spans seaside escapes and dynamic urban settings across Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

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Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, July 21, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / An innovative study by Professor Hengyun Li and Mr Xiang (Kevin) Zheng of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), working with co-authors, puts business survival prediction in the spotlight. Their research, focusing on the determinants of success in the restaurant trade, yields invaluable lessons for the hospitality and tourism industry as it adapts to economic uncertainty and transition.

Protecting restaurants is a concern for governments, as the catering sector is among the largest sources of economic activity in areas dependent on tourism. Yet while crucial to economies’ health, “the tourism and hospitality sector is naturally vulnerable and bears the brunt of crises”, the researchers warn. Restaurants are no exception: with their limited resources and fragile finances, they are highly susceptible to failure when the business environment becomes more challenging. Buffering restaurants against economic storms to preserve the social and economic benefits they offer is thus paramount.

Tourism and economics scholars have an important role to play here. “Amid global uncertainty and an ever-changing business environment”, the authors write, “researchers have increasingly striven to rationalise business failure and heighten firms’ likelihood of surviving”. In the restaurant context, scholars have identified various factors that affect the likelihood of long-term survival. Increasingly, these reflect trends in today’s social media age, in which online reviews can make or break a restaurant’s reputation.

This has not gone unnoticed by businesses themselves, which are increasingly taking proactive steps to enhance their online word-of-mouth. “Major industry players (e.g., Marriott) have begun tasking individual staff, or even teams, with monitoring customer reviews to provide timely responses”, the researchers note. “Hospitality businesses that attend closely to online reviews perform far better (e.g., in terms of revenue and visibility) than those that do not”.

In the era of big data, however, there is scope for a more nuanced look at the relationship between online reviews and restaurant success. The most familiar metric from restaurant review sites might be the average customer rating. The authors realised that further insights could be gained from review variance, the extent to which reviews of a restaurant differ widely in terms of ratings and sentiments. So far, they write, “no study appears to have explicitly examined how review variance affects businesses’ survival”. This is a valuable research opportunity, given that “findings regarding review variance in other contexts (e.g., retail) imply a close relationship between these two variables”.

Ratings and variance aside, the power of online reviews to affect real-world business survival might depend on another aspect: expertise. Prolific restaurant reviewers, especially those with high badge levels and numerous upvotes, tend to be seen as experts. Signalling theory suggests that such “expert” status signals to readers that a review is reliable. Expert reviews are thus likely to more strongly influence a restaurant’s footfall. “Consumers’ perceptions and decisions influenced by different signals”, the authors summarise, “can affect product demand, which ultimately can affect business survival”.

Since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, economies around the world have faced new challenges. For the vulnerable restaurant sector, a thorough analysis of the variables most closely linked to business survival would be a lifeline. Online reviews represent an invaluable, yet not fully utilised, resource in this context. “Within an unstable economy and a competitive business environment, timely research on restaurants’ survival is urgently needed”, the researchers tell us.

To this end, their comprehensive, data-driven study leveraged mass restaurant review records from the major US city of Boston, “a popular tourist destination boasting a dining culture rich with restaurants and cuisine types”. Over half a million online reviews from Yelp, covering almost 3,000 eateries in the Boston area, were analysed. The authors extracted potential key features of these reviews for predicting restaurant survival, including average rating scores, review length, number of reviews, and words indicating positive and negative sentiment.

Operational data on the restaurants were also acquired to untangle their relationship with review features. “Several business-related factors can affect restaurants’ survival”, the researchers note, “including chain business, price, the number of competitors, customer engagement, review ratings, review length, number of reviews, and business age”. They then designed prediction models to test how review variance and review source (expert or non-expert) affected restaurants’ survival, and they ran a further analysis to tease out the importance of other features.

An array of findings emerged from the data, with strategic implications for businesses. First, reviews by “Elite” users (Yelp’s certification for highly engaged reviewers, whose opinions are deemed helpful by the site’s community) held the most sway. “Compared with non-expert reviews”, report the authors, “the variables extracted from expert reviews could more accurately predict restaurants’ one-year-ahead survival status”. That is, the models were better at forecasting restaurant survival when using reviews by Elite members, implying that these have more influence on diners’ decisions and in turn the fates of individual businesses.

