The magazine has unveiled its latest Hotel Hall of Fame, a selection of the world’s best hotels where consistency and reputation matter more than novelty. The list celebrates hotels that have themselves become destinations, places where the hotel experience is as much a reason to travel as the surrounding city or landscape.

To qualify, hotels must have been open for at least five years, establishing themselves as a constant presence in their community and shaping the region in which they are located. The list recognises properties that have stood the test of time by combining heritage, atmosphere, service, and a strong sense of place.

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Europe’s grand hotels remain well represented, with nine of the 21 properties located in France, Italy, Monaco, Switzerland, the UK and Ireland.

Notably absent from the list, however, is Asia, despite being home to some of the world’s most legendary hotels. Examples include Bangkok’s historic Mandarin Oriental, which is celebrating its 150^th anniversary this year, and Singapore’s Raffles, which opened in 1887 and has been attracting glamorous society globetrotters and culturalists from around the globe ever since. Both properties have long been destinations in their own right.

Paris claims two spots with some of its most legendary addresses: Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel, overlooking Place de la Concorde, and Le Meurice, the historic palace hotel on Rue de Rivoli that has welcomed artists, royalty and international travellers for generations.

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Italy does not disappoint either, with three properties included. On the shores of Lake Como, the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni and the Grand Hotel Tremezzo embody the kind of lakeside elegance that has attracted visitors to northern Italy for over a century. The former has been owned by the same family for four generations. In the capital, the Hotel Eden Rome completes the trio, offering a more secluded form of luxury overlooking the Eternal City.

Monaco’s famous Hôtel de Paris Monte Carlo, a symbol of Riviera glamour since the 19^th century, also makes the cut, alongside Badrutt’s Palace in St Moritz, the Swiss alpine institution credited with helping turn the mountain town into one of the world’s most exclusive winter destinations.

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Meanwhile, in the UK and Ireland, London’s Hotel Café Royal and Ballyfin Demesne in County Laois receive the magazine’s nod of approval. The latter, a restored 19^th-century Irish country estate, is praised for offering a luxury experience far removed from the noise of modern city life.

American classics also feature prominently across the Atlantic, including The Peninsula Beverly Hills, The Mark in New York, The Colony in Palm Beach, and the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, where Marilyn Monroe lived during her marriage to Joe DiMaggio and returned in 1962 for her final Vogue photoshoot. Mexico is represented by Rosewood Mayakoba and Las Ventanas al Paraíso.

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Nine hotels joined the Hall of Fame this year, including the Hôtel de Paris Monte Carlo, the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, and the Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel in New York.

According to Esquire, a key aspect of legendary hospitality is the pleasure guests experience when served champagne upon arrival. Psychologists and hospitality experts call this the “Peak-End Rule”, whereby people judge an experience largely based on how they felt at its peak and at its very beginning.

Trends may come and go, but according to the list, true luxury is perhaps less about being the newest name on the map and more about becoming part of the map itself.

L’article Esquire unveils the world’s most iconic hotels in new Hall of Fame est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Tirana carrying inflatable flamingos to oppose the project, which is backed by Kushner’s investment firm Affinity Partners. Environmental groups warn that the development threatens one of Albania’s most fragile coastal ecosystems, which is home to migratory birds, dolphins, sea turtles, monk seals and flamingos.

“Albania is not for sale!” chanted demonstrators in the capital, where rallies escalated into clashes with the police. Others gathered outside the office of Prime Minister Edi Rama, calling for his resignation and shouting “revolution”.

@politiplot BREAKING: Albania’s Anti-Trump Protests Have Now Entered Day 11. What began as opposition to the Trump family’s proposed luxury development project has turned into nearly two weeks of sustained demonstrations. First came the deal. Then came the backlash. Now comes Day 11. The question is whether the pressure changes anything, or whether the standoff gets even bigger from here. #albania #flamingorevolution #jaredkushner #sazanisland #fyp ♬ They Don't Care About Us (Remastered Version) – Michael Jackson

For environmentalists, the issue goes beyond flamingos. Joni Vorpsey, of the NGO Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania, describes the area as “like being in a fairytale”, a “magical hub”, warning construction could “wipe out that part of nature” and “open the gate” for development across the protected coastline.

