TravelNews

Conrad Athens The Ilisian Opens, Redefining an Athenian Landmark

Hilton today announces the opening of Conrad Athens The Ilisian, marking the rebirth of one of Athens’ most iconic landmarks. Formerly the beloved Hilton Athens, the property has undergone a significant transformation to emerge as a contemporary urban resort in the cultural heart of Athens.

Marking the brand’s debut in Greece, Conrad Athens The Ilisian brings Conrad Hotels & Resorts’ signature blend of bold design, contemporary luxury and immersive connection to place to one of Europe’s most culturally resonant capitals. The hotel’s 278 guest rooms and suites are among the most spacious in the city and sit at the heart of The Ilisian, a new mixed-use destination that unites a vibrant line-up of restaurants and bars, a resort-style wellness offering anchored by Athens’ largest outdoor pool landscape, private residences and the House of NYNN private members’ club.

An Athenian Landmark Reimagined

Instantly recognisable to generations of Athenians, Conrad Athens The Ilisian carries forward the spirit of a building deeply woven into the city’s social and cultural fabric. The hotel evokes the feeling of an open-air gallery, with the original one-of-a-kind 620-square-metre sculpted marble façades by pioneering Greek artist Yannis Moralis, a modernist sculptural tribute to classical mythology. By night, Emmy award-winning lighting designer Eleftheria Deko brings the facade to life, inviting guests to gather for a local aperitif as the installation comes to life.

Inside, spaces designed by AvroKO revive the optimism of Athens’ modernist golden era, pairing preserved mid-century elements with newly commissioned artworks and bespoke pieces by historic Athenian atelier Saridis and ceramicist Eleni Vernadaki. Overseeing the art programme and shaping the lobby alongside AvroKO is Mare Studio, the hotel’s art consultant and curator.

The guest rooms and suites frame some of the city’s best views, with the majority featuring private balconies. The hotel offers Athens’ largest suite collection, including three Presidential Suites, a Royal Suite and, launching later this year, the Omega Penthouse, complete with a private pool and panoramic vistas across the Acropolis and Aegean Sea.

A New Culinary Address at the Social Heartbeat of the City
Guests of Conrad Athens The Ilisian are surrounded by a vibrant culinary landscape, with nine distinct dining concepts, from the hotel’s own restaurants and bars to signature venues across the destination, shaping the rhythm of the day and drawing Athenians and global travellers together from morning to night.

At its heart is Byzantino, reborn as Athens’ first Grande Brasserie, where French and Greek classics are presented side by side in true brasserie character. Executive chef Angelos Lantos, the first Greek chef to earn two Michelin stars in Athens, leads the culinary direction across the hotel, with Byzantino as his flagship. The experience is completed by a cheese master, curated wine pairings, and a dedicated chocolaterie and patisserie housed within the restaurant itself. The same spirit carries into the Athenian Lounge, a natural meeting point where classic cocktails and well-loved dishes set the tone throughout the day.

Later this year, the legendary Galaxy Bar will return as Galaxy Dispensary and Galaxy Supper Club, reclaiming its place as one of Athens’ most iconic rooftop destinations. Additionally, a further line-up of globally celebrated restaurant concepts will also make their Athens debut at The Ilisian, alongside Japanese restaurant Onuki, designed by studio Yabu Pushelberg, which opened in 2025.

Wellness Designed for Modern Life
Conceived as a performance-led wellbeing destination, Conrad Athens The Ilisian’s wellness offering blends recovery, movement and lifestyle. The experience unfolds across the Oasis, Athens’ largest outdoor pool, along with an Italian poolside restaurant, and the 700-square-metre Green Roof above, where panoramic city views frame a private running track, outdoor gym and pickleball court.

Indoors, guests will enjoy access to a wellness zone featuring a specialist gym, dedicated studios for yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonic and spinning, a heated pool, and heat & cold therapy facilities. From May, the Odei Wellness Residence will introduce a curated menu of face and body treatments inspired by the rituals of ancient Greece, while later in the year, renowned practitioner Dr. Costas Papageorgiou will bring his expertise to Athens for the first time, expanding the offering with longevity focused treatments, guiding The Ilisian’s holistic approach to wellbeing.

Experiences with Impact: Athens Beyond the Expected
Conrad Athens The Ilisian invites guests to experience Athens through curated, insider-led perspectives. The hotel’s signature Conrad 1/3/5 experiences offer travellers meaningful ways to engage with Athens at their own pace. From golden‑hour aperitivos overlooking the Acropolis, to architectural walks that reframe ancient landmarks through a contemporary lens, the three-and five-hour experiences go deeper into the city’s culinary and creative scenes. Each experience is tailored to personal interests, making discovery feel effortless, intuitive, and distinctly local.

