Summit Hotels & Resorts Signs Offbeat Retreat in Samthar, West Bengal

The property, scheduled to open in October-November 2026, will mark Summit’s entry into the relatively unexplored Himalayan destination


Siliguri, 2026: Summit Hotels & Resorts has signed a 24-key property in Samthar, an emerging mountain destination in West Bengal, as the hospitality company continues to deepen its presence across lesser-explored destinations in the Eastern Himalayas. Scheduled to open in October-November 2026, Summit Samthar – The Offbeat Collection will become part of the company’s recently introduced Offbeat portfolio, which focuses on destinations beyond established tourist circuits.

Located approximately 30 km from Siliguri, Samthar is surrounded by forests, tea gardens and Himalayan landscapes. Unlike the region’s more established hill stations, the destination remains relatively underexplored, with potential for nature-led and slow travel, hiking and birdwatching.

The upcoming property will have 24 Kanchenjunga-facing rooms, all with private balconies, along with an in-house restaurant, private lawn, a tea garden, children's play area, common sitting spaces and extensive outdoor areas.

“Samthar represents exactly the kind of destination we believe has considerable potential for the next phase of leisure travel in the region. Our experience in the Eastern Himalayas has shown us that when hospitality reaches a lesser-known destination, its impact goes beyond the hotel itself. It creates local employment, generates demand for transport and other services, and allows us to source produce and everyday requirements from local shops and suppliers. We have seen this around properties such as Summit Bougainvillea Tea Resort in Tindharia, Summit Tashi Ghang Heritage Resort in Pelling and Summit Enigma Resort & Spa in Lamahatta. Our aim in Samthar is to become part of the local economy while introducing more travellers to the destination without taking away the character that makes it worth discovering,” said Sumit Mitruka, Founder & CEO, Summit Hotels & Resorts.

The signing also builds on Summit’s strategy of expanding beyond established tourism centres into smaller destinations across the Eastern Himalayas. The company has identified destination development as a key part of its Offbeat Collection, with hospitality investment expected to support local employment, tourism services and longer visitor stays in these markets.

For Samthar, Summit expects the new property to help introduce the destination to a wider leisure audience while encouraging travellers to extend their North Bengal itineraries into lesser-known parts of the region. The development comes as Summit Hotels & Resorts broadens its portfolio through three distinct propositions, Offbeat, Signature and Mandir, spanning emerging destinations, premium destination hospitality and spiritual tourism respectively.

A Continued Testament to Refined Elegance: OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI Retains Coveted MICHELIN Key for Second Consecutive Year

This rare honour reaffirms the resort's place at the pinnacle of ultra-luxury hospitality, where every detail is curated and every guest is truly seen 

 Maldives, S 2026 – In the rarefied realm of the MICHELIN Key, with nearly 500 bestowed worldwide across a multitude of extraordinary properties, true distinction is found not in abundance, but in scarcity. OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI is counted among just 15 resorts in the Maldives to receive this coveted honour, a distinction that speaks volumes about its unwavering commitment to excellence.  

While international hospitality superpowers have long staked their claim on the Maldives, there remains room for something more intimate, a vision both all-encompassing and uncompromising. THE OZEN COLLECTION, an exclusive luxury brand within the island nation, has nurtured a flagship that stands shoulder to shoulder with the most recognisable names in the region. OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI commands its own private island and lagoon in the South Malé Atoll, where a curated collection of suites, villas, pavilions, and RESERVES redefines the art of refined Maldivian living. 

The MICHELIN Key serves as a powerful endorsement of the brand's philosophy of refined elegance, one where every aspect of the guest journey is meticulously curated, from the moment of arrival to the final farewell. At its heart lies the signature RESERVE™ Plan, a comprehensive paradigm of all-encompassing indulgence that ensures a seamless continuum of bespoke experiences: unlimited gourmet dining across multiple specialty restaurants, a curated selection of premium international beverages, and the dedicated service of a private Hiyani butler who anticipates every desire with discreet precision. 

Beyond the table and the villa, the resort offers dedicated sanctuaries for wellbeing and connoisseurship. The award-winning ELE|NA Elements of Nature Spa invites guests into transformative wellness journeys. Meanwhile, the exclusive CUVEÉ wine library, housing over 300 prestigious labels, offers a sophisticated enclave for curated tastings, where rare vintages and expert guidance converge.  

Speaking on the recognition, Abnash Kumar, General Manager of OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI, remarked: "To retain the MICHELIN Key is a profound honour. It is not simply an award, it reflects the passion and dedication that our team brings to every guest, daily. It speaks to our commitment to creating experiences that go beyond expectation, where every detail matters, every moment is meaningful, and every guest feels genuinely seen. This recognition belongs to them, and to the guests who inspire us to keep raising the bar." 

Each element of the island converges to create something rare: a holiday that feels both boundless and intimately yours. As OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI looks ahead, it does so with quiet confidence, continuing to redefine what it means to experience the Maldives at its most extraordinary.

The Great North targets share of £1.5bn Indian tourism market to drive growth across the North

Mumbai, October 2026: The North of England has joined forces under The Great North banner to target a greater share of India’s rapidly growing visitor market, with the ambition of attracting more tourists to discover the North. 

VisitBritain’s latest forecast shows India is set to become a £1.5 billion inbound visitor market for the UK by 2030, an increase of 71% from 2026, creating a significant opportunity for Northern destinations and tourism businesses to attract more visitors, encourage longer stays and increase spending across the North.

 That opportunity was presented at the first-ever joint North of England Mayoral trade mission to India, where Northern Mayors, VisitBritain and tourism partners promoted the North’s collective visitor offer to 150 leading Indian travel buyers and media at events in New Delhi and Mumbai. 

 The Great North and VisitBritain activity falls under The GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland Campaign which aims to enhance the UK’s global reputation and drives economic growth by encouraging international audiences to visit, study, trade and invest in the UK.

 By coming together around a shared proposition, the North’s cities, destinations and visitor attractions can offer international visitors an experience greater than the sum of its parts, combining globally recognised sport, music and culture with heritage, countryside, screen tourism and premium experiences.

 Looking at this year, VisitBritain forecasts 597,000 visits from India to the UK, with visitors estimated to spend £865 million during their trips. By making it easier for the international travel trade to build multi-destination Northern itineraries, partners aim to encourage more of those visitors to explore the North, stay longer and spend across more destinations.

