What do a Thousand-Year-Old Monastery, Melting Clocks, and a City that Eats Dinner at 10 pm Have in Common?

Travel Industry News & Trends

Ownia Collection Launches: Guilt-Free Luxury for the Conscious Traveler

Hospitality expert María Olazábal has unveiled the Ownia Collection, a curated selection of sustainable luxury hotels and resorts aimed at redefining high-end travel. This initiative seeks to blend opulence with environmental responsibility, offering travelers indulgent experiences without compromising eco-conscious values. The Ownia Collection emphasizes properties that prioritize sustainability, aiming to attract a new generation of discerning, environmentally aware guests. MORNINGSTAR

In 2025, luxury isn’t just about thread count — it’s about carbon count.

Digital Travel Credentials to Replace Boarding Passes by 2028

The International Civil Aviation Organization plans to introduce a “Digital Travel Credential” that would phase out traditional boarding passes and passports by 2028. Stored securely on a traveler’s smartphone, it enables biometric-based check-in and paperless passage through airports, promising shorter lines, fewer documents, and frictionless movement. THE GUARDIAN (Paywall)

No passport? No boarding pass? No problem, as long as travelers can find their charger.

Fairmont Golden Prague Opens in Restored Landmark

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has unveiled the Fairmont Golden Prague, a meticulously restored landmark situated in Prague's UNESCO-listed Old Town. This luxury property features 320 rooms, suites, and serviced residences, complemented by six dining venues, including the rooftop Zlata Praha offering panoramic city views. Guests can also experience Fairmont Gold, the brand's exclusive "hotel within a hotel" concept, providing personalized services and elevated amenities. TRAVEL MARKET REPORT

Sometimes, the best way to experience Prague's history is from a rooftop with a cocktail in hand.

Silversea to Open World's Southernmost Hotel in 2026

Silversea Cruises has announced the January 2026 opening of The Cormorant at 55 South, set to become the world's southernmost hotel. Located in Puerto Williams, Chile, this 150-room luxury resort aims to offer travelers an unprecedented experience at the edge of the world. The property will begin operations during the 2025/2026 Antarctica season, providing guests with unique access to the continent's pristine landscapes. LUXURY DAILY (Paywall)

For when "off the beaten path" means you might actually meet a penguin at breakfast.

Ocean Cruises Remain Steady, But Change Is on the Horizon

According to Travel Market Report's 2025 Outlook, 99% of travel advisors are selling or plan to sell ocean cruises this year, up from 84% in 2023. Nearly 70% anticipate at least a 10% growth in sales. River and expedition cruises are also gaining traction, with 88% and 50% of advisors, respectively, showing interest. The demographic is shifting younger, and amenities like Wi-Fi are becoming essential, indicating evolving traveler expectations.

It’s maybe time to refresh the cruise pitch.

Barcelona: Where Time Gets Lost, and Tapas Come Late

How to Reframe Catalunya’s Capital for Sophisticated Travelers

There’s a reason no one rushes in Barcelona. It’s not laziness — it’s luxury.

Lunch at 3, dinner at 10, creativity all day long. This isn’t just Spain’s coastal darling; it’s a city with a stubborn soul and unapologetic rhythm — and the clients who’ve already been? They’re exactly the ones ready to experience it properly.

From rooftop vermouth rituals to twilight strolls in Gràcia, here’s how you can reposition Barcelona not as a repeat, but as a reinvention.

🛏️ Where to Stay (Beyond the Obvious)

• Hotel Neri
  A Gothic Quarter hideaway inside a 12th-century palace. Perfect for guests who prefer their luxury quiet, intimate, and unbranded.
  🌐 www.hotelneri.com/en

• Casa Bonay
  Feels like a designer’s flat meets a cultural salon. It’s not ultra-luxe, but it is hyper-curated — a favorite among younger, design-conscious travelers.
  🌐 www.casabonay.com

• The One Barcelona
  Sleek, central, and rooftop-ready. A full-service favorite with just enough restraint to feel residential.
  🌐 www.hotelstheone.com/en/barcelona

• ABaC Restaurant & Hotel
  For clients who book tables before rooms. Michelin dining below, Zen silence above.
  🌐 www.abacbarcelona.com/en

🍽️ Where to Eat (And Linger)

• Disfrutar
  Ranked among the world’s best. It's part chemistry lab, part theatrical performance. Book early — or your competitor will.
  🌐 www.disfrutarbarcelona.com

• Cinc Sentits
  Emotion-driven tasting menu rooted in Catalan tradition. Michelin-level without the chill.
  🌐 www.cincsentits.com