“Greece is one of Hilton’s fastest‑growing markets in Europe, driven by record visitor demand and a growing focus on high‑quality, year‑round tourism,” said Simon Vincent, CBE, president, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Hilton. “With our portfolio in Greece growing from just a handful of hotels a few years ago to more than fifty today, and more in the pipeline, the opening of Conrad Athens The Ilisian underscores our long‑term commitment to Athens and to Greece as a leading global tourism destination.”

“Athens is one of those rare cities where history, creativity and contemporary living exist in conversation with one another,” said Dino Michael, senior vice president and global category head, Hilton Luxury Brands. “For Conrad, that makes it a deeply compelling place to be. Conrad Athens The Ilisian has reawakened a landmark in a way that respects its past while feeling entirely in tune with the city Athens has become.”

Nassos Papazoglou, general manager, Conrad Athens The Ilisian, added, “Hilton Athens opened on this date back in 1963, and for decades played a defining role in Athens’ cultural and social life. Our vision has been to honour that legacy while creating a hotel that feels open, dynamic, and deeply connected to the city today. From the way guests move through the spaces, to how they dine, unwind, and explore Athens, every detail has been designed to offer a genuine sense of belonging.”

Conrad Athens The Ilisian joins a global portfolio of 50 Conrad Hotels & Resorts’ properties and marks the debut of the brand in Greece. This year marks an exciting moment for Hilton’s Luxury Brands which arrived in the market with major momentum, with the opening of Sandblu Santorini, LXR Hotels & Resorts earlier this month and Conrad Corfu later in the year.

The hotel is located at Leof. Vasilissis Sofias 46, Athens, 11528, Greece. Reservations can be made directly through the hotel’s website or the Hilton Honors mobile app

TravelNews

KAYAK Launches Ask AI to Simplify Travel Planning Just in Time for the World Cup

Ask AI launches at a time of increased travel interest around the World Cup and when travelers are planning multi-city, complex trips. KAYAK data shows that flight searches to U.S. hosts cities are up 23% compared to last year, and prices and availability will likely change quickly in the months to come. Ask AI is the next step, combining both into a seamless user experience.Ask AI allows you to search for hotels near a stadium, compare flights between host cities, or build your full itinerary without switching tabs. Search for hotels near a stadium, compare flights between host cities, or build your full itinerary–all without switching tabs.ADVERTISEMENTWith Ask AI, travelers can:Ask questions using natural language and refine their trip in real time

Chat while the results are updated live along with the conversation

Find the latest prices and bookable options with hundreds of travel partners

It’s a more intuitive way to book and plan travel. It is powered by KAYAK’s search and pricing information, and highlights rising interest in travel, shifting prices, as well as the destinations that are seeing the largest spikes in interest.

All host markets are seeing an increase in hotel prices: up 36% in America, 55% in Canada and 119% in Mexico

The top 3 countries that are searching for flights in the U.S. to watch the World Cup are Germany, the United Kingdom, and Colombia

Ask AI and World Cup Trends Dashboard work together to help travelers plan and compare their trips using real-time data. This allows them to make more informed decisions when prices and interest changes.

TravelNews

Qantas has launched a major domestic sale, with more than 2 million discounted seats

The week-long discount* is valid for Economy and Business fares through March 2027. This includes the upcoming long weekend in June and the winter school holidays. These are two of the busiest travel times of the year.This sale offers more connecting fares to customers than Qantas’ regular domestic sales. Customers have more options for travel. This sale includes 21 routes to the Gold Coast, for example.

One-way Economy fares start at $99 for routes from Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne.

Business class fares for popular routes between Adelaide, Brisbane Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart and Sydney start at $299.

All fares are included in the sale until 11:59pm AEST on Tuesday, 28 April 2026. If sold out earlier, all fares will be extended to include checked baggage as well as complimentary food and beverage.

Comments from Qantas Domestic CEO Markus Svensson”Australians’ appetite for travel continues, and this sale is designed to support our customers planning their next trip around Australia over the next 12 months.””We’ve just had a bumper Easter holidays with more than a million customers travelling around our domestic network and this sale is timed for those planning where to head next. We have millions discounted seats on more than 90 routes including some of Australia’s top holiday destinations. These include tropical beaches, regional towns and city escapes. Below are some of the one-way sale fares starting from. Please visit Qantas.com to see sale fares for other routes and travel dates.