Regarding specific features, status as a chain restaurant, price, and business age were the variables most closely related to survival. Among averaged variables, reviewers’ average level of sentiment regarding food prices was the best predictor of restaurants’ fate. Nonetheless, for all variables except average price sentiment, the “the variance was more important than the average”. Specifically, a wide variance in review features for any given restaurant strongly predicted its failure to survive the next one to two years.

The implications of these findings are clear. “Business owners should pay attention to review variance”, write the researchers. The sophisticated mathematical methods used in their study provide a ready-made approach for restaurant managers and other stakeholders to forecast performance by using variance data from online reviews. “We have provided an additional tool with which to evaluate businesses’ survival”, the researchers note. When a high degree of review variance is observed, they advise managers that “it is important to minimise possible inconsistencies” in product and service delivery.

A more fine-grained interpretation of variance data is also possible. While variance in overall review sentiment is crucial, it can be broken down into specific aspects of reviews that strongly indicate issues with business development. “At the micro level”, say the authors, “restaurateurs should carefully evaluate customers’ attitudes towards current price levels to see whether costs meet diners’ expectations”. The outsized influence of Elite reviewers, meanwhile, suggests that managers “should encourage diners with expert status to write reviews after visiting a restaurant”.

The survival prediction tool that this study provides is relevant not only to practitioners but also to investors, for whom restaurants are invariably a risky sector. “By leveraging our prediction model”, the researchers write, “investors can check the consistency of customers’ attitudes towards certain restaurants to clarify businesses’ status and potential”. Armed with this information on review sentiment variance, “investors can then pursue opportunities with a higher presumed return on investment”.

“Timely and accurate business survival prediction is vital in today’s dynamic business environment”, the authors remind us. For the food sector, this research provides timely insights that are ground-breaking in both detail and relevance. Their importance even extends to the site operators of review platforms, which could, for example, choose to utilise restaurants’ review variance among their indicators. For the hospitality industry overall, the study reaffirms the importance of a data-informed understanding of businesses’ survival prospects in uncertain times.

Hengyun Li, Anqi Zhou, Xiang (Kevin) Zheng, Jian Xu, and Jing Zhang (2025). Restaurant Survival Prediction Using Machine Learning: Do the Variance and Sources of Customers’ Online Reviews Matter? Tourism Management, Vol. 107, 105038.

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 in the “Hospitality and Tourism Management” category in ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2025 for the ninth consecutive year; placed No. 1 globally in the “Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services” category in the University Ranking by Academic Performance in 2024/2025 for eight years in a row; rated No. 1 in the world in the “Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism” subject area by the CWUR Rankings by Subject 2017; and ranked No. 2 globally among comprehensive universities in the “Hospitality and Leisure Management” subject area in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, the SHTM is a symbol of excellence in the field, exemplifying its motto of Leading Hospitality and Tourism.

The School is driven by the need to serve its industry and academic communities through the advancement of education and dissemination of knowledge. 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 a vital aspect of its paradigm-shifting approach to hospitality and tourism education, the SHTM is advancing teaching, learning and research, and inspiring a new generation of passionate, pioneering professionals to take their positions as leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry.

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Koh Samui, Thailand, July 21, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / Gut health has never been a hotter topic. And Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary in Thailand is highlighting the vital role the digestive system plays in everything from immunity and energy levels to mental wellbeing.

Drawing on the latest scientific understanding alongside holistic healing traditions, the award-winning wellness sanctuary’s dedicated Enriched Gut programme is designed to help guests restore balance from the inside out.

“All disease begins in the gut” is often attributed to the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates. More than 2,000 years later, a growing body of scientific research continues to reinforce just how central the gut is to overall health. Far more than a digestive organ, the gut is now recognised as a key influence on the immune system, metabolism and the gut-brain connection.

At the centre of gut health is the microbiome: the vast community of bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms that inhabit the digestive tract. Around 70% of the body’s immune cells are in the gut, helping explain why an imbalance can have effects that extend far beyond digestion. Persistent bloating, fatigue, disturbed sleep, skin issues and recurring minor infections can all be signs that the microbiome is out of balance, while research increasingly points to the important role that nutrition, stress management and sleep play in maintaining a healthy digestive system.

“When we look after the gut, we are not tending to a single organ; we are supporting the ground on which immunity, metabolism and mood are built,” says Rita Castanhito, Naturopath and Wellness Consultant at Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary.

She adds: “The gut tends to signal when it needs attention. The clearest signs are digestive: persistent bloating, discomfort after meals or changes in bowel habits. Low energy, disturbed sleep, skin changes and frequent minor infections can also point towards an imbalance worth exploring. No single symptom confirms a problem, but when several persist, they are the body’s invitation to look more closely.”

