Global Travel News

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.

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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.

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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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Kochi, Kerala, September 25, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / The 13th edition of the Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) got underway in Kochi on September 24, with Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan inaugurating the event at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty. The four-day gathering is billed as India’s flagship tourism and hospitality business platform, bringing together stakeholders from across the country and overseas.

Following the opening ceremony, the core business-to-business meetings and exhibition run from September 25 to 27 at the Sagara and Samudrika Convention Centres on Willingdon Island. Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas led the run-up to the event, which organisers expected would draw around 4,000 domestic and international buyers along with more than 2,000 sellers and service providers.

The scale of participation this year is notable. With 382 sellers, over 3,000 registered buyers, roughly 790 of them international, the Mart has lined up close to 40,000 scheduled B2B meetings — the largest turnout in KTM’s 25-year history. Tourism officials framed the numbers as a resilience story: the state has attracted 800 international and 2,250 domestic buyers despite ongoing global conflicts, according to Tourism Minister P.C. Vishnunadh.
Beyond deal-making, the Mart carries a policy dimension. The state government has announced plans to introduce 100 new tourist destinations over the next five years, adding 20 annually, with a push toward wellness, ayurveda, experiential tourism and cultural heritage sites. The four-day programme itself combines curated B2B meetings with policy discussions and sector-focused seminars, spanning leisure tourism, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions), wellness tourism and destination weddings.

For visiting delegates and media, the experience extends past the convention floor. Post-event tours from September 28 to October 3 will take participants across twelve distinct geographic tracks to experience Kerala’s destinations and tourism products firsthand.

About Kerala Travel Mart
Held biennially since its founding, KTM has grown into one of India’s most significant tourism trade shows, positioning Kerala — long marketed as “God’s Own Country” — as a hub for cultural, leisure, wellness and experiential travel. The Kerala Travel Mart Society also unveiled a revamped website for the event this year, alongside an official promotional video for the 2026 edition.

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Bangkok, Thailand, September 22, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / Independent music enthusiasts looking for fresh talent and original sounds will have a new artist to watch when Meilee Tal, an emerging singer, songwriter, influencer and dancer, takes to the indoor stage at CentralWorld on 18 October 2026 as a special invited artist at Melody of Life Music Festival 2026.

More than simply a singer performing other people’s music, Meilee is an artist who is determined to create her own identity. She writes her own original songs, performs them herself and brings together music and dance to create a performance that reflects her individual personality and artistic vision.

At the same time, Meilee is developing herself as a new-generation pop artist, combining original music with choreography, visual identity, stage presence and the kind of high-energy performance associated with modern pop stars. For her, being an artist is not only about writing the songs, but about creating the full world around them and bringing that world to life on stage.

Her appearance at Melody of Life offers festival-goers an opportunity to discover an artist at an exciting stage of her journey, one who is building her career from the ground up, following her own creative instincts and using her own experiences as inspiration for her music.

From Passion to Her Own Artistic Identity

Meilee’s story is one of self-belief, persistence and creative independence.

Rather than waiting for a traditional route into the music industry, she has taken an increasingly hands-on approach to developing herself as an artist. Writing her own material has become an important part of that journey, allowing her to express thoughts, feelings and experiences in a way that is personal and authentic to her.

For Meilee, songwriting is not simply about producing a melody or creating a catchy song. It is a way of telling her story.

Her music provides a window into the young artist behind the stage persona, while her background in dance adds another dimension to her performances. The combination of vocals, original songwriting and movement gives Meilee the freedom to express her music visually as well as musically.

That performance element is central to the kind of pop artist Meilee wants to become. Rather than separating singing, dancing and visual presentation, she brings them together, approaching the stage with the ambition to deliver a complete pop performance, where choreography, energy, personality and music all play an equally important role.

This independent spirit is also what makes her an interesting fit for Melody of Life, a festival known for bringing together different musical styles, creative personalities and audiences who enjoy discovering something beyond the mainstream.

Not Just a Performer, A Creator

In an industry where emerging artists can easily become defined by a single song, trend or social-media moment, Meilee is taking a broader approach to establishing herself.

She is developing herself as a creator as well as a performer, and as a pop artist with a clear vision of the kind of presence she wants to build both on stage and beyond it.

From putting her own words into songs to shaping the way those songs are presented on stage, she is gradually building an artistic identity that belongs entirely to her.

Her original repertoire gives audiences an opportunity to hear her voice in its most authentic form, not simply interpreting someone else’s composition, but performing music that comes directly from her own creative world.

And when the music begins, her dance background adds another layer to the experience.