 The relationships established during the mission will continue in November when Indian travel buyers and media travel to the North for Spotlight Manchester: Gateway to Northern England and North Wales, providing a further opportunity to turn interest into bookable itineraries and longer-term trade partnerships.

 Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor and Chair of The Great North, said, “We want Indian visitors to enjoy everything Britain has to offer, but to travel further, stay longer and experience more. From our great cities and spectacular landscapes to Premier League football, international cricket, castles, culture and coastline, the North has an incredible amount to offer.

 The North East is a place I'm incredibly proud to call home, and our greatest strength is the warmth and hospitality of our people. We've experienced that same wonderful welcome in India, and I want us to return it to many more Indian visitors.

By bringing our regions together through The Great North, we're putting the North of England on the international stage. Now we want to work with the Indian travel trade to turn that opportunity into unforgettable journeys, more visitors and bookings, and lasting economic benefits for our communities.”

 Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “The Liverpool City Region has so much to offer Indian visitors. We’re the UK’s cultural capital, home to The Beatles, two Premier League football clubs and an internationally renowned music, arts and cultural scene.

 As the UK’s third most visited region by international visitors, our visitor economy generates almost £7 billion a year and supports more than 58,000 local jobs. And beyond the world-class attractions, there’s nowhere quite like Liverpool when it comes to the warmth of our welcome.

 India’s growing tourism market presents a fantastic opportunity for the entire North, and through The Great North, we want to showcase the very best our regions have to offer, encouraging visitors to explore more, stay longer and experience the distinctive character of the North.

 Our message is simple: come and discover a city region with the ambition, infrastructure and connectivity to make every visit memorable.”

 Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said, “From Bronte Country to bustling nightlife, Hepworth to Hockney, West Yorkshire has so much culture at its heart. Across Yorkshire, tourism, including screen tourism, is worth a whopping £9 billion every year. As the partnership of the Great North, we can showcase our spectacular sights, vibrant culture, and encourage more people to explore our regions.”

 Patricia Yates, CEO, VisitBritain, said, “We are proud to be working alongside Mayors, destinations and industry leaders from across the North of England to support the tourism programme for the inaugural North of England Mayoral Delegation to India, one of our fastest-growing markets.

 Drawing on our in-market expertise and relationships in India, we are telling the story of the North of England’s outstanding tourism offer, from its vibrant cities, rich heritage and spectacular scenery to world-class sporting grounds and visitor experiences. Working directly with the travel trade in India gets our products sold and broadens itineraries, so visitors explore further, stay longer and spend more.

 Strong and growing air connectivity between India and the regional gateway of Manchester is making it easier than ever for visitors to discover more. With India forecast to become a £1.5 billion visitor market for the UK by 2030, our destination showcase event is a timely and valuable opportunity to drive growth and visitor spending across the region and beyond.”

 Francine Bult, Senior Marketing Executive at Cumbria Tourism, said, “This collaborative Indian trade mission is another fantastic opportunity to showcase our destination to a fast-growing global visitor market. Working together across the North, it’s vital to forge direct one-to-one relationships and ensure tour operators have the right information at the right time to plan their schedules for 2027 and beyond. Key markets like India are vital to sustaining a thriving visitor economy, and we will continue working hard with our Northern partners to put relationships with inbound operators and product development at the forefront of our international marketing activity.”

 Angela Hodson, Commercial Director at Lancashire Cricket, said, “India is an incredibly important market for Lancashire Cricket and Manchester, and we are proud of the strong connections we have built with cricket in India over many years.

With India set to return to Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground for major international fixtures in both 2028 and 2029, we have a fantastic opportunity to welcome even more visitors from India to the City. We also have Manchester Super Giants playing in The Hundred at our venue as part of our joint venture with RPSG Group – who also own IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants.

 From Catchday hospitality and events to our on-site Hilton Garden Inn hotel at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground, there is a real opportunity to showcase Manchester and the North as a destination in its own right. Working collectively through The Great North gives us an opportunity to build on that appeal, create experiences for Indian visitors and encourage them to stay longer and return in the future.”

 Turning international interest into visits

As part of the North of England Mayoral trade mission, destinations and tourism businesses took part in the England’s Great North Destination Showcase 2026 in Delhi and Mumbai.

 Representatives from Marketing Manchester, Cumbria Tourism, Marketing Liverpool, West Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership and Experience NorthEast England joined businesses and attractions from across the region to build relationships with Indian travel buyers and media, with a focus on developing bookable products and expanding Northern itineraries.

 The activity will continue in November through Spotlight Manchester: Gateway to Northern England and North Wales, hosted by VisitBritain and Marketing Manchester. The event will bring Indian travel buyers and media to the region to experience its visitor offer first-hand and build relationships with destinations and tourism businesses.

 By turning the connections established in India into bookable itineraries and longer-term trade partnerships, the programme aims to create a lasting legacy from the mission and support the North in securing a greater share of international tourism growth.

 The tourism programme forms part of The Great North’s wider ambition to harness the collective scale and strengths of the North of England to compete internationally and generate new opportunities for trade, investment and tourism.

New wilderness retreat adds Tadoba to SHRL’s growing presence across India’s leading wildlife destinations

Chennai,October 2026: Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited (SHRL) has announced the opening of Sterling Vanyatara Tadoba in Maharashtra’s Chimur region, adding another significant location to its growing portfolio of jungle resorts across India.

With a presence across many of India’s leading wildlife destinations, Sterling is building wilderness travel as a distinct leisure category. Vanyatara brings Tadoba into this strategy while strengthening the company’s presence in Maharashtra.

The opportunity is larger than the safari itself. India’s forests differ in landscape, ecology, regional culture and culinary traditions, giving travellers reasons to return — not simply for another tiger sighting, but to discover another forest and a different way of experiencing the wild.

This also makes wilderness travel a richer family holiday. The anticipation of a safari can sit alongside comfortable stays, nature-led activities, regional cuisine and time together that engages different generations.

Vikram Lalvani, Managing Director & CEO, Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited (SHRL), said: “India’s forests offer far more than wildlife sightings. Each has its own landscape, ecology, culture and cuisine—and therefore a different reason to travel. At Sterling, we see wildlife and nature-led holidays as an increasingly important part of our hospitality portfolio, and we are deliberately building depth in this category.

