​Virgin Atlantic has touched down in Seoul, South Korea, marking the launch of its new daily service between London Heathrow and Incheon International Airport, opening up a vibrant new destination for UK travellers.. Today’s VS208 was met on the tarmac in Incheon with celebrations alongside Corneel Koster, Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Atlantic, representatives from Incheon International Airport Corporation and the Korea Tourism Organisation.. Operating daily on a Boeing 787-9, the new customer and cargo route marks Virgin Atlantic’s continued expansion eastwards, building on recent growth across India and the wider Asia-Pacific region. Launched on 29 March 2026, Virgin Atlantic is the only British flag carrier flying direct between the UK and South Korea, unlocking new travel and trade opportunities to one of the world’s most exciting destinations.. Launching at the peak of the ‘Korean Wave’ of culture taking the world by storm, the new route will allow customers to embrace all things ‘K’ from K-pop and K-beauty to film, fashion and food that can be found along the neon-lit streets of Seoul, the beaches of Busan and beyond.. As a full-service carrier, Virgin Atlantic offers three cabins – Upper Class, Premium and Economy – each including complementary food, drink and entertainment. In Upper Class, passengers enjoy signature social spaces such as the onboard bar on Boeing 787s, while all cabins reflect the airline’s distinctive, design-led experience. The airline’s award-winning, personalised service has been elevated on Seoul flights to include Korean touches, with menus developed alongside chefs and local partners to showcase the best of Korean cuisine as well as signature Western dishes. Customers can also enjoy over 1,900 hours of entertainment, including Korean TV and film, delivered by Virgin Atlantic’s world famous cabin crew, including locally based Korean team members.. ADVERTISEMENT. At London Heathrow, eligible customers can experience the recently refurbished Clubhouse, featuring wellness-focused spaces, private work pods, a cinema, Somadome meditation pods and an exclusive Royal Box VIP area.. Through Virgin Atlantic’s close partnership with Korean Air, customers can connect through Seoul to an abundance of new Northeast Asian destinations such as Osaka, Nagoya, Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Narita, Fukuoka, Okinawa and Hokkaido in Japan, Sydney and Brisbane in Australia, Auckland in New Zealand, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang in Vietnam and Hong Kong. In addition, our customers can enjoy benefits across our SkyTeam partners operating at Incheon including Vietnam Airlines, China Eastern, China Airlines, Garuda Indonesia and Xiamen Airlines.. Additionally, Virgin Atlantic Holidays customers can now enjoy curated trips across South Korea and Japan, combining Seoul with destinations such as Kyoto and Osaka, with hand-picked hotels and tailored experiences.. Corneel Koster, Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Atlantic  

​Travel & Tourism has strengthened its position as the world’s fastest-growing sector in 2025, with new data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Chase Travel, Lead Research Partner, revealing the sector significantly outpaced global economic growth.. According to WTTC’s latest Economic Impact Research (EIR), Travel & Tourism’s global GDP contribution reached arecord US$11.6 trillion in 2025, accounting for 9.8% of the global economy. The sector’s growth (4.1%) exceeded overall global economic growth (2.8%) by almost 50%, underscoring its role as a primary engine of global expansion.. In a landmark milestone, Travel & Tourism supported 366 million jobs (10.9%) worldwide in 2025 — a figure greater than the total population of the United States — reinforcing its critical role in global employment and livelihoods. The sector also accounted for 1 in 3 new jobs created globally.. This exceptional performance confirms Travel & Tourism not only as a driver of recovery, but as a leading force shaping the future of the global economy.. Regional Outlook: Asia-Pacific Leads Global Growth While North America Lags. ADVERTISEMENT. WTTC’s data also