ILHA INSPIRE Prague 2025 to Spotlight the Future of Luxury Travel

ILHA INSPIRE Prague 2025 to Spotlight the Future of Luxury Travel

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on October 27, 2025

 The International Luxury Hotel Association (ILHA) has revealed the full agenda for INSPIRE Europe 2025, taking place November 12–13 at the Congress Centre of the Czech National Bank in Prague. The two-day event will bring together over 300 luxury hospitality leaders and 60+ speakers to explore the latest ideas, innovations, and investment strategies shaping the luxury travel industry.

The conference opens with a high-level discussion on “The Future of Luxury Travel: Growth, Innovation & Value Creation”, featuring thought leaders from ownership, design, and development sectors. Speakers include Alex Sogno, Founder & CEO of Global Asset Solutions, Hugh Taylor OBE, Chief Executive of Michels & Taylor Ltd, and Ivo Nahálka, CEO & Chief Architect of Archina, with Terence Baker, News Editor for Europe, Middle East & Africa at CoStar News Hotels / STR serving as moderator.

Alex Sogno highlighted the importance of guest experiences in luxury hospitality, stating,

"Exceptional guest experiences are the foundation of lasting asset value in luxury hospitality… At Global Asset Solutions, we focus on turning great experiences into sustained returns and long-term advantage."

Hugh Taylor OBE emphasized innovation and guest connection, saying,

"The future of luxury travel is being shaped by data-driven insight, innovation, and a renewed focus on genuine guest connection… Our role as advisors and hotel managers is to help bridge vision with performance."

Beyond sessions, attendees can network in the INSPIRE Hub, an interactive space designed for collaboration, conversation, and creativity. Highlights include networking cocktails, pop-up experiences, coffee tastings, and curated meetups, fostering professional relationships among global hospitality leaders.

The ILHA thanked sponsors for their support, including Honeywell, WorldHotels, Avendra International, Ecolab, Haus of Park, Coffee Break, Dutch Cocktail Club, Le Petit Chef, and The Guest Club. The full list of sponsors is available here.

Registration is open for both ILHA INSPIRE conferences:

The International Luxury Hotel Association (ILHA) is the leading trade association uniting hoteliers, travel professionals, and industry partners worldwide. With a community of over one million professionals, ILHA drives growth, best practices, and innovation in luxury hospitality.


Novotel Cairo Airport Welcomes Guests to a Warm and Joyful Christmas Season

Novotel Cairo Airport Welcomes Guests to a Warm and Joyful Christmas Season

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on December 6, 2025

Novotel Cairo Airport is celebrating the Christmas and winter holiday season by welcoming guests from around the world to enjoy a warm, cheerful, and relaxing festive experience. Located just steps from Cairo International Airport, the hotel is a convenient and comfortable choice for families, business travellers, and holidaymakers looking for a pleasant stopover or a peaceful holiday stay.

All through December, the hotel embraces the festive spirit with vibrant decorations, a beautifully lit Christmas tree, and an inviting atmosphere that makes every guest feel at home. Whether arriving for work or leisure, travellers can settle into well-designed rooms and enjoy the friendly service that Novotel and Accor are known for.

"We are delighted to welcome guests from near and far this holiday season at Novotel Cairo Airport," said Mr. Atta El Dessouky, the General Manager. "Our team has created a festive and welcoming environment where families, business travellers, and holidaymakers alike can relax, celebrate, and make unforgettable memories."

Guests can indulge in seasonal flavours and comforting dishes at the hotel’s restaurants and bar, making it perfect for a relaxed breakfast, a satisfying lunch, or a delightful dinner before or after their flight. With cosy indoor spaces to gather and unwind, the hotel offers the ideal setting to celebrate the season in comfort.

This Christmas and winter holiday season, Novotel Cairo Airport promises more than just a stay. It creates a festive destination where travellers can recharge, spend meaningful moments together, and truly enjoy the joy of the holidays.


Christmas Cheer Lights Up Asia’s Top Hotels This Festive Season

Christmas Cheer Lights Up Asia’s Top Hotels This Festive Season

By Hariharan U

Published on December 4, 2025

As the festive spirit starts to sparkle across Asia, hotels from Thailand to Japan and Vietnam are rolling out warm, colourful and indulgent Christmas experiences that feel straight out of a holiday postcard. Whether you’re dreaming of a tropical Christmas by the sea, a winter escape in Tokyo, or a cosy celebration with gourmet dining, this year’s festive offerings across Asia bring together food, music, lights and heartfelt traditions.

In Koh Samui, Banyan Tree Samui is turning the island into a tropical Christmas paradise. Across its three restaurants, the resort is hosting gala dinners, live music nights and chef-led festive menus from Dec 24–26. Guests can enjoy everything from seafood stations and carving counters to a MICHELIN-recognised Thai fine-dining experience at Saffron. For those who love celebrating right by the beach, their candlelit beachfront lunches and dinners featuring turkey, snowfish and prawns are perfect for a sunny Christmas in Thailand.