As Destination Architects, our ambition is to make the forest the experience, not just the safari. Sterling Vanyatara Tadoba strengthens that proposition while creating opportunities to connect destinations such as Pench, Tadoba and Tipeshwar into richer journeys for families and wildlife enthusiasts.

Our ambition is not simply to take travellers on more safaris. It is to give them more of India's wilderness to discover.”

Located with access to five safari gates of the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, Sterling Vanyatara Tadoba has been purposely designed as an intimate 18-key wilderness retreat, allowing the stay to remain personal, quiet and closely connected to its setting.

Indulge Rooms with Sit-out offer elegant furnishing with seamless connection to the outdoors, Forest Villas opens to private lawns and greater seclusion, and the Two-Bedroom Villas provide generous shared and private spaces with a private lawn. A swimming pool, spa and outdoor areas create easy downtime between excursions.

As a part of the weekly evening rituals a visual story telling sessions with Naturalists, cultural performances by the Gond tribe artists and Saoji cuisine showcase by the rural folks; all designed to offer immersive experiences beyond the Safari.

Vidarbha’s culinary traditions provide another connection to the region. At The Jungle Table, the bold, fiery flavours of Vidarbha's traditional Saoji cuisine take centre stage. The choices here are Inspired by the popular street food of Nagpur and Shedgaon with the Zunka Bhakar with Thecha and Pitla -picked from hamlets of the Gond tribes, alongside a rich selection of Indian and international favourites. The dining experience extends beyond the restaurant with leisurely post-safari high teas and intimate private dinners beneath the stars, bringing a touch of indulgence to the wilderness.

Access to the Alizanza, Madnapur, Shirkheda, Belara and Shedegaon safari gates, subject to permits, provides flexibility in planning excursions into the reserve.

Mr. Ashok L Bhaiyya and Mr. Gaurav Bhaiyya, Partners, Sterling Vanyatara Tadoba, said: “What attracted us to Tadoba was the power of the wilderness and the opportunity to create a retreat where the experience continues after guests return from the forest. We wanted space, privacy and a strong sense of place to define the stay. Sterling’s understanding of Indian leisure travel and its ability to build richer journeys especially around the wildlife destinations makes it a natural partner for that vision.”

With Sterling already present in Pench and Tipeshwar, Tadoba can become part of a Pench–Tadoba–Tipeshwar forest circuit, allowing travellers to experience three distinct wilderness landscapes as part of one larger journey.

For SHRL, this is where scale begins to compound in value. Each new resort broadens traveller choice, enables new circuits and gives families more reasons to keep discovering India’s forests with Sterling.

Sterling Creates Capacity for 34,200 Dialysis Treatments Annually Across Underserved India.

₹2.25 crore committed towards the Dialysis Project across India | Creating enduring healthcare capacity beyond India’s metros

Chennai, Oct 2026 Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited (SHRL), one of India’s leading hospitality companies, has strengthened its commitment to community healthcare by supporting dialysis infrastructure capable of delivering most essential treatments unhindered, annually across underserved regions of India.

Under its philosophy of ‘Doing Good by Doing Well’, Sterling has committed ₹2.25 crore across FY2024-25 and FY2025-26 towards supporting the dialysis project, of which 38 machines have been provided across 19 hospitals and healthcare institutions creating a capacity for 34,200 treatments annually.

The initiative reflects Sterling’s approach to CSR: moving beyond financial contribution towards creating measurable, enduring community healthcare assets whose impact can multiply year after year.

Taking Critical Healthcare Beyond the Metros

A defining focus of Sterling’s CSR initiative has been to bring critical renal-care infrastructure closer to communities outside India’s major metropolitan centres.

For patients requiring dialysis several times a week, access to treatment can often involve repeated travel, lost working hours and significant financial strain on families. By supporting infrastructure closer to where patients live, Sterling aims to reduce this burden while strengthening local healthcare capacity.

The initiative reaches Tier II and Tier III cities, district headquarters and underserved communities across Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Sterling-supported machines have been deployed across government hospitals, medical colleges, district hospitals and community healthcare institutions serving populations well beyond their immediate locations.

From CSR Spend to Healthcare Capacity

Sterling measures the programme not merely by the money deployed or machines installed, but by the healthcare capacity created.

The initiative has also delivered wider economic and community benefits, including reported patient savings of approximately ₹2.05 crore and the creation of 260 local employment opportunities across the healthcare ecosystems supported by the programme.

More significantly, a dialysis machine is not a one-time intervention. It is a healthcare asset capable of serving communities year after year.

That means the social return on Sterling’s CSR investment has the potential to compound over time—through more treatments, lower patient costs, stronger healthcare infrastructure and greater access to care closer to home.

Vikram Lalvani, Managing Director & CEO, Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited, said:

“‘Doing Good by Doing Well’ reflects a simple belief at Sterling—that as our business grows, the positive impact we create around us should grow with it.

Through our CSR initiatives, we have already supported 38 dialysis machines across 19 healthcare institutions, creating capacity for approximately 34,200 treatments every year, particularly in communities where access to specialised healthcare can be challenging. What makes this meaningful is its ability to endure. Each machine becomes a community healthcare asset that can serve patients year after year—reducing travel, easing the financial burden on families and strengthening healthcare capacity where it is needed most.

For us, that is the real measure of meaningful CSR: not simply what we spend, but the capacity we create and the impact that continues long after the investment is made.”

Creating Impact That Multiplies

As Sterling continues to expand its hospitality footprint across India, the Company intends to focus its CSR investments on interventions capable of creating measurable, scalable and lasting social impact.

The objective is to ensure that Sterling’s growth creates value not only for guests, partners and shareholders, but also for the communities it touches.

Impact at a Glance

₹2.25 crore — CSR commitment across FY2024-25 and FY2025-26

38 — Dialysis machines supported so far

19 — Hospitals and healthcare institutions supported

34,200 — Annual dialysis treatment capacity created

₹2.05 crore — Reported patient savings

260 — Local employment opportunities generated

7 states — Geographic reach of the initiative

Philippine Airlines to Launch Delhi–Manila and First-Ever Mumbai–Manila Services

Philippine Airlines (PAL) plans to expand travel options from India with three weekly nonstop flights from Delhi to Manila and its first-ever Mumbai–Manila service with four weekly flights beginning December 2026, subject to Indian Government approval. The new routes will give Indian travelers direct access to the Philippines and convenient onward connections through PAL’s Manila hub to destinations across Southeast Asia, North America, Australia and North Asia.

