News

The Most Anticipated Hotel Openings of 2026

From luxury island villas in the Maldives to an off-grid Australian resort, these are the six new property openings we're most excited about. As travel demand continues to rise around the world, so does the number of high-profile new hotel openings, giving travellers not only more choice but better options, too. According to Rena Shah, head of lodging and experiences at Chase Travel, the best new hotels opening in 2026 aim to become an extension of their guests' lives, rather than simply aspirational escapes. "Things like sleep quality, wellness that's built in rather than optional, good food that makes you feel better not worse and spaces that work whether you're travelling for fun or fitting travel into a busy schedule feel more important than ever," Shah explains. "I think we'll see hotels really nail this by designing experiences around how people want to feel when they leave: refreshed, grounded [and] energised instead of just impressed." Simultaneously, because many hotels are getting more expensive, some properties are increasingly justifying their rates by offering the unusual, according to Fora travel agency co-founder Henley Vazquez. "The cost of travel continues to rise, so when people take a trip, they're looking for one-of-a-kind experiences rather than the typical hotel," she says. "The hotels that stand out will be the ones that offer a strong point of view – whether that's redefining how guests engage with wellness or creating experiences that feel impossible to replicate elsewhere."

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Top 10 Must-Do Experiences in Taiwan

Now that we’ve had our big Asian adventure, I’m taking a breath to reminisce a bit. There’s no shortage of memories, either – sore feet, a metric ton of Pepto Bismol, and a list of pretty impressive sightseeing. I’ll launch off with some of the best things to do in Taiwan – plus a few others we didn’t get to. Despite some gastro-related worries, I had way more fun than I thought possible back before I knew anything about the country. We did the most we could cram in the little time we had, but you could easily spend a whole week in Taiwan and not get bored. Hopefully, I can give it a try myself next time we travel those parts. Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall This one’s a memorial site smack-dab in the middle of Taipei. The whole place is massive, as are the temple-looking concert hall and theatre sitting around some nicely trimmed gardens. They call the area around the hall “Liberty Square,” with the memorial hall itself being a pretty imposing white building with a blue roof. It comes loaded with details on Taiwan’s history, plus info about the former Chinese president, Chiang Kai-Shek. You know, back when Taiwan was under China’s thumb.

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Tomorrowland Thailand 2026: Tickets, Dates and Details Revealed

Tomorrowland Thailand is officially confirmed as the first full-scale Tomorrowland festival in Asia, taking place from 11 to 13 December 2026 at Wisdom Valley in Thailand.¹ The event brings Tomorrowland’s large-scale stage design and production to the region, making it more accessible for fans travelling from Asia, Europe, Australia and beyond. Tomorrowland Thailand is the Asian edition of Tomorrowland, one of the world’s largest electronic music festivals.² The original Tomorrowland festival launched in Belgium in 2005 and has since become known for immersive stage design and international DJ line-ups. Thailand was selected as the host country to expand Tomorrowland’s presence in Asia and attract a global audience to the region. The Thailand edition will feature six stages, including the mainstage and additional concepts created specifically for the local setting. At the time of writing, the official artist line-up has not yet been announced. If you have attended Tomorrowland in Belgium before, expect different weather conditions. December in Pattaya is hot and humid, with average daytime highs of around 32°C.⁵ In comparison, Boom in Belgium averages around 22°C during the July festival period.⁶

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Navi Mumbai International Airport Rolls Out DigiYatra for Seamless Travel

The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has launched DigiYatra, a contactless and paperless passenger processing system, which is a major breakthrough in the future of air travel in the country. The system, which uses facial recognition technology, enables passengers to pass through airport checkpoints without the need for physical documents such as boarding passes and ID cards. This move is part of the airport’s growing efforts to incorporate digital technology into its operations, making travel faster, safer, and more efficient. The DigiYatra system was launched as part of the Civil Aviation Ministry’s initiative to implement the system across the country. The implementation of the system means that the Navi Mumbai International Airport is now a model for the aviation industry in the country, making India a leader in travel technology and smart airports. The move is expected to have a major impact on air travel and is part of India’s efforts to attract more tourists to the country through innovative technology. Travel Impact: Transforming Passenger Experience and Efficiency The implementation of DigiYatra at Navi Mumbai International Airport offers a transformative travel experience for passengers. By using biometric data, the system eliminates the need for traditional check-in and security processes that involve paper tickets and physical identification. Travelers will simply need to register their biometric information at designated kiosks, allowing them to move through the airport with just a glance at the camera.

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Malaysia Bets on Indigenous Creative Tourism for 2026

Malaysia’s tourism strategy for 2026 focuses on leveraging its indigenous creative industries to provide authentic and sustainable experiences for travelers. With an increasing global demand for eco-conscious and culturally rich travel options, Malaysia is positioning its indigenous heritage and local craftsmanship as key attractions. By showcasing its diverse cultural traditions, art, and handicrafts, the country aims to offer unique, immersive experiences that align with the growing trend of responsible tourism. This approach not only enhances the tourism sector but also promotes the preservation of local cultures, empowering communities while ensuring environmental sustainability. Creative industries rooted in indigenous heritage are essential for driving Malaysia’s tourism strategy as the country prepares for Visit Malaysia 2026. As the world increasingly shifts towards seeking authentic, sustainable experiences, it is crucial that the country taps into the richness of its indigenous cultural resources to create meaningful connections with travellers. This growing global trend of searching for deeper local engagements highlights the need for community-based cultural initiatives to take centre stage in the tourism sector. These initiatives, once considered peripheral to the development of the tourism industry, are now positioned as key economic drivers in Malaysia’s broader tourism and creative economy plans. The significance of indigenous cultures and traditions has long been recognized, but in recent years, there has been a shift towards placing them at the heart of Malaysia’s tourism strategy. The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture expressed that indigenous heritage, especially in the form of creative industries, must be a central focus of the tourism development roadmap. The evolving landscape of global tourism, with its emphasis on sustainability and authenticity, has made it clear that tourists now seek more than just scenic views; they are looking for experiences that allow them to connect with local cultures and understand their traditions on a deeper level.

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Dubai International Airport Hits 95M+ Passengers, Sets Global Benchmark

Dubai International Airport continues to assert its dominance as the busiest airport in the world, handling an astounding 95.2 million passengers in 2025. This remarkable achievement highlights Dubai’s unyielding position as a global travel hub, supported by an ever-growing demand for international travel, booming tourism, and the strategic expansion of its economic landscape. The growth of Dubai as both a stopover destination and a final travel hub is inextricably tied to the growth of Emirates, the state-owned carrier that connects the airport to countless destinations worldwide. As the city’s role in global tourism becomes more ingrained, Dubai International airport finds itself at the heart of a rapidly expanding transit system that serves over 108 airlines, connecting travelers to 291 cities across 110 countries. Dubai’s airport is not just an air transit hub; it’s a microcosm of the city’s booming economy. In 2025, the bustling airport witnessed an impressive 5% increase in passengers over the previous year, making it the first airport globally to surpass 95 million passengers in a single year. Despite facing challenges such as congestion and rising operational costs, Dubai International has maintained its record-setting pace, proving that increased traffic is now part of the airport’s operating norm.

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