At the heart of the dispute lies Sazan Island, a former secret military base used by the Soviet Union and communist Albania for submarines and other military purposes. Cold War bunkers are still scattered across the island today.

Unveiled in 2024 by Affinity Partners, the plan would transform Sazan Island and part of the Vjosa-Narta coastal area into a luxury destination complete with hotels, villas, and a marina. Vorpsey said that, from the renderings posted on Instagram by Kushner himself, “everything seems terrible”.

Rama insists the investment is too important to abandon. “There’s no chance this investment would be stopped as long as I am here,” he says, arguing that a tourist spending $2,000 a night ultimately benefits “the cook, the driver, the fisherman, the farmer” and local businesses. He has dismissed the protests as exaggerated.

Ivanka Trump, who has been involved in promoting the project alongside her husband, described discovering the island during a boat trip. “We swam to the island. We hiked barefoot all the way to the top and were captivated by it,” she recalled. A spokesperson for the project’s developer, Sazan Real Estate Development, said the team’s focus is “responsible stewardship and environmental enhancement”.

These promises have not convinced everyone. “We are a small country, and we cannot allow Albania to become a new Dubai,” said Eva Kushova, of the Albanian non-profit Destination Management Organisation. “Albania should first serve its own people,” she added, echoing more than 40 environmental groups who wrote to the government in January demanding the project be suspended.

Land disputes here often trace back to the collapse of communism, and this deal is no exception. Anti-corruption prosecutors have opened an investigation into land titles linked to the area and frozen the bank accounts of a company involved in the deal. The financing structure has also come under scrutiny, including reported links to Qatari investors connected to the wider development.

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For its part, the White House has tried to distance itself from the deal. Spokesperson Anna Kelly said Kushner is a “volunteer” whose private business “has nothing to do with the administration”.

This controversy comes at a time when Albania is moving closer to the European Union (EU). During a recent visit, European Council President António Costa praised Tirana’s progress towards membership. However, accession will also require the country to align with EU environmental standards.

Albania’s pink flamingos have become unexpected representatives in the fight between luxury tourism and the protection of one of Europe’s last wild coastlines.

L’article Jared Kushner’s Albania luxury resort plan sparks protests over flamingo habitat est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Travellers will soon be able to relish the comfort of a new top-notch luxury hotel in the heart of the British capital this autumn, with the opening of the Waldorf Astoria London – Admiralty Arch. The long-awaited 18,580-square-metre property marks the brand’s debut in London, “blending Edwardian grandeur with modern comfort”.

The hotel could hardly be more perfectly situated, occupying Admiralty Arch at the opposite end of The Mall from Buckingham Palace, moments away from Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery, and minutes from the Royal Opera House. For the first time in its history, the building will welcome overnight hotel guests following a restoration as remarkable as the structure itself: a Grade I-listed monument that has stood at the ceremonial heart of London for over a century.

King Edward VII commissioned the arch in memory of his mother, Queen Victoria, from Sir Aston Webb, the architect who also designed the façade of Buckingham Palace. Completed in 1910, the building served as government offices, including, for a time, the headquarters of the Royal Navy, for more than 100 years before being vacated in 2011.

Guests will be able to choose from 114 rooms, suites and residences, designed to reflect the building’s historic architecture and with names paying tribute to Britain’s History and naval heritage. These include the Nelson Suite, honouring Lord Nelson, hero of the Battle of Trafalgar; the St James’ Residence; and the Victory Residence, named after HMS Victory, Nelson’s flagship. Residential and signature suites alone account for more than half of the accommodation space.

Fine-dining fans will be delighted to find two Michelin-starred chefs under one roof: Clare Smyth MBE and Daniel Boulud, whose restaurants together hold seven Michelin stars between them.

Set within the former home of the First Sea Lord, Smyth will open Coreus, a fine-dining concept celebrating Britain’s coastal heritage through sustainably sourced seafood, British produce and seasonal ingredients. The only British woman whose restaurants currently hold four Michelin stars, she will also introduce an intimate Whiskey & Seaweed bar. Boulud, meanwhile, returns to London with Café Boulud, an all-day rooftop restaurant spanning breakfast through to dinner, with sweeping views across St James’s Park and Buckingham Palace.