“We look forward to welcoming more Indian travelers aboard Philippine Airlines and introducing them to the Philippines through our signature Filipino hospitality,” said PAL President Richard Nuttall. “Through Manila, they will also gain access to PAL’s wider network of destinations across Asia, North America and Australia.”

Flights from Delhi to Manila will operate as PR643 and will depart every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 8:15 AM and arrive at 5:00 PM. Meanwhile, the Manila–Delhi flight, PR642, will leave Manila every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10:40 PM, reaching Delhi at 3:00 AM the following day.

From Mumbai, PR647 will depart for Manila every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 7:15 AM and arrive at 5:00 PM. Manila–Mumbai flights will operate as PR646 every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, departing at 10:40 PM and arriving at 3:05 AM the following day. All times are local.

PAL will operate both routes using its 168-seat Airbus A321neo aircraft, featuring 12 lie-flat Business Class seats and 156 Economy Class seats. Passengers will enjoy a full-service journey with Indian-inspired inflight meals, including vegetarian and Jain options, beverage selections, curated entertainment, service touches suited to Indian travelers and PAL’s signature heartfelt service.

Through Manila, travelers arriving from Delhi and Mumbai can connect to Philippine destinations including Cebu, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo and Davao. They will also have onward options to international destinations including Los Angeles, Vancouver, Honolulu, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, Tokyo Haneda and Hong Kong.

Corporate Affairs Department, G/F Lucio K. Tan, Jr. Center, PAL Gate 5 Andrews Avenue, Pasay City, Philippines 1300

The services will also strengthen PAL’s cargo capacity, allowing shipments from India to connect efficiently through Manila to the airline’s broader domestic and international cargo network.

Indian nationals traveling to the Philippines for tourism or business may enter the country visa-free for up to 14 days, subject to applicable entry requirements.

The new Delhi and Mumbai services reinforce PAL’s role as the Philippine flag carrier—strengthening ties between India and the Philippines while connecting both countries to the world.

TravClan Raises $5 Million to Build the Commerce Infrastructure for Travel Sellers

Funding from Flipkart, August One, Trifecta Capital and existing investors will accelerate TravClan’s global supply, AI-led technology and destination operations

New Delhi, October , 2026: TravClan, a global travel platform, today announced that it has raised $5 million in funding from Flipkart, August One and debt financing from Trifecta Capital. The company will use the capital to deepen its global supply network, expand its technology and AI capabilities, and strengthen destination operations across key international markets.

International travel in India is expanding beyond metros and upper-income consumers, with more first-time travellers from smaller cities entering the market at price points the existing travel ecosystem was not designed to serve. The challenge goes beyond demand alone. Making international holidays affordable requires better supply, while selling and fulfilling a complex trip still requires significant manual work. A travel business still has to piece together supply, pricing, itinerary creation, booking, payments, fulfilment, customer communication and on-ground support across multiple fragmented systems.

TravClan is building the supply, technology and fulfillment infrastructure required to make international travel affordable and reliable for the next 100 million travellers from India. Its common infrastructure layer allows travel businesses to sell and fulfil complex trips without rebuilding the entire stack themselves. TravClan directly contracts with hotels and activity partners and operates its own ground teams across Southeast Asia, the Middle East and India, giving it greater visibility over pricing, availability and service delivery.

Arun Bagaria, Co-founder and CEO, TravClan, said, “We started TravClan by solving this problem for independent travel agents. Over time, that required us to build much more than a booking platform, including direct supply relationships, technology and on-ground operations across the travel transaction. The next generation of travel software will not just help sellers search faster. It will increasingly execute work for them. Our ambition is to make TravClan the infrastructure that any travel business can build on instead of having to recreate the entire travel stack itself. This capital allows us to invest aggressively behind that opportunity.”

By combining its supply infrastructure with AI, TravClan enables travel agents to plan, price and rebuild complex international itineraries in minutes instead of hours, including when a customer changes dates, hotels or other parts of the trip. TravClan brings global inventory, pricing, booking, AI-powered workflows and destination fulfillment into one platform.

More than 15,000 travel agents across India use TravClan to book flights, hotels, activities and destination services. Roughly 40% of the company’s business now originates from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, reflecting the growing demand for international travel beyond India’s largest metros.

The new capital will be used to deepen direct supply relationships, strengthen TravClan’s AI and booking technology, expand destination operations and build the infrastructure required to serve larger travel businesses and platforms.

Sahil Kukreja, Vice President, Trifecta Capital, said, “TravClan has built a capital efficient model by owning supply rather than buying demand, and distributing through agents in underserved markets. We are pleased to support the company in this next phase of growth.”

Rajul Garg, Founder & Managing Partner, Leo Capital, said, “We backed them when owning supply looked like the slow way to build. It has compounded in two ways — better prices, and a trip that actually works when something goes wrong. In travel, whoever owns the supply owns the economics.”

With this round, TravClan has raised over $11 million to date from investors including Leo Capital, The Ventures, Hashed, August One, Flipkart and a group of prominent angel investors.

Azerai Ke Ga Bay in Vietnam Recognized with MICHELIN Key for Second Consecutive Year

The bayside resort is listed among the country’s most exceptional hotels for 2026

KE GA BAY, Vietnam (, 2026) – Azerai Ke Ga Bay, an all-suites-and-villas bayside resort in southern Vietnam, earned MICHELIN Guide’s One-Key distinction for the second consecutive year.

The editors praised Azerai Ke Ga Bay as delivering “a travel experience that’s nothing short of transformative,” while describing the accommodations as “essentially faultless in their comforts.”

Azerai Ke Ga Bay was one of just 21 hotels and resorts in Vietnam recognized in the MICHELIN Guide’s second year of Key awards for Vietnam, announced in September. “Just as MICHELIN Stars spotlight the best restaurants, the MICHELIN Keys highlight our most exceptional hotels,” the editors wrote. The One-Key distinction signifies “a very special stay.”

Julian Moore, General Manager of Azerai Ke Ga Bay, said: “Receiving the MICHELIN Key for a second year is both an honor and a powerful motivation for our entire team. It shows that the quiet, thoughtful hospitality we strive to offer every day continues to resonate. We remain deeply committed to creating a place where guests can truly disconnect and feel restored by the peaceful oasis of Ke Ga Bay.”

