Dubai Hotels Sell Out for Coldplay

“Thank god it’s behind me,” said Accor chairman and group CEO Sebastien Bazin this week on the company’s many reorgs, mergers and transformations over the years. Since he took charge of the company in 2013, Bazin counted four major “transformations” in the group, turning it from a “sleepy” French hotel company to a global giant in leisure and travel.

Domestic tourism is relatively new amongst Gulf countries whereby they look to increase the spending of residents in a country by prompting them to visit facilities designed for tourism.

The global hotel industry is experiencing varied performance across regions in 2024, with some markets thriving while others struggle.

When most people think of Dubai, they picture towering skyscrapers, glittering lights, and people decked in designer clothes. While that's true to some degree, for me, the city has always been about community get-togethers, roadside shawarma chats, and weekends by the beach.

A trio of prestigious hotels have just been awarded the AAA Diamond Program’s highest distinction of Five Diamonds, cementing their reputations as leading in luxury hospitality. Namely, the Waldorf Astoria Chicago; The Setai, Miami Beach; and Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco.   

It's a new day at one of the most storied W Hotels properties in the brand network.

For me, September is a hard one to see go. With it, those last little moments of summer slip away, the temperature starts to change and it's time to start pulling out your warm coats. My September was especially great, though. It started with cruising around the Mediterranean and checking out a few dreamy hotels in Italy, followed by a quick trip to Mexico to check out Hyatt's new all-inclusive brand.

You wouldn’t know it today, but there was a time when Etihad Airways eyed global domination. Aiming to mirror massive growth at Dubai-based Emirates (now the world’s largest international airline), the UAE’s two largest carriers were locked in a big-money battle for supremacy. 

It’s that time of year again. Leaves are changing colors, shoulder season trips are in full swing, and international airlines are sharing what new routes travelers can expect next summer.

There are multiple hiking trails that lead to the ancient city of Machu Picchu: the Ancascocha Trail, the Salkantay Trail, the Lares Trek, etc. But the most popular of them all is the Inca Trail, and to hike it, you need a permit.

The Mining Exchange Hotel sits in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs, serving as a historic, revamped reminder that now matter how drastically the city has changed since its early prospecting days, some things have remained the same. Its name is a nod to the Centennial State’s “gilded past” — this property dates back to 1902, having originally served as the city’s stock exchange for precious gold and silver in its heyday. Back then, it quickly became a local hangout spot for those seeking to strike it rich (and those already wealthy). Inside, the atmosphere is ritzy and refined but not unapproachable. Stepping into the lobby is like partaking in a living history film as it’s playing out right in front of your eyes.

Etihad Airways is preparing to announce “around 10” new routes, according to Arik De, the airline’s Chief Commercial Officer, in an exclusive interview with Skift. De said the network additions will be revealed in late November.