Gala dinners, weddings and other glamorous events will be celebrated in the roughly 329-square-metre ballroom, presided over by a nine-metre antique Murano chandelier restored in Rome. Guests will descend the building’s original oval staircase to reach it.

A luxurious spa will also be on hand for those in need of unwinding, featuring a sauna, a steam room and a hydrotherapy pool.

“Waldorf Astoria London – Admiralty Arch represents a rare convergence of history, place and possibility,” said Dino Michael, senior vice president and category head, Hilton Luxury Brands. He added that opening a building of such cultural and national significance to overnight guests for the first time is “both a privilege and a responsibility”.

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Sir Winston Churchill once had offices in the building during his time as First Lord of the Admiralty, and Ian Fleming, the naval intelligence officer who would later create James Bond, also worked there during the Second World War, drawing on the experience for his novels.

The transformation of Admiralty Arch has been developed by the building’s owners, the Reuben Brothers, in partnership with Hilton. Reservations are now open ahead of the hotel’s autumn debut.

L’article Waldorf Astoria to open luxury hotel inside London’s iconic Admiralty Arch est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The research by ING bank reveals 5,000 properties in Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent, representing 0.8% of the housing market in some of the most expensive cities for rent in the country, are being let out through accommodation giant, Airbnb, alone. What’s more, “this share is likely even higher if we include other platforms such as Booking.com and Expedia,” said Alissa Lefebre, economist at ING.

In 2024, around 1.23 million stays were booked via these platforms in Belgium, accounting for 12.3 million overnight stays, ING’s analysis found. In 2025, the 10-million overnight stay threshold had already been surpassed in the first three quarters of the year.

While the Flemish government in the north of Belgium has announced the introduction of stricter controls over short-term rentals, Lefebre argues such measures in isolation are not enough to improve the situation. Addressing the size and type of property available in the cities’ housing stock is also key, she said explaining that new building permits tend to focus disproportionately on single family dwellings. These have seen a year-on-year 17% uptick in planning grants, while permissions to build apartments are down 8% — a situation that does not align with demand. “The housing supply must respond better to changing demand,” Lefebre said, “among other things by encouraging and facilitating housing projects within smaller units.”

Other factors affecting people’s ability and confidence to find homes include how stable the investment climate is, the bank said. It is also important to make sure any new legislation on housing quality and energy performance do not lead to perverse effects on housing supply. ING cited rent caps as an example of a measure that has had a negative effect by reducing rental supply, dampening construction, and lowering market turnover.

Part of today’s problem has been poor compliance with regulatory attempts to deal with the impact of short-term rentals on the housing market. But new European rules in force since May 2026 aim to address this by requiring platforms to share data. A key next step, ING points out, is the “creation of a national registration system, which could bring an estimated 1,800 out of 4,650 homes back to the regular housing market.”

However, authorities must find ways to alleviate other “structural bottlenecks,” such as low construction activity, high costs, supply chain issues, and bankruptcies within the sector, ING argues.

The bank’s findings come against a backdrop of wider concerns about tourism’s impact on residents and its economic contribution to Belgian life. Brussels has repeatedly clashed with Airbnb over failures to provide fire safety certificates, criminal record checks, and breaches of urban planning stipulations over building use, as well as targeting property owners over unpaid taxes.

Ghent updated its “noise action plan” in early 2026, putting noise limits of 60 decibels on sensitive areas such as restaurant terraces, and 70 decibels for temporary peaks, with exceptions for major events. Going forward, the city’s canal tours will be required to switch to electric propulsion and to use headphones instead of loudspeakers.

And in summer 2025 the coastal destination of Ostend put forward plans for liveability bylaws to  limit Airbnbs in some neighbourhoods and ban key boxes (which allow guests to collect keys without the owner needing to be present) in order to improve hosts’ accountability.

L’article Thousands of Belgian homes unavailable to residential market due to Airbnb est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Located in Pobierowo, a small seaside resort with a population of around 1,000 on Poland’s north-west coast near the German border, the 13-floor, 1,240-room hotel is the fifth and most ambitious project of the luxury Gołębiewski chain.

The chain’s founder, Tadeusz Gołębiewski, started his career selling wafer rolls before entering the hotel business in 1991. He laid the foundation stone in 2018 on land that the Rewal municipality had sold the previous year for 50.5 million zloty (around €11.8 million).