Azerai Ke Ga Bay has also been nominated in several leading categories in the Gourmet Vietnam Awards 2026, including Best Beach Resort of the Year, Best Resort Service Experience, and Best Resort Design & Ambience. It was recently named a Top 10 hotel for service in Asia in the Smart Travel Asia Poll 2026.

The resort is part of legendary hotelier Adrian Zecha’s boutique Azerai portfolio, which also includes Azerai La Residence, Hue, in historic central Vietnam. Zecha is one of the world’s leading creators and operators of award-winning luxury hotels and resorts. He previously founded Aman Resorts in 1988.

Located a comfortable 2.5-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City via a new highway, Azerai Ke Ga Bay is nestled among 5 hectares of verdant gardens, framed to the east by Hon Ba Island and its historic lighthouse and to the west by soaring sand dunes.

IHCL partners with Pragyan TSPA Foundation launches Project Unnati to empower youth in Uttarakhand through skilling

Mumbai, October , 2026: Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India's largest hospitality company, partners with Pragyan TSPA Foundation to launch Project Unnati, a skilling initiative for youth in the Lohaghat, Pati and Barakot blocks of Champawat district, Uttarakhand. The project aims to equip young people with industry-relevant skills, enhance employability, and create sustainable livelihood opportunities within their local communities.

Mr. Prabhat Verma, Chief People Officer, IHCL, said, “Guided by our ESG+ framework of Paathya, we are committed to creating opportunities that strengthen livelihoods and foster inclusive development. This partnership reflects that commitment by supporting youth with the skills, training and guidance needed to build careers in hospitality.”

Through this partnership, students at Pragyan TSPA Foundation centre in Lohaghat, Champawat will receive career counselling, employability enhancement programmes, and practical skills training aligned with industry standards. The initiative will benefit 150 youth through career guidance and 60 learners through employability and hospitality training programmes.

Shri Raj Shekhar Joshi, President, Pragyan TSPA Foundation, said, “Our young people are talented and hardworking, but they often lack the right guidance and opportunities. This MoU with IHCL will help them build skills and find good jobs in the hospitality sector,” he said.

Under its ESG+ framework, Paathya, committed to skill 1,00,000 youth by 2030, IHCL has trained more than 56,000 youth since 2020, supporting employability in established and emerging tourism destinations.

redBus launches ‘redStar’ to discover India’s next generation of travel creators

The pan-India contest will select the Top 5 creators for redBus’s inaugural microdrama, with winners receiving a feature and Ray-Ban Meta glasses.

National, October 2026: redBus, a leading online bus ticketing platform, has launched ‘redStar’, a nationwide creator-discovery initiative designed to give emerging travel storytellers a platform to showcase their creativity, share their journeys and turn their passion for content creation into exciting opportunities. Launched on 1 October 2026, the contest aims to discover promising talent from across India and offer selected creators opportunities to feature in an original redBus microdrama and win a Rayban Meta Glasses along with some more exciting prizes. 

As social media continues to shape how audiences discover destinations and plan experiences, redStar aims to help redBus identify emerging creator talent early and build long-term relationships with storytellers from across India. The initiative will create opportunities for creators to develop content that celebrates the role of redBus in everyday journeys and travel experiences across the country.

The contest is open to aspiring creators across India, including students and young storytellers from diverse fields, and registrations will be accepted through the redStar microsite. Participants do not need to be established influencers or have a large social media following to take part. By evaluating entries on content quality, creativity and storytelling rather than likes, follower count or reach, redStar aims to give aspiring creators an equal opportunity to showcase their talent and emerge as a redStar. The initiative will also reach out to college campuses to encourage participation from budding creators. To welcome diverse voices and regional perspectives, entries are invited in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali and others.

The 5 creator winners will form the inaugural redStar line-up and star in the microdrama owned by redBus and produced in collaboration with RVCJ. The initiative will also feature exciting rewards, including Ray-Ban Meta glasses and more.

The selected creators will get an opportunity to feature in a flagship redBus microdrama series produced in collaboration with RVCJ, bringing their travel stories and perspectives to life through original stories. The initiative will also open up opportunities for creators to engage with redBus through future initiatives. 

Commenting on the initiative, Pallavi Chopra, Chief Marketing Officer, redBus, said, “Travel inspiration increasingly comes from the stories and perspectives that people encounter within their social platforms. Creators have an important role in making destinations and experiences more relatable, while helping audiences imagine journeys through an authentic lens. With redStar, we want to move beyond individual campaigns and build a sustained ecosystem that discovers emerging talent, gives creators access to meaningful opportunities and brings diverse travel stories from across India to wider audiences.”

Two New Addresses, One Pure-Veg Punjabi Table: Oye Kake's Festive Plan for Bengaluru

BENGALURU, October 2026: Festive seasons are meant for sharing a table, and Oye Kake is getting Bengaluru ready for exactly that. Mumbai's much-loved, 100% vegetarian Amritsari brand, now celebrating 15 years, is welcoming the festive season at both its Bengaluru addresses: its MG Road outlet, which opened in April 2026, and its newest at The Bay Eco World, Bellandur.

Founded by Pankaj Gupta and Avinash Gupta under Flavour Pot Foods, Oye Kake draws on the three pillars of Punjab's food culture: the langar, the street and the home kitchen. This festive season, both outlets bring that spirit to families, friends and colleagues gathering to celebrate. The regular menu is made for festive gatherings, with dishes meant to be shared across a crowded table: kulchas fresh out of the tandoor to tear and pass around, the Amritsari Chaat Gali for the snacking round, and a Kulhad Malai Lassi to end on a sweet note.

Festive, the Oye Kake Way

The festive season is about being together, and the langar tradition at the heart of Oye Kake is built on exactly that: a generous, shared meal where everyone has a place at the table.

Oye Kake, MG Road: Gather the family around tandoor-fresh kulchas, the Amritsari Chaat Gali and slow-cooked dals, a langar-style spread made for sharing.

• Oye Kake, Eco World, Bellandur: Celebrate in the outdoor setting or the raised private dining space, and finish with a lassi built your way at the Lassi Bar.

At Eco World, groups can celebrate across a substantial outdoor setting that continues the brand's colourful, playful design language, or in a raised private dining space overlooking the reflection pool, a quieter option for family gatherings and festive get-togethers. The outlet also features the Oye Kake Lassi Bar, a live lassi station where guests pick their flavour, build their combination and choose their toppings.

Rich Punjabi gravies anchor the main spread at both outlets, the same favourites Bengaluru has embraced since MG Road.