reveals a clear divergence in regional performance, with Asia-Pacific emerging as the fastest-growing region globally, while North America trails behind other major markets.. Asia-Pacific recorded the strongest expansion in Travel & Tourism GDP in 2025, with growth of 8.1%, driven by reopening momentum, rising international demand, and strong regional connectivity, reaching US$3.29 trillion.. In contrast, North America saw significantly slower growth of just 1.0%, with Travel & Tourism GDP totalling US$3.05 trillion, reflecting continued challenges in international visitor recovery and more mature market dynamics.. This regional imbalance highlights how policy, investment, and international openness continue to shape the pace of growth across global markets.. Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC, said:. “Despite the global challenges of 2025, the Travel & Tourism sector had its best year ever, which demonstrates its resilience. In a truly record-breaking year, the sector contributed an unprecedented US$11.6 trillion to the global economy. This exceptional performance underscores not only its economic strength, but its resilience and ability to outpace wider global growth.. “The scale of global travel is equally remarkable. With 1.54 billion international overnight arrivals this year — equivalent to 4.2 million people travelling every day — Travel & Tourism continues to connect the world at an extraordinary pace, surpassing both last year’s levels and pre-pandemic benchmarks.. “This is a defining moment. Governments around the world must recognise Travel & Tourism as a strategic priority and continue enabling policies that support growth, investment, and connectivity.”. Jason Wynn, CEO of Chase Travel, said:. “What we’re seeing today is not just sustained demand for Trav  

​NEIT proudly presents Sin Plan, the first chapter of the NEIT OUT format, during Salone del Mobile where installations, openings, and events follow one another at a relentless pace. As part of this presentation, NEIT Whiskey offers a moment to slow down, coinciding with the launch of a new limited edition expression, matured in a mezcal cask.. Conceived as an open and flexible platform, NEIT OUT was created as a series of pop-up moments in which the brand connects with people, places, and conversations. Each edition takes shape from its own context, while keeping curiosity, sharing, and freedom at its core.. With Sin Plan, Via Maiocchi 3 is transformed into a fluid and convivial space, active from April 18 to 26, from 9:00AM to 10:00 PM. More than a pop-up, it is a hybrid environment where coffee, cocktails, and food flow together continuously: espresso and affogato during the day, mixology in the evening, in a rhythm that invites people to stop and stay. Time stretches out, and conversations arise spontaneously, without a defined structure.. A network of collaborations shapes the identity of the project, bringing together design, hospitality, and gastronomic culture. Amorim Cork shapes the space with a material and sensory approach; La Marzocco oversees the coffee service, while Tacos Domingo introduces an authentic presence of Mexican cuisine.. Tacos Domingo is, in fact, one of the project’s most distinctive elements. Born from the editorial experience of Guía Domingo — a cultural archive dedicated to tacos in Mexico founded by Nicholas Meehan and Alberto Rassam — the brand brings to Milan an approach that combines research and experimentation. The taquería thus becomes a cultural platform, where food turns into a shared language.. ADVERTISEMENT. With Sin Plan, NEIT opens a new chapter in its journey, shifting the focus from product to experience. Founded by the brothers Luca and Francesco Fracassi, the brand combines the tradition of Irish whiskey with a contemporary sensibility shaped by design, craftsmanship, and storytelling.. In a week dominated by speed, Sin Plan offers a counter-narrative: a Salone without a set program, where stopping becomes an integral part of the experience.. Join us from April 18 – April 26. 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM. Via Maiocchi 3. 20129 Milan. For more information about NEIT Whiskey, please visit www.neit.io.  