• Besta
  A Galician–Catalan fusion gem. Fresh seafood, modern plating, and a word-of-mouth following.
  🌐 www.bestabar.com

• La Mundana
  Vermouth-forward, fusion-minded, and endlessly fun. A true local’s pick for the curious gourmand.
  🌐 www.lamundana.cat

🎨 What to Do (If Gaudí’s Already in the Scrapbook)

• Fundació Joan Brossa
  Experimental, rebellious, and poetic. Ideal for art lovers who want something raw and current.
  🌐 www.fundaciojoanbrossa.cat

• Bunkers del Carmel
  A civil war relic with the best sunset view in town. Un-ticketed, unfiltered, unforgettable.
  📍 Search “Bunkers del Carmel” in Google Maps

• El Born Cultural Center
  Ruins beneath a modern glass structure. A visceral history lesson, hidden in plain sight.
  🌐 ajuntament.barcelona.cat/elborn/en

• Montjuïc Gardens
  From the cactus garden to Laribal’s poetic steps, these are the green lungs of the city. Perfect for slow clients and photographers alike.
  🌐 www.barcelona.cat/en/what-to-do-in-bcn/parks-and-gardens

🏞️ Bonus Day Trip: Montserrat’s 1,000-Year Celebration

Just an hour away, Montserrat is not only Catalunya’s spiritual heart — it’s celebrating a millennium. Offer it as more than a day trip: make it a sacred interlude.

• Sacred hikes, basilica acoustics, and monk-made cheese.

• The "Montserrat, 1,000 Years" exhibition adds extra weight to the visit.

• Elevate the experience with private transport, early morning departures, or a sommelier picnic.

🌐 www.montserratvisita.com/en

🎨 Surrealist Detour: Dalí in Figueres

For those willing to venture, The Dalí Theatre-Museum offers the ultimate surrealist pilgrimage. But even clients staying local can explore it via the immersive Virtual Visit.

🌐 www.salvador-dali.org/en/museums/dali-theatre-museum-in-figueres

Pro Tip: You can turn this into a two-night Empordà add-on with vineyard stays and quiet coastlines.

Why this matters: How we frame classic destinations is what separates generic from genius.

🤝 DMC Spotlight | Arctic Signature

Redefining Luxury in the Nordics

Operating out of Finland, Arctic Signature creates bespoke trips around the Nordics, emphasizing elegance, depth, and genuineness.

Their trips are about feeling the location: staying in forest villas, interacting with local chefs, or viewing the Northern Lights from a private sleigh rather than about checklists.

Handcrafted, based on local culture, each itinerary is created with sustainability in mind. It's not screams but whispers of luxury.

Should you seek a DMC that really understands the contemporary luxury traveler, this is it.

And if food is any traveler’s love language, Arctic Signature knows precisely how to speak it.

Their “Foodie’s Journey Through the Nordics” itinerary is a lesson in terroir, tradition, and high-end simplicity. It stretches across Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark — pairing foraged ingredients, award-winning chefs, and dramatic landscapes in one seamless culinary arc.

🍽️ What’s on the Menu:

• Lapland under Lanterns – Reindeer tartare, pine-smoked meats, and Sámi fire dining under the Northern Lights.

• Urban Nordic Chic – Private tastings in Copenhagen, Helsinki, and Stockholm — cities where the chefs still hug their farmers.

• Coastal Craftsmanship – Arctic oysters, salt-dried cod, and seaweed liqueurs on Norway’s Lofoten Islands.

📩 Read their full culinary feature here.

Sponsored by dos:deux

The Expert’s Guild Marketing Corner

LinkedIn Benchmarks 2025: What Travel Pros Need to Know

LinkedIn isn't just for congratulating strangers on promotions anymore; it's officially a content marketing powerhouse.

New data from Socialinsider's 2025 LinkedIn Benchmark Report shows brands are achieving their highest engagement yet, averaging a solid 5% per impression. Here's your quick-hit breakdown:

• Top Performers: Multi-image carousel posts (6.6% engagement) outperform single images, videos, and articles.

• Poll Power: Polls drive the highest visibility and reach, making them ideal for boosting brand awareness or gauging client preferences.

• Video is Rising: Video use jumped 8% year-over-year, signaling a clear trend toward multimedia storytelling, perfect for luxury travel brands selling experiences.

The takeaway? Brands that blend rich visuals with interactive formats are winning big on LinkedIn this year.

Yes, LinkedIn is useful for more than just ignoring recruiters.