Nutrition plays a central role in supporting the microbiome. A varied diet rich in fibre, healthy fats, quality protein and minimally processed foods helps nourish beneficial gut bacteria, while consistent eating habits and good sleep support the body’s natural rhythms. Together, these everyday choices provide the foundation for long-term digestive health and overall wellbeing.

Kamalaya’s Enriched Gut programme combines personalised nutritional guidance with a predominantly plant-based, nutrient-rich approach designed to support the microbiome and optimise digestive health. Alongside tailored meal plans, guests receive treatments including Chi Nei Tsang abdominal massage, Ayurvedic Kati Vasti therapy, ozone therapy and targeted infusion therapies.

The programme also incorporates yoga, meditation, pranayama and Traditional Chinese Medicine therapies including acupuncture and cupping, with guidance from Kamalaya’s multidisciplinary team of wellness consultants, naturopaths, Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners and movement specialists, helping guests develop sustainable habits that extend well beyond their stay.

“So much of how we feel each day begins quietly, in the gut,” says Rita. “Nourish it well, and you give the whole body a steadier foundation to thrive on.”

About Kamalaya
Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary is a multi-award-winning haven nestled on the tranquil southern coast of Koh Samui, Thailand. Since 2005, Kamalaya has provided a nurturing environment for guests to reconnect with balance, vitality and inner harmony. Integrating the wisdom of Eastern healing traditions with the science of Western medicine, Kamalaya offers personalised wellness programmes that support each individual’s path to lifelong wellbeing. These include Detoxification, Gut Health, Sleep Enhancement, Movement & Strength, Emotional Resilience and Longevity.

Kamalaya translates to “Lotus Realm”, symbolising the growth and unfolding of the human spirit. Taking a unique approach to complete wellbeing and personal fulfilment, Kamalaya transcends the traditional spa experience to offer self-discovery and life enhancement through diverse healing traditions and holistic lifestyle concepts.

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Lower Zambezi, Zambia, July 21, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / Shearzone Safaris proudly marked a significant milestone with the official opening of Nzovu Rundu Luxury Camp, its newest luxury safari property in the Lower Zambezi National Park on Friday 17th July 2026.

The opening reinforced the company’s commitment to investing in sustainable tourism, conservation and authentic Zambian hospitality.

The ceremony was officiated by Mr. Evans Muhanga, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism, and attended by Her Royal Highness Chieftainess Chiawa, senior government officials, representatives from the tourism industry, conservation partners and invited guests.

Nzovu Rundu Luxury Camp is the second property in the Shearzone Safaris portfolio following the successful launch of Mozhi Bush Camp in Kafue National Park. The company also has future developments planned in North and South Luangwa, further strengthening its investment in Zambia’s tourism sector.

Speaking during the ceremony, Mr. Caleb Mulenga, Board Chairman of Shearzone Safaris, said:  “Nzovu Rundu is more than a luxury safari camp; it is our investment in Zambia’s future, creating opportunities for communities while showcasing the very best of our country’s natural heritage.”

Representing Government, Permanent Secretary Mr. Evans Muhanga commended the investment, noting that the opening reflects growing confidence in Zambia’s tourism industry and contributes to economic growth through increased private sector investment.

Her Royal Highness Chieftainess Chiawa welcomed the investment into her chiefdom and emphasized the importance of partnerships that promote conservation, create employment and deliver lasting benefits to local communities.

Designed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding wilderness, Nzovu Rundu Luxury Camp offers guests an intimate safari experience with luxury accommodation, exceptional guiding, river-based activities and immersive wildlife encounters in one of Africa’s most spectacular landscapes.

As a proudly Zambian owned tourism company, Shearzone Safaris remains committed to developing world class safari experiences while contributing to conservation, community development and the continued growth of Zambia’s tourism industry.

>> WATCH AN INTERVIEW WITH SHEARZONE CEO TOLAI FORTUNA HERE

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Chiang Mai, Thailand, July 20, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / Meliá Chiang Mai’s staff have helped regenerate more than seven acres of seasonally dry tropical forest in northern Thailand by planting 6,650 native trees through the hotel’s ongoing Meliá Go Green initiative, supporting biodiversity and forest restoration in one of the country’s most ecologically significant regions.