​Who will control travel in 2046: AI companies, governments, or the travelers themselves? What will determine value in an AI-driven industry? And will travel remain accessible to all, or become a privilege?. These questions were at the heart of the inaugural Leadership Exchange, hosted by Phocuswright, a leading global travel research and events company, and ITB Berlin, on March 3, 2026, at CityCube Berlin.. The year is 2046: AI companies control global data flows, travelers rely on intelligent agents to plan and book journeys, and some destinations restrict access to combat overtourism. This is not science fiction, but one of several plausible futures envisioned by senior travel leaders during the closed-door Leadership Exchange.. The Leadership Exchange at ITB Berlin 2026, held under the Chatham House Rule, convened industry leaders in a strategic think tank format to tackle four key questions: Who owns trust? Where does value sit in an AI-native industry? Is travel right or a privilege? And will the sector consolidate or fragment? Its goal: to move beyond trend narratives and provide actionable insight for businesses, governments and stakeholders navigating a period of profound transformation.. A clear narrative emerged across all discussions: artificial intelligence will dramatically reduce friction in travel, but in doing so, it will fundamentally redistribute power.. “The travel industry is entering a structural shift unlike anything we’ve seen since the early days of digitalization,” said Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO of Messe Berlin. “With the Leadership Exchange, we created a space where decision-makers don’t just discuss the future but actively shape it. The choices we make now around trust, data and value creation will define the industry for decades to come.”. ADVERTISEMENT. Trust becomes the new currency. In a world mediated by AI, trust is no longer anchored to a single player. Instead, it becomes fragmented, and more valuable than ever. Built through countless micro-interactions and human signals such as user-generated content, trust must be actively designed into every step of the customer journey.. At the same time, multiple AI-driven booking channels risk blurring accountability, increasing the likelihood of “catastrophic” trust failures in the near term.. “Trust is not an algorithm. There’s no single recipe, and in the future, not only companies, but also consumers will be assessed on whether they can be trusted,” said Mieke De Schepper, CEO of Sunweb Group.. AI shifts value, and challenges brands. As AI agents take over search and discovery, personalization emerges as the industry’s greatest opportunity. Travel experiences will be tailored in real time, based on deep data insights and individual preferences.. However, this shift comes with a cost: traditional intermediaries may lose relevance, and even strong brands could see their influence erode as the “source of truth” becomes the key differentiator.. “  

​AYANA Midplaza Jakarta proudly announces the appointment of Morris Tiedemann as its new General Manager. Bringing nearly three decades of international hospitality leadership across Europe, the Middle East, and China, Mr. Tiedemann steps into the role with a clear vision to further elevate the hotel as one of Jakarta’s most distinguished urban destinations.. Strategically positioned in the heart of the capital, AYANA Midplaza Jakarta has long been recognised as a sanctuary within the city where business, culture, wellness, and refined dining converge. Under Mr. Tiedemann’s leadership, the hotel enters a new chapter focused on thoughtful growth, authentic guest experiences, and people-centric excellence.. A seasoned hotelier known for leading complex transformations, Mr. Tiedemann joins AYANA Midplaza Jakarta following senior leadership roles across Europe, the Middle East, and China, including extensive experience with international hospitality groups such as IHG, Wyndham, and Rosewood. His career has been shaped by overseeing hotel openings, turnarounds, and repositioning in diverse markets, delivering sustained financial performance while maintaining strong guest satisfaction and employee engagement.. A Vision Rooted in People, Place, and Purpose. At AYANA Midplaza Jakarta, Mr. Tiedemann’s vision centres on strengthening the hotel’s identity as a vibrant urban resort – one that seamlessly balances the needs of business travellers, leisure guests, and the local community.. ADVERTISEMENT. “AYANA Midplaza Jakarta is a rare gem – a hotel that offers tranquility, culture, and a strong sense of place right in the heart of a dynamic city,” said Morris Tiedemann, General Manager of AYANA Midplaza Jakarta. “My focus is to build on this strong foundation by empowering our people, sharpening our guest experience, and ensuring that every touchpoint reflects authenticity, warmth, and purposeful luxury. When teams feel inspired and guests feel genuinely connected, performance naturally follows.”. Driven by a passion for storytelling and innovation, Mr. Tiedemann is committed to curating experiences that celebrate local culture while remaining aligned with AYANA Hospitality’s refined brand DNA. His leadership approach combines operational discipline with creativity, ensuring the hotel continues to outperform while remaining deeply human in its service philosophy.. Strengthening AYANA Hospitality’s Urban Flagship. The appointment marks a strategic step for AYANA Hospitality as it continues to strengthen its leadership bench across key properties.. “Mr. Tiedemann brings an exceptional combination of commercial expertise, cultural understanding, and inspirational leadership,” said Christian Hochtl, Vice President of Operations of AYANA Hospitality. “His proven ability to transform hotels while nurturing high-performing teams aligns perfectly with AYANA’s long-term vision. We are confident that under his guidance, AYANA Midplaza Jakart