Jason Momoa said 'Maui is not the place' to vacation amid deadly wildfires and urged tourists to stay away

Chiang Mai is an excellent destination for anyone looking to experience the beauty and culture of Thailand. Located in Northern Thailand, it offers visitors a unique blend of history, nature, and modern lifestyle — not to mention incredible cuisine. Whether you’re seeking adventure or relaxation, Chiang Mai has something for everyone. With its ancient temples, beautiful natural surroundings, and vibrant nightlife, it’s easy to see why this city is both a digital nomad hotspot and an essential part of any Thailand travel itinerary.

Thousands of Maui residents have filed for unemployment after wildfires devastated part of the island and tourism plummeted, leading many local business owners to urge visitors to come back.

Grand Cayman has long been a popular destination for travelers in search of white-sand beaches, excellent snorkeling and diving spots, and well-heeled accommodations. Just 22 miles long and eight miles wide, the island is the largest of the Cayman Islands and has a reputation for providing travelers with a quiet, low-key getaway. And with most of the action happening near the famous Seven Mile Beach, only 15 minutes from the Owen Roberts International Airport, travelers can start their vacations minutes after landing.

Holland America Line’s 2025 European season is open for booking, offering diverse, destination-focused itineraries. With extended cruises, more Iceland sailings, and 62 overnight calls or late departures in leading European cities, travelers are encouraged to immerse in culture and landscapes. Rotterdam reemerges as a homeport, including voyages to Northern Europe and the Baltic.

Long before September was declared U.S. National Bourbon Heritage Month in 2007, Louisville, Kentucky, has been shining a spotlight on America’s Native Spirit. Once considered the “Wall Street of Whiskey” before prohibition decimated the industry in the 1920s, Louisville has recently undergone a city-wide renaissance largely thanks to the rising popularity of the Kentucky-born beverage. In 2013 the city began to reclaim its Wall Street of Whiskey title with the opening of the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, which kicked off a Bourbon resurgence throughout the city. A decade later, new hotels, restaurants, cocktail bars, and festivals are riding the Bourbon wave as Louisville holds strong to the title of ‘Bourbon City’.

Tourists at a seaside hotel on the Greek island of Rhodes snatched up pails of pool water and damp towels as flames approached, rushing to help staff and locals extinguish one of the wildfires threatening Mediterranean locales during recent heatwaves.

The incongruous sight of tourists enjoying Maui's tropical beaches while search-and-rescue teams trawl building ruins for victims has outraged some residents.

When guests walk into Jams Music Hotel in Munich, Germany, they encounter a floor-to-ceiling mural of Prince and a chance to pick out albums from the hotel’s vast collection of vinyl to play on the record player in their room.

The Travel Corporation has merged its six brands into one Global Tour Rewards program, with brand awareness behind this seemingly vanilla approach to loyalty. Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, Luxury Gold, Costsaver, Brendan Vacations, and Contiki are now aligned under one rewards program. 

The Middle East region is expected to outpace all other travel markets in its rate of recovery for travel demand in the April-June quarter, according to India-headquartered travel technology firm Rategain.

Saudi Arabia has the largest hotel construction activity in the Middle East and Africa region, followed by United Arab Emirates, according to hotel research firm STR. Saudi Arabia topped the regional list with 42,033 hotel rooms, followed by United Arab Emirates with 22,324 rooms, as per March 2023 pipeline data report from STR. Most of the region’s pipeline activity is focused in the Middle East, STR said. In March, around 119,505 rooms were under construction in the Middle East and Africa, which is down 6 percent compared to March 2022. STR further noted that each of the four world regions — Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and the Americas — showed a year-over-year decline in hotel construction activity, with Asia Pacific coming closest to its 2022 comparable. However, the picture is more positive for the Middle East and Africa. The region has 45,529 rooms in the “final planning stage,” up 20 percent year-on-year, while the rooms in the “planning stage” have gone up to 84,116, an increase of 21.2 percent year-on-year.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, August 24. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.