Almost 180 hotel team members joined the Doi Suthep Nature Center on June 26, 2026, to plant the latest 800 native trees across two rai in Mae Taeng and Mae Rim in Chiang Mai’s Doi Suthep-Pui National Park.

The 13th Meliá Go Green activity brought together volunteers to plant carefully selected native species that will help restore the area’s natural forest ecosystem, including Quercus semiserrata, Castanopsis diversifolia, Ficus capillipes and Antidesma bunius, among others.

Working in partnership with the Doi Suthep Nature Center, Meliá Chiang Mai has supported forest restoration efforts since 2022, helping regenerate degraded areas with native tree species that strengthen biodiversity, improve watershed health and create habitat for wildlife. The forests associated with Doi Suthep-Pui National Park are among northern Thailand’s richest natural ecosystems, home to more than 300 bird species and nearly 2,000 species of ferns and flowering plants.

“Meliá Go Green has become so much more than a regular volunteer activity,” said Meliá Chiang Mai General Manager Marc Selinger. “Our team is making a tangible contribution to restoring northern Thailand’s forests with the Doi Suthep Nature Center to help protect biodiversity and leave a positive environmental legacy for future generations.”

The tree-planting initiative forms part of Meliá Chiang Mai’s wider commitment to responsible tourism and community engagement. Throughout the hotel, sustainability initiatives are designed to reduce environmental impact and support local people and culture.

The hotel’s 360-degree cuisine programme champions locally-sourced chemical-free, seasonal ingredients, and minimising food waste. The hotel works closely with farmers, universities and their students, and communities to encourage sustainability measures that make the food system more resilient.

The GALLERY social enterprise in the hotel lobby showcases handcrafted products created by local artisans and community enterprises. The enterprise helps preserve traditional skills and generate sustainable incomes in communities in need.

Together with Meliá Go Green, these initiatives encapsulate the sustainability vision of the hotel’s owner, Asset World Corporation (AWC), to create lasting environmental and social value.

About Meliá Hotels & Resorts
Meliá Hotels & Resorts is the best-known international brand in the portfolio of the Meliá Hotels International company; it has more than 100 city and resort hotels in the main leisure and business destinations of Europe, Asia, Africa and America. The brand offers exemplary meetings and events facilities in all important business cities as well as in exotic locations, catering to the ever-expanding conference and incentive travel market. As part of its innovation philosophy and new positioning, Meliá Hotels & Resorts has reinvented itself to cater to every aspect of the guests’ wellbeing. Unique experiences are created for guests and are defined by relaxation, quality time and personalised services. For a balanced lifestyle, Meliá Hotels & Resorts instinctively understands the guests’ needs and lifestyle expectations, which is an integral part of its redefined identity.

About Meliá Hotels International
Founded in 1956 in Mallorca (Spain), Meliá Hotels International operates more than 380 hotels (portfolio and pipeline) throughout more than 40 countries, under the brands Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts, Paradisus by Meliá, ME by Meliá, Meliá Hotels & Resorts, The Meliá Collection, INNSiDE by Meliá, Sol by Meliá, and Falcon’s Resorts by Meliá, plus a wide portfolio of affiliated hotels under the “Affiliated by Meliá” network. The Group is one of the leading companies in resort hotels worldwide, while also leveraging its experience to consolidate the growing segment of the leisure-inspired urban market. Its commitment to responsible tourism has led the Group to become the most sustainable hotel company in Spain and Europe, according to the last S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (Silver Class). It also has ranked seventh in the Wall Street Journal’s list of the 100 most sustainably managed companies in the world (and the leading travel company) and is the only Spanish travel company included in the list of “Europe’s Climate Leaders 2021” by Financial Times. Meliá Hotels International is also included in the IBEX 35 Spanish stock market.

About Asset World Corp Public Company Limited
Asset World Corp Public Company Limited (AWC), Thailand’s leading integrated lifestyle real estate group and a member of TCC Group, is redefining the country’s landscape of hospitality, commercial workspaces, and iconic lifestyle destinations with its diversified portfolio, strategically located in prime areas across the nation. Committed to creating new landmark projects that not only set new benchmarks for the industry but also strengthen Thailand’s position as a global sustainable tourism destination, AWC collaborates with world-renowned partners, including Marriott International, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Nobu Hospitality, Okura Hotels, Banyan Tree, Meliá Hotels International, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Accor, and Hyatt, to deliver unforgettable experiences. Its portfolio features flagship commercial properties such as The Empire, Athenee Tower, Asiatique The Riverfront Destination, and Phenix, along with premier F&B destinations like ‘EA’ Rooftop at The Empire, offering world-class top cuisine. AWC is committed to delivering exceptional experiences while championing sustainability in every part of its operations to create long-term sustainable value for all stakeholders through initiatives under three key pillars of Better Planet, Better People, and Better Prosperity (3BETTERs), driving innovation and responsibility to inspire millions and elevate Thailand’s tourism and real estate industry to new heights.

