JW Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of more than 30 brands, today announces its collaboration with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as a Global Brand Ambassador. Through this, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will elevate and bring renewed expression to the brand’s global “Stay in the Moment” platform, bringing a thoughtful, globally resonant perspective that deepens its relevance across key international markets.

Visit California and Virgin Atlantic Holidays will launch “California Games”, an immersive two-day takeover of Outernet London designed to bring the playful energy and excitement of the Golden State to the heart of London.

Reopening for the summer 2026 season, Porto Carras Grand Resort enters a new chapter in the story of one of Greece’s most iconic hospitality estates. Set across a vast private estate in Sithonia, Halkidiki, where pine-covered hills meet the Aegean Sea, the resort re-emerges with a renewed focus on timeless Mediterranean hospitality, vineyard heritage, gastronomy and experience-led travel.

China’s Travel & Tourism (T&T) sector is undergoing a phase of accelerated expansion, positioning it as a strong example of sustained tourism growth, and placing the country firmly on track to become the world’s leading T&T economy in the coming years if current trends continue. According to new 2026 Economic Impact Research (EIR) data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), sponsored by Chase Travel, Lead Research Partner, China is emerging not only as the standout performer in Asia-Pacific, but also as a leader for how to coordinated policy, innovation, and long-term investment in infrastructure can drive high-impact tourism growth at scale.

Bob W, the award-winning AI – and tech-powered hospitality operator, has announced plans to open a new 136-unit aparthotel in Stuttgart’s historic Bad Cannstatt district, bringing its signature blend of technology, design and local storytelling to one of Germany’s most significant cultural neighbourhoods. Scheduled to open in 2027, the new property will occupy a site spanning more than 3,000 square metres and is built on the location of a former World War II bunker. The development will feature 136 smart apartments across five floors, alongside a communal kitchen and lounge, co-working space, laundry facilities and a 550-square-metre fitness area.

In an industry where competition is relentless and destinations are ever-evolving, excellence rarely stands still. It adapts, refines, and—on rare occasions—redefines the rules entirely. Asia DMC is one of those rare forces. In 2026, the company once again finds itself nominated for Asia’s Leading Destination Management Company at the World Travel Awards. Another year, another nomination—and yet the story here is not repetition. It is reinvention. Because in a crowded field of global operators, Asia DMC has become something else entirely: the benchmark others quietly measure themselves against.

European travel demand to the United States is evolving as European travelers are approaching long-haul trips to U.S. destinations with greater selectivity, shorter planning windows, and a stronger appetite for diverse, authentic experiences that extend beyond iconic urban centers. This is the key takeaway from The Evolution of European Demand to the U.S.: Understanding Shifting Travel Patterns, a white paper developed by The Data Appeal Company / Almaviva Group, in collaboration with Phocuswright, aimed at sparking analysis and discussion ahead of Phocuswright Europe 2026, to be held June 15–17 in Barcelona. “As the industry convenes in Barcelona this June for Phocuswright Europe, the timing could not be more relevant: the decisions travel companies make now about product, positioning and channel strategy will determine how they capture or lose European demand over the next several years,” says Eugene Ko, senior director, marketing and communications, Phocuswright.