Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, the iconic 125-year-old luxury hotel in the heart of the Vietnamese capital, is ushering in the Year of the Horse with an immersive Tet celebration that honours the country’s rich cultural heritage, traditions, and spirit of renewal. The hotel has unveiled a thoughtfully designed programme of cultural activities and festive experiences, inviting guests to engage deeply with the essence of Vietnam’s most significant celebration.

At the heart of the festivities is the Metropole Tet Space, where guests are welcomed into a vibrant atmosphere filled with traditional performances and interactive experiences. The programme includes lively lion dances, traditional puppet shows, ca trù singing performances, and a curated exhibition of traditional paintings. Guests are also encouraged to participate in hands-on cultural workshops such as Chung cake preparation, daffodil bulb trimming, and tea appreciation, offering a closer connection to age-old Vietnamese customs.

A key highlight of the celebrations is the “Reawakening Lien” series, which pays tribute to the revival of Hue calligraphy, a treasured art form that had faded for over a decade. The initiative features insightful discussions, curated showcases, and interactive sessions led by master artisans, allowing guests to explore the artistry and cultural significance of this revived tradition.

Embracing one of Tet’s most cherished customs, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi continues the tradition of lì xì, symbolising wishes of health, happiness, and prosperity. Guests staying at the hotel during the festive period receive a specially prepared lì xì in the form of a voucher, redeemable for exclusive Metropole-branded gifts available at La Boutique and L’Epicerie.

Adding to the festive spirit, the hotel presents an elegant selection of Tet hampers from L’Epicerie, thoughtfully curated and fully customisable for gifting to friends, family, and business associates. These hampers blend premium European imports with authentic Vietnamese delicacies and signature Metropole-branded products, reflecting a seamless harmony of luxury and tradition.

Culinary experiences play a central role in the celebrations. Spice Garden, the hotel’s renowned Vietnamese restaurant, showcases a special Tet set menu highlighting authentic regional delicacies, complemented by traditional accompaniments. Meanwhile, angelina introduces an exclusive Tet cocktail collection that reinterprets classic Vietnamese New Year flavours through modern mixology. Guests can also indulge in the hotel’s elegant Afternoon Tea at Le Club Bar, where British tradition is elevated with French finesse and local influences.

The festive journey continues at Le Beaulieu with the hotel’s iconic Sunday Brunch, now reimagined with a themed approach. The Tet-inspired edition brings together refined French culinary craftsmanship and Vietnamese cultural symbolism, featuring signature seafood, premium meats, artisanal cheeses, decadent desserts, and live jazz performances.

Through these thoughtfully curated experiences, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi reaffirms its commitment to celebrating Vietnamese culture with authenticity, elegance, and heartfelt hospitality, offering guests a meaningful and immersive Tet experience that reflects the joy of new beginnings.

In a significant step towards elevating Indian craftsmanship on a global platform, JSW Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the JSW Group, has announced its collaboration with the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship to support Indian artisans at Homo Faber 2026 in Venice.

The fourth edition of the internationally recognised Homo Faber Biennial will be held from 1 to 30 September 2026 at the Fondazione Giorgio Cini on San Giorgio Maggiore Island, bringing together master artisans from across the world to celebrate craftsmanship as a living and evolving creative practice. Curated under the theme “Homo Faber 2026: An Island of Light,” the biennial will showcase works that span diverse materials, techniques and cultural contexts. Through this partnership, JSW Foundation becomes a Homo Faber Guardian of Creativity and Craftsmanship, enabling Indian artisans to gain international visibility and engage with global peers beyond conventional narratives of heritage craft.

The collaboration was formally announced at the India Art Fair on 5 February 2026, in the presence of Tarini Jindal Handa and Sangita Jindal, reaffirming the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to promoting Indian and South Asian craft traditions on the world stage. Speaking on the association, Sangita Jindal, Chairperson, JSW Foundation, said, "We are proud that JSW Foundation will participate in Homo Faber in Venice in September 2026, creating an international stage where Indian master artisans engage with global audiences, not as representatives of folklore, but as peers in a shared creative language." Echoing this sentiment, Alberto Cavalli, Executive Director of the Michelangelo Foundation, said, "Our partnership with JSW Foundation is allowing us to give space, attention and relevance to a meaningful selection of gifted artisans from India whose work represents the authenticity, beauty and sophistication of contemporary Indian artisanship." With this collaboration, JSW Foundation further strengthens its mission to preserve traditional skills while repositioning Indian artisans as contemporary creators within a forward-looking global framework.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has concluded a high-level meeting in Madrid, bringing together global industry leaders, ministers, and senior policymakers to review investment challenges and emerging opportunities across the global Travel & Tourism sector.

The meeting was led by Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC, and saw the participation of Shaikha Al Nowais, Secretary-General of UN Tourism, along with senior government representatives and leaders from major global tourism businesses.

Key discussions focused on easing barriers to travel, using technology to enable smoother journeys, strengthening global connectivity, and advancing sustainable tourism that protects the environment while delivering real benefits to local communities. A major theme throughout the meeting was the role of public-private partnerships in driving investment, building resilient infrastructure, and supporting long-term sector growth.

Participants also highlighted the importance of legal certainty for investors, continued infrastructure development, and proactive government support to unlock private-sector capital and encourage sustained growth across the industry.

“Travel & Tourism continues to be one of the most powerful drivers of global economic growth. In 2025, more than 1.5 billion people travelled internationally, 80 million more than in 2024, making it the strongest year on record for global tourism,” said Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC. “The sector contributed approximately $11.7 trillion to the global economy, representing 10.3 % of global GDP and year-on-year growth of 6.7 %.”

Guevara also underlined the sector’s role as a major employment generator. “Travel & Tourism supports one in nine jobs globally. Over the next decade, the sector is expected to create 91 million new jobs, or one in three new jobs worldwide, making talent development and skills training an urgent priority.”

Shaikha Al Nowais, Secretary-General of UN Tourism, stressed the need to protect natural and cultural heritage while ensuring tourism growth remains inclusive. “My vision is ambitious, but achievable. Real progress requires the reach of the private sector and close collaboration with governments and communities,” she said. “Investment will be the catalyst for balanced and equitable tourism development, particularly in emerging destinations, while supporting sustainability, entrepreneurship and women across the sector.”

Mara Lezama, Governor of the State of Quintana Roo, spoke about the importance of inclusive development. “Tourism success cannot exist alongside social inequality. Democratising tourism, promoting rural and community-based tourism, and ensuring transparent investment frameworks are essential for shared prosperity,” she said.

The meeting brought together senior leaders from the global private sector, including representatives from The Bicester Collection, Iberostar, Shun Tak Holdings, The Palace Company, Grupo Velas, Alpitour World, Grupo Puntacana, Grupo Posadas, Grupo Diestra, Coral Travel Group, and Minor Hotel Group, among others. Public-sector participation included ministers and vice ministers of tourism from across Latin America, as well as senior representatives from the Japan Tourism Agency and other national tourism authorities.

Concluding the meeting, Gloria Guevara announced that WTTC will host a series of regional forums aimed at deeper analysis of sector-specific challenges and opportunities. These forums will support industry growth, job creation, and strengthen Travel & Tourism’s contribution to the global economy through enhanced public-private collaboration.