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Bangkok, Thailand, July 20, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok welcomes the Mid-Autumn Festival with its 2026 Mooncake Collection, created for sharing, gifting, and celebrating one of Asia’s most cherished traditions. This year, the collection takes on added significance as the legendary riverside hotel marks its 150th anniversary, with commemorative packaging inspired by its rich heritage and enduring legacy along the Chao Phraya River.

Leading the collection is the new Caramelised Pecan Nuts with Chiang Mai Coffee Mooncake, created exclusively for this milestone year. Inspired by the mist-covered mountains of Mae Kampong, the mooncake features locally grown Arabica coffee sourced from one of Northern Thailand’s most celebrated coffee-growing communities. Sustainably grown beneath the forest canopy in a cool highland environment, the coffee develops a distinctive aroma and gentle character shaped by its natural surroundings, and paired with caramelised pecan nuts, it brings subtle roasted notes and balanced sweetness to a mooncake that offers a fresh interpretation of a Mid-Autumn classic.

The collection is complemented by three enduring classics: Custard, Salted White Lotus Seed with Egg Yolk, and Durian with Egg Yolk.

Created for family gatherings, festive celebrations and seasonal gifting, this year’s collection is presented in auspicious gold packaging adorned with illustrations of The Oriental Building and the hotel’s 150th anniversary emblem. Designed as a keepsake, each box commemorates an important milestone in the history of Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok.

The Oriental Classic, priced at THB 1,150 net, features eight mooncakes presented in a newly designed octagonal box finished in gold leather and detailed with the hotel’s signature motifs.

For those seeking a truly distinctive gift, The Oriental Luxury, priced at THB 8,150 net, presents sixteen mooncakes alongside an exclusive 150th Anniversary Celebration Tea created by TWG Tea and a pair of signature teacups inspired by The Authors’ Lounge. Adorned with a commemorative 150th Anniversary magnet and presented in an elegant multi-drawer keepsake box finished in auspicious gold, it is a collector’s edition created to mark this milestone year.

Recognising the importance of Mid-Autumn gifting in fostering business relationships and expressing appreciation, Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok also offers bespoke corporate editions of both collections. Thoughtfully tailored with personalised branding and design elements, these custom creations provide a distinctive way to celebrate the season while leaving a lasting impression.

Available from 24 July to 25 September 2026, the 2026 Mid-Autumn Mooncake Collection offers a meaningful way to celebrate the season while sharing in the story of Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok’s 150th anniversary.

Celebrate the season with exclusive Early Bird privileges, enjoying 10% savings on orders placed from 24 July to 16 August 2026, with collection available from 24 July to 23 August 2026, including a 5% saving on self-pick-up, savings of up to 30% on bulk orders, and complimentary corporate customisation with delivery within Bangkok city area for orders of 200 boxes or more. Whether shared with family or presented as a corporate gift, Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok invites you to mark this Mid-Autumn Festival with a gesture that will be remembered long after the season ends.

For orders and enquiries, please contact mobkk-mooncake@mohg.com or call +66 (0) 2 659 9000 ext. 6811, 6812 (8am – 6pm daily).

About Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok

Built in 1876 and ideally located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok has been delighting guests for nearly 150 years. The 331-room hotel has inspired generations of world-renowned writers — from Joseph Conrad and Somerset Maugham to Wilbur Smith and John le Carré — after whom many of the suites are named.

The property offers 11 restaurants and bars, ranging from traditional Thai cuisine to French fine dining at Anne-Sophine Pic at Le Normandie. Private teakwood shuttle boats provide daily access across the river to The Oriental Thai Cooking School, Sala Rim Naam and Terrace Rim Naam, as well as the award-winning Oriental Spa and the Fitness & Wellness Centre, and also connect guests to the nearest sky train station, Saphan Taksin, and to ICONSIAM, Thailand’s landmark mixed-use complex and home to The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok.

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