The result is an artist who sees performance as a complete form of expression: voice, lyrics, rhythm, movement and personality coming together on one stage. It is an approach rooted in songwriting but driven by the scale and energy of pop performance, combining the intimacy of telling her own stories with the ambition of putting on a show.

 A New Generation of Independent Talent

 Meilee’s journey also reflects a wider movement among today’s emerging artists, who are increasingly taking control of their own creative careers.

Digital platforms have made it possible for artists to develop their own audiences, share original music and experiment with different forms of artistic expression without necessarily following the traditional industry route.

For independent artists such as Meilee, this creates both an opportunity and a challenge, the opportunity to build an identity on their own terms, and the challenge of doing everything from creating music to performing and connecting with audiences.

For Meilee, that independence has also allowed her to develop her own vision of pop stardom, one built around original songs, strong performance, dance, visual storytelling and a direct connection with her audience.

It is precisely this entrepreneurial and independent approach that makes Meilee an artist to watch.

Her appearance at Melody of Life is another step in that journey, placing her original music in front of a diverse audience of music lovers and giving the festival’s pop community an opportunity to discover her work first-hand.

“I Want People to Know Me Through My Music”

“I am very excited and honoured to be invited to perform at Melody of Life,” said Meilee Tal.

“For me, performing my own songs is especially meaningful because each song represents something personal. I have written the songs myself and I want people to be able to connect with the music and understand a little more about who I am as an artist.

“But I also love the performance side of pop music. I love dancing, choreography, visuals and creating a show. My goal is to bring all of those things together so people aren’t only hearing my songs, they’re experiencing the world I want to create around them.

“I hope everyone who comes to the festival will enjoy the performance, sing along, and perhaps discover a new artist and new songs that they can take with them.”

Catch Meilee Tal Live at Melody of Life

For music lovers, the appeal of Meilee’s appearance is simple: come and discover an emerging artist before her story becomes bigger.

Her performance promises to showcase the different sides of her artistry, from her original songwriting and vocals to her dance and stage presence, bringing together the creative independence of a singer-songwriter with the energy and ambition of a rising pop performer.

For media, meanwhile, Meilee offers an engaging “artist to watch” story: a self-made young creative talent building her career through original music, determination and a distinctly personal approach to performance, while developing the music, image and stage identity of a new-generation pop artist.

Media representatives interested in covering Meilee Tal, interviewing her or exploring her journey as an emerging independent artist are warmly invited to attend the festival and contact the PR/media relations team for further information and interview opportunities.

MELODY OF LIFE MUSIC FESTIVAL 2026

Date: 18 October 2026

Venue: CentralWorld, Bangkok

Stage: Indoor Stage

Artist: Meilee Tal

Role: Special Invited Singing Artist & Dancer

Performance: Original songs written by Meilee Tal

Come for Melody of Life.

Discover Meilee Tal.

Hear the songs. Feel the rhythm. Meet an artist creating her own story.

 The Story of Meilee Tal – in her own words

“I am a multi-disciplinary artist with experience as a singer, songwriter, actress, influencer, video creator, dancer and model.

I have released several original singles, each accompanied by a music video.   My most recently released song, “Fake Flowers,”  is already resonating with listeners.

Previous releases include “Angel,” “Alone,” “Until The Next Time,” “Drink,” “All I Need This Christmas”, “Tonight” and “A Drunk Christmas”.  Each song reflects a different side of my artistry, ranging from emotional pop to fun, upbeat anthems.  I also have many unreleased songs and demos that are ready for upcoming releases.
As a singer and songwriter, I write, compose, and perform original music primarily in English, and I am also fluent in Chinese, with the ability to create music in both languages.

My musical style includes pop, K-pop, and mainstream genres.

I have performed internationally and have had the opportunity to open for well-known artists on tour, and I have also had the opportunity to open “THAILAND FASHION WEEK” with my original song “Therapy” (unreleased).
Alongside my music career, I am an active influencer with a growing global audience, currently reaching over 200,000 followers on TikTok and 80,000 followers on Instagram, with millions of views across platforms.

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Bangkok, Thailand, September 21, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / Amari Bangkok invites guests to enjoy the Oktoberfest festival with a special two-day event “Oktoberfest in the Garden”, taking place on 1–2 October 2026 from 17:00–21:00 hrs. at the Garden on the 8th floor.

The celebration brings together German favourites, BBQ and grills, drinks and more in a relaxed garden setting designed for enjoying the flavours and atmosphere of Oktoberfest with friends and family. Three packages are available.

Oktoberfest in the Garden Packages
Guests can choose from three packages:
• THB 500 net – Entrance Ticket: includes entrance and a half pint (250ml) of beer.
• THB 999 net – All You Can Eat: includes German favourites, BBQ and grills.
• THB 1,999 net – Ultimate Package: includes all-you-can-eat dining and free-flow beer.
A 15% discount is available for bookings made by 25 September 2026.