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Construction took eight years, with the opening delayed several times due to permit issues, the pandemic, and construction disputes.

Gołębiewski died in June 2022, before seeing his flagship project completed.

Spanning 180,000 square metres and located just 150 metres from the beach on the Baltic Sea, the outdoor pool is an impressive 104 metres long by 60 metres wide. The Tropikana water park, indoor pools and whirlpools cater for families, while adults can enjoy a spa with 11 treatment rooms, a salt cave and an ice cave.

The hotel also features a cinema, a bowling alley, a nightclub, a supermarket, volleyball courts, and entertainment for children. As guests wander from one activity to the next, they can enjoy the sounds of a live pianist in the lobby.

Demand has been staggering, with over 2,000 bookings within the first 24 hours of reservations opening. In fact, demand has been so high that the hotel has brought forward its opening date from 26 June to 10 June, two weeks ahead of schedule and before all the rooms and attractions are ready.

For now, only around 500 of the 1,240 rooms are expected to be available. The rooms, suites and apartments measure around 50 square metres each and many have balconies with sea views. Prices start at around €350 per night, with suites reaching up to €900.

Summer in Pobierowo is pleasant, if not scorching, with temperatures reaching around 22°C and sea temperatures reaching 18–20°C. The region is renowned for its iodine-rich sea air, pine forests, and expansive sandy beaches.

The German press was quick to nickname the project ‘Little Dubai’, describing it as absurd and megalomaniacal. However, hotel director Barbara Garczyńska chose to embrace the comparison rather than deflect it. “I understand the scale evokes associations,” she told Gazeta Wrocławska, “but if we are to be like Dubai, a place full of amenities and luxury, then so be it. If guests choose to relax on the Polish Baltic instead of travelling to the other end of the world, that will be our greatest satisfaction”.

@jas.stas_lifetrip

Znamy dokładną datę otwarcia Hotelu Gołębiewski w Pobierowie. Pierwszy sezon nad morzem sieć rozpoczyna 26 czerwca. W połowie maja zostanie udostępniona możliwość rezerwacji. Do dyspozycji gości park wodny Tropikana, baseny oraz restauracje.

♬ Into The Light – Brand X Music

Berlin is a three-hour drive away, and the German holiday island of Usedom is just half an hour away. Garczyńska makes no secret of expecting a steady flow of guests from Germany and the Czech Republic as well as Poland.

Not everyone shares her enthusiasm. The Sueddeutsche Zeitung called it “the largest and perhaps the ugliest hotel on the Baltic coast,” comparing it to a cruise ship run aground and drawing a parallel with Prora, the vast Nazi-era complex built on the German Baltic coast for 20,000 workers, which never opened as a resort. “Prora is historical megalomania,” the paper wrote. “Pobierowo is a slightly smaller but contemporary folly.”

For many Poles, the concrete colossus rising where a forest once stood recalls the brutalist apartment blocks of the communist era.

Nevertheless, tourism operators in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are watching closely. Their largest Baltic hotels have fewer than 500 rooms each, and some fear that travellers, spending, and hospitality workers will cross the border in favour of newer, cheaper infrastructure. Located just 60 kilometres from the German border, the Gołębiewski could transform the landscape of Baltic tourism.

L’article Largest hotel on the Baltic Sea opens in Poland with 1,240 rooms est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The 36-room venue combines natural volcanic formations with human ingenuity, showcasing Cappadocia’s vernacular architecture at a site alongside Ortahisar Castle – one of the region’s most iconic natural landmarks. The individually-designed rooms and suites are shaped by the original cave structures and hand-finished with local craftsmanship. Materials include stone, textiles, and ceramics, while facilities include private pools, traditional hammam spas, and hot tubs, set among winding pathways and offering panoramic vistas of the neighbouring valleys.

David Kelly, senior vice president, Continental Europe, Hilton, pointed out how long Hilton has been investing in Türkiye. “For 70 years, Hilton has been welcoming guests across Türkiye,” he said, adding that: “The opening of Elika Cave Suites Cappadocia, Curio Collection by Hilton, builds on that commitment and reflects the strong momentum behind our lifestyle growth.”

