Summer in Scandinavia: five eco-friendly ideas to holiday like a local

There is no worse feeling at the end of a perfect beach day than having to lug a heavy, sandy, soggy beach towel back to your car. Thankfully, beach towels have come a long way over the years, with features like sand-resistant fabric and roomier dimensions that mean your legs won't be dangling onto the hot sand.

As someone who has been running award programs for the last decade, it’s safe to say I have seen my fair share of award submissions – the good, the bad and the ugly. So today, I am going to share some of my insider tips to make sure that your Skift IDEA Awards submission stands out in the crowd.

More than 15 million visitors are expected to travel to Paris during the 2024 Summer Olympics, which will take place from July 26 to August 11. But as the world's attention turns to the City of Light, even non-Olympic related trips to France may feel the ripple effects of the games over the next few months.

With submissions for the 2024 Skift IDEA Awards well underway, we are excited to introduce the first cohort of industry experts that will bring their unique perspectives and experiences to support us in selecting the 2024 Award winners. 

Accor, the Paris-based hotel operator, earns about a fifth of its revenue from France. So analysts have been eyeing possible impacts from Paris hosting the 2024 Summer Olympic Games for three weeks across July and August.

Even if you’re an experienced jetsetter, traveling is rarely (if ever) a truly comfortable experience. So why not give the mom or maternal figure you love this Mother’s Day clothing that feels terrific—and is also kind to the planet—with these eight alphabetically-listed picks from sustainable, organic, and eco-friendly brands? Better yet? All the items included in this gift guide are easy to pack and versatile so you can wear them in ways more than one.

The European Commission has introduced a new visa “cascade” regime for Indian nationals applying for Schengen visas in India. This regime looks to offer longer-term, multi-entry Schengen visas, based on the applicant’s travel history.

Games wide open! That's the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics slogan, and you can expect to hear it more as the Games approach. With a 300,000 spectator capacity, the Olympic Committee's goal is to show spectators the iconic offerings of France, while ensuring the Games themselves are “more responsible, more inclusive, and more spectacular than ever before.” And the anticipation is palpable, as Paris has proved their cutting-edge approach to being an Olympic host in the past: Women athletes were involved for the first time ever at the 1900 Paris Olympic Games, and this year, 50 percent of the athletes are women, making Paris the first host to achieve gender equality in Games history.

If you’ve ever wanted to dive into the culture of the Vikings or explore what makes people in the Nordic region the so-called happiest on earth, you could do a lot worse than book a Scandinavian cruise.

Bergen is often referred to as “the city between seven mountains” – which encapsulates its blend of culture and nature. Lose yourself in its charming old town, fish markets, galleries and museums, then hike or take a funicular up Mount Fløyen for views and pine forest trekking. Bergen is a great base from which to day trip. Using direct buses/trains, you can go to Gudvangen to kayak across the fjord to your own secluded beach for a picnic lunch, or pop to Voss for its water sports, hiking and farm-to-fork food (Store Ringheim is my top pick).Seb

The summer travel season is just around the corner, and Virginia Beach is poised to welcome visitors to its sunny shoreline with a packed opening weekend of festivals to suit a variety of entertainment themes. A pair of brand-new events build on the destination’s arts and music scene paired with the return of a top international action sports competition and a spotlight on the city’s patriotic personality. Add some sizzle to a summer vacation plan with a visit to enjoy any, or all, of the events planned for the first weekend in June:

In the modern airline business, companies are usually divided by their “low-cost” or “legacy” models. The upstarts versus the old guard.