​Aurora Expeditions has delivered its largest Antarctic season to date, operating 30 voyages, facilitating an estimated 819 landings, and welcoming a 30% increase in expeditioners, representing 56 nationalities.

The 2025/26 programme was underpinned by the launch of the company’s third expedition vessel, Douglas Mawson, in Sydney in November, ahead of its inaugural Antarctic season. This was the first time in its 35-year history, Aurora operated three ships simultaneously in Antarctica, expanding access and choice for expeditioners.  

​The travel company Rakuten Travel uses artificial intelligence (AI) to bring about improvements in hotel bookings with a new agent designed to recommend hotels. Such improvements promise more personalized travel booking for its customers.  

​A century after the golden age of ocean liners, a new icon has taken shape on the Atlantic coast. In Saint-Nazaire, within one of France’s most storied shipyards, the Orient Express Corinthian—the world’s largest sailing yacht—was officially named, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of luxury travel.  

​Recent ABTA travel research reveals that one in five adults now prioritise travelling alone, the highest proportion seen this decade. With independent exploration firmly on the agenda, this growing appetite for solo travel aligns perfectly with National Walking Month in May. From two routes spotlighted in Lonely Planet’s Where to Go When: Hiking to experiences ranging from luxury stays across the country to journeys that support local communities, Peru emerges as an exceptional destination – both for solo adventurers and for travellers keen to indulge themselves.  

​IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, announces its partnership with PAYBACK, Germany’s leading consumer loyalty programme with more than 35 million customers. The collaboration introduces a new way for German guests to earn rewards when staying at any of IHG’s 7,000+ hotels worldwide.