This August, Hudayriyat Island continues to reinforce its position as one of Abu Dhabi’s leading lifestyle and leisure destinations with a vibrant programme of experiences for all ages. Spanning wellness, sports, dining, entertainment and family-friendly activities, the island’s latest seasonal offerings provide plenty of opportunities to stay active, unwind and make the most of the summer.

Expedia Group today announced that it has acquired Layla, an AI-native trip planning and booking platform that helps travelers discover destinations, create personalized itineraries, and plan complete trips through a conversational travel agent. Layla has built one of the most innovative AI trip planning experiences, helping travelers move seamlessly from inspiration to itinerary creation across flights, accommodations, activities, dining, and transportation.

Villa Dorothéa, a unique new boutique hotel in Lisbon’s Lapa district, occupying a beautifully restored 19th century hamlet, has now opened its doors in the city. Hidden behind discreet façades between Lapa, Santos, and the Tagus River, Villa Dorothéa introduces a more intimate vision of luxury hospitality to Lisbon, one shaped by atmosphere, local life, and the feeling of truly living within the city. Set across five interconnected houses, the new 20-room residence, designed by LACASTA Interior Design Studio, in partnership with stylist Carla Kottmann, unfolds through cobbled pathways, quiet courtyards, and terraces scented with jasmine and bougainvillea, inviting guests to settle naturally into the pace and rituals of local life.

What can a single developer build in a matter of hours when given access to live travel inventory, AI and modern APIs? According to the winners of the inaugural RouteStack Build Challenge, the answer is everything from an intelligent hotel concierge for airline standby passengers to an AI-powered family travel advisor and a collaborative trip-planning platform for groups.

Nikki Beach Hospitality Group, the global luxury lifestyle and hospitality company, has launched an exciting lineup of events, collaborations and immersive experiences at Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Koh Samui, bringing together renowned culinary, fashion, beauty and wellness brands for a season of elevated beachfront celebrations. The summer calendar kicked off with Nikki Beach x Lancaster Beauty, which began in July running through August. Throughout the collaboration, guests can discover the brand through on-site activations and exclusive product sampling, while those reserving a Sea View Sunbed will enjoy additional Lancaster Sun Beauty samples.

Families travelling to Europe this summer could pay up to £260 in additional travel costs on top of their airfare, according to new analysis comparing the full cost of flying with driving. Research conducted by travel specialists Together Travel found that baggage charges, airport parking and destination transfers can add between £235 and £260 to the flight price for a family of four.

The Ascott Limited (Ascott), a Singapore-headquartered global hospitality company wholly owned by CapitaLand Investment (CLI), has signed management agreements for nine properties totalling more than 3,200 units in Vietnam in the first half of 2026, its fastest pace of growth in the country to date. Four of the projects are with Sun Group, a longstanding partner, and five with owners new to Ascott. The signings expand Ascott’s Vietnam portfolio by more than 30% to about 12,000 units across 42 operational and pipeline properties in 14 cities. Vietnam is now Ascott’s third largest country by pipeline in Asia, and the newly signed properties will open progressively from 2028.