In Türkiye, one in five Hilton hotels is a lifestyle property that, like the latest Elika venture, leans heavily into destination-rooted stays that appeal to today’s travel consumer through a sense of authenticity and heritage. The hotel’s culinary approach is similar, inspired by time-honoured Cappadocian and Anatolian cuisine, seasonality, and local sourcing.

Ortahisar itself is recognised as a “Cittaslow town” or “slow city,” embracing a philosophy that prizes a “quieter, more grounded perspective of the region … defined by character and a true sense of place.” This approach, Hilton says, “allows guests to move beyond observation and into curated moments that connect them with the broader narrative of Cappadocia, its daily rhythms, craftsmanship and living heritage.”

Nilüfer Durukan, general manager, Elika Cave Suites Cappadocia, Curio Collection by Hilton, said, “We are pleased to welcome our guests to Elika Cave Suites Cappadocia, Curio Collection by Hilton – an individually remarkable hotel designed to tell a bespoke story rooted in the spirit of Cappadocia. Our objective was to preserve the region’s heritage while offering contemporary comfort and one-of-a-kind moments formed by local identity and a global perspective. Here, history is not only seen but experienced, becoming part of each guest’s journey.”

L’article Hilton opens first “cave hotel” in fairytale landscape of Cappadocia est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The tourist office in Levi, a popular Nordic skiing destination and viewing point for the Northern Lights, has hidden a gold bar worth €20,000 somewhere among the area’s local trails, service venues, and landmarks.

Coinciding with the season of the midnight sun in Lapland, from 18 June 2026 until 22 August (or until the gold bar is found), a trail of clues will be gradually revealed by the destination manager as part of a “Midnight Sun Hunt,” allowing guests in the region to hunt the treasure. And if they find it, no matter how many clues they solved in order to do so, it’s theirs.

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While not everyone can come away from their Lapland adventure with their very own gold bar, the idea is that everyone who visits the region will be a winner, having discovered some sort of gold of their own. ”Levi is known above all for its winter, but the northern summer is still undiscovered by many,” Satu Pesonen, the CEO of Visit Levi, said. “We want to give travellers a new reason to visit Levi when the sun never sets, and the fell landscape reveals a completely different side of itself.”

At the time of writing, the Levi Midnight Sun Hunt website is counting down the days and hours to the first clue reveal, while a social media campaign backed by an atmospheric, ancestral score portrays northern summer outdoor pursuits such as canoeing and walking, set against radiant 24-hour daylight and pristine local forest landscapes. “Read the land, until it gives up its secrets,” a slogan urges.

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The goldrush concept is a joint venture by Visit Levi, Agnico Eagle Mining Company, and Levi Ski Resort. However, the organisers are keen to emphasise that participants in the hunt should not dig or disturb any terrain and must stick to exploring permitted zones only, respecting the natural environment. “The hunt has been designed to encourage responsible exploration of the area while showcasing the unique character of the Arctic summer,” the official website says.

Named Outdoor Destination of the Year 2025 at the Scandinavian Outdoor Award Travel at ITB Berlin last March, Finnish Lapland is set to receive a boost to its connectivity by the end of 2026, thanks to five new direct European routes operated by AirBaltic to and from the region.

L’article Finnish Lapland promotes summer tourism with €20,000 gold bar treasure hunt est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Overall sentiment in the European accommodation sector remains positive, with 66% of businesses expecting strong performance in the next tourism season. Around 60% say they are currently in a good financial position, which suggests a stable base for growth. Occupancy levels are also improving, with 50% of businesses reporting increases compared to the previous year. At the same time, 40% report higher average daily rates, which is slightly lower than in 2025 when 43% saw price increases. This shows that demand is still present, but price growth is becoming more moderate. The industry appears steady, but not evenly strong across all segments.

A key finding of the report is the widening gap between hotel chains and independent accommodation providers. Large chains consistently report stronger results across key indicators. Around 72% of hotel chains describe their financial situation as positive, compared to 55% of independent businesses. Performance differences also appear in room pricing and occupancy levels. About 47% of chains report higher room rates, while only 37% of independents see the same trend. In terms of occupancy, 56% of chains report growth compared to 46% of independent properties. These differences suggest that scale and resources are becoming more important in determining how well businesses perform in the current market.