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Tokyo is shining brighter than ever with Palace Hotel Tokyo’s luxurious ‘A Tokyo Christmas’ package. Guests staying between Dec 20–25 can enjoy suite stays, a private car tour of Tokyo’s famous winter illuminations, an in-room Christmas tree, bubbly, festive treats and a special Christmas dinner. It’s a dreamy option for travellers looking to pair Japanese hospitality with the magic of holiday lights.

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Vietnam is embracing the season with a mix of cosy teas, gourmet spreads and family moments. At TIA Wellness Resort, guests can indulge in a Christmas-inspired afternoon tea, followed by a festive six-course Christmas Eve dinner with both plant-based and classic menus. Banyan Tree Krabi in Thailand is also going big this year with its Christmas Eve Gala Dinner featuring everything from truffle risotto and seafood ice stations to a fire show under the stars.

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Over in Cam Ranh, Alma Resort is creating a joyful wonderland with a gingerbread village, tree-lighting ceremonies, mulled wine counters and even daily advent activities for kids. Santa will also make appearances from Dec 23–25 for family photos. Nearby, Meliá Chiang Mai in Thailand is offering Spanish-inspired afternoon teas, festive buffets, rooftop parties and live music throughout the month.

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In Hong Kong, The Hari Hong Kong is celebrating the season with festive dining, a tree lighting ceremony and a charity Christmas market supporting the Hong Chi Association. Their holiday stay package includes luxurious rooms, special dining credits, breakfast, festive treats and celebratory menus across their popular restaurants.

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Bangkok is full of Spanish flair this Christmas as INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit serves weekly rotating festive Spanish menus at its stunning rooftop tapas bar. Guests can also enjoy a grand Christmas Eve buffet with seafood, sashimi, roasts, desserts and more at The Kites Eatery.

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Vietnam continues the celebrations with The Anam Cam Ranh and The Anam Mui Ne, both offering festive teas, Champagne evenings, Christmas tree lightings, BBQ buffets, nine-course fine-dining feasts, and kids’ activities on Christmas Day. Azerai Resorts, meanwhile, brings heartwarming traditions to Ke Ga Bay and Hue, including special breakfasts, Santa visits, limousine transfers to Christmas Mass, tea buffets and creative workshops for children.

Hanoi’s iconic Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has transformed into a “Luminescent Dreamscape,” with a full Christmas fair, gourmet bites, mulled wine, eggnog and a dazzling lighting ceremony that unveils its 15-metre Christmas tree. And across Vietnam and Thailand, Fusion Hotels is offering beach BBQs, festive buffets, spa treatments, onsen experiences and holiday-themed live music nights.

From gourmet feasts to glowing trees, festive teas and beachfront celebrations, Asia’s finest hotels are creating magical holiday moments that blend local flavours, global inspirations and the warm cheer of Christmas — perfect for travellers planning a cosy yet memorable festive getaway.


Qatar Airways Restores Daily Flights to Canberra, Strengthening Global Access

Qatar Airways Restores Daily Flights to Canberra, Strengthening Global Access

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on December 4, 2025

Qatar Airways has officially returned to Canberra with the resumption of its daily service via Melbourne, reconnecting the city with more than 170 global destinations. With this addition, the airline now serves six major cities in Australia: Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra, giving travellers across the ACT and nearby regions wider choices for international travel.

The daily Boeing 777 service offers smooth access to the airline’s worldwide network through Hamad International Airport in Doha, one of the world’s top aviation hubs. Passengers flying in Qsuite Business Class* can experience the brand’s signature comfort, complete with fully lie-flat beds, privacy doors, and on-demand a la carte dining curated by award-winning Australian chef Ross Lusted. All travellers can enjoy complimentary high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi, making Qatar Airways the only airline offering this feature to and from Canberra.

The airline’s partnership with Virgin Australia further expands connectivity, enabling easy domestic transfers to cities such as Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide and Melbourne. This provides greater flexibility for passengers planning both international and within-Australia journeys.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “We are delighted to return to Canberra and once again, serve Australia’s capital city. This milestone represents our continued commitment to the Australian market and to connecting communities across the world. Whether travelling for business, government service, study, or leisure, we look forward to welcoming passengers from Canberra back on board and providing them with the world-class services Qatar Airways is renowned for.”

Canberra Airport CEO, Mr. Stephen Byron, added: “The return of Qatar Airways is a gamechanger for international travel. It restores a vital link for over a million people across the ACT and southern NSW, while opening the door to global opportunities for business and tourism.”

Qatar Airways continues to stand out on the global stage, being named the World’s Best Airline by the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2025 for a record ninth time. The airline also earned titles for World’s Best Business Class, Best Airline in the Middle East, and Best Business Class Lounge for its Al Mourjan Lounge, The Garden at Hamad International Airport.

Services from Canberra will operate with the Qsuite configuration by default, with changes only made if operationally required.

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