In the Founder's Words

“15 years into this journey, opening a second restaurant in Bengaluru feels like a full-circle moment. We didn't expect the city to embrace us the way it did at MG Road, and honestly, that love is what brought us to Bellandur,” says Pankaj Gupta, Founder, Oye Kake.

Oye Kake's philosophy stays the same: “Khaana sirf khaana nahi hunda, eh yaad hunda hai.” (Food isn't just food. It's a memory.) This festive season, both outlets invite Bengaluru to make a few new ones

Summit Hotels & Resorts to Open 17-Villa Signature Retreat in Lachung, Sikkim, in December 2026

The upcoming property will strengthen Summit's premium portfolio in North Sikkim, with a focus on Himalayan landscapes, local culture and destination-led experiences

Siliguri, October 2026: Summit Hotels & Resorts is set to expand its Signature Collection with a 17-villa retreat in Lachung, North Sikkim, scheduled to open in December 2026. The upcoming property will strengthen the hospitality company's presence in the Eastern Himalayas as it continues to develop premium accommodation in established and emerging leisure destinations.

The retreat will feature 17 villas inspired by traditional Sikkimese architecture, with a design approach reflecting the region's local character and mountain setting. Located at an altitude of approximately 8,600 feet, Lachung is around 118 km from Gangtok and serves as a gateway to some of North Sikkim's prominent attractions, including Yumthang Valley, Zero Point and Katao.

Beyond accommodation, the property is expected to introduce experiences centred on the destination's natural and cultural heritage. These will include guided village walks, opportunities to explore local Bhutia traditions and cuisine, visits to nearby orchards and monasteries, and excursions to the region's alpine valleys. Seasonal activities such as rhododendron viewing, winter snow excursions and stargazing are also being considered, subject to local conditions.

North Sikkim has considerable potential to develop beyond conventional sightseeing-led tourism. Lachung is already an important stop on the Yumthang and Zero Point circuit, but we believe there is an opportunity to encourage travellers to spend more time in the destination itself. With this retreat, we want to introduce a premium stay experience that draws on the region's architecture, culture and natural surroundings. We also see opportunities to work with local communities through employment, sourcing and destination experiences as tourism develops,” said Sumit Mitruka, CEO, Summit Hotels & Resorts.

The opening comes amid renewed tourism interest in North Sikkim following improved accessibility along the Lachung–Yumthang–Zero Point circuit. Known for its Himalayan landscapes, rhododendron forests and traditional Bhutia settlements, Lachung has the potential to attract travellers seeking longer, nature-focused stays beyond the conventional sightseeing itinerary.

The upcoming retreat will join Summit's Signature Collection, which includes Summit Norbu Ghang in Gangtok and Summit Rungkhung Village Resort in Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh. The collection forms part of the company's broader strategy to develop premium, destination-focused hospitality across the Eastern Himalayas and other leisure markets in India.

70 years promoting Peru: the story of LIMATOURS, the tour operator that helped put the country on the tourist map

·          LIMATOURS was founded in 1956 with two employees and today is the country's longest-established inbound tour operator and the first Peruvian tourism company to reach seventy years of age.

·          It serves clients in Europe, Asia Pacific, the United States, Canada and Latin America, and operates with its own team in Lima, Cusco, Arequipa and Puno.

·          It faces its eighth decade betting on its own technology through Aurora, its digital booking platform, now powered by artificial intelligence.

Lima, Peru. In 1956, selling Peru was almost an act of faith. There were no established tours, no hotels in most destinations, and no easy way to get to Machu Picchu. That year, two people started organizing trips from a small office on Jirón Camaná, in Lima's Historic Center. That office was the origin of LIMATOURS, which this year celebrates its seventieth anniversary as the country's longest-running inbound tour operator and the first and only Peruvian tourism company to reach that milestone.

For the travel agent who sells Peru today from Madrid, New York, São Paulo or Tokyo, those seventy years translate into something very concrete: a good part of the product he offers exists because someone set it up before at the destination.

Seventy years opening destinations

hydrofoil boats to Lake Titicaca , making the high plateau an accessible destination. In 1977, it organized the first bus tour for tourists to Nazca, with a program that included an overflight of the lines, a meeting with researcher Maria Reiche, and a visit to the Ballestas and Paracas Islands. In 1993, it took the first travelers to the discovery of the Lord of Sipán alongside archaeologist Walter Alva, opening northern Peru to international tourism. In 2002, it provided office space to the Caral team so they could analyze the materials from the excavations of the oldest city in the Americas.

In parallel, it built the operation: it was the first Peruvian tourism company with its own transport fleet, one of the first in the sector to incorporate automated reservation systems and the one that introduced the first shared services for tours in Lima, a modality that the market continues to use today.

The markets it works with

That history explains the current portfolio. LIMATOURS serves clients from Europe, Asia Pacific, the United States, Canada, and Latin America—a diversification built over decades that allowed it to move beyond dependence on a single source market.

The post-pandemic recovery reinforced this balance and was supported on three fronts: the opening of new source markets, with China, India and Asia in general leading the way; the reactivation of dormant markets, which had been put on hold after the halt in international tourism; and the improvement of their digital tools and processes, accompanied by the creation of new jobs.

The company adapts its product and service to each market: from long-distance travelers arriving with closed programs of several weeks to the shorter, later-booked Latin American regional demand.

What sustains the operation today

The company operates in all tourist destinations in the country and has its own offices in Lima, Arequipa, and Puno, in addition to three strategic locations in Cusco: the city of Cusco, Ollantaytambo, and Machu Picchu Pueblo. This on-the-ground control allows it to maintain competitive service standards and prices, offering products for FITs , groups, incentive trips, and tour series, in both private and scheduled services.

“We offer a high-value product with a lot of substance,” summarizes José Pedraza, who organizes the company’s proposition around six pillars: people, financial strength, the product, competitive pricing, technology, and sustainability. He adds, “The best of LIMATOURS will always be in its future.”

Long-term collaboration with suppliers and partners is part of that equation: LIMATOURS has been recognized as a Top Producer by the leading hotel chains and train companies operating in the country.

From the first automated reservations to artificial intelligence

The same company that filled out forms by hand in the 1980s now works with Aurora, its own online booking and quoting platform, available 24/7, which allows service confirmation in a matter of minutes. Aurora now incorporates artificial intelligence to respond more quickly and accurately to customer requests. The company emphasizes that digitalization is intended to free up time for its team, not replace them: the expertise of those who know the destination remains, it says, its key differentiator.

