Ibrahim Faisal Appointed Tourism Minister of the Maldives

Planning a wedding but want to go off-the-beaten path? Destination weddings are currently the rage with couples choosing such exotic locations as Talloires, France, the Greek island of Santorini, Fiji or Bora Bora.

The World Travel Awards (WTA) has named former Tourism Minister of Maldives Dr. Abdulla Mausoom the Travel Personality of the Year. The award was presented to Dr. Mausoom at the World Travel Awards ceremony held at the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai on Friday.

Each year in the Alps, as the first snows of the season start to fall, mountain towns welcome winter visitors with a slew of smart new hotels. And this year is no different, with upscale brands including COMO Hotels and Resorts moving its beach-beautiful ethos to the Italian Alps in COMO Alpina Dolomites, and Grace Hotels giving St Moritz its first luxury opening in half a century in the Grace La Margna. With its boutique modern addition, the sleek Swiss hotel breathes new life into the former art nouveau hotel La Margna, following a trend for high-profile revamps seen across the Alps this season. Here’s a look at the six best new openings, many of which revitalise former hotel landmarks.

Leading luxury hospitality company Four Seasons announces the latest line-up of Private Jet itineraries for 2025 with insider perspectives on the Four Seasons Private Jet Experience through guest testimonials. From the idyllic shores of the Maldives to the endless plains of the Serengeti, the three final journeys for 2025, International Intrigue, African Wonders, and World of Adventures, return with exciting new destinations and experiences, including an extended private cruise exploration of the Galápagos islands and a stay at the award-winning Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet. Based on a True Stay

Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss looks forward to a good winter. Bookings are strong and leisure travelers, especially those paying top dollar for the seats in the pointy end of the plane, are eager to travel to the airline’s many warm-weather destinations.

Nestled in the heart of the Maldives, the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is redefining the luxury travel experience by combining environmental conservation with exceptional guest services. In partnership with the Manta Trust, this resort is not just a haven for travelers seeking relaxation and indulgence; it's also a sanctuary for marine life and a center for cutting-edge research.

According to online travel agency Trip.com, China is broadening its unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from six nations—France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia—in an effort to bolster the recovery of the East Asian giant’s tourism sector industry. For now, the program is being implemented on a trial basis, with plans to keep it in effect from December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2024.

In the 1990s, The Eastern & Oriental Express, a modern version of the vintage luxury trains that once snaked through Southeast Asia, took to the rails. It recreated a decidedly romantic way to travel through the jungles, cities, and riverfront towns of Singapore and Malaysia, which its sister train, the Venice Simplon Orient Express, offered in Europe.

The Middle East’s travel and tourism ambitions can seem unbelievable: 150 million visitors into the once-closed off Saudi Arabia, 40 million visitors to the UAE – big goals keep getting more ambitious. The Skift Global Forum East returns to Dubai from December 12 to 14 and we’ll be speaking to the most important travel executives from the region to better understand how it might all play out.

As a proud member of the oneworld Alliance, SriLankan Airlines presently connects its hub, Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, with various points across South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Far East, Europe, the Middle East and Australia.

The results follow a year-long search for the world’s leading culinary brands. Votes were cast by culinary industry professionals and the general public, with the nominee gaining the most votes in a category named as the winner.

Gaudéric Harang holds an MBA in Hospitality Management at ESSEC Business School in Paris. Wael Soueid holds a Bachelor’s Degree from International Tourism Institute of Toulouse France.