Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass Wins Forbes Five-Star Awar

Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass Earns Forbes Five-Star Honors for Kai and Aji Spa

By Nishang Narayan

Published on February 24, 2025

Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass continues to shine in the luxury hospitality scene, with both Kai Restaurant and Aji Spa receiving Forbes Travel Guide’s prestigious Five-Star rating in the 2025 Star Awards. The resort itself maintains its Recommended status, reaffirming its excellence in service and cultural authenticity.

This marks the 17th consecutive Five-Star win for Kai, solidifying its place as the only restaurant in Arizona with this distinction. Additionally, Aji Spa earns its sixth Five-Star rating, recognizing its commitment to providing a unique Native American-inspired wellness experience.

A Legacy of Excellence

Located on the Gila River Indian Community in Phoenix, Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass is renowned for its deep connection to indigenous heritage. The resort’s recent multi-million-dollar renovation has further elevated its luxurious offerings, while maintaining its commitment to cultural authenticity.

Expressing his pride, Bunty Ahamed, General Manager, Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass, shared:
"Receiving Five-Star recognition from Forbes Travel Guide once again for Aji Spa, and for the seventeenth consecutive year for Kai, is an incredible honor. Our commitment to providing every guest with a personalized and exceptional experience is unwavering, and these accolades are a testament to our team’s outstanding efforts."

Kai: Arizona’s Culinary Crown Jewel

With only 79 restaurants worldwide receiving a Five-Star rating this year, Kai’s achievement is particularly remarkable. A James Beard 2025 semifinalist in the Outstanding Hospitality category, Kai merges contemporary flavors with time-honored Native American culinary traditions, featuring locally farmed ingredients from the Gila River Indian Community.

Aji Spa: An Authentic Native Sanctuary

Aji Spa, meaning "sanctuary" in the Pima language, provides a holistic wellness experience deeply rooted in the traditions of the Pima and Maricopa tribes. Offering signature Indigenous treatments curated by Cultural Caretakers, the spa reflects the area’s rich history through art, architecture, and storytelling.

A Resort Steeped in Heritage

Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass is more than a luxury resort—it is a living representation of Native American culture, offering:

36 holes of championship golf at Whirlwind Golf Club
Guided equestrian experiences through the 1,000-acre Koli Equestrian Center
Four swimming pools and a waterslide inspired by ancient ruins
Water activities along the scenic Gila River

Maintaining its Recommended status in 2025, the resort meets Forbes’ rigorous 900-point evaluation, ensuring world-class service and hospitality.

As Forbes Travel Guide’s esteemed Five-Star list continues to set the global benchmark for luxury, Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass proudly represents Arizona with its unparalleled culinary, wellness, and cultural experiences.

Emirates to Stream FIFA World Cup 26™ Live Onboard via Sport 24

By Hariharan U

Published on June 16, 2026

Emirates has announced that it will broadcast every match of the FIFA World Cup 26™ live onboard its flights through its dedicated live sports channel, Sport 24, available on the airline’s ice entertainment system.

From the opening ceremony in Mexico on June 12, 2026, to the final match in the United States on July 19, 2026, passengers will be able to follow the entire tournament in real time while flying. The initiative ensures that travellers do not miss any key moment of one of the world’s most widely watched sporting events, even at 40,000 feet.

The live coverage will be available via Sport 24 and Sport 24 Extra, part of the airline’s onboard entertainment ecosystem. The service is designed to bring global fans together in the air, allowing passengers from different nations to experience the excitement of the tournament simultaneously while travelling.

To further enhance accessibility, the full match schedule has been featured in the June edition of the ice magazine, enabling passengers to plan their journeys around key fixtures and stay updated throughout the competition. Availability of live TV services may vary depending on aircraft type and route.

Select matches of the FIFA World Cup 26™ will also be screened in Emirates Lounges Dubai, where possible, extending the viewing experience beyond the aircraft.

Alongside football, Emirates’ onboard entertainment platform will also feature additional global sporting events. From June 4 to 20, Sport 24 and Sport 24 Extra will air the NBA Finals. Other scheduled broadcasts include the Canada Sail Grand Prix in Halifax, the Formula 1® Moët & Chandon Belgian Grand Prix on July 19, and the Formula 1® AWS Hungarian Grand Prix on July 26.

Through this expanded live sports offering, Emirates continues to position its in-flight experience as a global entertainment hub, bringing passengers closer to major international sporting moments regardless of their destination.

OMODA & JAECOO Showcases AI Robotics Vision for UAE Hospitality and Events Sector

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on June 16, 2026

OMODA & JAECOO is highlighting the potential of its AI-powered ecosystem for the UAE's growing hospitality, tourism, and events industries. As the country continues to strengthen its position as a global destination for tourism, exhibitions, and large-scale events, the company is showcasing how robotics and intelligent mobility solutions could play a greater role in enhancing customer experiences.

The company's latest demonstration featured its AiMOGA robots at a major international sporting event, where humanoid robot "Mornine" and quadruped robot "Argos" provided multilingual assistance, venue guidance, visitor engagement, and operational support.

The deployment showcased how AI-driven robotics can move beyond concept stages and support real-world applications across hotels, airports, retail destinations, entertainment venues, and public events.