The report also highlights cybersecurity as one of the most important challenges facing the sector. Overall, 66% of European accommodation providers feel prepared to deal with cyber threats. However, this confidence is much higher among larger businesses. Almost all companies with more than 250 employees, at 94%, say they are well prepared, compared to only 60% of small businesses with fewer than ten employees. Smaller properties are also less likely to invest in staff training, regular system audits, and external cybersecurity support. Only 49% of small businesses offer cybersecurity training, compared to 89% of larger companies. This gap suggests that smaller operators may face more difficulty in keeping up with growing digital risks, especially as cyberattacks become more advanced and targeted.

Concerns about cyber threats are also reflected in expectations for the next tourism season. Around 21% of small businesses see cyberattacks as a major risk, compared to just 9% of larger companies. Payment fraud follows a similar pattern, with 25% of smaller businesses expressing concern compared to 16% of larger operators. While larger companies report more cybersecurity incidents overall, this likely reflects better monitoring systems and higher exposure due to scale. Smaller businesses, on the other hand, may experience fewer reported incidents but also have fewer tools to detect and respond to them.

Beyond digital risks, external disruptions are also shaping expectations for the coming year. Around 37% of accommodation providers are concerned about extreme weather events or natural disasters that could affect travel demand. In addition, 32% point to local disruptions such as transport strikes or infrastructure work that could limit access to destinations. These concerns show that external factors are becoming a regular part of business planning in tourism. Weather and transport issues are no longer seen as rare events but as ongoing risks that need to be managed throughout the year.

Managing seasonality remains a key priority across the sector. Around 72% of businesses offer discounts or special packages during off-peak periods to attract more guests. Online platforms are widely seen as effective tools for generating demand, with 81% of providers relying on them during low occupancy periods. Marketing strategies also include social media, used by 54% of businesses, paid advertising at 50%, email campaigns at 41%, and traditional media at 34%.

This mix shows that accommodation providers are using multiple channels to reach potential guests, rather than relying on a single approach. Event-driven tourism is also becoming more important, with 50% of businesses reporting benefits from events and special occasions. Among those, 66% saw higher revenue per available room, while 60% reported increased bookings during slower periods.

L’article European Accommodation Barometer 2026 shows rising optimism amid widening industry gaps est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The decision was announced through Meliá’s Portuguese subsidiary, Ilha Bela Gestão e Turismo, which said a combination of “unforeseen circumstances” had undermined the viability of the operations. 

The company pointed to growing concerns over the legal certainty, security and economic stability of its Cuban business, prompting it to withdraw from the affected hotels. The move marks another blow to the island’s struggling tourism sector amid geopolitical pressures in the Middle East.

Meliá, one of the largest foreign hotel operators in Cuba, has been present on the island since the early 1990s. However, contributions to the group’s earnings have declined sharply in recent years, with most of the properties affected by the withdrawal already closed or out of operation.

The company emphasised that the decision was taken with a “deep sense of corporate responsibility” as external factors increasingly constrained normal operations.

The withdrawal comes as the U.S. intensifies pressure on Cuba through tougher sanctions and measures. The Trump administration has set 5 June as a deadline for foreign companies to cut ties with businesses linked to GAESA, the island’s military-run conglomerate, which controls a significant share of the Cuban economy.

According to Reuters, sanctions target entities operating in sectors such as energy, defence, mining and financial services, as well as those providing funds or services to individuals designated by Washington, including military officer Ana Guillermina Lastres, a GAESA director.

Foreign companies operating hotels associated with GAESA have faced growing scrutiny, prompting several hospitality groups to reconsider their presence on the island. Despite the withdrawal, Meliá said it is working to ensure an orderly transition from the affected properties and to keep suppliers, customers and other stakeholders informed throughout the process.

La cadena hotelera Meliá, también cesa sus operaciones en Cuba.
GAESA (el conglomerado militar cubano que tiene secuestrada la economía de la isla), se está quedando sin los aliados que durante décadas fueron clave para su expansión y supervivencia. #Cuba #España #Miami #GAESA pic.twitter.com/hip49lpKro

— Cuba y España (@pastvict) June 3, 2026

According to Euronews, Iberostar has stopped operating and marketing 12 properties in Cuba as of 1 June, ending contractual ties with assets managed by the Gaviota Tourism Group, GAESA’s operational arm, while saying it will retain a limited presence in hotels not affected by sanctions-related restrictions. Canadian chain Blue Diamond had earlier announced it was ending its operations in Cuba, where it managed 62 properties.

