Holiday & Travel

Blenheim Palace has been named Large Visitor Attraction of the Year 2022 at the Beautiful South Awards for Excellence. The Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site was awarded the title at the ceremony which took place at the Grand Hotel in Brighton.

The award recognises large visitor attraction businesses providing truly memorable visitor experiences and demonstrating excellence across every aspect of the business. The Awards are run by Tourism South East to recognise and celebrate excellence in the industry.

A new international hospitality brand and lifestyle resort called Wafaifo has been launched in central Vietnam.

The company will open the 134-key lifestyle resort, the Wafaifo Resort Hoi An, in Q1 2024 as part of a plan that includes a new mall adjacent to the hotel.

Speaking on Bloomberg TV, Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said the country’s post-pandemic recovery was so strong that stayover arrivals were at 97 percent of 2019 levels while revenues were even higher at 120 percent of 2019 earnings.

Bartlett added Jamaica had done much better than projected in the post pandemic recovery. “We had projected that we would reach 2019 levels in arrivals by 2023-24.

Flights will operate as scheduled on days when Border Force employees go on strike, Birmingham Airport said. The Midlands travel hub advised passengers what to expect when members of the PCS (Public and Commercial Services) union walk out on December 23, 24 and 25 and December 28, 29 and 30: 

Rail passengers are being warned to prepare for disruption across the Wales and Borders network during December and January.  

The National Union of Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers (RMT) have announced strike action will take place on 13-14, 16-17 and 24-27 December and 3-4 and 6-7 January.

Despite the island’s growing popularity, leaders in Curaçao are not resting on the laurels of the Dutch Antillean nation’s post-pandemic success.

Ruisandro Cijntje, Curaçao’s Minister of Economic Development, said that even as the tourism recovery is going well and investment interest in hotels and attractions is strong, the future success of the destination resides with delivering experiences that are wide and varied.

Newmarket Holidays is predicting a surge in India tour bookings following the return of the country's e-Tourist Visas for British citizens this week and has launched a 10% discount on all India tours booked before 24 December 2022.

Prior to the pandemic India was a top-selling destination for the escorted tour specialist, but the application process for e-Tourist Visas for British citizens was paused in March 2020, and then replaced by in-person appointments that led to long delays in processing applications.

The Cayman Islands Ministry of Tourism & Transport (MoTT) has welcomed two new team members, reflecting the rapidly expanding variety of career tracks in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Eldon Chisholm and Watoya Stewart joined the ministry in November, bringing diverse skills and talents to support MoTT’s mission to provide strategic guidance and direction to the transport, tourism and hospitality sector.

Morecambe's iconic Midland Hotel is the latest acquisition for pub with rooms company The Inn Collection Group, (ICG) as the Newcastle-based operator continues expansion on the Lancastrian coast. An internationally renowned art-deco building in the Streamline Moderne style, The Midland has been purchased by the group for an undisclosed sum from its previous owners, the Clitheroe-based charity, Lancaster Foundation. 

easyJet has announced a new route from Birmingham to Milan in Italy, with seats on sale at easyJet.com and via the mobile app. The new route will take off from 26 June 2023 with departures up to three times a week on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays.  

Boasting a rich history, Milan attracts historians and culture enthusiasts worldwide with sights including the city’s famous gothic cathedral and La Scala opera house.

A total of 26 bus services that had been threatened with the axe are to be saved following a six-week review.

They were among 39 services which were placed at risk due to unprecedented rising costs following increases in fuel prices, driver shortages and reduced passenger numbers since the Covid 19 pandemic.

As days get shorter across the UK signalling the beginning of the cooler months, summer is here to stay at Cullinan Belek, the recently opened luxury property on the Turkish Riviera. Named after the largest rough diamond ever found, the hotel first opened its doors earlier this summer in June, welcoming guests to enjoy the turquoise coast, five-star service and lavish facilities.  

The global hostels market reached a value of nearly $5,741.3 million in 2021, having grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.5% since 2016. The market is expected to grow from $5,741.3 million in 2021 to $7,278.7 million in 2026 at a rate of 4.9%. The market is then expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2026 and reach $9,502.8 million in 2031.

Veteran Caribbean hotelier Jeremy Jones has been named Sandals Resorts International’s Corporate Director, Resort Operations – Jamaica.

Previously Director, Government Affairs and Corporate Services, Jones, who has more than 35 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, will assume responsibility for working with all resorts in Jamaica to maximize performance and profitability as well as team member satisfaction, in addition to some of his existing responsibilities.

This Christmas, IHG Hotels & Resorts is inviting guests to relax and indulge at one of its many luxurious suites across the UK and Ireland. With plenty of space to unwind, enjoy a stay with extended family and friends in a selection of properties across the UK. The holiday season is a special time to reunite for a festive celebration and to create treasured memories with loved ones.

One of England's best-loved coastal castle's is also home to north east England's largest festive experiences, The Christmas Kingdom.

Perhaps better known for its dramatic coastal location towering 150 feet above the Northumberland coastline, Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland has been transformed into a whimsical Christmas wonderland by award-winning theatrical designer Charlotte Lloyd Webber.