​Open any glossy travel magazine and you’ll see them gleaming from the margins: gold seals, laurel wreaths, and confident phrases like “World’s Best” or “Award-Winning Experience.” At first glance, they may seem decorative—nice-to-have badges in a crowded marketplace. In reality, awards play a far deeper role in travel than many travellers realise, shaping both business success and customer confidence at the moment it matters most: the booking decision.
In an industry built on trust, aspiration, and experience rather than tangible goods, awards act as a powerful shorthand. They tell a story quickly. For travellers faced with hundreds of similar hotels, tour operators, cruise lines, or destinations, global awards schemes offer reassurance that a particular business has been seen, judged, and celebrated beyond its own marketing claims.  

​Etihad Airways carried 1.9 million passengers in February 2026, compared with 1.6 million in the same month last year. Passenger load factor was 89.4 per cent, consistent with the same month last year.

In the first two months of 2026, the airline carried 4.2 million passengers with an average load factor of 89.7 per cent.  

​Tickets are now on sale for the second annual Puerto Rico Wine & Food Festival presented by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. The four-day culinary and cultural celebration returns April 23 through 26, 2026, at San Juan’s La Concha Resort and celebrated destinations around the island, featuring acclaimed and award-winning chefs, restaurateurs, wineries, sommeliers and mixologists.

“We are excited to return for a second year after an incredibly warm and welcoming reception to our inaugural event,” said festival founder Robert Weakley. “This year, we are proud to introduce a lineup of local, regional, and international talent who represent the very best of the culinary and hospitality industries.”  

​Orlando World Center Marriott, the world’s largest Marriott property, completed a comprehensive renovation of its Grand Ballroom, featuring updated design elements and enhanced functionality for event planners and attendees.

The redesigned Grand Ballroom spans more than 36,000 square feet and offers 14 configurable spaces, providing flexibility for events. The renovation includes new carpet, wall coverings, airwalls coverings, entry doors, trim and contemporary chandeliers, along with upgraded lighting and sound systems.  

​St. Patrick’s Day is Ireland’s moment to shine on the world stage, and nowhere is that spirit more alive than across the island itself. St. Patrick’s Festival in Dublin remains one of the world’s great cultural celebrations—a vibrant week of music, dance, spectacle, and community culminating in the iconic March 17 parade through the capital’s historic streets. But the festivities extend far beyond Dublin. Cities and towns including Kilkenny, Limerick, Sligo, Waterford, Cork, and many others host parades, concerts, and cultural events, creating a nationwide celebration that welcomes visitors from around the world.