The downturn reflects the broader struggles of Cuba’s tourism industry, which has been hampered by recurring power outages, fuel shortages and weaker visitor demand, remaining below pre-pandemic levels and undermining recovery efforts.

The challenges extend beyond the hotel sector. Spanish carrier Iberia recently suspended its direct Madrid–Havana route until at least November, citing fuel supply issues. Air Canada, Air France and Turkish Airlines have also temporarily suspended operations to Cuba due to similar logistical constraints, further complicating efforts to attract visitors. Meanwhile, Air Canada has operated special flights to repatriate around 3,000 stranded passengers.

Cuba received 328,608 international tourists in the first four months of the year, a 55.8% decline compared with the same period a year earlier, according to the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI). In April alone, arrivals fell to just 30,551 visitors.

The downturn follows an already difficult 2025 for the country’s tourism sector, which recorded 1.8 million visitors — the lowest annual figure since 2002, excluding the pandemic period.

For Cuba, the loss of one of its most prominent foreign hotel partners underscores the growing difficulties of sustaining tourism investment amid economic hardship, international sanctions and declining connectivity with key overseas markets.

L’article Spanish hotel group Meliá exits Cuba amid economic pressures on tourism sector est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The Upper East Side establishment is offering a million-dollar World Cup package (over €860,000), including tickets to see the 19 July final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, a helicopter to get you there, four nights’ penthouse suite accommodation for six people, two guest rooms for staff or company, and a private 24-hour butler.

In a press release, “The Mark World Cup Extravaganza” promises an “extraordinary stay designed for those who expect every moment to unfold at the highest level of luxury, privacy, and access.”

Additional amenities that come as part of the 16-21 July package are an on-call massage therapist, a private New York harbour cruise buzzing past the Statue of Liberty, and exclusive use of the hotel’s top two floors.

The suite will allow its football-mad guests to watch every match during their stay from the comfort of a luxury lounge, waited on by dedicated service staff, equipped with oversize screens for reviewing all the controversial refereeing decisions. For those who need to let off steam, a private gym awaits, and if things get too heated, there’s a cold plunge pool with Manhattan vistas, too. When evening comes, martinis will be served on a panoramic private terrace accompanied by Caviar Kaspia.

But what about the final? While there’s no news yet, of course, on who the contenders will be, we do know that The Mark will arrange a private helicopter to the venue, where Extravaganza guests will benefit from a dedicated entry point to dodge the queues, midfield premium seats, pitch-side views, plus premium hospitality and souvenirs. And no matter who wins, the Mark guests will be well taken care of. They will be whisked back to the hotel, where a final after-party will take place to commemorate the occasion.

The Mark World Cup Extravaganza is an offer that ties in with news that the premium segment has been shown to be propping up demand in US travel, where concerns are growing about attendance and atmosphere at what is one of the sporting calendar’s most beloved fixtures.

Amid an ongoing US travel slump, low take-up of tickets, and pressure from FIFA officials, the Trump administration recently eased some requirements on inbound passengers in a bid to encourage bookings, including lifting the visa bond payment of up to $15,000 on citizens of some nations.

But the hand that giveth, also taketh away. Recent days have seen the Department of Homeland Security threaten to withdraw customs services from international airports in so-called “sanctuary cities” where critics oppose current Immigration and Customs Enforcement methods.

If that goes ahead, millions of inbound passengers could be affected, as airlines scramble to reroute flights and adjust schedules to fly to international gateways where customs processing is available. Hubs such as Boston, Denver, Chicago, Los Angeles, Newark, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle could all be potentially out of action for inbound international traffic.

Travel stakeholders, including Airlines for America, the US ​Chamber of Commerce, the National Retail Federation, and US Travel, have jointly warned of the “devastating effects” on the industry and “unnecessary chaos throughout the nation’s air transportation system.”

L’article Luxury New York hotel unveils $1 million FIFA World Cup final package with penthouse, helicopter and VIP tickets est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.