Travel digest

Villa Park has been honoured with the CHECK24 Top Hotel Award for 2026, a distinction that is based on guest feedback submitted through the CHECK24 platform. This accolade highlights the resort’s strong guest satisfaction levels and enhances its profile among German‑speaking travellers.

In line with the award, the resort will feature the Top Hotel seal on the CHECK24 travel portal,

Amilla Maldives has been announced as a joint winner of the “Most OutThere Initiative” in the Inclusive Travel category at the 2026 Experientialist® Awards, organized by OutThere. This follows a Highly Commended mention in the same category last year.

The Experientialist® Awards celebrate travel projects that prioritize inclusivity, individuality and thoughtful design. The Inclusive

Anantara Veli Maldives Resort has been honoured with the 2025 British Airways Holidays Customer Excellence Award. The accolade is based on verified guest reviews and recognises properties that consistently deliver high‑quality service, facilities and overall experience.

The resort achieved a perfect 5‑out‑of‑5 rating from independent reviews, a distinction held by only a few

Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur has launched a suite of artificial‑intelligence tools designed to modernise the experience of corporate gatherings, social events and weddings. The new services reinforce the hotel’s reputation as a forward‑looking luxury venue in Malaysia’s capital.

The technologies are offered as optional enhancements that complement, rather than replace, the

Garifuna Survival Day, observed on 12 April, honors the tenacity of the Garinagu people. The date marks the arrival of their ancestors on the island of Roatán (Honduras) after a forced exile from St. Vincent.

In the 1600s a ship carrying enslaved Africans wrecked near St. Vincent, where they encountered the indigenous Carib population. Over the following

Jin Sha, the flagship Chinese restaurant of Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake, has once again earned a single Michelin star in the 2026 guide covering Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. This achievement marks the fourth straight year the venue has been honoured, highlighting its rare blend of consistency and ongoing culinary development.

The Michelin evaluation values not

The Icelandic Tourist Board has withdrawn the travel‑agency licence of Hispana Tours ehf. (licence No 2024‑001, registration No 411223‑0350), effective 10 April 2026, following the company's bankruptcy declared on 19 March 2026.

Consequently, the agency no longer satisfies the conditions for a licence and its membership in the Travel Insurance Fund has been terminated. The company is

Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe’s restaurant Terra launches a vibrant spring dinner menu crafted by Executive Chef Gregory Joseph. The dishes draw on the colours, textures and seasonal produce of northern New Mexico, blending local ingredients with international techniques.

Starters include a Roasted Poblano Leek Bisque served with crisp potatoes and chive oil,

The Maldivian edition of the global open‑water swimming series OCEANMAN kicked off in K. Maafushi, attracting 532 athletes from 40 nations and marking a significant step forward for sports tourism in the Maldives.

The event has been entered into the Maldives Book of Records as the sporting competition with the highest number of international participants. Out of the total, 385

According to the Icelandic Tourist Board, around 155,000 foreign travelers* departed from Iceland via Keflavík Airport last March, a 1.6% increase compared with March 2025. Americans and Britons accounted for around 40% of all departures.

Departures of Icelandic residents totaled around 56,000 in March, a decrease of 3.6% compared with the same month in the previous year. 

Around

A new two‑volume collection of colouring and activity books, drawing inspiration from the Maldives, has been launched on Amazon. Aimed at children aged 4‑8, the series – titled Your Maldives Holiday Adventure – combines easy‑to‑do activities, colourful illustrations and basic information about the archipelago.

The first volume centres on the marine world, presenting scenes of

TIME Magazine has placed Six Senses Laamu on its “World’s Greatest Places of 2026” list, a selection that honors destinations offering unique experiences, innovative practices, and a positive influence worldwide. The award underscores the resort’s commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable operations in the Maldives.

Marteyne van Well, Regional General Manager, explained

ELE|NA Elements of Nature, located within OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI, has received the 2026 Global Spa Awards title of Best Spa Resort in the Maldives, presented by The Luxury Spa Edit. The honor reflects the property’s dedication to wellness and spa services.

The Global Spa Awards are among the most prestigious recognitions in the spa sector, honoring outstanding spas, wellness retreats,

Sun Siyam Iru Veli, a resort belonging to the Privé Collection of the House of Sun Siyam, has broadened its Ocean Spa portfolio with a series of treatments that blend indigenous Maldivian customs, proven therapeutic practices, and bespoke spa experiences.

The new menu features three signature options:

Esteemed wine professional Aleksandr Nakonechnyi has become the newest member of the food‑and‑beverage team at Niyama Private Islands Maldives, bringing his extensive expertise to the resort’s culinary venues.

His career began behind the bar at the Kempinski Grand Hotel Gelendzhik on the Black Sea, followed by positions in St. Petersburg and a stint at the barefoot‑luxury resort

Nairu welcomes the Thai New Year with a Songkran‑themed banquet that combines bold flavors, modern ambience and traditional culture at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence.

The event takes place on the First Nile Boat, moored on the Nile and situated just steps from the hotel. Nairu, the hotel’s pan‑Asian restaurant, provides an elegant yet vibrant setting for the

As the weather turns warmer, Jin Jing Ge – the Chinese restaurant of Four Seasons Hotel Suzhou – introduces a new spring‑time menu that highlights the freshest ingredients of the Jiangnan region. Executive Chinese Chef Charles Zhang has travelled across local mountains, fields and lakes to source items such as tender bamboo shoots, wild shepherd’s purse, Chinese toon buds, broad beans and river

Four Seasons Hotel Shenzhen announces the appointment of Shirley Liao as Commercial Director. Ms. Liao brings more than 17 years of experience in luxury hospitality, combining strategic insight with a personable approach.

Since joining the hotel in 2014, she has rapidly mastered all aspects of the commercial division. Her resilience was instrumental during the challenges of 2020

Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca confirms that Pierre Barusta will assume the role of Executive Chef starting this April. The chef brings more than twenty years of international culinary leadership, having worked in Europe, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Asia.

Born in Vietnam and raised in Paris, Barusta’s culinary style blends multicultural influences with classical French

Four Seasons Hotel Miami announces the opening of Séptimo, an intimate cocktail venue situated on the property’s seventh floor, opening to the public on 29 April 2026.

The bar blends classic mixology traditions with a contemporary approach, offering a refined yet lively atmosphere above Brickell. It is designed for both hotel guests and local patrons seeking a sophisticated setting for