​The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) today announced that works have commenced on Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi (House of the Arts), a landmark institution on Saadiyat Island that will become one of the region’s most technically advanced performing arts venues upon opening in 2030. Representing a major investment in cultural infrastructure, the institution reflects Abu Dhabi’s vision to create world-class platforms for artistic excellence, international collaboration and cultural exchange.  

​The luxury cruise and the railway revival promised that the journey could matter as much as the destination. A new wave of curated driving journeys goes a step further, trading the view from the deck for the freedom of the road. HunterMoss makes the case with its 2027 calendar, led by a first route from the Basque Country to Bordeaux.  

​In a major step toward industry-wide decarbonisation, the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (WSHA) today announced the successful completion of a pioneering feasibility study on collective renewable energy purchasing for the global hospitality industry.  

​The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has expressed concern over proposals to increase Barcelona’s tourist tax on short-stay cruise passengers, warning that the measure could weaken the city’s competitiveness and have unintended consequences for the local economy.  

​The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today announced that its Hotel Sustainability Basics programme will transition to an independent third-party certification scheme, aligned with new European Union requirements for environmental claims and designed to meet the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Accreditation Framework.

The move strengthens Hotel Sustainability Basics as a globally recognised framework for hotel sustainability, providing independent verification, greater transparency, and a credible pathway for hotels to demonstrate their sustainability performance in line with evolving regulatory and market expectations.