Seventy years also in the communities

Sustainability, which the company presents as the foundation of all its pillars, is backed by verifiable figures. Through the LIMATOURS Foundation, it works sustainably with Andean communities in Ollantaytambo: in Huilloc , more than 25 families are part of an experiential tourism association that has received 5,342 visitors between 2015 and 2025, and 336 women have received training in gastronomy, hospitality, leadership, and traditional textiles. This work earned it the LATA Responsible certification. Tourism Award 2026 in the Diversity , Equity & Inclusion category , its first international recognition, which is added to the Qori Q'ente 2025 award as an outstanding agency in Quality, Sustainability and Tourism Innovation.

GAP Group Unveils Hyatt Place Dholera

·       The proposed 5-star hotel developed in partnership with Hyatt will feature 200 rooms including 20 suites.

·       Sonale Zagade, GM at Hyatt Group, unveiled the hotel’s finalised design, offering the first look at the upcoming development.

·       Spread across approximately 2.6 lakh sq. ft. of built-up area, including 2 basement levels, the hotel will rise to approximately 65 metres.

·       The hotel will offer a restaurant, banquet hall, pre-function area, business meeting facilities, swimming pool, gym, café & lounge.

·       The banquet & pre-function spaces, together with an outdoor lawn, will accommodate approximately 500 people, positioning the property to host business meetings, conferences & social events alongside its accommodation & leisure offerings.

Dholera, Gujarat: In a major landmark hospitality development for the region, GAP Group has commenced work on Hyatt Place Dholera, a proposed five-star hotel being developed in partnership with Hyatt. With 200 rooms, including 20 suites, the project will bring an internationally recognised hospitality brand to Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR), strengthening the region’s infrastructure for business travellers, investors and visitors.

The groundbreaking ceremony was performed by former Gujarat Cabinet Minister and senior BJP leader Bhupendra Singh Chudasama and Kalubhai Dabhi, MLA from Dhandhuka. Sonale Zagade, General Manager at Hyatt Group, unveiled the hotel’s finalised design, offering the first look at the upcoming development. The occasion also featured a tree plantation by the dignitaries.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also graced the occasion with a visit to GAP Group’s Akhilam Township. During the visit, he explored the Hyatt Place Dholera site and the Group’s other developments, including Avant, the coworking space and the food court. He was accompanied by Gujarat Chief Secretary M. K. Das, Advisors to the Chief Minister Hasmukh Adhia and S. S. Rathore, Dholera Industrial City Development Limited (DICDL) Managing Director Kuldeep Arya, and other senior Gujarat government officials.

 Spread across approximately 2.6 lakh sq. ft. of built-up area, including two basement levels, Hyatt Place Dholera will rise to approximately 65 metres. The hotel will offer a restaurant, banquet hall, pre-function area, business meeting facilities, swimming pool, gym, café and lounge. Its banquet and pre-function spaces, together with an outdoor lawn, will accommodate approximately 500 people, positioning the property to host business meetings, conferences and social events alongside its accommodation and leisure offerings.Speaking on the occasion, Gopal Goswami, Chairman of GAP Group, said, “Dholera is entering an important phase of development, with several ongoing and upcoming industrial projects creating new opportunities. As business activity grows, there will be a greater need for hospitality facilities to serve investors, business travellers and other visitors. Hyatt Place Dholera is an important step in meeting this need, and we believe it will support the region’s growth in the years ahead.”

Ambrish Parajiya, Managing Director of GAP Group, said, “GAP Group has been part of Dholera’s development journey since commencing operations in 2014. As the first private developer to begin development in the Dholera Activation Zone, we have witnessed the region’s progress over the past decade. We believe that Dholera’s next phase of growth will require infrastructure that supports not only industry and commerce but also the people who will live, work and do business here. Hyatt Place Dholera is an important step in that direction. We remain confident in the region’s potential and plan to invest ₹2,500 crore in Dholera by 2030 across residential, commercial and industrial developments.”

Located along the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), Dholera SIR is being developed as a smart industrial city with planned infrastructure and multimodal connectivity. The Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway and the proposed international airport are expected to improve access to the region as industrial and commercial activity expands.

As Dholera advances, the need for quality hospitality will grow alongside its industrial development. Hyatt Place Dholera is intended to address this need while adding a new dimension to the city’s development, one where business infrastructure is complemented by accommodation, meeting spaces and leisure facilities. For GAP Group, the project represents a step towards supporting Dholera’s evolution into a destination equipped to welcome a wider range of businesses and visitors.

Yauatcha Bengaluru Elevates Vegetarian Dining with New Curated Selections

Yauatcha Bengaluru introduces two curated tasting experiences, The Taste of Yauatcha and The Supreme Taste of Yauatcha, with thoughtfully composed vegetarian selections that bring together delicate dim sum, vibrant stir-fries, comforting staples and refined desserts. Created to showcase the breadth of Yauatcha’s contemporary Cantonese cuisine, the menus offer a considered progression of flavours for vegetarian diners.

Across both experiences, the vegetarian offerings highlight a diverse mix of textures, flavours and contemporary Cantonese preparations.

The Supreme Taste of Yauatcha opens with a choice between Hot and Sour Soup with Mushroom and Mixed Salad with Lotus Root, followed by a selection of two dim sum preparations. Guests can choose from Vegetable Dumpling, Vegetable Crystal Dumpling, Vegetable Char Siu Bun, Fried Turnip Cake with Vegetables and Vegetable Shanghai Dumpling, each highlighting a different combination of textures and flavours.

The menu then moves into heartier preparations, with a choice of Spicy Aubergine with Okra and French Beans, Szechuan Mapo Tofu or Stir-Fry Vegetable in Curry Sauce. These are paired with Steamed Jasmine Rice, Vegetable Fried Rice or Hakka Noodles, creating a satisfying progression from delicate starters to more robust flavours. To finish, guests can choose Yauatcha’s Chocolate Pebble or a selection of ice cream and sorbet. The experience is complemented by a premium beverage selection, including a classic Lychee Martini, domestic wine or a crisp Kingfisher Ultra. 

Alongside this more expansive experience, The Taste of Yauatcha offers a more concise multi-course selection, beginning with Hot and Sour Soup with Mushroom or Mixed Salad with Lotus Root. The dim sum course features a choice of Asparagus, Water Chestnut and Corn Dumpling, Vegetable Chive Dumpling or Fried Turnip Cake with Vegetables, each offering its own expression of texture and flavour.