Designed for dynamic environments, Mornine can communicate in 11 languages using advanced speech recognition and multimodal interaction technologies. The humanoid robot is capable of assisting guests, providing information, and creating interactive customer experiences. Argos, the quadruped robot, demonstrated autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance, and mobile assistance capabilities during the event.

In addition to robotics, OMODA & JAECOO is preparing to introduce its advanced VPD (Valet Parking Driver), also known as SIP (Super Intelligent Parking), in select future vehicle models in the UAE. The technology enables vehicles to independently locate parking spaces, park autonomously, and return to drivers through remote intelligent commands.

The company believes the solution is well suited to the UAE's smart city ambitions, luxury lifestyle offerings, and rapidly evolving urban infrastructure.

AiMOGA robots have already been introduced in showroom environments across global markets, where they assist visitors through intelligent interactions, product demonstrations, and multilingual support. Together with VPD technology, these innovations form part of the company's broader strategy to integrate artificial intelligence, robotics, and intelligent mobility into everyday experiences.

The technology showcase comes amid the company's rapid global growth. OMODA & JAECOO recently surpassed one million cumulative vehicle sales worldwide within three years of operations. In the UAE, the brand has recorded more than 5,000 vehicle sales and continues expanding its retail footprint across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah.

Its UAE portfolio currently includes the OMODA C5, OMODA C7, JAECOO J7 SHS (Super Hybrid System), and the flagship JAECOO J8 SHS.

Commenting on the company's technology vision, Shawn Xu, CEO of OMODA & JAECOO Automobile International, said: "Artificial intelligence, robotics, and intelligent mobility technologies represent the future of connected living. Through AiMOGA and VPD intelligent parking, we are expanding the boundaries of how people interact with technology, from hospitality and retail to future mobility. The UAE’s strong focus on smart cities, innovation, and advanced technologies makes it an important market for these intelligent ecosystems."

As Dubai and Abu Dhabi continue investing in smart city initiatives and future technologies, AI-powered robotics and intelligent mobility solutions are expected to play an increasingly important role in shaping customer experiences across hospitality, tourism, retail, and public infrastructure.

From Thrilling Matches to Full Hotels: FIFA 2026 Fuels US Hospitality Growth, Expected to Add $17.2 Billion to the Economy

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on June 15, 2026

The FIFA World Cup 2026 continued to deliver excitement both on the pitch and across the travel and hospitality sectors, as major Group C fixtures unfolded in the United States on June 13.

One of the most anticipated matches of the group stage saw Brazil and Morocco play out a 1-1 draw in New Jersey. Morocco once again demonstrated why they are regarded among football's elite nations, producing a disciplined and organised performance against one of the tournament favourites.

Ismael Saibari gave Morocco the lead with an impressive finish before Vinicius Jr produced a moment of quality to bring Brazil level. While the points were shared, Morocco's ability to limit Brazil's attacking influence emerged as one of the biggest talking points from the encounter.

Brazil, under Carlo Ancelotti, struggled to find rhythm and cohesion for large parts of the match, while Morocco looked increasingly confident and dangerous as the game progressed.

In the other Group C fixture, Scotland ended a 36-year wait for a FIFA World Cup victory after securing a 1-0 win over Haiti at Philadelphia Stadium. John McGinn's first-half goal proved decisive as Scotland opened their campaign with three valuable points.

Meanwhile, another Group B encounter between Qatar and Switzerland concluded in a draw, adding further intrigue to the race for qualification.

Beyond the football action, FIFA World Cup 2026 is also expected to deliver a major boost to the United States hospitality, tourism, and travel industries. FIFA has projected that the tournament could contribute up to $17.2 billion to the US economy through increased spending across airlines, accommodation, transportation, dining, and related sectors.

Industry players are already reporting positive trends. Airbnb stated that the FIFA World Cup 2026 is expected to become its biggest event to date, surpassing even the demand experienced during the 2024 Paris Olympics. The company expects strong bookings from families and groups seeking larger accommodation options and cost-effective stays.

The hotel sector is also preparing for increased demand. Marriott International expects the tournament to contribute approximately 40 basis points to its US revenue per available room, reflecting stronger occupancy and room rates during the event period.

Flight booking trends further highlight the growing impact of the tournament. According to Sojern's booking data, Miami has recorded nearly an 8% increase in flight reservations, while New York has seen a similar rise. Dallas-Fort Worth is experiencing an increase of around 10%, and Houston has recorded nearly 13% growth in bookings.

These early indicators suggest that FIFA World Cup 2026 is not only shaping up to be a major sporting spectacle but also a significant economic driver for the hospitality and tourism sectors across the United States.

With fan travel continuing to gain momentum and key matches drawing global attention, industry stakeholders remain optimistic about the positive impact the tournament will have on hotels, airlines, restaurants, and destination businesses throughout the host cities.

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Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass Earns Forbes Five-Star Honors for Kai and Aji Spa

A Legacy of Excellence

Kai: Arizona’s Culinary Crown Jewel

Aji Spa: An Authentic Native Sanctuary

A Resort Steeped in Heritage

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Emirates to Stream FIFA World Cup 26™ Live Onboard via Sport 24

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OMODA & JAECOO Showcases AI Robotics Vision for UAE Hospitality and Events Sector

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From Thrilling Matches to Full Hotels: FIFA 2026 Fuels US Hospitality Growth, Expected to Add $17.2 Billion to the Economy

Most Read In News