A special Oktoberfest menu will also be available at Aqua Eatery & Bar, featuring German-inspired favourites including Bavarian Pretzel & Obatzda Dip, Pulled Pork Knuckle Pretzel Bun and Berlin Currywurst, alongside other dishes and desserts. The menu is paired with Paulaner draught beer.

The Oktoberfest menu will be available from 19 September to 19 October 2026 at Aqua Eatery & Bar on the 8th floor, daily from 10:00–20:00 hrs.

À la carte menu starts from THB 200++, while Paulaner draught beer is available from THB 280++ per 300ml glass.

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Bangkok, Thailand, September 18, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel Bangkok, in collaboration with Thai wellness experience brand Stillwave, invites guests to slow down, listen and reconnect through “Cosmic Current,” a three-hour immersive sound journey bringing together six Thai sound creators and artists.

Taking place on Saturday, 26 September 2026, within the hotel’s Grand Ballroom, the experience will unfold through sound, vibration, breath and stillness. Guests may choose between a morning session from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM or a sunset session from 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM.

Founded by Assistant Professor Dr. Taechit Cheuypoung and Thippailin Boontaveesuksan, Stillwave has collaborated with six Thai artists and practitioners to create “Cosmic Current”—a concept inspired by the currents of life that connect all things.

From water and breath to the earth and the wider universe, every movement unfolds within an interconnected rhythm, just as sound and vibration travel through silence. Throughout the journey, participants are invited to turn their awareness inward and reconnect with their bodies, breath and inner stillness, reflecting the idea that we are not separate from nature but part of the same current of life.

Six Sound Creators & Artists

• Supanat sukpong (Bestrip) – A Thai DJ who blends Deep House, World Music and Electronica with sounds from nature and tribal music to create immersive and atmospheric soundscapes. His experience includes performances at Wonderfruit and Aether Bangkok.
• Kru Air Napakorn (Air) – A holistic wellness practitioner with more than eight years of experience in Yoga, Sound Healing, Mindfulness and Breathwork. She combines sound and conscious breathing to encourage relaxation and restore balance to the body and mind.
• Natthew Thewphaingam (Natthew) – An artist, singer and actor with experience in both physical wellbeing and the art of sound. Through sound and sensory awareness, he invites participants to reconnect with themselves.
• Juthapat Bundaipetch (Tae) – A practitioner specialising in Sound Healing and Planetary Gong (The Sound of Ahosi), guiding participants through sound and vibration to create space for inner connection and gentle release.
• Assistant Professor Dr. Taechit Cheuypoung (AA) – Founder and Creative Director of Stillwave and a sound experience artist who brings together the art of sound and experience design to create spaces for stillness, restoration and inner calm.
• Apisit Wongchoti (Jack) – A music arranger, conductor and music producer who brings together multiple layers of sound and music to create a seamless sonic journey as part of Cosmic Current.

A Multi-Sensory Journey

Designed as a multi-sensory experience, Cosmic Current invites participants to engage their senses while reclining in comfort within the spacious Grand Ballroom.

PHUTAWAN introduces a fragrant dimension under the concept “SCENT · INNER CONNECTION.” The brand’s Organic Pillow Spray combines natural essential oils with Nano Encapsulation Technology, allowing its fragrance to be gradually released through touch and movement. The scent creates a calming atmosphere, gently inviting participants to reconnect with themselves before beginning the journey through sound.

The experience is complemented by beverages from BEANS Coffee Roaster, offering a selection of more than 30 high-quality coffee beans sourced from around the world. Guided by the philosophy that “customers choose their own coffee,” guests may select beans according to their individual preferences and explore a coffee experience reflecting their personal tastes.

Alongside this, BIBI presents “JUICEFEE,” a refreshing combination of fruit juice and caffeine from coffee, Thai tea or matcha, bringing together refreshment and an energizing boost in one drink.

Completing the experience is the Grand Ballroom at Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel Bangkok. Its contemporary design, generous scale and advanced event facilities provide a distinctive canvas where sound, art, fragrance, taste, touch and atmosphere come together as one immersive journey of rest and reconnection.

The collaboration reflects the hotel’s commitment to expanding the possibilities of its event spaces beyond traditional meetings and celebrations, creating new experiences that support wellbeing, creativity and meaningful connection.

Event Details

Date: Saturday, 26 September 2026

Morning Session: 9:30 AM–12:30 PM

Sunset Session: 3:30–6:30 PM

Early Bird: THB 1,999 net per person for reservations made by 20 September 2026

Regular Price: THB 2,499 net per person

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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