The menu then moves to a choice of Stir-Fry French Beans with Shiitake Mushroom or Vegetable in Assam Sauce, accompanied by Steamed Jasmine Rice. Guests can round off the experience with Yauatcha’s Chocolate Pebble or a selection of ice cream and sorbet, paired with Jasmine Green Tea or Fresh Lime Soda.

Together, the two selections invite diners to discover how much depth and variety vegetarian Cantonese dining can hold, with every course offering deeply flavoured mains and elegant sweet finishes.

Roswyn Announces a Cultural Collaboration with Dheeya Somaiya to Shape its Art and Programming Vision

Mumbai, 2026: Roswyn, the luxury lifestyle hotel under Ennismore’s Morgans Originals, has announced a cultural collaboration with Dheeya Somaiya to shape the hotel’s art and cultural programming, marking a new chapter in Roswyn’s vision of creating a hospitality experience where art, design, and culture are woven into the everyday life of the space.

The collaboration is built around a simple idea: art should not feel like something added to a hotel, but something that naturally belongs within it. Together, Roswyn and Somaiya will develop a long-term cultural programme that includes exhibitions, artist residencies, collaborations with artists and designers, and experiences that connect the hotel more deeply with Mumbai’s creative landscape.

“What interested me was that the conversation went beyond putting art on the walls and towards thinking about what the hotel could become culturally,” said Dheeya Somaiya. “Roswyn feels less like a conventional hotel and more like a place where people can spend time. That gives it real scope to host cultural experiences.”

Roswyn has already established a strong design identity, and this collaboration aims to build on that by introducing a dynamic cultural layer that evolves over time. The focus is on creating a living programme rather than a static collection, allowing guests to engage with art in a way that feels unexpected, accessible, and personal.

“I don’t want art to feel like something added to the hotel after the fact,” Somaiya added. “It should feel part of the experience. In a place like Roswyn, people can come across an artist or an exhibition naturally, even if they didn’t arrive looking for it.”

A key part of the vision is artist residencies, where artists live and work within the space, allowing guests to encounter the creative process as it unfolds. Alongside residencies, Roswyn plans to build a contemporary programme that encourages experimentation and collaboration across art, design, and culture.

The collaboration reflects a broader shift in luxury hospitality, where hotels are increasingly becoming cultural destinations in their own right. For Roswyn, the ambition is to create a space that is connected to Mumbai’s artistic energy while building a distinctive cultural identity of its own.

“Art can give a place a sense of memory,” said Somaiya. “You might not remember every detail of a hotel, but you remember a work that caught your attention or a cultural experience that stayed with you. For Roswyn, I think art can make a stay feel more personal and give people something to take away with them.”

Over time, Roswyn aims to create a programme that becomes closely associated with the hotel, one that brings artists and audiences together and becomes part of Mumbai’s wider cultural conversation.

With this collaboration, Roswyn is not simply adding art to its walls; it is investing in a cultural identity that will continue to evolve with the city, its artists, and the people who pass through its spaces.

Atlantis The Royal rises to No. 4 on the 50 Best Hotels list

dding to its No. 4 ranking, Atlantis The Royal was also honoured with two special accolades – the Best Hotel in the Middle East 2026 and Best Beach Hotel 2026, reinforcing its position as the pinnacle of luxury.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (2026) – Atlantis The Royal has been named No. 4 in the global ranking of The 50 Best Hotels 2026. Following a successful debut in 2023, the resort’s latest accolade was announced at the fourth edition of The 50 Best Hotels awards ceremony in Paris, alongside industry-defining hotels from across the globe. In addition, the resort was bestowed two special accolades, including the Best Hotel in the Middle East 2026 and Best Beach Hotel Award 2026 for the second consecutive year. 

The awards ceremony once again brought together the global travel and hospitality community to celebrate the world's finest hotels. For the first time in Paris, at Les Salles du Carrousel, the event showcased experiences that will inspire consumers, travellers and hoteliers around the globe.

Already established as an iconic Dubai landmark, the resort continues to redefine the future of luxury hospitality. Whether in gastronomy, fashion, or entertainment, Atlantis The Royal leads with pioneering collaborations from Dolce&Gabbana’s vibrant new Carretto Siciliano takeover at Cloud 22 in partnership with Ounass, to the launch of CARBONE Dubai, Major Food Group’s celebrated Italian-American restaurant, unveiled with a glittering, star-studded celebration and hailed as one of the most anticipated restaurant openings in 2025. With 760 exquisite rooms, suites, and signature penthouses, guests can swim amongst the clouds in sky-pools and dine at more celebrity-chef restaurants than anywhere else in the world.

Kym Barter, Managing Director of Atlantis, comments: “To be recognised among The 50 Best Hotels for the fourth consecutive year is an extraordinary achievement, but to rise from No. 6 to No. 4 this year makes this recognition even more special, and one we are immensely proud of. This continued recognition reflects the passion, creativity and dedication of our colleagues, who bring Atlantis The Royal to life every day through truly exceptional guest experiences. To also be named the Best Hotel in the Middle East 2026 and Best Beach Hotel 2026 further underscores the significance of this year’s achievement and what Atlantis The Royal has come to represent on both a regional and global stage. As we continue to evolve, our ambition remains unchanged: to push the boundaries of luxury hospitality and create experiences that are distinctive, memorable and unmistakably Atlantis The Royal.”

Faye Huggett, Director of Community for The 50 Best Hotels, says: “Bringing The 50 Best Hotels to Paris for the first time has been a privilege, and a fitting backdrop to celebrate the hotels shaping the future of travel. This year’s list recognises not only extraordinary places to stay, but the exceptional people whose vision, craft and care create truly memorable guest experiences. Congratulations to every hotel honoured in 2026, thank you to our Academy whose votes shape the list and everyone who continues to make this a moment the industry look forward to each year.”

The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2026 was revealed as part of a live countdown from No.50 to No.1. The ranking is complemented by a host of special awards alongside the first ever 51-100 list and reflects the very best travel experiences around the globe, collated from the votes of 800 anonymous experts. This voting panel – the 50 Best Hotels Academy – comprises a balanced mix of hoteliers, travel journalists, educators and seasoned luxury travellers, led by a group of industry-leading Academy Chairs.