Capella Kyoto opens
Capella Hotels and Resorts opened its inaugural property in Japan on 22 March. In Kyoto’s historic Miyagawa-chล district, a former primary school building has been transformed by renowned Japanese architectural studio Kengo Kuma and Associates and Singapore-based interior design studio Brewin Design Office into an intimate expression of cultural continuity, craftsmanship and contemporary design.
The 89-room Capella Kyoto reimagines the machiya โ the traditional townhouses iconic in Kyoto โ as a contemplative composition of light and materials that, like the city itself, unfolds through layered thresholds, intimate reveals, and moments of discovery.
UNESCOโs International Jazz Day
Taking place on 30 April, Chicago will take centre stage in the global jazz world as the official host city for UNESCOโs International Jazz Day, the worldโs largest international celebration of jazz. The 15th annual International Jazz Day celebrations will transform the city into a vibrant, citywide festival of sound, bringing together legendary artists, rising talent and music lovers from around the world.
To further enjoy Chicagoโs jazz connection, travellers can take a trip to The Art Institute of Chicago and explore the brand new Matisseโs Jazz: Rhythms in Color exhibit which showcases the complete set of prints from Henri Matisseโs groundbreaking jazz project.
International Jazz Day 2026 kicks off a year of cultural milestones including the 250th anniversary of the United States, the 100th birthday of jazz legend Miles Davis and on 19 June the opening of the Obama Presidential Center on Chicagoโs South Side, the epicentre for Chicago style jazz in the early 1900s.
AmaWaterways Introduces New City Escapes
Luxury river cruise line AmaWaterways has announced the launch of its new City Escapes program, a collection of sailings offering extended time in Europeโs most beloved cities along the Seine, Rhine and Danube rivers.
These departures are intentionally scheduled during quieter travel periods to allow guests to experience each destination in a relaxed way. Beginning in 2026 and expanding further in 2027, dedicated City Escapes departures will operate across three regions.
On the Seine, guests will enjoy extended time in Paris, Rouen and Normandy with curated cultural experiences. On the Rhine, enhanced cultural experiences highlight destinations such as Breisach, Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Cologne and Amsterdam.
On the Danube, extended scenic sailing through iconic stretches such as the Wachau Valley and the Danube Bend is paired with cultural programming in cities including Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Linz and Passau.
Ventura celebrates first graduates from Abya Guaranรญ Indigenous Tourism School, Argentina
The first cohort from the Abya Guaranรญ Tourism Institute is driving a new chapter for their communities. By applying three years of study at the Indigenous Tourism Institute, these graduates are challenging the current tourism model, aiming to bridge the gap between the millions visiting the Iguazรบ Falls and the dignified future the Guaranรญ deserve.
Specialist tour operator group Ventura Trvel has been involved with the project since 2019 through itโs VSocial Foundation. From provision of fit-out, equipment and resources for the office to funding for the construction of the school building itself, the Foundation has worked with other partners to deliver a functional space for those from the immediate area and beyond.
The natural wonder that draws so many travelers to Puerto Iguazรบ year after year still brings no substantial benefit to local communities, as much of the operational tourism in the vicinity is delivered by larger organisations headquartered elsewhere. The aim of the project is to ensure that in the future, graduates will be an integral part of guided tours in Puerto Iguazรบ National Park as natural and cultural heritage interpreters.
British Airways increases flights to ‘Cincy’
British Airways has expanded its nonstop London Heathrow to Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport service to six weekly flights, boosting capacity by 55 to 60 percent in response to rising demand. The enhanced schedule will increase frequencies from five to six flights per week, operating daily except Thursdays from 29 March 2026 until October 2026.
First launched in 2023, the route remains the only nonstop connection to the United Kingdom across Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. The service will also see an aircraft upgrade from a Boeing 787-800 to a larger Boeing 777-200, delivering a significant year-on-year capacity increase.
The new configuration will include 48 Club World business class suites, 40 World Traveller Plus premium economy seats and 184 World Traveller economy seats, alongside expanded cargo capacity to support regional business and trade. Following three years of strong performance, third party research indicates the expansion will generate millions of dollars in annual economic impact for the Cincinnati region.
โWine & Books by the Sea Algarve Resortโ opens in Portugal
A new luxury retreat celebrating Portugalโs rich literary and wine heritage has arrived in the Algarve. The Wine & Books by the Sea Algarve Resort, the latest opening from Portuguese hotel group PBH, welcomed its first guests within the protected landscapes of Reserva Natural dos Salgados, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
The new Wine & Books by the Sea, Algarve Resort follows the rebranding of VidaMar Algarve Resort, which first opened in 2013 and quickly became a landmark in Portugalโs hospitality industry and is now under a renewed concept and strategic positioning.
The five-star resort is five miles from the resort town of Armaรงรฃo de Pรชra and features 250 rooms and suites across six categories, including suites and connecting pool-view rooms designed for families and groups.
Set within landscaped grounds featuring hundreds of palm trees overlooking the beach, the resort offers four outdoor pools, two indoor pools, a gym, spa and kidsโ club, alongside dedicated event spaces.
Village Ways launches Mango Festival
Specialist operator Village Ways is introducing a new holiday to Chhattisgarh that has, at its centre, the Village Ways Mango Festival (25 May to 15 June) of Aam Goan and surrounding villages. Mango is the national fruit of India, and on this slow, immersive holiday, guests will learn traditional recipes, old stories of the orchards, and join in with villagers as they harvest and celebrate the fruit.
The holiday offers other traditional experiences, from the wood-crafting village of Bijapuri and the sacred springs at Amarkantak to wildlife encounters.
Founded in Binsar in 2005, Village Ways encourages tourism job opportunities in simple but beautiful rural villages in the Indian Himalayas, and central and southern India.
It supports those who might otherwise migrate to cities by providing the training needed to offer a range of low-impact holidays to international visitors. Each community is required to embrace its own tourism enterprise, with the income that it generates shared among the whole village.