TravelNews

Introducing Oceania Aurelia™, The Ultimate Explorer

Oceania Aurelia ™ will debut in late 20 Oceania Nautica ™ is a completely Oceania Aurelia, which welcomes less than 500 passengers and The majority of suites are larger than 300 square feet and some even reach The suites include the beautifully remastered Owners’, Vista and Each accommodation is meticulously furnished with thoughtful amenities to create the feeling of Oceania Aurelia will be a smaller, more club- Oceania Aurelia will be a smaller, more club-like ship that truly feels like a home at sea, providing travelers a deeper connection to the ports they visit.”ADVERTISEMENTOceania Cruises’ signature genuine hospitality is delivered by nearly one crew member for every guest, ensuring attentive, unhurried care and meaningful personal connections throughout extended journeys.In keeping with Oceania Cruises’ commitment to serving The Finest Cuisine at Sea(r), dining aboard Oceania Aurelia becomes another way to see the world, with menus reflecting the regions being explored in beloved venues: The Grand Dining Room, Polo Grill, Toscana, Terrace Cafe, Waves Grill and the Pizzeria in the evenings.The line’s beloved coffee venue, Baristas, will move to Horizons and will feature as new additions the Bakery, serving delicious pastries and European specialties, and the Creperie, where travelers can enjoy fresh crepes, waffles and gelato sundaes.Rounding out the experience are bars and lounges to toast the journey – including mixology experiences at the new Founders Bar.Extended time at sea invites guests to follow their curiosity through a series of enrichment opportunities, including: the new Chef’s Studio, offering a series of culinary workshops that explore flavor, technique and tradition; Artist Loft, inviting travelers to relax with creative activities; LYNC Digital Center, to connect, create and learn through interactive classes; Guest Speakers, providing engaging talks on a range of topics; and, for the first time, unlimited access to the Aquamar Spa Terrace for all guests.For more information on Oceania Cruises’ collection of intimate, luxurious ships and curated global itineraries, visit OceaniaCruises.com or call 855-OCEANIA.

TravelNews

Geopolitical tension taking toll on global business travel

According to a new study by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), global business travel will continue at a steady rate into 2026. However, there is more caution, less trust and greater operational complexity than it was at the start of the year. According to a recent study by the Global Business Travel Association, organisations are still pushing forward with meetings, trips and spending despite escalating conflict, rising costs and increasing disruption. The shift is evident across regions, but most pronounced in Europe. Industry pessimism has now overtaken optimism as global geopolitical conflicts increasingly shape travel routes, safety concerns, and meeting decisions. Growing cautionThe GTBA April business travel industry sentiment survey reflects perspectives from more than 500 corporate travel managers, suppliers and intermediaries around the world. “What we are seeing is not a general pullback from business trips, but rather a more deliberate, and carefully managed approach. “Organizations continue to travel, meet, and innovate, but they are doing so while adapting rising costs, operational friction, and escalating political tensions,” said Suzanne Neufang. ADVERTISEMENT”These pressures are reshaping how, where and why companies are traveling now, making experienced business travel professionals more critical than ever to keeping travelers safe, navigating risk and disruption, and controlling budgets so organisations and people can continue to connect and do business.”Geopolitical tensions now the dominant concernGeopolitical instability has become the most significant external risk influencing business travel decisions in 2026, according to April poll respondents.Nearly eight in ten respondents (79 per cent) now cite geopolitical instability and conflict as a top travel-related risk, making it the industry’s leading concern globally.The impact is especially visible in Europe, where more than nine in ten respondents (92 per cent) identify geopolitics as a primary risk, compared with 72 per cent in North America.Confidence drops since January, especially in EuropeOverall industry optimism has weakened considerably since the start of the year.Just 41 per cent of all global respondents say they are optimistic about the business travel industry in 2026, down from 59 per cent in January. Just 41% of global respondents are optimistic about the business travel industry in 2026, down from 59 percent in January.

TravelNews

Zion White Bison Resort Unifies Glamping and RV Operations with Mews

Zion White Bison Resort has selected Mews as its operating system to support growth and unify operations. The resort offers luxury teepees and covered wagons along with more than 150 RV sites that are fully-hooked up. By moving to Mews the resort will consolidate their glamping operations and RV operations onto a single platform. The resort will simplify its daily workflows by using a single system to manage reservations, guest profiles, and property performance. “What made Mews stand out was not only the technology but also the customer support and ability to consolidate all of the information in one place. The move to Mews also modernizes key aspects of the guest experience and operational experience. Integrated group booking tools will simplify multi-unit reservations and billing, while a more intuitive booking experience will help guests easily find and select the right stay.ADVERTISEMENTOperationally, Zion White Bison will implement Flexkeeping, a Mews Company, to streamline housekeeping and maintenance across more than 190 spaces, improving task tracking, automation and team productivity. The resort also selected Atomize from Mews, a revenue management solution to optimize pricing and revenue strategies for its higher-yielding glamping units. By combining glamping operations and RV operations, they have removed complexity, built a stronger foundation for future growth, and given both staff and guests a single, consistent service from booking and check in to on-site services and follow up. Mews gives the team the flexibility to scale confidently, without the limitations of legacy or disconnected systems.